Cola vs. fila vs. línea
In Spanish, the words 'cola', 'fila', and 'línea' all translate to 'line' in English, but they have different uses and connotations. Understanding these differences can help you choose the right word in various contexts.
Cola
'Cola' typically refers to a line of people or vehicles waiting for something. It implies that there is some sort of queue where participants wait their turn.
Hice cola en el supermercado para pagar mi compra.
(I waited in line at the supermarket to pay for my groceries.)
En la taquilla del cine, la cola era muy larga.
(At the cinema box office, the line was very long.)
Los coches estaban en cola para entrar al estacionamiento.
(The cars were lined up to enter the parking lot.)
Fila
'Fila' refers to a line or row of objects or people, often in an organized and structured way. It's commonly used for things that are placed one after another in a specific order.
Los alumnos se formaron en una fila para entrar al aula.
(The students formed a line to enter the classroom.)
Hay una fila de sillas en la sala de espera.
(There is a row of chairs in the waiting room.)
Las plantas están dispuestas en filas en el jardín.
(The plants are arranged in rows in the garden.)
Línea
'Línea' usually refers to a straight mark or path that can be either literal or figurative. It can be used for lines drawn on paper, boundaries, or even more abstract concepts like lineage or connections.
Dibuja una línea recta en el papel.
(Draw a straight line on the paper.)
La frontera está marcada por una línea invisible.
(The border is marked by an invisible line.)
La primera línea del poema es muy hermosa.
(The first line of the poem is very beautiful.)
Summary
'Cola', 'fila', and 'línea' all mean 'line' but have specific usages. 'Cola' refers to people or vehicles waiting their turn, 'fila' denotes an organized row of items or persons, and 'línea' signifies a straight mark or path.