Tintar vs. Teñir

Question

I am curious if one is used more often than the other. I searched to dye and teñir came up, but tintar did not. I had heard tintar previously so I looked it up and it also says to dye. Is tintar not as common, therefore it didn't show up in the English-Spanish translation? Or is one used more in terms of dying things like clothes or eggs versus hair for example.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Please add you language proficiency and the language you speak to your profile. - rac1, Nov 9, 2016

Answer 1

Both are used. I suggest you type one into the translator, then the other. You see that "teñir" has some additional meanings--some metaphorical.

Where I live, "tintar" is used more for dying clothes.

¿Sabías que se puede teñir la ropa con té?

Hi DD , I answered your great post for my congrats. - ray76, Nov 10, 2016

Got it! - Daniela2041, Nov 10, 2016

Answer 2

I agree with Daniela, however, tintorería is the only word I know of that we use to mean a store where clothes are not just dyed but cleaned as well. These days any dry cleaning place is called tintorería even if there is no dying done, so tintar is probably used more than teñir.

tintorería

1. f. Oficio de tintorero.

2. f. Establecimiento donde se limpian o tiñen telas, ropas y otras cosas.

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