Mi camiseta lisa tiene una raya azul.

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Questions & Answers about Mi camiseta lisa tiene una raya azul.

Why is it lisa and not liso?

In Spanish, adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun they describe.

  • camiseta is feminine and singular.
  • The adjective liso (plain, smooth) must also be feminine and singular: lisa.

So:

  • la camiseta lisa
  • el pantalón liso
  • la camiseta liso ❌ (gender mismatch)
What exactly does lisa mean here? Is it “smooth” or “plain”?

Lisa can mean both smooth and plain, depending on context.

In the context of clothing, especially in Spain, camiseta lisa usually means:

  • plain T‑shirt, i.e. without a pattern, design, or print.

It can also be understood as “smooth” (not textured), but when talking about clothes, learners can safely think of liso/lisa as “plain (no pattern)” in most everyday contexts.

Why is the adjective after the noun: camiseta lisa and not lisa camiseta?

In Spanish, the default position for descriptive adjectives is after the noun:

  • camiseta lisa = plain T‑shirt
  • camiseta roja = red T‑shirt
  • coche nuevo = new car

Putting the adjective before (e.g. lisa camiseta) is possible but marked: it sounds poetic, very emphatic, or sometimes changes nuance. For normal speech, you should place lisa after camiseta.

What’s the difference between camiseta and camisa?

In Spain:

  • camiseta = T‑shirt, usually knit, short‑sleeved, casual, no buttons.
  • camisa = shirt, usually with a collar, buttons, and often long sleeves (a dress shirt).

Example:

  • Voy en camiseta. = I’m in a T‑shirt.
  • Voy con camisa y corbata. = I’m wearing a shirt and tie.
What does raya mean here? Is it like “ray,” “line,” or “stripe”?

In this context, raya means stripe.

Common meanings:

  • una raya en la camiseta = a stripe on the shirt
  • una raya en el suelo = a line on the floor
  • la raya del pantalón = the crease in trousers
  • rayo (different word) = a ray or bolt (e.g. of light, lightning)

So una raya azul is best translated here as a blue stripe.

Why is it una raya azul and not azul raya?

Spanish adjective order is usually:

noun + descriptive adjective

  • raya azul = blue stripe
  • coche rojo = red car
  • falda corta = short skirt

Azul raya is incorrect here; color adjectives almost always come after the noun.

Does azul change for gender and number like other adjectives?

Azul is an adjective that does not change for gender, but it does change for number.

  • Singular: azul (masculine or feminine)
    • una raya azul
    • un coche azul
  • Plural: azules
    • unas rayas azules
    • dos coches azules

So:

  • una raya azul
  • unas rayas azules
  • una raya azula
Why is it tiene una raya azul and not hay una raya azul?

Tener means to have, so mi camiseta lisa tiene una raya azul literally says:

My plain T‑shirt has a blue stripe.

You use hay (“there is/there are”) when you talk about existence, not possession:

  • Hay una raya azul en mi camiseta. = There is a blue stripe on my T‑shirt.

That’s also correct Spanish, but it focuses on the existence/location of the stripe, not on the T‑shirt “having” it. Both are possible; the sentence given chooses tiene.

Could I say lleva una raya azul instead of tiene una raya azul?

Yes. In clothing contexts, llevar is very common:

  • Mi camiseta lisa lleva una raya azul.

Here, llevar means something like “features” or “has as part of its design.”
Tener is also correct; llevar just sounds a bit more natural when describing details of clothes.

Is there any contradiction between camiseta lisa (plain) and tiene una raya azul (has a stripe)?

Not necessarily. Context decides:

  • Camiseta lisa usually means “no pattern or print.”
  • Having one simple stripe can still feel “plain” compared to very busy patterns.

However, if the stripe is a clear design feature, many speakers might avoid lisa and say simply:

  • Mi camiseta tiene una raya azul.
  • Mi camiseta es blanca con una raya azul.

So the sentence is grammatically fine; whether it sounds natural depends a bit on the exact design and how strict the speaker is about calling it “plain.”

Why do we say mi camiseta and not la camiseta here?

Mi is a possessive adjective: my.

  • mi camiseta = my T‑shirt
  • la camiseta = the T‑shirt

In Spanish, it’s normal to use a possessive when you’d use my, your, etc. in English:

  • Mi camiseta lisa tiene una raya azul. = My plain T‑shirt has a blue stripe.

Using la camiseta lisa tiene una raya azul would mean the plain T‑shirt has a blue stripe, with no explicit owner.