English has a habit of making certain everyday concepts plural. You wear clothes, listen to the lyrics of a song, and eat mashed potatoes. If you try to translate these literally into Spanish by adding an -s, you will run into trouble.
For many of these words, Spanish uses a singular, uncountable noun. This means you must resist the urge to pluralise the Spanish word, and you must make sure that any verbs and adjectives connected to it remain singular.
Word list
ropafA1clothesla ropa = clothescomprafA2groceriesla compra = the groceries (guardar la compra = put the groceries away)enhorabuenaA2congratulations¡enhorabuena! = congratulations!políticafA2politicsla política = politicssalariomA2salaryel salario = wagessueldomA2salaryel sueldo = wagesbalanzafB1balancela balanza = the scalesbañadormB1swimming trunksel bañador = swimming trunksbásculafB1balancela báscula = the scalesEdad MediafB1Middle Agesla Edad Media = the Middle AgespijamaB1pajamasel pijama = pajamaspiyamaB1pajamasla/el piyama = pajamasropa casualfB1casual clothesla ropa casual = casual clothesropa informalfB1casual clothesla ropa informal = casual clothesropa interiorfB1underwearla ropa interior = underpantstraje de bañomB1swimming trunksel traje de baño = swimming trunksambientemB2surroundingsel ambiente = surroundingsavenafB2oatsla avena = oatscentralfB2headquartersla central = headquarterscompásmB2compassel compás = a pair of compassesentornomB2surroundingsel entorno = surroundingsletrafB2lyricsla letra = lyricsmedioevomB2Middle Agesel medioevo = the Middle Agesoficina centralfB2headquartersla oficina central = headquarterssedefB2headquartersla sede = headquarterssede centralfB2headquartersla sede central = headquarterscompás de dibujomC1compassel compás de dibujo = compassescosquilleomC1tinglingel cosquilleo = pins and needleséticafC1ethicssu ética = his ethicshormigueomC1tinglingel hormigueo = pins and needlesparaderomC1whereaboutsel paradero = whereaboutspuré de papasmC1mashed potatoesel puré de papas = mashed potatoespuré de patatasmC1mashed potatoesel puré de patatas = mashed potatoescuartel generalmC2headquartersel cuartel general = headquartersgaitafC2bagpipesla gaita = the bagpipeslogísticafC2logisticsla logística = logisticssarampiónmC2measlesel sarampión = measles
Everyday items and food
One of the most common mistakes English speakers make is trying to say ropas for "clothes". In Spanish, ropa acts like an uncountable noun (similar to "clothing" in English). Even if you are talking about an entire wardrobe, ropa remains singular and takes singular verbs and adjectives.
Toda mi ropa está sucia.
(All my clothes are dirty.)
La ropa interior se seca rápido.
(The underpants dry fast.)
You will see the same pattern with certain foods. While English gives us plural "oats" and "mashed potatoes", Spanish groups them into the singular uncountable nouns avena and puré de papas (or puré de patatas).
La avena es muy nutritiva.
(Oats are very nutritious.)
El puré de papas está listo.
(The mashed potatoes are ready.)
Abstract concepts and places
This rule also extends to concepts like "surroundings", "whereabouts", and "Middle Ages". In English, these are plural, but their Spanish equivalents, entorno (or ambiente), paradero, and Edad Media, are strictly singular.
Su paradero es desconocido.
(Their whereabouts are unknown.)
El entorno es agradable.
(The surroundings are pleasant.)
La Edad Media fue una época oscura.
(The Middle Ages were a dark time.)
Similarly, when referring to the "lyrics" of a song, use the singular word letra. Using the plural letras usually means "letters" (of the alphabet).
La letra de esta canción es hermosa.
(The lyrics of this song are beautiful.)
Finally, a company's or army's "headquarters" is translated using singular nouns like sede, central, or cuartel general.
La sede está en Madrid.
(The headquarters are in Madrid.)
Summary
When you encounter English plural nouns like "clothes", "oats", or "lyrics", check if the Spanish translation is singular. If it is, always pair it with singular verbs (like es or está) and singular adjectives.
Singular in Spanish, plural in English