paja

Paja is a term used in Spanish with multiple meanings across different contexts. The most common meaning is straw or hay: the dried stalks of cereal plants used for animal bedding, fodder, mulch, or packing material. In agricultural settings, paja refers to an everyday material integral to farming and livestock care.

In slang, paja denotes masturbation. This usage is informal and regional, and it can be considered crude or vulgar in many contexts. The term also appears in colloquial expressions such as “paja mental,” which describes an unfounded or daydreaming notion; these usages are typically restricted to casual speech and vary by country.

Geographically, Paja is also the name of places in various Spanish-speaking countries. It is used as a toponym for towns, districts, or municipalities, with the exact characteristics and history differing by location. The name often reflects historical or cultural associations with straw or agricultural practices in the area.

The word’s meanings are distinguished by context: agricultural material, a slang term, or a place name. Because of its diverse senses, the intended meaning of paja is generally clear from how it appears in a sentence or discourse.