Spanish - April 26, 2023

How To Say "Shoes" In Spanish

If you are learning Spanish, you might wonder how to say "shoes" in Spanish. "Shoes" is a basic vocabulary word, but it is important to learn if you want to communicate effectively in Spanish-speaking countries. In this article, we will cover the meaning of "shoes" in Spanish, how to say it, and some regional differences you might encounter.

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What is "Shoes" in Spanish?

In Spanish, "shoes" is translated as "zapatos" (IPA: /θaˈpa.tos/). This word is used across Spanish-speaking countries, although there might be some regional differences in terms of accent and pronunciation.

Translating of "Shoes" in Spanish

If you want to say "shoes" in Spanish, you can use the following expressions:

Zapatos (IPA: /θaˈpa.tos/): This is the most common and straightforward way to say "shoes" in Spanish. It is used across Spain, Latin America, and other Spanish-speaking countries.
Calzado (IPA: /kalˈθa.ðo/): This word refers to footwear in general, including shoes, boots, and sandals. It is also used across Spanish-speaking countries.
Zapatillas (IPA: /θapaˈti.ʎas/): This word specifically refers to sports shoes or sneakers. It is commonly used in Spain and some Latin American countries, such as Argentina.
Botas (IPA: /ˈbo.tas/): This word refers to boots. It is commonly used in Spanish-speaking countries with colder climates, such as Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay.
Sandalias (IPA: /sanˈda.li.as/): This word refers to sandals. It is commonly used in Spanish-speaking countries with warmer climates, such as Mexico, Spain, and the Caribbean.

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Regional Differences

While "zapatos" is the most common word for "shoes" in Spanish, there are some regional differences you might encounter. For example:

In Argentina and some other Latin American countries, "zapatillas" is the most common word for sports shoes, while "zapatos" refers to dress shoes.
In Spain, "zapatillas" can also refer to slippers, while in Latin America "pantuflas" is the more common word.
In some parts of Mexico and Central America, tenis (IPA: /ˈtenis/) is used instead of "zapatillas" to refer to sports shoes.
In some regions of South America, such as Peru and Bolivia, ojotas (IPA: /oˈxotas/) is used instead of "sandalias" to refer to flip-flops or thong sandals.
In some parts of Spain and Latin America, alpargatas (IPA: /alpaɾˈɣatas/) is used to refer to espadrilles, a type of canvas or cotton shoe with a jute sole.