pañal
everyday, Mexico
In Mexico a diaper is a pañal, and the plural is pañales. To change a diaper you say cambiar el pañal.
Parents buy pañales desechables, or disposable diapers, at the pharmacy or supermarket. Cloth ones are pañales de tela.
Meaning: absorbent underwear for a baby (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
Some regions use other words for diaper in baby talk, but pañal is the word on Mexican packages and in every shop.
How do you pronounce it?
Say "pah-NYAHL". The ñ sounds like "ny" in "canyon".
Did you know?
- The word pañal comes from paño, meaning cloth, since diapers were once made only of cloth.
Examples in context
- Necesito cambiar el pañal del bebé.I need to change the baby's diaper.
- Compré una caja de pañales.I bought a box of diapers.
- Ya no usa pañal.He no longer wears a diaper.
Example conversation
Marcos asks his wife Alma about the baby in their home in Toluca.
- Marcos¿Ya le cambiaste el pañal?Did you change his diaper already?
- AlmaSí, pero se acabaron los pañales.Yes, but we ran out of diapers.
- MarcosVoy a la farmacia por más.I will go to the pharmacy for more.
