pañal
/paˈɲal/masculine
The Spanish word for diaper is pañal.
The term pañal refers to an absorbent garment used for waste material. It is the most commonly used and accepted term for a diaper in Spanish.
Meaning: absorbent garment for waste material (noun)
Which one should you use?
While pañal is the standard term, pañalito is a diminutive used to refer to a small diaper and calzón is used in certain contexts to mean diaper.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, the diminutive pañalito is commonly used to mean a small diaper. In some Hispanic countries, the term calzón is used to refer to a diaper.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of pañal is pañales.
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈɲal/
Did you know?
- If you use the word calzón to refer to a diaper in certain Latin American countries, you might be confused because that word usually means 'underwear' or 'panties'.
- The word pañal is built from the word paño, which means 'cloth'. This reveals that the term's origins are rooted in the simple material used before modern disposable versions existed.
- In a medical context, the phrase uso de pañal is often used as a clinical euphemism for incontinence in adults.
Examples in context
- ¿Llevas puesto un pañal?Are you wearing a diaper?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is wearing a pañal.Tatoeba #10307502 by Seael, translation #8409271 by Amastan
- Tom necesita un cambio de pañal.Tom needs a diaper change.This sentence is useful for mentioning that Tom needs a change of pañal.Tatoeba #6853487 by albrusgher, translation #5745213 by CM
- Usa pañal por razones médicas.He wears a diaper for medical reasons.This sentence is useful for explaining that someone uses a pañal for medical reasons.Tatoeba #10302072 by DJ_Saidez, translation #9189923 by DJ_Saidez
- Necesito cambiarle los pampers al bebéI need to change the baby's diaper.
- El pañalito se ha empapadoThe small diaper is soaked.
- Cambio el pañal del bebé.I change the baby's diaper.
- Cambias el pañal del bebé.You change the baby's diaper.
- Ella cambia el pañal del bebé.She changes the baby's diaper.
- Necesito comprar pañales.I need to buy diapers.
- El bebé necesita un pañal limpioThe baby needs a clean diaper.
- Voy a llevar la pañalera por si necesitamos más pañalesI will bring the diaper bag in case we need more diapers.
- ¡Le estás cambiando el pañal al bebé al revés!You are putting the baby's diaper on backwards!
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are packing a bag for their baby.
- JavierElena, ¿pusiste un pañal en la maleta?Elena, did you put a diaper in the bag?
- ElenaSí, puse tres en el bolsillo pequeño.Yes, I put three in the small pocket.
- JavierPerfecto, también necesitamos toallitas húmedas.Perfect, we also need wet wipes.
- ElenaYa están aquí junto al pañal.They are already here next to the diaper.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “diaper” translations and entries pañal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pañal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
