Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| vaqueros | /baˈkeɾos/ | masculine, plural |
| blue jeans (blu yins) | Latin America, masculine, plural | |
| bluyín | /bluˈʝin/ | Latin America, colloquial, masculine |
| jeans (yins) | Latin America, masculine, plural | |
| mahones | /maˈones/ | Puerto Rico, masculine, plural |
| pantalones de mezclilla | /pantalones de meθkliʝa/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /pantalones de meskliʝa/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
Mexico, masculine, plural |
| tejanos | /teˈxanos/ | Northeastern, Spain, masculine, plural |
| jean (yin) | masculine | |
| blue jean (blu yin) | masculine | |
| mahón | /maˈon/ | masculine |
| vaquero | /baˈkeɾo/ | masculine |
| pantalón de mezclilla | /pantalon de meθkliʝa/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /pantalon de meskliʝa/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
The term refers to denim trousers. In many parts of Latin America, speakers may use the singular form jean to refer to a single pair of jeans, whereas English speakers typically use the plural.
Which one should you use?
While vaqueros is the default term, other forms exist depending on the region and context. In Mexico, you will often hear pantalones de mezclilla. In Puerto Rico, mahones is used. In Northeastern Spain, the term tejanos is common. In many Latin American contexts, you may also see English-derived forms like jeans, blue jeans or the colloquial bluyín.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term bluyín is a colloquial way to refer to jeans in many parts of Latin America.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, it is common to use the phrase pantalones de mezclilla. In Puerto Rico, you may use mahones. In Northeastern Spain, tejanos is used. Several forms including blue jeans, jeans and bluyín are common in Latin America.
How does it change in a sentence?
In many Latin American dialects, the singular form jean is used to refer to a single pair of jeans.
How do you pronounce it?
/baˈkeɾos/
When do people say it?
The word for jeans, vaqueros, is the same word used for cowboys.
Did you know?
- The Puerto Rican term mahones is actually a way of naming the trousers after the city of Mahón, which is the capital of the island of Minorca.
- The Spanish word vaquero shares a root with vaca, the word for 'cow'.
- While English speakers use 'denim' to describe the material, Spanish speakers often use mezclilla, which literally means 'mixed' or 'blended' to describe the same fabric.
Examples in context
- Él llevaba unos vaqueros.He had jeans on.This sentence is useful for describing what someone was wearing using vaqueros.Tatoeba #1250890 by Shishir, translation #290056 by CK
- Los vaqueros de los vaqueros.The cowboys' jeans.This sentence demonstrates a play on words between the word for jeans and the word for cowboys using vaqueros.Tatoeba #9053421 by rafaeldejesus8199, translation #9053423 by rafaeldejesus8199
- Nunca le he visto en vaqueros.I never saw him in jeans.This sentence is useful for describing a person's attire using vaqueros.Tatoeba #838699 by LugoIlmer, translation #283038 by CK
- Disculpe, ¿dónde puedo encontrar pantalones de mezclilla de color negro?Excuse me, where can I find black denim jeans?
- ¡Oye, esos vaqueros te quedan muy bien!Hey, those jeans look great on you!
- Me encantan los mahones que llevas puestos.I love the jeans you're wearing.
- ¿Tiene usted pantalones de mezclilla en diferentes tallas?Do you have denim jeans in different sizes?
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are choosing clothes at a clothing store.
- SofíaMe gustan mucho estos vaqueros.I really like these jeans.
- Alejandro¿Te quedan bien, Sofía?Do they fit you well, Sofía?
- SofíaSí, son muy cómodos.Yes, they are very comfortable.
- AlejandroEntonces, compra esos vaqueros.Then, buy those jeans.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “jeans” translations and entries vaqueros, bluyín, mahones, tejanos, mahón, vaquero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bluyín, jeans, mahones, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
