Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cometa | /koˈmeta/ | feminine |
| barrilete | /bariˈlete/ | masculine |
| cachirulo | /kat͡ʃiˈɾulo/ | masculine |
| chichigua | /t͡ʃiˈt͡ʃiɡwa/ | feminine |
| chiringa | /t͡ʃiɾinɡa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| lechuza | /leˈt͡ʃuθa/ /leˈt͡ʃusa/ |
feminine |
| pandero | /panˈdeɾo/ | masculine |
| pandorga | /panˈdoɾɡa/ | feminine |
| papagayo | /papaˈɡaʝo/ | masculine |
| papalota | /papaˈlota/ | feminine |
| papalote | /papaˈlote/ | masculine |
| papelote | /papeˈlote/ | masculine |
| petaca | /peˈtaka/ | feminine |
| piscucha | /pisˈkut͡ʃa/ | feminine |
| volador | /bolaˈdoɾ/ | masculine |
| volantín | /bolanˈtin/ | masculine |
| guashuma | /ɡwaˈʃuma/ | El Salvador, feminine |
All the terms listed refer to a lightweight toy flown in the wind. While cometa is a general term for a kite, it is also the standard word for a comet in an astronomical context.
Which one should you use?
papalote is widely preferred in Mexico, while volantín is common in Chile.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Depending on where you are, you might use different words for a kite: papalote is the preferred and widely used term in Mexico. In Chile, volantín is a common way to refer to a kite. In El Salvador, you may hear guashuma. In southern Spain, the term milano might be used. Other regional variations include barrilete, cachirulo, chichigua, chiringa, lechuza, pandero, pandorga, papagayo, papalote, papelote, petaca, piscucha, volador and volantín. Some countries also use chiringa or barrilete instead of papalote.
How does it change in a sentence?
cometa is a feminine noun and is used with feminine articles like la or una. Conversely, barrilete is a masculine noun and is used with masculine articles like el or un.
How do you pronounce it?
/koˈmeta/
Did you know?
- In Chile, the volantín is central to a competitive tradition where flyers try to cut the strings of their opponents' kites.
- The word barrilete is a diminutive form of the word for 'barrel', which is barril in Spanish. This linguistic connection links a floating toy to a cylindrical container.
- The Mexican term papalote is derived from the Nahuatl word for 'butterfly'.
Examples in context
- Él elevó un volantín.He flew a kite.This sentence shows how to use the masculine form volantín.Tatoeba #1673680 by marcelostockle, translation #291633 by CK
- Tom construyó una cometa.Tom built a kite.This sentence demonstrates the use of the feminine form cometa.Tatoeba #9593900 by dpcossio, translation #7023513 by Hybrid
- Te he comprado una cometa.I bought you a kite.This sentence also uses the feminine form cometa.Tatoeba #1403766 by Shishir, translation #674134 by CK
- ¿Dónde puedo conseguir un papalote por aquí?Where can I get a kite around here?
- ¿Eso es lo mismo que una cometa?Is that the same as a kite?
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are at a park on a windy day.
- Lucía¿Quieres volar una cometa?Do you want to fly a kite?
- MateoSí, me encanta esa cometa.Yes, I love that kite.
- LucíaMira qué alta vuela la cometa.Look how high the kite is flying.
- MateoEs una cometa muy grande.It is a very large kite.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kite” translations and entries cometa, barrilete, cachirulo, chichigua, chiringa, lechuza, pandero, pandorga, papagayo, papalota, papalote, papelote, petaca, piscucha, volador, volantín, guashuma, 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 barrilete, cachirulo, chichigua, cometa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
