Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tumbona | /tumˈbona/ | feminine |
| reposera | /repoˈseɾa/ | feminine |
While tumbona refers to a reclining chair, if you are specifically talking about a heavy, upholstered indoor armchair that reclines, you should use the more precise term sillón reclinable.
What does it mean word for word?
The word tumbona is derived from the verb tumbar, which means to lie down or to knock down.
Which one should you use?
Tumbona is the default term, but reposera is used specifically for folding lounge chairs in certain areas. If you mean a heavy upholstered armchair, use sillón reclinable instead of tumbona.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Southern Cone region, specifically in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, reposera is the standard term for a folding lounge chair or recliner. In certain Latin American countries, you may also encounter sillón reclinador or sillón reclineta to mean recliner.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of reposera is reposeras.
How do you pronounce it?
/tumˈbona/
Did you know?
- In Argentina and Uruguay, a reposera is not just a piece of furniture but a cultural staple of the 'mate' ritual at the beach or park.
- The word tumbona is built from the verb tumbar, which can describe anything from lying down to the act of knocking a building or person over.
- The word reposera comes from reposo, meaning 'rest' or 'repose', which is also the term used for the medical recovery period after surgery.
Examples in context
- El nuevo diseño de la sala de espera incluye cómodos sillones reclinables.The new waiting room design includes comfortable reclining chairs.
- Necesitamos comprar una tumbona para el jardín.We need to buy a recliner for the garden.
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are preparing the patio for the summer.
- SofíaJavier, ¿me ayudas con la tumbona?Javier, can you help me with the recliner?
- JavierClaro, Sofía, ¿dónde la pongo?Sure, Sofía, where should I put it?
- SofíaPonla aquí, junto a la mesa.Put it here, next to the table.
- JavierListo, ahora podemos descansar.Done, now we can relax.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “recliner” translations and entries tumbona, reposera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
