zapato
neutral, Mexico
The word for "shoe" in Mexican Spanish is zapato. Sneakers are called tenis in Mexico and the word does not change in the singular.
Meaning: footwear covering the foot (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| zapato | neutral, Mexico |
| tenis | Mexico, sneaker |
Zapato usually means a dress shoe or any shoe in general, as in zapatos de piel. One sneaker is un tenis and a pair is unos tenis.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Where Spain says zapatillas for sneakers, Mexico says tenis and keeps zapatillas for ballet or house shoes.
How does it change in a sentence?
Zapato is masculine: el zapato izquierdo, un zapato negro.
Did you know?
- León, Guanajuato, is widely known in Mexico as the country's shoe capital.
Examples in context
- Se me perdió un zapato.I lost a shoe.
- Quiero unos tenis nuevos.I want new sneakers.
- Estos zapatos me aprietan.These shoes are tight on me.
Example conversation
Marcos buys shoes from the clerk Irene in a shop in León.
- MarcosBuenas tardes, busco un zapato negro.Good afternoon, I am looking for a black shoe.
- Irene¿Qué número calza?What size do you wear?
- MarcosEl veintiocho.Size twenty eight.
