monopatín
/monopaˈtin/masculine
In Spanish, 'skateboard' can be translated as monopatín, patineta or skate.
Meaning: sports/recreation platform on wheels (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| monopatín | /monopaˈtin/ | masculine |
| patineta | /patiˈneta/ | Latin America, feminine |
| skate | /esˈkeit/ | masculine |
The term refers to a sports or recreation platform on wheels. To express the action of skateboarding, use the verb phrase andar en followed by the noun. For example, to say 'to skateboard', you would say andar en monopatín. In some urban areas, the English term skateboard is also occasionally used.
Which one should you use?
Use patineta primarily in Latin American countries, while monopatín is a common term used in Spain and several Latin American countries. The word skate is a widely recognized abbreviation and an anglicism used in many regions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Patineta is used in Latin America. Monopatín is common in Spain and several Latin American countries.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of patineta is patinetas.
How do you pronounce it?
/monopaˈtin/
Did you know?
- While skate is borrowed from English, it is considered a pseudo-anglicism because its usage in Spanish differs from how English speakers use the noun 'skate'.
- The word monopatín uses the prefix mono-, meaning 'single', to distinguish the one-board design from traditional ice skates that come in pairs.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the word patín can refer to anything from an ice skate to a roller skate, making the specific terms patineta or monopatín essential for clarity.
Examples in context
- No puedes andar en patineta aquí.You can't skateboard here.This sentence is useful for expressing a prohibition involving patineta.Tatoeba #4695560 by cueyayotl, translation #2273982 by CK
- Tengo un monopatín.I have a skateboard.This sentence is useful for expressing possession involving monopatín.Tatoeba #11669874 by 0987654321ok, translation #8833811 by CK
- Pedro está montando la patineta en el parque.Pedro is riding the skateboard in the park.
- Mi hermana me regaló el monopatín de mis sueños.My sister gifted me the skateboard of my dreams.
- ¡Compré un nuevo patinete! ¡Qué chévere mi nuevo skate!I bought a new scooter! My new skate is so cool!
- Vamos a patinar con nuestras patinetas después de clase.Let's go skateboarding with our skateboards after class.
- El monopatín es de color rojo.The skateboard is red.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are at a park.
- DanielMira mi monopatín, Sofía.Look at my skateboard, Sofía.
- SofíaEs muy bonito, Daniel.It is very pretty, Daniel.
- Daniel¿Quieres probar el monopatín?Do you want to try the skateboard?
- SofíaNo gracias, me da miedo.No thanks, I am scared.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “skateboard” translations and entries monopatín, patineta, skate, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries monopatín, patineta, skate, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
