tenis
everyday, Mexico
In Mexico sneakers are called tenis. The word is plural in form even for one pair, so you say unos tenis or mis tenis. It is also called zapatos deportivos.
Meaning: casual sports shoes (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| tenis | everyday, Mexico |
| zapatos deportivos | neutral |
People ask ¿dónde compraste esos tenis? for sneakers. For a formal or shop description, zapatos deportivos is also used.
Which one should you use?
Tenis is also the name of the sport tennis. The word zapatillas is the usual one in Spain and Argentina, but it is not the everyday choice for sneakers in Mexico.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word does not change in the plural: el tenis is the sport, los tenis are the shoes.
Did you know?
- Mexican shoe sizes are given in centimeters for adults, so a man might say he wears a twenty-eight.
Examples in context
- Me compré unos tenis blancos.I bought white sneakers.
- Necesito tenis para correr.I need sneakers for running.
- Mis tenis están sucios.My sneakers are dirty.
Example conversation
Rodrigo and his mother shop for shoes at a mall in León.
- RodrigoMamá, quiero estos tenis.Mom, I want these sneakers.
- Mamá¿Qué número calzas?What size do you wear?
- RodrigoVeintiocho.Twenty-eight.
