Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| calcetín | /kalθeˈtin/ /kalseˈtin/ |
Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Spain, masculine |
| media | /ˈmedja/ | Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Panama, Philippines, Puerto Rico, South America, feminine |
| soquete | /sokete/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
All three terms refer to a covering for the foot.
Which one should you use?
While both calcetín and media can mean 'sock', calcetín is more common in Spain and Mexico, whereas media is used in many Caribbean and South American countries, though media can also specifically refer to 'stockings' or 'tights'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
calcetín is used in Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Spain. media is used in Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Panama, Philippines, Puerto Rico and South America. soquete is also a masculine option available in the language.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of calcetín is calcetines, while the plural form of media is medias.
How do you pronounce it?
/kalθeˈtin/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse the noun media (meaning socks or stockings) with the Spanish word media, which means 'half' or 'middle' (the feminine form of medio).
Did you know?
- The root of calcetín comes from the Latin word calx, meaning 'heel'.
- The term soquete is often used specifically for short, ankle-length socks, whereas calcetín can cover a wider range of lengths.
- Depending on the country, calling a sock a media instead of a calcetín can immediately signal where the speaker is from.
Examples in context
- Me falta un calcetín.I'm missing a sock.This sentence is useful for saying you are missing a calcetín.Tatoeba #1892428 by Alba, translation #1891025 by CK
- Este calcetín tiene un tomate.This sock has a tomato.This sentence is useful for describing a calcetín with a tomato on it.Tatoeba #865677 by Shishir, translation #10369415 by DJ_Saidez
- Hay un agujero en tu calcetín.There is a hole in your sock.This sentence is useful for pointing out a hole in a calcetín.Tatoeba #1701635 by teskmon, translation #18089 by Zifre
- Necesito comprar una media nueva.I need to buy a new sock.
- ¿Dónde están mis calcetas?Where are my socks?
- Voy a ponerme mis medias antes de salir.I'm going to put on my socks before heading out.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are getting ready to leave the house.
- María¿Dónde está mi otro calcetín?Where is my other sock?
- AlejandroEstá debajo de la cama, María.It is under the bed, María.
- MaríaGracias, este calcetín es muy cómodo.Thanks, this sock is very comfortable.
- AlejandroQué bueno, Alejandro ya está listo.That's good, Alejandro is ready now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sock” translations and entries calcetín, media, 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 calcetín, media, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
