Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| suéter | /ˈsweteɾ/ | Latin America, masculine |
| chaleco | /t͡ʃaˈleko/ | Chile, masculine |
| buzo | /ˈbuθo/ /ˈbuso/ |
Colombia, feminine |
| chompa | /ˈt͡ʃompa/ | Bolivia, Peru, feminine |
| jersey | /xeɾˈsei/ | masculine |
| pulóver | /puˈlobeɾ/ | Argentina, masculine |
| sueta | /sweta/ (from spelling rules) | Costa Rica, feminine |
The term refers to a garment worn for warmth, similar to a sweater.
Which one should you use?
While most of these terms mean sweater, they can have different meanings depending on the region. In Chile, chaleco is used for a sweater, although in most other Spanish-speaking areas it means a sleeveless vest. In Colombia, buzo refers to a sweater or sweatshirt, but in many other countries, it refers to a scuba diver. In Bolivia and Peru, chompa is the common term for a sweater.
Is it said differently in some regions?
There are several regional variations for sweater: suéter is used in Latin America. pulóver is common in Argentina. buzo is used in Colombia and also frequently in Argentina. chompa is used in Bolivia and Peru. chaleco is used in Chile. And sueta is used in Costa Rica.
How does it change in a sentence?
suéter and jersey are masculine nouns, while buzo, chompa and sueta are feminine nouns. chaleco and pulóver are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsweteɾ/
Did you know?
- The word buzo is related to the Latin word būcinum, which referred to a curved war trumpet.
- Because chaleco means 'vest' in most countries but 'sweater' in Chile, a traveler asking for a sweater in Santiago might be given a jacket and elsewhere a sleeveless garment.
Examples in context
- Me gusta tu jersey.I like your sweater.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for a specific jersey.Tatoeba #5674314 by arh, translation #5672557 by Hybrid
- Ella le tejió un suéter.She knit him a sweater.This sentence is useful for describing the action of knitting a suéter.Tatoeba #959576 by hayastan, translation #887267 by CK
- No me gusta este suéter.I don't like this sweater.This sentence is useful for expressing a dislike for a specific suéter.Tatoeba #1748472 by marcelostockle, translation #60946 by CK
- ¡Me encanta tu jersey nuevo!I love your new sweater!
- Mi abuela tejió un pulóver muy abrigadoMy grandmother knitted a very warm sweater
- ¿Dónde compraste ese suéter tan bonito?Where did you buy that lovely sweater?
- Voy a comprarme un buzo nuevoI'm going to buy a new sweater
- 71 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are getting ready to go outside in cold weather.
- DanielHace frío, voy a buscar mi suéter.It's cold, I'm going to look for my sweater.
- SofíaYo también necesito un suéter.I need a sweater too.
- DanielPuedes usar este suéter azul si quieres.You can use this blue sweater if you want.
- SofíaGracias, Daniel, me queda muy bien.Thanks, Daniel, it fits me very well.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sweater” translations and entries suéter, chaleco, buzo, chompa, jersey, pulóver, 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 buzo, chaleco, chompa, jersey, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
