Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| camiseta | /kamiˈseta/ | feminine |
| chema | /ˈt͡ʃema/ | Costa Rica, masculine |
| franela | /fɾaˈnela/ | Colombia, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, feminine |
| playera | /plaˈʝeɾa/ | Guatemala, Mexico, feminine |
| polo | /ˈpolo/ | Peru, masculine |
| polera | /poˈleɾa/ | Bolivia, Chile, feminine |
| pulóver | /puˈlobeɾ/ | Cuba, masculine |
| remera | /reˈmeɾa/ | Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, feminine |
| suéter | /ˈsweteɾ/ | Panama, masculine |
| T-shirt | /tsiɾt/ (from spelling rules) | Puerto Rico, US, masculine |
The term camiseta is the most widely understood and neutral term for a t-shirt across the Spanish-speaking world.
Which one should you use?
While camiseta is the neutral standard, many regions have their own specific terms. In Mexico and Guatemala, you will hear playera, while in Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, people use franela. In Bolivia and Chile, polera is the standard term. In Argentina, Uruguay or some parts of Chile, the word remera is used for 't-shirt'. Other specific terms include chema in Costa Rica, polo in Peru, pulóver in Cuba, suéter in Panama and T-shirt in Puerto Rico and the US.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional variations are widespread: chema is used in Costa Rica. franela in Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. playera in Mexico and Guatemala. polo in Peru. polera in Bolivia and Chile. pulóver in Cuba. remera in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. suéter in Panama. And T-shirt in Puerto Rico and the US.
How does it change in a sentence?
The gender of these words varies. camiseta, franela, playera, polera and remera are feminine. chema, polo, pulóver, suéter and T-shirt are masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
/kamiˈseta/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers should be careful not to confuse camiseta (t-shirt) with camisa (button-down shirt).
Did you know?
- The word remera is used in Argentina and Uruguay, likely derived from remar, which means 'to row'.
- In Mexico, the term playera is derived from the word playa, which means 'beach'. This suggests a linguistic connection between t-shirts and clothing worn at the seaside.
- While camiseta is the neutral standard, a person in Argentina calling a t-shirt a camiseta might be referring specifically to a sports jersey.
Examples in context
- Necesito comprar una camiseta nueva.I need to buy a new t-shirt.
- Me encanta esa playera, ¿dónde la compraste?I love that t-shirt, where did you buy it?
- ¿Tienes una polera limpia que pueda usar?Do you have a clean t-shirt I can wear?
- Voy a comprar una linda remera en la tienda.I'm going to buy a nice t-shirt at the store.
- La camiseta es azul.The t-shirt is blue.
- Necesito una camiseta nueva.I need a new t-shirt.
- ¿Dónde está mi camiseta blanca?Where is my white t-shirt?
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are shopping for clothes in a mall.
- Mateo¿Te gusta esta camiseta?Do you like this t-shirt?
- ElenaSí, la camiseta es muy bonita.Yes, the t-shirt is very pretty.
- MateoEs un poco cara, ¿verdad?It is a bit expensive, right?
- ElenaSí, pero es de buena calidad.Yes, but it is good quality.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “t-shirt” translations and entries camiseta, chema, franela, playera, polo, polera, pulóver, remera, suéter, 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 camiseta, franela, playera, CC BY-SA 4.0.
