patineta
/patiˈneta/Latin America, feminine
The English word skateboard is translated into Spanish as patineta, monopatín or skate.
Meaning: sports/recreation platform on wheels (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| patineta | /patiˈneta/ | Latin America, feminine |
| monopatín | /monopaˈtin/ | masculine |
| skate | /esˈkeit/ | masculine |
All three terms refer to a sports or recreation platform on wheels. While patineta specifically names the board, it is also used in many dialects to describe the activity of skateboarding itself.
Which one should you use?
patineta refers to the board and is also used to describe the activity.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
skate is an anglicism used as slang, particularly within skater subcultures or in very informal settings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
patineta is the standard term used in much of Latin America, whereas monopatín is commonly used in Spain.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the action of riding a skateboard, use the preposition en with the noun, such as in the phrase andar en patineta.
How do you pronounce it?
/patiˈneta/
Did you know?
- Spanish uses the root patín to describe a skateboard, but the word for a 'slip' or 'slide' is patinazo, showing how the sport's name is linked to the act of losing balance.
- The word monopatín is built from the prefix mono- meaning 'one' and patín meaning 'skate'. Literally, it describes a 'one-skate' or a single-bladed device.
- In Spanish, the verb patinar describes the action of using a patineta, but it is also the general word used for ice skating and roller skating.
Examples in context
- No puedes andar en patineta aquí.You can't skateboard here.This sentence is useful for showing how to express the action of skateboarding using patineta.Tatoeba #4695560 by cueyayotl, translation #2273982 by CK
- Tengo un monopatín.I have a skateboard.This sentence is useful for showing how to state possession of a monopatín.Tatoeba #11669874 by 0987654321ok, translation #8833811 by CK
- Su patineta es de color azul.Her skateboard is blue.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are at a local skate park.
- Javier¿Dónde dejaste tu patineta, Sofía?Where did you leave your skateboard, Sofía?
- SofíaEstá cerca de la banca.It is near the bench.
- JavierLa veo, es la roja.I see it, it is the red one.
- SofíaGracias, Javier.Thanks, Javier.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “skateboard” translations and entries patineta, monopatín, 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.
