bolsón
/bolˈson/masculine
The English phrase "tote bag" can be translated into Spanish as bolsón. It is also spelled shicra. Wiktionary also lists shigra.
Meaning: large handbag (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bolsón | /bolˈson/ | masculine |
| shigra | /ˈʃiɡɾa/ | Peru, feminine |
| shicra | /ˈʃikɾa/ | feminine, alternative form |
The word bolsón is used to describe a large bag. However, in many contexts, it refers to a bag that is bulky or oversized rather than a specific fashion item like a canvas tote.
Which one should you use?
While bolsón is a general term for a large or bulky bag, shigra and its alternative spelling shicra refer to a very specific type of traditional hand-woven bag.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Peru, the term shigra is used to refer specifically to a traditional hand-woven bag. The spelling shicra is an alternative way to write this same word.
How does it change in a sentence?
The term bolsón is a masculine noun, whereas both shigra and shicra are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word bolsón is pronounced /bolˈson/.
Did you know?
- The term shigra comes from the Quechua language, an indigenous language of the Andes. It describes a specific traditional bag that is very different from a modern commercial 'tote bag'.
- While 'tote bag' in English is a neutral term for a style, calling a bag a bolsón in Spanish can imply that the bag is awkwardly bulky or oversized.
- The suffix -ón in bolsón is an augmentative, which is used across Spanish to make any object sound larger or more imposing.
Example sentences for Spanish are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are shopping for groceries.
- MateoElena, ¿trajiste el bolsón?Elena, did you bring the tote bag?
- ElenaSí, Mateo, está en el carro.Yes, Mateo, it is in the car.
- MateoPerfecto, cabe todo ahí.Perfect, everything fits in there.
- ElenaEs el mejor bolsón que tengo.It is the best tote bag I have.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tote bag” translations and entries bolsón, shigra, shicra, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bolsón, CC BY-SA 4.0.
