chaleco
/t͡ʃaˈleko/masculine
The Spanish word for vest is chaleco.
Chaleco is the most common and general term used to refer to a vest in Spanish. It can be used for various types of vests, such as a chaleco salvavidas (life vest or life jacket) or a chaleco antibalas (bulletproof vest).
Meaning: garment worn over a shirt (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
Chaleco is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃaˈleko/
Did you know?
- The history of the word suggests it traveled from the Ottoman Empire into Europe, eventually settling into the Spanish language via Italian influences.
- If you are in a medical setting in some Latin American countries, you might hear the word jaleco used to refer to a white coat, which is a cognate of the Spanish chaleco.
- Spanish has a specific term chaleco reflectante for a high-visibility safety vest, which is legally mandatory for drivers to keep in their cars in Spain.
Examples in context
- ¿Dónde está mi chaleco salvavidas?Where's my life vest?This sentence is useful for asking about the location of a chaleco.Tatoeba #13649075 by Seael, translation #6583367 by Eccles17
- Tom llevaba un chaleco antibalas, así que la bala no le mató.Tom was wearing a bulletproof vest, so the bullet didn't kill him.This sentence shows how to describe someone wearing a chaleco.Tatoeba #1116453 by Shishir, translation #1103210 by CK
- Chaleco de trajeFormal business vest
- Chaleco de seguridadSafety vest
- Necesito comprar un chaleco para la boda.I need to buy a vest for the wedding.
- ¡Mira qué chalequillo más bonito!Look at this cute little vest!
- Este chaleco de lana es muy cálido.This wool vest is very warm.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are getting ready to go out in the evening.
- Elena¿Te gusta este chaleco azul, Daniel?Do you like this blue vest, Daniel?
- DanielSí, te queda muy bien.Yes, it looks great on you.
- ElenaGracias, creo que me lo pondré.Thanks, I think I will wear it.
- DanielEs una buena elección para la cena.It is a good choice for dinner.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vest” translations and entries chaleco, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chaleco, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
