kipá
/kiˈpa/
The English word yarmulke is translated into Spanish as kipá.
The term refers to the skullcap worn by religious Jewish males.
Meaning: skullcap worn by religious Jewish males (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the term kipá is commonly used to refer to the yarmulke.
How do you pronounce it?
/kiˈpa/
Did you know?
- While kipá is the standard term in Latin America, some older Spanish speakers might use solideo, which is also the word used for the small caps worn by Catholic clergy.
- The Spanish word kipá is borrowed from the Hebrew word כִּפָּה, which means 'dome' or 'hemisphere'.
- Unlike the English word 'yarmulke', which is Yiddish, the Spanish kipá is a direct loanword from Hebrew, bypassing Yiddish entirely.
Examples in context
- ¿Viste la kipá que llevaba David en la boda de su primo?Did you see the yarmulke David was wearing at his cousin's wedding?
- Él lleva una kipá de seda.He is wearing a silk kipá.
- La kipá es pequeña y negra.The kipá is small and black.
- ¿Dónde puedo comprar una kipá?Where can I buy a kipá?
Example conversation
Javier and María are visiting a synagogue.
- JavierMaría, ¿debo ponerme una kipá aquí?María, should I put on a skullcap here?
- MaríaSí, Javier, es costumbre usarla en este lugar.Yes, Javier, it is the custom to wear one in this place.
- Javier¿Dónde puedo conseguir una kipá?Where can I get a skullcap?
- MaríaHay algunas disponibles en la entrada.There are some available at the entrance.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry kipá, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kipá, CC BY-SA 4.0.
