Figure 1.--.

We will archive foreign language terms here. We will use English language definitions, although we may try to add foreign language definitions in the future. At least the alphabetical listing of foreign terms will help our non-English speakers find the topics of interest. We also plan to use this page to follow foreign-language fashion terms which provide insights into fashion developments. Again this project will require some time to pursue so it will be a while before we will be able to compile a substantial list. Many Spanish clothing terms are distinct, but there are also a lot of similarities with English and French. In terms of clothing and fashion terms, the general trend has been the adoption of many English and foreign terms into Spanish. Relatively few Spanish clothing terms have become English terms. Several terms like "sombrero" have become recognizeable in English, but only a few like "poncho" have been incorporated into English.

Archivaremos aquí términos del idioma extranjero. Utilizaremos definiciones del lenguaje inglés, aunque trataremos de agregar definiciones de idiomas extranjeros en el futuro. Al menos el listado alfabético de términos no nativos ayudará a nuestros lectores no angloparlantes a encontrar los distintos temas que sean de su interés. También planeamos utilizar esta pagina para seguir los términos extranjeros que hayan tenido penetracion en el desarrollo de la moda. Este proyecto requerirá otra vez un cierto tiempo de desarrollo hasta que podamos compilar una lista substancial. Muchos términos españoles referidos a la ropa son muy distintos de un idioma a otro, pero, no obstante también existen muchas semejanzas con el inglés y el francés. En términos de la ropa y de la moda, la tendencia general ha sido la adopción de muchos términos ingleses y extranjeros en español. Relativamente pocos términos españoles de la ropa tienen términos ingleses convertidos. Varios términos como "sombrero" han llegado a ser recognizeable en inglés, pero solamente algunos como "poncho" se han incorporado en inglés.


Abrigo: Coat

Blazer: The proper translation is "saco" but in Agentina and some other Latin American countries, the English word "blazer" is commonly used.

Blusa: The word "blusa" which also means "blouse" is widely used for smock in Spain. I have not seen it commonly used in Latin America. We note that "blouse" also has many meanings in French, one of which is smock.

Blusa: The word "blusa" in Spanish also means a child's or woman's shirt, the cirrent common English usage of the term.

Botones: Buttons

Calcetas/Calcentines: "Calcetas" and "Calcentines" are words for socks. These terms are used in Spain and throughout much of Latin America. An Argentine reader, however, tells us. "We don't use this words here, socks are referred to as 'medias'."

Calceta escolar: Kneesocks are called "calceta escolar" or school socks in Mexico. There are apparently strongly assocaited with schoolwear. I do not know how widely this term is used in the rest of the Spanish speaking world. Another reader tells me that "medias" are often used for kneesocks.

Calzonsillos: Underpants.

Camisa: HBC has noted a variety of shirt-like garments. The term "shirt" in English is a realtively recent term. It only became widely used in the 20th century. In the 19th century, the term "waist" was commonly used to describe what we now call shirts. The term blouse was also used. While it had several meanings, the shirt-like garment was more for children and women than adults. In Spanish a shirt with a collar that buttons up is usually called a "camisa". A dress shirt is a "camisa de vestir". Casual shirts without collars that do not button or button completely are "camisetas". An Argenyine reader tells us, "Here, a camiseta is somekind of t-shirt that you use under the shirt when it's a cold day."

Camiseta: T"-shirts along with jeans are some of the most commonly worn clothes worn by modern boys. In is interesting to note that neither were commonly worn by American boys until after the Second World War (1945). Until the 1940s boys almost always wore shirts with collars, although collar styles had changed greatly over the years. These clothes did not reach Europe and Engand until the 1960s-70s. Other casual shirts without collars or do not button completely might be called "camisetas". A polo shirt or "playera" is a kind of "camiseta".

Campera: Campera is the most common Spanish word for jacket. Mexicans commonly say "chaqueta".

Chaleco: Waistcoat (English) and vest (Amrican).

Chandal: Sweater, usually with a hood.

Chaqueta: The word for "jacket" in Mexico is "chaqueta". Mexicans have adopted more English words, or words dervied from English, into Spanish than any other Spanish-speaking country. In Argentina and many other countries "campera" is used for jacket.

Cinturon: Belt

Conjunto: Ensemble, set

Conjunto de pantalones cortos: Shorts set

Corbata: The neck tie is the most vissible and variable fashion accessory worn by men. "Ties are very related to their times, reflective of trends in society," reports Mark-Evan Blackman, Chairman of the menswear department of New York's Fashion Institute of Technology. Neckties as we now know them are a relatively recent fashion accesory. The primary modern male neckwear can be be traced to the 17th-century cravat, a style developed from Croatian mercenaries honored by Louis XIV. As with so much of male fashion, the style is military in origin. Ties have only been worn by boys since the 1900s, although they only became widely accepted in the 1920s. They were extensively worn in the 1920s-40s as boys routeinly wore suits or blazers to school and to a variety of events and activities that now would call for casual clothes. In our more casual modern era, many American boys rarely wear ties and may not, in fact, learn to tie a knot until their teens. Usually British boys learn to handle a tie at an earlier age.

Corbata escolar: School tie

Corduroy: The English word "corduroy" is very commonly used in Latin America. The spelling is often changed to "corderoy". The actual Spanish word is "pana" which is used in Spain itself as well as many Latin American countries including Mexico and Peru. Usage varies, however, from country to country. An Argentine reader tells us that there "corderoy" is always used.

Cuello: Collar

Delantal: The word "delantal" whioch also means "apron" is widely used for smock in Spain, but I have not seen it commonly used in Latin America. I believe the the word is derived from "delante," meaning in front of. Thus the smock or apron would be in front of the other clothes.

Deportivas: Sport shoes. An Argentine reader tells us that they say "zapatillas" for every kind of sport shoe.

Faja: A wide, often brightly colored sash traditionally worn by Spanish and Latin American men.

Falda: Little American boys until well after the turn of the 20th Century wore dresses and other skirted garments like kilt suits. Other skirted garments include smocks and pinafores. American boys rarely wore actual Highland regalia with bright plaids. One skirted garment I know less about are actual skirts.

Falda escocesa: The kilt is a knee-length garment skirtlike garment tarditionally worn by men. The kilt as we know it today has ancient origins. It is generally associated today with Scotland or the Gaelic peoples of the British Isles and Normandy, however it has been worn in other countries as well. The kilt became so associated with Scottish nationalism that the English prohibited it for a time. The kilts use as a style of boys' clothing is much more recent in origin. The Higland kilt is simply a skirt, but younger boys might wear bodice kilts. A much more limited kilt-like garment was the kilt suit. This was kilt worn by small boys with matching jacket and skirt which as popular in America during the late 19th century. Today the kilt is primarily worn at ethnic celebrations and at Gaelic dancing competitions, but it is also worn for Scouting and formal events such as weddings.

Golilla: A collar of lawn or linen, slightly rolled under at the edge and starched to stand out from the neckline, worn in Spain in the 17th century.

Gorra/gorro: A "gora" is a cap (with a visor). Unlike a hat, a cap does not have a brim completely around the hat, but only at the front wgich is called a vusor, peak, or brim. In America boys have taken to wearing theor baseball caps backwars and this is also popular in Mexico.

Grego: A short, hooded coat of thick, coarse fabric, originally worn in the eastern Mediterranean countries.

Guardapolvo: Smocks are a loose, lightweight over garment worn to protect the clothing while working. Initially the smock was a garment for adult workers, especially farm workers. Eventually mothers faced with the need of protecting expensive garments from the hard wear associated with children began dressing their children in smocks. The smock by the late 19th century had become primarily a child's garment, although it was also wrn by shop workers, artists, and other adults. The smock was essentially a l arge shirt or overgarment with the fullness controlled by the smocking (embroidery on pleats). The use of smocking (the decorative embroidery can be easily traced to the 15th century). Albrecht Durer's Self Portrait (German) shows a smocked shirt, and the Mona Lisa (Italian) has a smocked chemise. The use of needlework to control fullness is a very old technique and became known as smocking. Smocking needle work continues today and is a popular addition to fancy collars as well as garments for younger children. This Spanish term means literally "dust protector". I'm not sure why children's clothes needed to be prorected from dust particualrly, perhaps the chalk dust at school. "Guardapolvo" appears to be the term most common in some Latin American countries while "delantal" (apron) or "blusa" (blouse) is more common in Spain itself.

Guayabera: Fancy ligh-weight open necked shirt. The word is also recognized in Spain. It usually has several large front pockets, modeled upon a loose, smock-like shirt originally worn by men in Cuba. Now worn throughout Mexico, and Central America. Usually white or a light color.

Guillerminas: The literal translation of strap shoe is "zapatos de correa" but an Argentie reader reports that they are better known as "zapatos guillermina" or just "guillerminas".

Impermiables: Raincoats

Jersey: Jumper in the English sence of pullover sweater.

Leotardos: Tights