chaleco
“chaleco” means “vest” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
vest, waistcoat
Also: gilet
📝 In Action
Lleva un chaleco de cuadros muy elegante.
A2He is wearing a very elegant checkered waistcoat.
Necesito un chaleco más grueso para el invierno.
A1I need a thicker vest for the winter.
El chaleco de punto combina bien con esta camisa.
B1The knitted vest goes well with this shirt.
life jacket, safety vest
Also: bulletproof vest
📝 In Action
Pónganse el chaleco salvavidas antes de que el barco zarpe.
B1Put on the life jacket before the boat sails.
Los policías llevaban chalecos antibalas.
B2The police officers were wearing bulletproof vests.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "chaleco" in Spanish:
bulletproof vest→gilet→life jacket→safety vest→vest→waistcoat→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: chaleco
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'chaleco' to mean a life-saving device?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word likely comes from the French 'chalec' or 'gilet,' which itself was borrowed from Turkish or Arabic, referring to a type of close-fitting jacket without sleeves. It has been used in Spanish to describe this garment for centuries.
First recorded: 17th century (approx.)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
¿Es 'chaleco' una palabra moderna?
No, 'chaleco' es una palabra antigua en español, pero el estilo del chaleco como prenda de vestir ha cambiado mucho a lo largo de los siglos, desde ropa formal hasta ropa deportiva.
If I want to talk about a puffy winter vest, should I use 'chaleco'?
Yes, 'chaleco' is the correct word. You can specify it by saying 'chaleco acolchado' (padded vest) or 'chaleco de plumas' (down vest).