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marioneta

mah-ryo-NEH-tah/maɾjoˈneta/

“marioneta” means “puppet” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

puppet, marionette

Also: dummy
NounfA2
A wooden puppet with strings attached to its limbs, standing on a small stage.

📝 In Action

El niño hace bailar a su marioneta.

A1

The boy makes his puppet dance.

Vimos una obra de marionetas en el parque.

A2

We saw a puppet play in the park.

El marionetista mueve los hilos con mucha habilidad.

B1

The puppeteer moves the strings with great skill.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • títere (puppet (often used for hand puppets))
  • muñeco (doll or figure)

Common Collocations

  • teatro de marionetas – puppet theater
  • mover los hilos – to pull the strings

puppet

Also: pawn
NounfB2
A small wooden figure being moved by a large pair of hands in the sky.

📝 In Action

El director es solo una marioneta del dueño de la empresa.

B1

The director is just a puppet of the company owner.

No quiero ser la marioneta de nadie.

B2

I don't want to be anyone's puppet.

Muchos creen que el político es una marioneta del gobierno extranjero.

C1

Many believe the politician is a puppet of the foreign government.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • títere (puppet (figurative))
  • pelele (straw man / weakling)

Antonyms

  • líder (leader)

Common Collocations

  • ser una marioneta – to be a puppet

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser una marioneta en manos de alguien – to be completely controlled by someone else

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "marioneta" in Spanish:

dummy→marionette→pawn→puppet→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: marioneta

Question 1 of 3

If you describe a boss as 'una marioneta', what are you saying?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
marionetista(puppeteer) — Noun
títere(puppet) — Noun
titiritero(puppeteer (for hand puppets)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Borrowed from the French word 'marionnette', which was a little nickname for 'Marion' (Mary). In the Middle Ages, small stringed figures were often used to represent the Virgin Mary in church plays.

First recorded: 18th century (in Spanish)

Cognates (Related words)

French: marionnetteEnglish: marionetteItalian: marionetta

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'marioneta' the same as 'títere'?

Almost! 'Títere' is the general word for any puppet (like a hand puppet or finger puppet). 'Marioneta' is specifically a puppet with strings.

Can I use 'marioneta' to describe a woman?

Yes. It can describe anyone who is being manipulated by someone else, regardless of their gender.

Is it an offensive word?

When used for the toy, no. When used for a person, it is insulting because it suggests they have no willpower or intelligence of their own.