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títere

TEE-teh-reh/ˈtiteɾe/

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

puppet

Also: marionette
NounmA2
A wooden marionette with strings attached to its limbs being held up.

📝 In Action

El niño juega con un títere de calcetín.

A1

The boy is playing with a sock puppet.

Vimos una obra de títeres en la plaza.

A2

We saw a puppet show in the square.

El titiritero mueve los hilos del títere con mucha habilidad.

B1

The puppeteer moves the puppet's strings with great skill.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • obra de títeres – puppet show
  • títere de guante – hand puppet
  • títere de hilos – string puppet

puppet

Also: pawn
NounmB2informal
A large hand holding strings that are attached to a small person below.

📝 In Action

No quiero ser un títere en sus manos.

B1

I don't want to be a puppet in their hands.

Muchos creen que el presidente es solo un títere del partido.

B2

Many believe the president is just a puppet of the party.

Lo trataron como a un títere durante toda la negociación.

C1

They treated him like a pawn throughout the entire negotiation.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • monigote (figurehead/puppet)
  • pelele (straw man/wimp)

Idioms & Expressions

  • títere sin cabeza – someone acting frantically without a plan or purpose
  • no dejar títere con cabeza – to criticize or destroy everyone/everything in sight

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: títere

Question 1 of 3

If you are at a 'teatro de títeres', what are you watching?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
titiritero(puppeteer) — Noun
titiritear(to shiver or tremble) — Verb
titeretería(puppetry/puppet shop) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
desquiteite
📚 Etymology▼

Likely onomatopoeic, imitating the high-pitched 'ti-ti' sound made by a special whistle (called a cerbatana) that old-fashioned puppeteers used to change their voices.

First recorded: 16th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: títereFrench: titi (colloquial for street urchin, related to sound)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'títere' and 'marioneta' the same thing?

Mostly! 'Títere' is the general word for any puppet (hand, finger, string). 'Marioneta' specifically refers to those controlled by strings from above.

Can I use 'títere' to describe a stuffed animal?

Not usually. A stuffed animal is a 'peluche'. Use 'títere' only if the toy is designed to be moved/animated by a person.

Why is the word related to 'shivering' (titiritear)?

The quick, jerky movements of a puppet are similar to how a person shakes when they are cold, which is why the two words share a similar sound and root.