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zapatilla

sah-pah-tee-yah/sapaˈtiʝa/

sneaker, trainer

Also: tennis shoe
NounfA1
SpainMexico
A colorful athletic sneaker with white laces and a rubber sole.

📝 In Action

Necesito unas zapatillas nuevas para ir al gimnasio.

A1

I need some new sneakers to go to the gym.

Llevo zapatillas porque vamos a caminar mucho hoy.

A2

I'm wearing trainers because we are going to walk a lot today.

En España, es muy común llevar zapatillas con vaqueros.

B1

In Spain, it's very common to wear sneakers with jeans.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tenis (tennis shoes)
  • deportivas (sports shoes)

Antonyms

  • zapato de vestir (dress shoe)

Common Collocations

  • zapatillas de deporte – sports sneakers
  • zapatillas de correr – running shoes
  • cordones de la zapatilla – shoelaces

slipper

Also: house shoe
NounfA1
A pair of soft, fuzzy pink indoor slippers.

📝 In Action

Al llegar a casa, me quito las botas y me pongo las zapatillas.

A1

When I get home, I take off my boots and put on my slippers.

Mis zapatillas son muy suaves y calientes.

A1

My slippers are very soft and warm.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • pantufla (slipper)
  • chinela (mule/slipper)

Common Collocations

  • zapatillas de estar por casa – house slippers
  • zapatillas de andar por casa – house slippers

ballet shoe

Also: washer
NounfB2
A pair of pink satin ballet slippers with long ribbons.

📝 In Action

La bailarina compró zapatillas de punta nuevas.

B2

The ballerina bought new pointe shoes.

El grifo gotea; creo que hay que cambiar la zapatilla.

C1

The faucet is leaking; I think the washer needs to be replaced.

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: zapatilla

Question 1 of 3

Which of these would you wear to run a marathon?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
zapato(shoe) — Noun
zapatería(shoe store) — Noun
zapatero(shoemaker) — Noun
zapatear(to tap dance or stomp) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Derived from the word 'zapato' (shoe), which likely comes from Turkish or Persian origins, with the Spanish ending '-illa' which usually means 'small.' So, it literally means 'little shoe.'

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: sapatilha

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'zapato' and 'zapatilla'?

'Zapato' is a general term for any shoe, but usually implies something sturdier or more formal. 'Zapatilla' refers to light, soft, or specialized footwear like sneakers, slippers, or ballet shoes.

How do I say 'slippers' specifically so I'm not confused with sneakers?

You can say 'zapatillas de casa' or 'zapatillas de estar por casa'. Many people also use the word 'pantuflas'.

Is it always feminine?

Yes, 'zapatilla' is always a feminine noun, so you use 'la' or 'unas' with it.