A pair of bright red lace-up tennis shoes resting side-by-side on a simple, light-colored surface.

zapatos

sa-PA-tos

NounmA1

shoes?general term for footwear

Also:a pair of shoes?often implied when used in plural

📝 In Action

Necesito comprar unos zapatos nuevos para la fiesta.

I need to buy some new shoes for the party.

Estos zapatos de cuero son muy elegantes.

These leather shoes are very elegant.

Por favor, quítate los zapatos antes de entrar.

Please, take off your shoes before coming in.

Word Connections

Synonyms

calzado (footwear)

Common Collocations

un par de zapatos – a pair of shoes
zapatos de tacón – high-heeled shoes
zapatos deportivos – sports shoes / sneakers
atarse los zapatos – to tie one's shoes

Idioms & Expressions

estar en los zapatos de alguien – To imagine yourself in someone else's situation.
no llegarle ni a la suela del zapato – To be not nearly as good as someone else.

💡 Grammar Points

Always Masculine and Plural

Zapatos is the plural form of zapato (one shoe). Because it's a masculine word, you must use masculine words with it, like los, unos, and adjectives ending in -os. For example: los zapatos negros (the black shoes).

Singular vs. Plural

You use zapatos (plural) to talk about a pair of shoes. If you need to talk about just one shoe, you use the singular form: zapato. For example, 'Perdí un zapato' (I lost a shoe).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing up Gender

Mistake: "Me gustan las zapatos."

Correction: Me gustan los zapatos. Even though `zapatos` ends in '-os', remember it's a masculine noun, so it needs `los`, not `las`.

Using Singular for a Pair

Mistake: "Compré un zapato nuevo."

Correction: Compré (unos) zapatos nuevos. Unless you really bought only one shoe, use the plural `zapatos` to talk about buying a new pair.

⭐ Usage Tips

Do I need 'un par de'?

Most of the time, just saying zapatos is enough. If you say 'Busco zapatos' (I'm looking for shoes), people understand you want a pair. You only need to add un par de for clarity or when counting, like 'Necesito dos pares de zapatos' (I need two pairs of shoes).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: zapatos

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

zapato(shoe) - noun

zapatería(shoe store) - noun

zapatero(shoemaker, cobbler (male)) - noun

zapatilla(sneaker, slipper) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'zapatos' and 'zapatillas'?

`Zapatos` is the general word for 'shoes'. `Zapatillas` is more specific and usually means 'sneakers' or 'trainers'. In some places, `zapatillas` can also mean 'slippers' you wear at home.

How do I say 'to put on' or 'to take off' shoes?

You use special verbs called reflexive verbs. 'To put on shoes' is `ponerse los zapatos`. 'To take off shoes' is `quitarse los zapatos`. For example, 'Me pongo los zapatos' means 'I put on my shoes'.