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zapatos

sa-PA-tos/saˈpatos/

“zapatos” means “shoes” in Spanish (general term for footwear).

shoes

Also: a pair of shoes
NounmA1
SpainSeveral Latin American countries
A pair of bright red lace-up tennis shoes resting side-by-side on a simple, light-colored surface.

📝 In Action

Necesito comprar unos zapatos nuevos para la fiesta.

A1

I need to buy some new shoes for the party.

Estos zapatos de cuero son muy elegantes.

A2

These leather shoes are very elegant.

Por favor, quítate los zapatos antes de entrar.

A2

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.

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "zapatos" in Spanish:

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
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word 'zapato' is believed to come from the Turkish 'zabata', which passed into Spanish, possibly through Arabic. It originally referred to a type of leather boot or shoe.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: sapatoCatalan: sabataItalian: ciabatta

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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'.