Inklingo

How to Say "fancy dress" in Spanish

English → Spanish

disfraz

/dees-frahs//disˈfɾaθ/

nounA1general
Use 'disfraz' when referring to a complete costume worn to a party, Halloween, or for role-playing.
A happy child wearing a fluffy, full-body lion costume with a mane and tail, ready for a party.

Examples

Me compré un disfraz de pirata para la fiesta de Halloween.

I bought a pirate costume for the Halloween party.

Mi hermana se puso un disfraz de hada para la fiesta de cumpleaños.

My sister put on a fairy costume for the birthday party.

El niño no reconoció a su padre con el disfraz de oso.

The child didn't recognize his father in the bear disguise.

Necesitamos comprar un disfraz nuevo para Halloween.

We need to buy a new costume for Halloween.

Gender Rule

Even though 'disfraz' ends in 'z', it is always a masculine noun. You must use 'el' (el disfraz) and 'los' for the plural ('los disfraces').

Confusing Noun and Verb

Mistake: “Using 'disfraz' (the noun) when you mean 'to dress up'.”

Correction: To say 'I dressed up,' use the related verb 'disfrazarse' (Me disfracé), not the noun.

fantasía

nounB1general
Use 'fantasía' specifically for costume jewelry, meaning items that are not made of precious metals or genuine gemstones.

Examples

Los pendientes de fantasía son una opción económica para complementar un atuendo.

Costume jewelry earrings are an affordable option to complement an outfit.

Costume vs. Costume Jewelry

The most common mistake is using 'fantasía' for a full costume. Remember, 'disfraz' is for clothing you wear as a costume, while 'fantasía' refers only to accessory items like jewelry that are not real.

Related Translations

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