Inklingo

How to Say "marionette" in Spanish

English → Spanish

marioneta

/mah-ryo-NEH-tah//maɾjoˈneta/

nounA2general
Use 'marioneta' when referring to a puppet specifically controlled by strings from above.
A wooden puppet with strings attached to its limbs, standing on a small stage.

Examples

El niño hace bailar a su marioneta.

The boy makes his puppet dance.

Vimos una obra de marionetas en el parque.

We saw a puppet play in the park.

El marionetista mueve los hilos con mucha habilidad.

The puppeteer moves the strings with great skill.

Always Feminine

This word is always feminine ('la marioneta'), even if the puppet looks like a man or is played with by a boy.

Plural Form

To talk about more than one, simply add an 's' to the end: 'las marionetas'.

Marioneta vs. Muñeca

Mistake: “Using 'muñeca' to describe a string puppet.”

Correction: Use 'marioneta' for puppets with strings; 'muñeca' is specifically for a doll that you hold.

títere

nounA2general
Use 'títere' for puppets in general, but it can also specifically refer to string-controlled puppets, especially in certain regional contexts or when referring to the broader concept of puppetry.

Examples

El niño juega con un títere de calcetín.

The boy is playing with a sock puppet.

Marioneta vs. Títere

While both can refer to string puppets, 'marioneta' is the more direct and universally understood term for a puppet controlled by strings. 'Títere' is broader and can encompass other types of puppets as well, making 'marioneta' the safer choice if you're specifically thinking of a traditional string puppet.

Related Translations

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