Spanish word

chaleco

Pronunciation

IPA/tʃaˈleko/

Meaning

  • masculine nounvest

Example

Me puse el chaleco porque hacía frío.

I put on the vest because it was cold.

Illustration for chaleco (vest)

More examples

En la fiesta llevaba un chaleco elegante.

At the party he was wearing an elegant vest.

Core concept

Sleeveless, lightweight waist-length layer worn over a shirt for fashion or function, closable or left open.

Common phrases

  • ponerse el chaleco

    put on the vest

  • quitarse el chaleco

    take off the vest

  • el chaleco de punto

    knitted vest

Similar words

chaqueta: Sleeved outer garment fastening in front, worn for outdoor use.
suéter: Soft knitted pullover put on over the head, typically with long sleeves.
camisa: Light button-up shirt with a collar, worn close to the skin.
abrigo: Thick long coat worn over clothes for protection from cold.

Definition in Spanish

Vestimenta ligera, sin mangas, que se coloca encima de la camisa y puede cerrarse o dejarse abierta, usada tanto por moda como por función.

Word origin

Chaleco comes from Old Spanish chaleco, originally a short bodice, and over time the sense widened to cover different sleeveless outer layers.

Usage tips

  • Use ponerse and llevar with chaleco and specify type: chaleco salvavidas for life jacket or chaleco de punto/de lana for sweater vests, since English 'vest' differs UK vs US.

Other meanings

  • sweater vestnoun

Word lists with this word