Spanish word

colchón

Pronunciation

IPA/kolˈtʃon/

Meaning

  • masculine nounmattress

Example

Necesito un colchón nuevo para mi cama.

I need a new mattress for my bed.

Illustration for colchón (mattress)

More examples

Tenemos un colchón plegable para los invitados.

We have a fold-up mattress for guests.

Core concept

Padded sleeping surface for a bed.

Common phrases

  • colchón plegable

    fold-up mattress

  • colchón individual

    single mattress

  • colchón doble

    double mattress

Similar words

almohada: Small soft stuffed cushion that supports the head and neck during sleep.
sábana: Thin flat cloth spread over the mattress to cover the sleeping surface.
futón: Thin foldable bedding used directly on the floor or tatami as a sleep surface.
colchoneta: Light thin mat used for exercise or outdoor resting, easy to carry and store.

Definition in Spanish

Objeto mullido o con muelles que sirve como superficie para dormir y distribuir el peso del cuerpo.

Word origin

From Latin culcīta 'stuffed cushion,' the word entered Spanish through medieval Romance (via Old French) to become colchón.

Usage tips

  • Colchón denotes the mattress itself (the padded surface), while cama refers to the whole bed, and the written accent is on the ó.

Related words

  • colchonetamatnoun
  • colchoneromattress upholsterernoun

Word lists with this word