You’d think that the Spanish word for KITE would be an easy word. Four letters, nothing fancy, just some twigs, paper and string. A mere kid’s toy. Simple, right? Quite the opposite, folks.
It turns out there are at least 15 Spanish language words for the same object.
KITE comes to mind as the word that caused my first pre-Speaking Latino stumbling while learning Spanish. I believe the first word I learned for KITE is cometa. Lots of places understand this word, but few use it. It seems each country has invented its own word.
Today, I’m feeling cantankerous so I’m just going to mention the different words I’ve run across for KITE. Let’s see if you can fill in the country corresponding to each, or even add other words, here in the comments (HINT: most of these are in the Speaking Latino online dictionary).
Spanish Language Words for KITE
My first list included only six words: volantin, chiringa, barrilete, papalote, papelote and the previously divulged cometa. Me thinks that papagayo is another for the list. It’s used in Portuguese, but I am convinced some Spanish-speaking country uses it as well. Am I right?
But here is a more updated list:
1. barrilete
Used Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia (Caribbean), Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua
2. chichigua
In Dominican Republic
3. chiringa
In Puerto Rico and Cuba
4. cometa
Used in Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Nicaragua, Uruguay, Chile, Spain and some parts of Venezuela and Mexico
5. lechuza
In Nicaragua
6. pandorga
Paraguay and some areas of Argentina and Uruguay
7. papagayo
In Venezuela
8. papalote
Used in Costa Rica, Cuba & Mexico
9. papelote
In Honduras
10. piscucha
In El Salvador
11. volador
Used in Bolivia and some areas of Venezuela
12. volantín
Used in Chile and in some parts of Argentina, Bolivia and Venezuela
13. zamura
In some areas of Venezuela
14. cachirulo
In Valencia, Spain
15. petaca
In some areas of Venezuela
8 Spanish Words for KITE Video
Watch this video update where, in a minute, I’ll give you 8 words for KITE.
