Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Bathing Suit in Spanish: Traje de baño
Traje de baño · noun · TRAH-heh deh BAH-nyoh
A bathing suit is called 'traje de baño' in most Spanish-speaking countries, literally meaning 'bath suit.' Spain favors 'bañador,' Argentina uses 'malla,' and Colombia prefers 'vestido de baño.' All terms cover swimwear for both men and women, though bikini is used as a loanword for two-piece suits everywhere.
TRAH-heh deh BAH-nyoh
No olvides meter tu traje de baño en la maleta para las vacaciones en Cancún.
Don't forget to pack your bathing suit in the suitcase for the Cancún vacation.
Bathing Suit in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for bathing suit, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| traje de baño | bathing suit | TRAH-heh deh BAH-nyoh | Default, widely understood |
| bañador | bathing suit | Spain | |
| malla | bathing suit | Argentina and Uruguay | |
| vestido de baño | bathing suit | Colombia |
How Native Speakers Use Traje de baño
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Beach trip
Compré un traje de baño nuevo con estampado tropical para el viaje a la costa.
I bought a new bathing suit with a tropical print for the trip to the coast.
Traje de baño covers all swimwear types—one-piece, trunks, and bikinis.
Pool day (Spain)
¿Trajiste tu bañador? La piscina del hotel es espectacular y quiero nadar.
Did you bring your bathing suit? The hotel pool is spectacular and I want to swim.
Bañador is the standard term throughout Peninsular Spanish.
Shopping (Argentina)
Las mallas de esta temporada vienen en colores fluorescentes muy llamativos.
This season's bathing suits come in very eye-catching fluorescent colors.
Malla (or mallas) is the go-to word in Argentine and Uruguayan stores.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Traje de baño
Literal translation
Incorrect: Necesito comprar un suit de baño.
Correct: Necesito comprar un traje de baño.
Suit is English; the Spanish word traje is required to form the complete phrase traje de baño.
Gender mismatch for bikini
Incorrect: Me compré un bikini nuevo. Está muy bonito.
Correct: Me compré un bikini nuevo. Está muy bonito.
Bikini is a masculine loanword in Spanish ('el bikini'), so 'un bikini nuevo' with masculine agreement is actually correct—this is a common point of second-guessing for learners.
Lock in Bathing Suit Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Traje de baño used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using traje de baño in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear No olvides meter tu traje de baño en la maleta para las vacaciones en Cancún. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Bathing Suit in Spanish
- Which word for bathing suit is most widely understood?
- Traje de baño is the safest choice because it is universally understood across every Spanish-speaking country. While locals may prefer regional terms like bañador or malla, everyone will recognize traje de baño without any confusion.
- Is bikini used in Spanish?
- Bikini has been fully adopted into Spanish as a masculine loanword ('el bikini') and is used everywhere to describe a two-piece swimsuit. Its pronunciation stays very close to the English original, with a slight Spanish vowel adjustment.
- How do you say 'swim trunks' in Spanish?
- Men's swim trunks are typically called 'bermudas de baño' or 'shorts de baño' in Latin America, and 'bañador' in Spain (which serves for both men's and women's swimwear). Some regions also use 'calzoneta' for men's trunks, particularly in Central America.