Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
COSTUME in Spanish: DISFRAZ
Disfraz · noun · dees-FRAHS
The Spanish word for costume is disfraz, used when someone dresses up as a character or wears a disguise for celebrations like Halloween, Carnival, or themed parties. Many learners mistakenly reach for the word costumbre, which actually means custom or habit, not costume. For theatrical or film wardrobes, the terms traje or vestuario are more appropriate, but for everyday dress-up scenarios, disfraz is the go-to word.
dees-FRAHS
Los niños eligieron su disfraz para la fiesta.
The kids chose their costume for the party.
Costume in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for costume, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| disfraz | costume | dees-FRAHS | Default, widely understood |
| traje | costume | for theatrical or formal costumes | |
| vestuario | costume | wardrobe, theater/film context |
How Native Speakers Use Disfraz
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Halloween plans
Todavía no he comprado mi disfraz de Halloween.
I still haven't bought my Halloween costume.
Refers to buying a costume for Halloween.
Carnival celebration
Durante el carnaval, todos salen a la calle con disfraces coloridos.
During carnival, everyone goes out in colorful costumes.
Highlights the plural form disfraces used for carnival attire.
Theater production
El vestuario de la obra fue diseñado por un artista famoso.
The costumes for the play were designed by a famous artist.
Uses vestuario for professional theater costume design.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Disfraz
False friend: costumbre
Incorrect: Me puse una costumbre de pirata.
Correct: Me puse un disfraz de pirata.
Costumbre means custom or tradition, not something you wear, so this sentence would confusingly say I put on a tradition of pirate.
Gender article error
Incorrect: La disfraz estaba muy elaborada.
Correct: El disfraz estaba muy elaborado.
Disfraz is a masculine noun requiring el and the masculine adjective ending -ado, not la and -ada.
Lock in Costume 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 Disfraz used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using disfraz in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Los niños eligieron su disfraz para la fiesta. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Costume in Spanish
- Is 'disfraz' used for both Halloween and Carnival?
- Disfraz works for any occasion where people dress in costume, whether it's Halloween, Carnival, a themed birthday party, or a school event, making it the most versatile term for costume in Spanish.
- How do I say 'to wear a costume' in Spanish?
- The most natural phrasing is ponerse un disfraz or llevar un disfraz, and the verb disfrazarse means to dress up or to wear a costume as a reflexive action.
- What is the plural of disfraz?
- The plural is disfraces, following the Spanish rule that words ending in z change the z to c and add -es.