Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Shorts in Spanish: Pantalones Cortos and Everyday Alternatives
Pantalones cortos · noun (masculine plural) · pahn-tah-LOH-nehs KOHR-tohs
Shorts in Spanish is pantalones cortos, a straightforward compound meaning short pants. Many speakers also use the English loanword shorts in casual conversation, and bermudas refers to knee-length styles.
pahn-tah-LOH-nehs KOHR-tohs. Stress lands on LOH in pantalones and KOHR in cortos. When people say shorts as a loanword, it is usually pronounced as a single syllable: shorts or chorts.
Hace calor, me voy a poner los pantalones cortos.
It's hot, I'm going to put on my shorts.
Shorts in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for shorts, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| pantalones cortos | shorts | pahn-tah-LOH-nehs KOHR-tohs | Default, widely understood |
| shorts | shorts | borrowed English word, common in many Latin American countries | |
| bermudas | shorts | knee-length shorts, used across the Spanish-speaking world |
How Native Speakers Use Pantalones cortos
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Packing for vacation
No olvides meter los pantalones cortos en la maleta.
Don't forget to pack the shorts in the suitcase.
The full form pantalones cortos in a travel context.
Casual everyday speech
Voy a comprar unos shorts nuevos para el verano.
I'm going to buy some new shorts for summer.
The English loanword shorts used naturally in many Latin American countries.
Dress code at school
En mi colegio no permiten bermudas ni pantalones cortos.
At my school they don't allow bermuda shorts or regular shorts.
Bermudas refers specifically to longer, knee-length shorts, distinct from shorter pantalones cortos.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Pantalones cortos
Using the singular pantalón corto when referring to one pair
Incorrect: Necesito un pantalón corto nuevo.
Correct: Necesito unos pantalones cortos nuevos.
Like pants in English, pantalones is typically used in the plural even for a single pair. The singular form sounds overly technical or regional.
Forgetting gender agreement with cortos
Incorrect: Las pantalones cortas están en el armario.
Correct: Los pantalones cortos están en el armario.
Pantalones is masculine, so the article must be los and the adjective must be cortos, not cortas.
Lock in Shorts 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 Pantalones cortos used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using pantalones cortos in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Hace calor, me voy a poner los pantalones cortos. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Shorts in Spanish
- How do you say shorts in Spanish?
- The standard phrase is pantalones cortos, literally short pants. In casual speech across Latin America, many people simply say shorts using the English loanword, and bermudas is used for knee-length styles.
- Is shorts a word in Spanish?
- Yes, shorts has been borrowed into Spanish and is widely understood, especially in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. In more formal contexts or in Spain, pantalones cortos is preferred.
- What is the difference between pantalones cortos and bermudas?
- Pantalones cortos is the general term for any shorts. Bermudas specifically refers to longer shorts that reach the knee, similar to the English bermuda shorts. All bermudas are pantalones cortos, but not all pantalones cortos are bermudas.