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mameluco means onesie — a common term in Funny Words. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: January 1, 2026

😆 Funny Words

mameluco

noun • /[ma-me-LOO-ko]/

onesie

Example:

Mi sobrino duerme en mameluco.

My nephew sleeps in a onesie.

🧠 What does mameluco mean?

A 'mameluco' is a one-piece garment that covers the torso, arms, and legs. It can refer to several distinct types of clothing depending on the context. Most commonly, it describes a baby's onesie or romper. It is also the word for a worker's overalls or boilersuit, designed to protect clothing underneath. In more recent usage, 'mameluco' can also mean a one-piece pajama suit for adults, often in fun designs.

📚 Extra examples

  • El bebé está muy cómodo en su mameluco de algodón.
    The baby is very comfortable in his cotton onesie.
  • El mecánico se puso el mameluco antes de empezar a trabajar en el coche.
    The mechanic put on his overalls before starting to work on the car.
  • Para la fiesta de pijamas, todos llevaremos mamelucos de animales.
    For the pajama party, we will all wear animal onesies.
  • Los pintores llevaban mamelucos blancos para no mancharse la ropa.
    The painters wore white boilersuits so they wouldn't stain their clothes.

💡 Did You Know?

The word 'mameluco' has a fascinating history. It originally comes from the Arabic 'mamlūk', meaning 'owned' or 'slave', and referred to a powerful class of slave soldiers who served Arab caliphs. The one-piece garment likely got its name from a perceived resemblance to the clothing worn by these historical figures.

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "mameluco"

Synonyms: pelele, overol, mono, ranita, body, pijama de una pieza
Opposites: conjunto de dos piezas, ropa de dos piezas

🔍 See more funny words words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'onesie' in Spanish?
The most common word for 'onesie' in Spanish is 'mameluco'. Other options, depending on the region and specific type of garment, include 'pelele', 'body' (for infants), or 'pijama de una pieza'.
How do you pronounce 'mameluco' in Spanish?
'Mameluco' is pronounced mah-meh-LOO-koh. The stress falls on the second-to-last syllable, 'lu'.
How do you use 'mameluco' in a sentence?
'Mameluco' is a masculine noun. For example: 'Le compré un mameluco nuevo al bebé.' (I bought the baby a new onesie.) Or, referring to work clothes: 'El trabajador usa un mameluco para proteger su ropa.' (The worker uses overalls to protect his clothes.)
What is the English translation of 'mameluco'?
The English translation of 'mameluco' can be 'onesie', 'romper', 'overalls', or 'boilersuit', depending on the context and the type of garment being described.
Does 'mameluco' change for gender or number?
Yes, it changes for number. The singular form is 'mameluco' and the plural is 'mamelucos'. As a masculine noun, it uses masculine articles like 'el' and 'los'. For example: 'el mameluco azul' (the blue onesie) and 'los mamelucos azules' (the blue onesies).
Is 'mameluco' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'mameluco' is a common and widely understood word, especially when referring to baby clothes or work uniforms. Its usage for adult pajamas is more recent but also growing.
Does 'mameluco' have slang or double meanings?
Historically, 'mameluco' referred to the Mamluks, slave soldiers in the Islamic world. In some Latin American countries, it could also refer to a person of mixed European and Indigenous American ancestry. In some regions, it can be used colloquially to mean 'fool' or 'simpleton', though this is a less common usage.
Is 'mameluco' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
Yes, there can be regional differences. In many parts of Latin America, 'mameluco' is the standard term for a baby's onesie or worker's overalls. In Spain, for a baby's one-piece garment, the word 'pelele' is often more common, while 'mono de trabajo' is frequently used for a boilersuit.

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