Deportivas

Deportivas is a Spanish term with two main uses. As a noun, it refers to athletic shoes or sneakers, commonly used in expressions like “compré unas deportivas.” The feminine plural form is used because the noun deportivo is gendered (la deportiva, las deportivas). As an adjective, deportivas describes athletic or sporty garments or gear, for example “ropa deportiva” or “calzado deportivo.”

The etymology comes from deporte (sport) and deportivo (athletic). In everyday speech, the noun sense is the most frequent, especially in Spain and many Latin American countries, where the term for sneakers may coexist with regional variants such as zapatillas or tenís.

Calzado deportivo, or athletic footwear, labeled as deportivas, typically emphasizes comfort and versatility for activities like running, training, walking, or casual wear. Common materials include textiles, leather, and rubber soles. While deportes footwear covers a broad category, specialized footwear—such as football boots, basketball shoes, or hiking boots—are usually described with more specific terms (por ejemplo, botas de fútbol, zapatillas de baloncesto).

Regional usage varies. In Spain, deportivas is widely used for everyday sneakers; in several Latin American countries, zapatillas or tenis may be more common for the same item. The term also appears in fashion contexts, where “deportivas” can denote casual streetwear that blends sport-inspired design with daily attire.

In summary, deportivas primarily denotes sneakers and athletic footwear in Spanish, and also functions as an adjective to describe sports-related clothing and gear.