esponete

Esponete is a term encountered in some Spanish-speaking communities to refer to a small sponge or sponge-like cleaning pad. It functions as a diminutive form related to esponja, the standard Spanish word for sponge, and is used chiefly in informal speech or regional varieties to convey a sense of smallness or affection toward the object.

Because esponete is not widely listed in dictionaries, its usage varies by locale. More common diminutives for a small sponge are esponjita or simplemente esponja pequeña, while esponete tends to appear in casual talk, children’s language, or in product naming and marketing in select markets.

In general reference works on Spanish vocabulary, esponete is treated as an informal or regional variant rather than a standard term. The word is not associated with a distinct concept beyond the usual sponge used for cleaning.

See also: sponge, esponja, esponjita.