guayabera
UK[ɡwɑːjəˈbɛːrə]US[ˌɡwɑːjəˈbɛrə]
n
A lightweight, loose-fitting shirt, typically with two vertical rows of pleats or embroidery on the front and back, worn untucked.
Etymology
The word 'guayabera' entered English directly from Cuban Spanish in the mid-20th century. Its origin is attributed to a popular story from 19th-century Cuba, where a shirtmaker's wife created a cool, practical shirt with pockets for her husband to carry guava fruits (guayabas). The garment was subsequently named after the fruit. While the exact historical accuracy is debated, the term is firmly rooted in Latin American Spanish, specifically associated with Cuban and later broader Caribbean and Latin American culture. It denotes a specific style of formal-yet-breathable shirt that has become an iconic item of traditional and fashionable menswear.
Analysis
The word is a loanword from Cuban Spanish, derived from the proper noun 'Guayabera', the name of a garment. It does not contain separable morphemes in English.
Examples
He wore a crisp white guayabera to the summer wedding.
The guayabera, with its distinctive pleats and pockets, is ideal for hot climates.
Many politicians in Latin America favor the guayabera as formal national dress.