guayabera

American  

[gwahy-uh-ber-uh, gwah-yah-be-rah] / ˌgwaɪ əˈbɛr ə, ˌgwɑ yɑˈβɛ rɑ /

noun

guayaberas plural

1. a sport shirt or lightweight jacket, often with several large front pockets, modeled upon a loose, smocklike shirt originally worn by men in Cuba.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• guayaberas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of guayabera

First recorded in 1935–40; from Latin American Spanish, further origin uncertain; perhaps from Spanish guayaba “guava (fruit)” (the shirt pockets being large enough to hold guavas)

Example Sentences

There’s also a nice selection of long-sleeved, men’s guayabera shirts, imported from Mexico, that would look great over a flowy skirt, I suggest.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

“I’m wearing pastel colors today for him. I normally don’t. I usually wear a lot of black and gray,” said L.A. local Cesar Carbajal, who was wearing a baby blue guayabera.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 2025

She spoke with disgust of Cuban officials, saying she couldn’t bring herself to wear traditional guayabera dress because they do.

From Washington Times • Jan. 6, 2023

Standing in the blazing sun, he looked like a man ready to play dominoes in Miami: immaculate sneakers, dark pants, paisley guayabera, white sunglasses, straw fedora, pink face mask.

From New York Times • Dec. 13, 2021

Finally, when I’d almost given up hope, Pena arrived at the house in his big showy white Mercedes, wearing an embroidered guayabera instead of his uniform.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez