pyjamas

[ puh-jah-muhz, -jam-uhz ]

noun

, (used with a plural verb)

1. a variant of pajamas.

pyjamas

/ pəˈdʒɑːməz /

plural noun

1. loose-fitting nightclothes comprising a jacket or top and trousers
2. full loose-fitting ankle-length trousers worn by either sex in various Eastern countries
3. women's flared trousers or trouser suit used esp for leisure wear

Word History and Origins

Origin of pyjamas¹

C19: from Hindi, from Persian pāi leg + jāmah clothing, garment

Example Sentences

This search led to a joint venture with the esports organization Ninjas in Pyjamas.

From Digiday

Sometimes I wear my silk pyjamas when I am going for a walk in the mornings, does that make me eccentric?

From The Daily Beast

At around 11pm the family, in their pyjamas, went down steps into the shelter.

From The Daily Beast

She was wearing bright striped pyjamas, smoking a cigarette and talking very fast.

From The Daily Beast

I was grabbing books and trying to hide them, the dog was running off with them, my dad was standing helpless in his pyjamas.

From The Daily Beast

A few of the men were still in pyjamas, and of the women in dressing-gown or opera-cloak, caught up as they fled.

From Project Gutenberg

Made special note of the lack of mosquito nets, beds, pyjamas and other comforts.

From Project Gutenberg

He stood still, put his hand on the door, an almost grotesque figure in his faded pink and white striped flannel pyjamas.

From Project Gutenberg

Peter was in pyjamas and dressing-gown, rosy, and fresh roused from sleep.

From Project Gutenberg

At the end of that time he reappeared, but now he was in his pyjamas, over which he wore a heavy dressing-gown.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Pyjamas

What does pyjamas mean?

Pyjamas is an alternate spelling of pajamas—the clothes you wear to sleep in.

The spelling pyjamas is typically used by speakers of British English. The word is commonly and informally abbreviated as p.j.’s.

You could say that whatever clothes you change into before going to bed are your pajamas. Traditionally, though, pajamas are specifically made and sold as clothes for sleeping in, typically consisting of soft, loose-fitting pants or shorts and a (sometimes matching) top. However, there are many different types and styles, such as nightgowns.

Clothes considered pajamas aren’t only worn for sleeping, though. For example, a person might drive to get a cup of coffee in the morning while still wearing their pajamas, or a college student might wake up and attend class in their pajamas. People also commonly use the terms p.j.’s and pajamas to refer to the clothes they wear to lounge in (also called loungewear), especially before bed (even if they then change into another set of pajamas to sleep in).

Even more informal terms for pajamas are jammies, jams, and jam-jams. These are typically used by children, adults speaking to children, or people using childish words to be silly. The word sleepwear is sometimes used as a more formal synonym for pajamas, especially in the name of a department in a clothing store or a section of a clothing website. More formal terms, like nightclothes and nightwear, are rarely used.

The word pyjama and pajama, without an s, are used as modifiers in terms involving pyjamas, such as pyjama pants.

Example: When I get home tonight, I’m changing into my most comfortable pyjamas, snuggling under the covers, and watching the telly.

Where does pyjamas come from?

The first records of the words pajamas and pyjamas come from the 1800s. They come from the Hindi pāyjāma, from the Persian pāy, meaning “leg,” and jāma, meaning “garment.” The use of p.j.’s as an abbreviation of these words started to become widespread in the first half of the 1900s.

Originally, the word pyjamas referred to loose-fitting pants worn in parts of Asia, usually made of silk or cotton. It then came to refer to a style of women’s pants, especially ones flared at the bottom, worn as leisurewear. Eventually, the word’s association with loose-fitting clothing resulted in its use as a term for sleepwear.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to pyjamas?

• pajamas (American English spelling)
• pyjama (modifier)

What are some synonyms for pyjamas?

• p.j.’s
• jammies
• jams
• jam-jams
• sleepwear
• nightclothes
• nightwear

What are some words that share a root or word element with pyjamas? 

• pajama party

What are some words that often get used in discussing pyjamas?

 

• sleep
• bed
• comfortable
• nightgown
• nightie
• robe
• slippers
• loungewear

How is pyjamas used in real life?

The spelling pyjamas is typically used by speakers of British English.

i wanna go home, remove my makeup, change into my pyjamas, lay in my bed and sleep

— 슈슈🦋 (@gikwangslight) April 3, 2017

I change into my pyjamas right when i get home

— ang (@angmontaleone) September 10, 2014

the older I get the more I sympathize with Ebenezer Scrooge, who just wanted to eat his soup and wear his cozy pyjamas and sleep in peace

— The Library Owl 🌻🧙‍♀️🦉 (@SketchesbyBoze) October 10, 2020

 

 

Try using pyjamas!

Which of the following words is a synonym of pyjamas?

A. p.j.’s
B. sleepwear
C. jammies
D. all of the above