mochila

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish mochila. Doublet of macheer.

Alternative forms

mochilla

Noun

mochila (plural mochilas)

1. (equestrianism, US, especially Western US) A large leather covering for the saddle.

References

• “mochila”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Asturian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /moˈt͡ʃila/ [moˈt͡ʃi.la]
• Rhymes: -ila
• Syllabification: mo‧chi‧la

Noun

mochila f (plural mochiles)

1. backpack (worn on a person's back, e.g., for hiking)

Further reading

• “mochila”, in Diccionariu de la llingua asturiana [Dictionary of the Asturian Language] (in Asturian), 1st edition, Academy of the Asturian Language [Asturian: Academia de la Llingua Asturiana], 2000, →ISBN

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish mochila, from mochil (“messenger, letter carrier”), from Basque motxil, diminutive form of motil (“boy”).

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /muˈʃi.lɐ/, /moˈʃi.lɐ/

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /muˈʃi.lɐ/, /moˈʃi.lɐ/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /moˈʃi.la/

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /muˈʃi.lɐ/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /muˈʃi.lɐ/
  • (Northern Portugal) IPA^(key): /muˈt͡ʃi.lɐ/

• Audio (Brazil (Caipira)):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: mo‧chi‧la

Noun

mochila f (plural mochilas)

1. backpack

   Synonym: (Mozambique) sacudu

Further reading

• “mochila”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “mochila”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Spanish

Etymology

Etymology tree

Latin putillumbor.?

Basque motil

Basque motxilbor.?

Spanish mochil

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂

Proto-Italic *-ā

Latin -a

Old Spanish -a

Spanish -a

Spanish mochila

From mochil (“errand boy”), borrowed from Basque motxil, diminutive form of motil, mutil (“boy”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /moˈt͡ʃila/ [moˈt͡ʃi.la]
• Rhymes: -ila
• Syllabification: mo‧chi‧la

Noun

mochila f (plural mochilas)

1. backpack
2. schoolbag
3. satchel
4. mochila, saddle-cover

Derived terms

• mochilear
• mochilero (“backpacker”)

Descendants

• → Basque: motxila
• → Catalan: motxilla
• → English: macheer, mochila
• → Portuguese: mochila

Further reading

• “mochila”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025