Definition
People who dress and present as a gender different from their birth-assigned sex, particularly in Latin American contexts. Often refers to those who adopt feminine presentation while retaining masculine identity.
Etymology
From Italian travestire meaning 'to disguise', from Latin trans- (across) + vestire (to clothe). The term evolved differently in various cultures, with distinct meanings in Latin American versus European contexts.
Kelly Says
In many Latin American cultures, 'travesti' represents a distinct gender identity category that doesn't directly translate to Western concepts of transgender or cross-dresser. This highlights how gender categories and expressions vary significantly across different cultural contexts and languages.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
travesti
trah-ve-stee
ARالعربية
متخيل
mu-takh-eel
BNবাংলা
ট্রেভেস্টি
trah-ves-tee
CACatalà
travesti
trah-ve-stee
CSČeština
travesti
trah-ve-stee
DADansk
travesti
trah-ve-stee
DEDeutsch
Travesti
trah-ves-tee
ELΕλληνικά
τραβεστί
trah-ves-tee
ESEspañol
travestis
trah-ves-tees
FAفارسی
travesti
trah-ve-stee
FISuomi
travesti
trah-ve-stee
FRFrançais
travesti
trah-ve-stee
GUGU
travesti
trah-ve-stee
HAHA
travesti
trah-ve-stee
HEעברית
travesti
trah-ve-stee
HIहिन्दी
त्रैवेस्टी
trah-ves-tee
HUMagyar
travesti
trah-ve-stee
IDBahasa Indonesia
travesti
trah-ve-stee
IGIG
travesti
trah-ve-stee
ITItaliano
travestito
trah-ves-tee-toh
JA日本語
travestis
trah-ves-tees
KKKK
travesti
trah-ve-stee
KMKM
travesti
trah-ve-stee
KO한국어
트라베스티
teu-ra-be-sse-tee
MRMR
travesti
trah-ve-stee
MSBahasa Melayu
travesti
trah-ve-stee
MYမြန်မာ
travesti
trah-ve-stee
NLNederlands
travesti
trah-ve-stee
NONorsk
travesti
trah-ve-stee
PAPA
travesti
trah-ve-stee
PLPolski
travesti
trah-ve-stee
PTPortuguês
travestis
trah-ves-tees
RORomână
travesti
trah-ve-stee
RUРусский
траве́сти
trah-ve-s-tee
SVSvenska
travesti
trah-ve-stee
SWKiswahili
travesti
trah-ve-stee
TAதமிழ்
டிரேவிஸ்டி
trah-ve-s-tee
TEతెలుగు
ట్రేవెస్టి
trah-ve-s-tee
THไทย
travesti
trah-ve-stee
TLTL
travesti
trah-ve-stee
TRTürkçe
travesti
trah-ve-stee
UKУкраїнська
травесті
trah-ves-tee
URاردو
ٹراویسٹ
trah-ve-st
VITiếng Việt
travesti
trah-ve-stee
YOYO
travesti
trah-ve-stee
ZH中文
跨性别者
kuà xìng bié zhě
ZUZU
travesti
trah-ve-stee
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Portuguese/Spanish term historically used pejoratively for trans women, conflating gender identity with sex work and criminality. Modern LGBTQ+ movements have reclaimed the term in some communities, though clinical/legal terminology has evolved.
Inclusive Usage
Use only when: (1) self-identification by the person/community, (2) historical context about reclamation, or (3) Portuguese/Spanish-language community discussions. Avoid as external descriptor without community input.
Inclusive Alternatives
["trans women","transgender women","pessoas trans"]
Empowerment Note
Travesti activists in Brazil and Latin America have led visibility and rights movements; centering their self-naming and leadership is crucial.