What does pajama mean?
A pajama is a loose, comfortable garment worn for sleeping; in American English, the word commonly appears in the plural "pajamas" to mean the complete set of sleepwear, consisting of a top and trousers or shorts. The garment is typically made from soft fabric and is associated with bedtime, relaxation, and informal domestic life. Although "pajama" can refer to an individual top or pair of trousers, English speakers most often use the plural when describing what someone is wearing to bed or has just woken up. The spelling is especially associated with North America, while British English normally prefers "pyjama" and "pyjamas." The word has an unusual international history, reaching English through Hindi from a Persian term associated with clothing worn on the legs. Its everyday familiarity contrasts with its distinctive multilingual origin.
nounA loose jacket or top worn for sleeping, usually as one of a pair of trousers. The word is also commonly used in the plural "pajamas" for the complete set of sleepwear.
- A loose garment worn in bed for sleeping, especially a pajama top or jacket; in plural form, the matching top and trousers worn as sleepwear.
"He put on his favorite pajama and turned off the lights."
"She was wearing a soft blue pajama with a small pocket."
"The children came downstairs in their pajamas and ate breakfast."
The plural is the usual form for the complete set of sleepwear in American English. British English normally uses "pyjamas" instead.
"She spends the weekend relaxing in pajamas."
The word "pajamas" is a linguistic traveler: it entered English from Hindi, which borrowed it from Persian.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pajama come from?
The English word "pajama" was borrowed from Hindi "pājāmā," which in turn came from Persian "pājāmeh," a term associated with loose garments or clothing for the legs. The English form spread in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and became especially established in American usage. The British spelling "pyjama" developed separately and became dominant in British English.
Related word forms
How pajama is actually used
In American English, "pajamas" is normally plural when referring to the complete set of sleepwear, though the singular "pajama" is used for an individual top or pair of trousers. British English generally uses "pyjamas" for the complete set and "pyjama" for one garment.
Easily confused with pajama
Both words refer to sleepwear, but "pajamas" is the usual North American spelling, whereas "pyjamas" is standard in British English.