How do you differentiate in Spanish between an ordinary hat (sombrero) and what is known in English as a sombrero?
In English, the word 'sombrero' denotes a particular kind of hat, usually seen in Mexico. In Spanish, the word 'sombrero' means 'hat' and means any kind of hat, and usually NOT a Mexican-type sombrero. So when a Spanish speaking person means to talk about a Mexican-type sombrero, what word does he or she use, or how is the word sombrero modified so that the meaning 'Mexican-type' or Mariachi sombrero is clear? I imagine that a phrase exists, 'sombrero de ________', and I'd like to know what that is.
2 Answers
The regular baseball hat is a "gorra" A hat like you might wear in the cold winter is a "cachucha".
Sombrero just means hat, plain and simple. You determine which kind of hat the same way you do in English: Straw hat, panama hat, cocktail hat....
Sombrero mexicano, sombrero panamá, sobrero de paja, sombrero de fieltro, sombrero pumpá, etc.
