marioneta

puppet

noun mah-ryoh-NEH-tah Rare

Origin: From French marionnette, a diminutive of the name Marion, used for small figures in religious plays.

Also means

marionette

Usage Note

Marioneta refers specifically to a string-operated puppet, distinguishing it from a hand puppet (títere). The term is also used figuratively for a person who is controlled by another, as in a gobierno marioneta ('puppet government'). The plural marionetas is regular.

Examples

"El niño miraba fascinado la marioneta."

Natural Translation

The boy watched the puppet, fascinated.

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