A poncho is a simple garment designed to keep the body dry during rain. It is essentially a single large sheet of fabric with an opening for the head.

Alternative ponchos are made of the same shape but of different material; they are designed to look fashionable and be loose and comfortable, rather than ward off rain.

While a traditional clothing in the whole world it's nowadays a standard in military field uniforms, as a raincoat for wandering and biking. Traditional and more local names and variants are:

• Poncho, Spain and worldwide
• Chamanto, central Chile,
• Kotze or "Wetterfleck" in Austria, Switzerland and Bavaria, dark green or brown clothing for hunting
• Paenula , in the old Rome, some kind of cape or jacket
• Kasel or Pluviale , catholic church clothing
• Pelerine , Redingote and Cape, weatherjacket without arms
• "Gurgel" in the Middle Age, short, sometimes with hood