novio
/ˈnobjo/
The Spanish word for beau is novio.
Meaning: dandy (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of novio is /ˈnobjo/.
Did you know?
- While novio refers to a boyfriend, the term galán is often used to describe a 'beau' in the sense of a dashing, romantic man or a leading man in a soap opera.
- The word novio comes from the Vulgar Latin word novius meaning 'newlywed', which is related to the Latin word novus for 'new'.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, calling someone your novio implies a much more serious, committed relationship than the English word 'boyfriend' might suggest.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are looking at a photo of a friend's partner.
- LucíaMira a este novio, ¡qué ropa tan elegante!Look at this beau, what elegant clothes!
- AlejandroSí, parece un modelo de revista.Yes, he looks like a magazine model.
- LucíaEs el novio más sofisticado que he visto.He is the most sophisticated beau I have seen.
- AlejandroDefinitivamente cuida mucho su imagen.He definitely takes great care of his image.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry novio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries novio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
