novio
/ˈnobjo/masculine
The Spanish word for boyfriend is novio. Wiktionary also lists pololo and chongo.
Meaning: male partner in a romantic relationship (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| novio | /ˈnobjo/ | masculine |
| pololo | /poˈlolo/ | Chile, masculine |
| chongo | /ˈt͡ʃonɡo/ | Argentina, masculine |
| jevo | /xebo/ (from spelling rules) | Latin America, masculine |
| gebo | /xebo/ (from spelling rules) | Puerto Rico, masculine |
novio is the most standard and widely understood term for a male romantic partner across the Spanish-speaking world. It can also mean fiancé in many contexts.
Which one should you use?
While novio is the most common term, other regional variations exist. novio can refer specifically to a boyfriend or to a fiancé, depending on the context.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Chile, you will often hear the word pololo used for a boyfriend. In Argentina, the term chongo is used. In Puerto Rico, the word gebo is used and jevo is a term used across Latin America.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of novio is novia (girlfriend). The masculine plural form novios is used to refer to a romantic couple, such as a boyfriend and girlfriend.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈnobjo/
Did you know?
- The Chilean term for boyfriend, pololo, actually comes from the Mapudungun word püḻülu, which means 'acting like a fly'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone your novio implies a much more serious, committed status than simply calling them a 'boyfriend' in English.
- Because novio can mean both 'boyfriend' and 'fiancé', you might accidentally announce that a person is getting married when you only mean they are dating.
Examples in context
- ¿No era tu novio?Wasn't he your boyfriend?This sentence is useful for confirming someone's identity regarding their relationship.Tatoeba #1686607 by Shishir, translation #1667035 by Spamster
- ¿Tom es tu novio?Tom is your boyfriend?This sentence is useful for asking a question about a person's romantic partner.Tatoeba #3135478 by marcelostockle, translation #3068269 by Hybrid
- Su novio es turco.Her boyfriend is Turkish.This sentence is useful for describing a person's partner and their nationality.Tatoeba #571808 by Shishir, translation #1502830 by CN
- Ayer salí a cenar con mi novio.Yesterday, I went out to dinner with my boyfriend.
- Me encontré con un viejo amigo y su novio en el concierto.I ran into an old friend and his boyfriend at the concert.
- Mi chico es muy cariñoso.My boyfriend is very affectionate.
- Saldré esta noche con mi media naranja.I'm going out tonight with my better half.
- Mi enamorado me llevó a cenar en nuestro aniversario.My boyfriend took me out to dinner on our anniversary.
- 218 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía is introducing her partner to Javier.
- SofíaJavier, te presento a mi novio.Javier, let me introduce you to my boyfriend.
- JavierMucho gusto, es un placer conocerte.Nice to meet you, it is a pleasure to meet you.
- SofíaÉl es el novio que te mencioné.He is the boyfriend I mentioned to you.
- JavierQué bueno que finalmente lo conocí.It's great that I finally met him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boyfriend” translations and entries novio, pololo, chongo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chongo, novio, pololo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
