chilena
/t͡ʃiˈlena/feminine
The Spanish word for bicycle kick is chilena. Wiktionary also lists chilenita and chalaca.
Meaning: soccer: kick (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| chilena | /t͡ʃiˈlena/ | feminine |
| chilenita | /t͡ʃilenita/ (from spelling rules) | Latin America, feminine |
| chalaca | /t͡ʃaˈlaka/ | Peru, feminine |
What does it mean word for word?
The word chilena literally means Chilean in its feminine form.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Peru, the bicycle kick is commonly referred to as a chalaca instead of a chilena. In Latin America, you may also hear the diminutive form chilenita.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because chilena is a feminine noun, it is typically preceded by the feminine article la (e.g., la chilena).
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃiˈlena/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word tijera meaning 'scissors' is used for a similar move, but unlike la chilena, a tijera usually involves the player being on the ground or jumping from a standing position rather than throwing their back to the turf.
- The term chalaca originates from the 'chalacos', the people of the port city of Callao. This highlights a regional rivalry in Peru where a specific city's identity is embedded in the sport's terminology.
- If a commentator describes a move as a 'chilenita' instead of a 'chilena', they are using a diminutive to signal that the kick was less spectacular or had less power.
Examples in context
- Hizo una chilena espectacular.He performed a spectacular bicycle kick.
- La chilena entró en la escuadra.The bicycle kick went into the top corner.
- Intentó una chilena en el último minuto.He attempted a bicycle kick in the last minute.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are watching a soccer game on TV.
- Mateo¡Mira! ¡Va a intentar una chilena!Look! He is going to try a bicycle kick!
- Sofía¡No puede ser! ¡La chilena fue perfecta!No way! The bicycle kick was perfect!
- MateoFue el mejor gol de la temporada, Sofía.It was the best goal of the season, Sofía.
- SofíaTienes razón, Mateo. Fue espectacular.You are right, Mateo. It was spectacular.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bicycle kick” translations and entries chilena, chalaca, 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.
