barbilla
/baɾˈbiʝa/feminine
The Spanish word for chin is barbilla. Wiktionary also lists mentón and pera.
Meaning: bottom of a face (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| barbilla | /baɾˈbiʝa/ | feminine |
| mentón | /menˈton/ | masculine |
| pera | /ˈpeɾa/ | feminine |
All three terms refer to the bottom part of the face.
Which one should you use?
barbilla is the most common, everyday way to refer to the chin, whereas mentón is a more formal or anatomical term.
How does it change in a sentence?
barbilla is a feminine noun and requires feminine articles like la or una. mentón is a masculine noun and requires masculine articles like el or un.
How do you pronounce it?
/baɾˈbiʝa/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking contexts, you might hear someone refer to a person's chin as a pera.
- The word barbilla is actually a diminutive of barba, meaning 'beard'. Literally, the word translates to 'little beard'.
- Using mentón in a casual conversation about a blemish or a scratch might sound strangely clinical to a native speaker, as it is primarily used in medical or forensic contexts.
Examples in context
- Le pegué en el mentón.I hit him on the chin.This sentence is useful for describing a hit to the mentón.Tatoeba #2195161 by marcelostockle, translation #285224 by CK
- Mary se frotó la barbilla.Mary rubbed her chin.This sentence is useful for describing someone rubbing their barbilla.Tatoeba #8005256 by Seael, translation #7382255 by CF
- Su característica facial más pronunciada es su mentón prominente.His most pronounced facial characteristic is his prominent chin.This sentence is useful for describing a prominent mentón.Tatoeba #10553867 by Seael, translation #12243916 by Miktsoanit
- Tenía un mentón bien definidoHe had a well-defined chin
- Ella señaló con el dedo su propia barbillaShe pointed her finger at her own chin
- Se acarició la pera mientras pensabaHe stroked his chin while thinking
- Se tocó el mentón pensativamenteShe touched her chin thoughtfully
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena is helping Daniel shave his face.
- DanielTen cuidado con mi barbilla, por favor.Be careful with my chin, please.
- ElenaNo te preocupes, Daniel, lo haré con cuidado.Don't worry, Daniel, I will do it carefully.
- DanielSiento que todavía hay vello en la barbilla.I feel like there is still hair on the chin.
- ElenaTienes razón, voy a quitarlo ahora.You are right, I am going to remove it now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chin” translations and entries barbilla, mentón, pera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries barbilla, mentón, pera, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
