paladar hendido
/paladaɾ endido/from spelling rulesmasculine
The English phrase cleft palate is translated into Spanish as paladar hendido. Wiktionary also lists labio leporino and cheuto.
Meaning: congenital opening in mouth (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| paladar hendido | /paladaɾ endido/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| labio leporino | /labjo lepoɾino/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| cheuto | /t͡ʃeuto/ (from spelling rules) | adjective |
Paladar hendido refers specifically to the opening in the roof of the mouth.
What does it mean word for word?
Paladar hendido is composed of paladar, meaning palate and hendido, meaning split or cleft.
Which one should you use?
While paladar hendido refers to the opening in the roof of the mouth, you should use labio leporino to refer specifically to a cleft lip. Additionally, cheuto is an adjective.
Did you know?
- The term labio leporino literally translates to 'hare lip' because the shape of the cleft was thought to resemble the upper lip of a hare.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the term labio leporino is increasingly viewed as stigmatizing, leading doctors to prefer the more neutral fisura labial.
- While paladar hendido is the clinical term, cheuto is a regionalism used in parts of the Caribbean and Central America to describe the condition.
Examples in context
- El médico diagnosticó al bebé con fisura palatina, que requerirá una intervención quirúrgica.The doctor diagnosed the baby with cleft palate, which will require surgical intervention.
- La hendidura palatina es una afección congénita en la que el paladar tiene una abertura.Cleft palate is a congenital condition in which the palate has an opening.
- Algunos bebés nacen con una hendidura en el paladar que puede afectar su alimentación en los primeros meses.Some babies are born with a cleft palate that can affect their feeding in the first few months.
- El bebé nació con paladar hendido.The baby was born with a cleft palate.
- Ella tiene un paladar hendido de nacimiento.She has a cleft palate from birth.
Example conversation
Two parents are discussing a medical appointment for their child.
- ElenaEl médico mencionó el paladar hendido hoy.The doctor mentioned the cleft palate today.
- AlejandroSí, Elena. ¿Qué dijo sobre la operación?Yes, Elena. What did he say about the surgery?
- ElenaQue el paladar hendido se puede corregir pronto.That the cleft palate can be corrected soon.
- AlejandroMe alegra mucho escuchar eso, Elena.I am very glad to hear that, Elena.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cleft palate” translations and entries paladar hendido, labio leporino, 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 hendido, labio, leporino, paladar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
