Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| encimoso | /enθimoso/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /ensimoso/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
|
| dipe | /dipe/ (from spelling rules) | |
| lapa | /ˈlapa/ | feminine, noun |
In Spanish, there are several ways to describe someone who is possessive over another person. You can use pegajoso/a to literally mean 'sticky' or 'adhesive' when describing a person, or apegado/a to describe someone who is emotionally attached and dependent on others. The noun lapa is used metaphorically to describe someone who is extremely clingy and won't let go.
Which one should you use?
You can also use the noun lapa to refer to a clingy person by using the phrase ser un lapa.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you want to use an informal or slightly slangy way to describe someone who is 'stuck' to you, you can use the term pegote/a.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the word empalagoso/a is commonly used to describe someone who is overly sweet, affectionate and can become clingy in relationships.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective encimoso must agree in gender with the person being described, so use encimosa for a female.
How do you pronounce it?
/enθimoso/
Did you know?
- While empalagoso describes a clingy person in Argentina, the word originally refers to the feeling of nausea caused by eating too many sweets.
- The word lapa literally refers to a limpet, a sea snail known for suctioning itself so firmly to rocks that it is nearly impossible to remove.
- The word encimoso is derived from encima, meaning 'on top', suggesting the person is physically crowding your personal space.
Examples in context
- Mi amigo es muy pegajoso cuando estamos juntos.My friend is very clingy when we are together.
- Mi hermana siempre ha sido muy apegada a su novio.My sister has always been very clingy to her boyfriend.
- No puedo salir con ella sin que se ponga pegote.I can't hang out with her without her getting clingy.
- No soporto a las personas tan molestas y pegajosas.I can't stand people who are so annoying and clingy.
- Me resulta empalagosa su forma de ser.I find their behavior to be clingy.
- Siempre está agarrado a su pareja en todas las fiestas.He is always clingy to his partner at every party.
- Mi novio es un poco encimoso.My boyfriend is a bit clingy.
- No seas tan encimoso con tus amigos.Don't be so clingy with your friends.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are talking about a mutual friend's behavior.
- Javier¿No te parece que Carlos es muy encimoso?Don't you think Carlos is very clingy?
- SofíaSí, a veces no me deja ni respirar.Yes, sometimes he doesn't even let me breathe.
- JavierEs demasiado dependiente de todo el mundo.He is too dependent on everyone.
- SofíaEs verdad, necesita mucha atención constante.It's true, he needs a lot of constant attention.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clingy” translations and entries encimoso, dipe, lapa, 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.
