garabato
/ɡaɾaˈbato/
In Spanish, "doodle" can be expressed as garabato.
The term can refer to both the act of scribbling aimlessly and the resulting sketch. While garabato is commonly used to describe a doodle, the specific verb for the action of doodling is garabatear.
Meaning: to draw or scribble aimlessly (verb)
Which one should you use?
The noun garabato refers to the doodle itself, whereas the verb garabatear refers to the act of doodling. If you are referring specifically to a simple or crude doodle of a person, you might use monigote, which translates to stick figure.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe the action of doodling, use the verb form garabatear.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡaɾaˈbato/
Did you know?
- The term monigote, used for stick-figure doodles, is also used to describe a person who is seen as a fool or a puppet in a political or social sense.
- In a legal or formal context, a garabato can refer to a signature that is so stylized or hurried that it is barely legible.
- While an English speaker might call a doodle a 'scribble', the Spanish word garabato can also be used metaphorically to describe something that is poorly organized or nonsensical in speech.
Examples in context
- Me encontré con un garabato en el margen de la página.I found a doodle in the margin of the page.
- Dejé un borroncito en el papel cuando intentaba borrar el garabato.I left a smudge on the paper while trying to erase the doodle.
- Hice un garabato en mi cuaderno durante la clase aburrida.I doodled in my notebook during the boring class.
- Me encanta hacer pequeños rayones alrededor de las palabras en mis notas.I love making small doodles around the words in my notes.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are sitting in a boring meeting.
- JavierSofía, ¿qué estás dibujando ahí?Sofía, what are you drawing there?
- SofíaSolo es un garabato para no aburrirme.It is just a doodle so I don't get bored.
- JavierSe ve muy creativo.It looks very creative.
- SofíaGracias, Javier, pero es solo un garabato.Thanks, Javier, but it is just a doodle.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry garabato, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
