Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| gordo | /ˈɡoɾdo/ | |
| gordiflón | /ɡoɾdiˈflon/ | colloquial |
| gordinflas | /ɡoɾˈdinflas/ | colloquial |
The word gordo is an adjective used to describe someone carrying a larger than normal amount of fat on their body. While you can use gordo as an adjective, using it as a noun, such as un gordo, can be perceived as more derogatory or objectifying. If you are referring to the physical substance of fat, such as cooking oil or body fat, use the noun grasa. Other related nouns for specialized animal tissue include grasa, crasitud and grosura.
Which one should you use?
While gordo is a straightforward adjective, the colloquial forms gordiflón and gordinflas offer softer ways to describe someone as chubby or plump. Use gordo to describe a person, but switch to grasa when discussing the actual substance of fat.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In informal settings, gordo is the most common and direct way to say fat. For a softer, more colloquial tone, you can use gordiflón or gordinflas to mean chubby. If you want to be more endearing or descriptive of being plump, you might use the informal terms rechoncho/a, rollizo/a or the complimentary terms robusto/a and llenito/a. In formal or medical contexts, use obeso for obese, sobrepeso for overweight or corpulento to describe someone as burly or stout.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective gordo must agree in gender and number with the person being described. Use gorda for a female, gordos for a group of men or a mixed-gender group and gordas for a group of only females.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɡoɾdo/
Did you know?
- While 'gordo' is an adjective, the noun 'el gordo' is also the name for the most famous lottery in Spain, 'El Gordo'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, gordo or gorda is frequently used as a term of endearment between romantic partners or family members, regardless of the person's actual weight.
- The Spanish word gordo shares an unexpected linguistic ancestor with the English word 'gravity'. Both derive from the Latin root suggesting weight or heaviness.
Examples in context
- Tom es un gordo.Tom is a fat man.This sentence uses gordo as a noun to identify a fat man.Tatoeba #1513231 by marcelostockle, translation #1513229 by Spamster
- Es bajo y gordo.He's short and fat.This sentence uses gordo as an adjective to describe a person's stature.Tatoeba #2042168 by Shishir, translation #1944047 by Spamster
- Él me llamó gordo.He called me fat.This sentence uses gordo as an adjective to describe someone being called fat.Tatoeba #1642908 by hayastan, translation #1641932 by Spamster
- Mi hermano ha sido diagnosticado como obeso debido a su peso y necesita atención médica.My brother has been diagnosed as obese due to his weight and needs medical attention.
- El hombre corpulento no tuvo problemas para levantar el pesado mueble.The burly man had no trouble lifting the heavy furniture.
- Juan está cansado de que sus amigos le llamen gordo todo el tiempo.Juan is tired of his friends calling him fat all the time.
- Mi prima tiene un bebé rechoncho y adorable.My cousin has a chubby and adorable baby.
- Lucía es una niña muy activa, pero siempre ha sido un poco rolliza.Lucía is a very active girl, but she has always been a bit chubby.
- 78 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are talking about a character in a movie.
- DanielEl actor es muy gordo.The actor is very fat.
- SofíaSí, es bastante gordo.Yes, he is quite fat.
- DanielPero es un actor muy bueno.But he is a very good actor.
- SofíaTienes razón, Daniel.You are right, Daniel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “fat” translations and entries gordo, gordiflón, gordinflas, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gordiflón, gordo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
