gay
/ˈɡei/
The English phrase "gay man" can be translated into Spanish as gay.
The term gay is commonly used in Spanish as both a noun and an adjective to refer to a homosexual man. You can also use the phrase hombre gay to express the same meaning directly.
Meaning: a male homosexual (noun)
Which one should you use?
While gay is a common, informal way to refer to a gay man, there are several formal alternatives. Use hombre homosexual for a neutral and formal approach, varón gay to be respectful and formal or persona homosexual masculina when speaking in a legal or academic context.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the word joto is used as an informal term for a gay man, but it can be highly offensive. In other regions, pato may be used as informal slang.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word gay is invariable in gender. It does not change to a feminine form to match a female subject. To form the plural, simply add an s to the end of the word to get gays.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɡei/
Did you know?
- While the English word 'gay' originally meant 'cheerful' or 'happy', its usage in Spanish is strictly limited to sexual orientation and does not carry the connotation of happiness.
- The term pato is used as slang for a gay man in some Spanish-speaking regions, which translates literally to 'duck' in English.
- While gay is the standard modern term, some older Spanish speakers may use maricón, a word that began as a severe slur but has been reclaimed by many in the community as a term of empowerment.
Examples in context
- El señor Gómez es un hombre homosexualMr. Gomez is a gay man
- David es gayDavid is gay
- Pedro es homosexualPedro is gay
- Él es un hombre gay.He is a gay man.
- Conozco a un chico gay muy amable.I know a very kind gay guy.
- Mi hermano es gay.My brother is gay.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a new coworker at a party.
- Lucía¿Es gay el nuevo compañero de oficina?Is the new office colleague gay?
- AlejandroSí, es un hombre gay muy simpático.Yes, he is a very nice gay man.
- LucíaQué bueno, me cae muy bien.That's good, I like him a lot.
- AlejandroA él también le gusta tu energía.He likes your energy too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gay man” translations and entries gay, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
