paleto
/paˈleto/masculine
The English phrase 'hick' can be translated into Spanish as paleto. Wiktionary also lists palurdo and gueishpo.
Meaning: country yokel or hillbilly (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| paleto | /paˈleto/ | masculine |
| palurdo | /paˈluɾdo/ | masculine |
| gueishpo | /ɡeispo/ (from spelling rules) | El Salvador, masculine |
While pueblerino is used to describe someone from a small town or village.
Which one should you use?
While paleto specifically implies a lack of sophistication from the countryside, palurdo can also imply being clumsy or slow-witted in general.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The terms paleto and palurdo are both colloquial and derogatory.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, paleto is a specific colloquial term for a hick-like person. In El Salvador, the masculine form gueishpo is used. In Argentina, Gaucho is a regional term for a rural cowboy-like figure.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular form is paleto. The feminine form is paleta, the masculine plural is paletos and the feminine plural is paletas.
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈleto/
Did you know?
- In some contexts, paleta can refer to a specific type of traditional Spanish candy or a lollipop, creating a stark contrast with its use as a derogatory term for a woman from the country.
- The term palurdo shares a common root with the French word balourd and the Italian balordo, both meaning 'oaf'.
Examples in context
- El señor es un campesino amable pero un poco pueblerino en sus costumbres.The man is a kind peasant, but a bit hickish in his customs.
- Ese hombre es un paleto.That man is a hick.
- No seas tan paleto.Don't be such a hick.
- Los paletos no saben usar tecnología.Hicks don't know how to use technology.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are watching a reality show about rural life.
- AlejandroMira a ese paleto en la televisión.Look at that hick on the television.
- LucíaEs un poco rudo, ¿verdad?He is a bit rude, right?
- AlejandroSí, es un paleto total.Yes, he is a total hick.
- LucíaParece que vive en otro mundo.It seems like he lives in another world.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hick” translations and entries paleto, palurdo, 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 paleto, palurdo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
