Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bombón | /bomˈbon/ | feminine, masculine |
| pibón | /piˈbon/ | feminine, masculine |
This slang term is used to describe a sexually attractive person. While you can use the word guapo informally to emphasize that someone is attractive, these slang terms provide a more colloquial way to express the idea.
What does it mean word for word?
The word bombón literally means a piece of chocolate or a sweet candy.
Which one should you use?
The term bombón is a common way to call someone a hottie, but it is slightly more affectionate or sweet than the more blunt term pibón.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both bombón and pibón are informal. Pibón is specifically categorized as an informal term.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the term pibón is used to mean 'hottie'. In Latin America, people commonly use the informal expressions papacito or mamacita to describe an attractive person.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of bombón is bombones, and the plural form of pibón is pibones. Both terms can be used as either masculine or feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/bomˈbon/
Did you know?
- Although pibón is derived from piba, which is slang for 'girl' or 'chick', the term pibón can be used to describe someone of any gender.
- The root of bombón can be traced all the way back to the Latin word bonus, meaning 'good'.
- While bombón describes a 'hottie', it is also used to describe something that is exceptionally delicious or high quality in a non-human context.
Examples in context
- Ese chico que conocí ayer en la fiesta es un bombónThat guy I met at the party yesterday is a real hottie
- ¡Oye, mamacita! ¿Te gustaría bailar conmigo?Hey, hottie! Would you like to dance with me?
- Ese actor es un bombón.That actor is a hottie.
- ¡Qué bombón es tu hermano!Your brother is such a hottie!
- Ella es un auténtico bombón.She is a real hottie.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a magazine in a cafe.
- DanielMira a ese modelo, es un bombón.Look at that model, he is a hottie.
- MaríaTienes razón, Daniel, es guapísimo.You're right, Daniel, he is very handsome.
- Daniel¿Crees que sea soltero?Do you think he is single?
- MaríaNo lo sé, pero es muy atractivo.I don't know, but he is very attractive.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hottie” translations and entries bombón, pibón, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bombón, pibón, CC BY-SA 4.0.
