michelines
/mit͡ʃelines/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'love handles' can be translated into Spanish as michelines.
The pockets of excess fat on the sides of a person's waist.
Which one should you use?
You can also use the informal term lonjas. For more formal contexts, you might use los flancos or the descriptive phrase exceso de grasa en la cintura.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
michelines is colloquial and is used to describe body fat in a somewhat lighthearted or informal way. In contrast, lonjas is a common informal way to say 'love handles' in Spanish, whereas los flancos and exceso de grasa en la cintura are formal ways to express the idea.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is a feminine plural noun, so it is typically used with the feminine plural article las.
How do you pronounce it?
/mitʃelines/
Did you know?
- The term michelines refers to the Michelin Man, the famous white, puffy mascot for the tire company. Calling someone's waist fat 'michelines' is a playful way of comparing their body shape to the mascot's padded suit.
- While michelines is used in Spain, the term lonjas is more common in Latin America. In several countries, lonja literally means 'slab' or 'slice', as in a slice of meat or pork belly.
- Despite the English 'love handles' sounding affectionate, using michelines or lonjas is often meant as a tease. These terms are used to poke fun at someone's weight rather than to express affection.
Examples in context
- La acumulación de grasa en los flancos puede hacer que tu cintura se vea más ancha.The accumulation of fat in the love handles area can make your waist appear wider.
- A veces me molestan mis lonjas, así que he empezado a hacer ejercicio con más frecuencia.Sometimes my love handles bother me, so I've started exercising more often.
- Tengo unas michelines que me molestan.I have some love handles that bother me.
- No me gustan mis michelines.I don't like my love handles.
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are talking about their fitness routines at the gym.
- Sofía¿Estás haciendo ejercicio para perder las michelines?Are you exercising to lose love handles?
- DanielSí, intento reducir mis michelines este mes.Yes, I am trying to reduce my love handles this month.
- SofíaYo también quiero eliminar mis michelines.I also want to eliminate my love handles.
- DanielEs difícil, pero con constancia se logra.It is hard, but with consistency it is achieved.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
