Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| malvavisco | /malbaˈbisko/ | masculine |
| carlotina | /kaɾlotina/ (from spelling rules) | Venezuela, feminine |
| marsmelo | /maɾsmelo/ (from spelling rules) | Costa Rica, masculine |
| bombón | /bomˈbon/ | Mexico, masculine |
| marshmallow | /maɾʃˈmalo/ /maɾʃˈmelow/ |
Cuba, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, US, masculine |
| marsmalow | El Salvador, masculine | |
| mashmelo | /masmelo/ (from spelling rules) | El Salvador, Guatemala, masculine |
| masmalow | Honduras, masculine | |
| masmelo | /masmelo/ (from spelling rules) | Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Peru, masculine |
The term refers to the soft, sugary confectionery. To describe the specific act of toasting marshmallows, you can use the phrase asar malvaviscos.
Which one should you use?
While malvavisco is the standard term, many regional variations exist. In Mexico and parts of Central America, you might hear bombón. In Venezuela, the term carlotina is used. In Costa Rica, you may encounter marsmelo, whereas masmelo is common in several countries including Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Peru. In El Salvador, you may also hear marshmallow or marsmalow and in Guatemala, mashmelo is used. In Honduras, masmalow is a variation.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional terms include bombón in Mexico and parts of Central America, carlotina in Venezuela, marsmelo in Costa Rica, marshmallow in Cuba, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico and the US, marsmalow and mashmelo in El Salvador, masmalow in Honduras and masmelo in Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Peru.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form malvavisco is a masculine noun. Its plural form is malvaviscos.
How do you pronounce it?
/malbaˈbisko/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the word bombón can also be used as a slang term to describe a very attractive person.
- The term malvavisco is a linguistic relative of the English word 'mauve', which is a color named after the same mallow plant.
- While a bombón is a marshmallow in Mexico, in other Spanish-speaking countries it usually refers to a chocolate truffle.
Examples in context
- Si pudiera enviarte un malvavisco, Trang, lo haría.If I could send you a marshmallow, Trang, I would.This sentence shows how to express a hypothetical desire to send a malvavisco.Tatoeba #2571 by Shishir, translation #1365 by Zifre
- Me encanta el malvavisco en mi chocolate caliente.I love marshmallow in my hot chocolate.
- Vamos a asar malvaviscos en la fogata.We're going to toast marshmallows on the campfire.
- Me encanta untar crema de malvavisco en mis galletas.I love spreading marshmallow cream on my cookies.
- El pastel de vainilla tiene un relleno esponjoso como el malvavisco.The vanilla cake has a marshmallow-like filling.
- Compré un malvavisco gigante para la fogata.I bought a giant marshmallow for the campfire.
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are roasting treats over a campfire.
- LucíaDaniel, ¿tienes un malvavisco más?Daniel, do you have one more marshmallow?
- DanielSí, toma este malvavisco, Lucía.Yes, take this marshmallow, Lucía.
- LucíaGracias, me encantan así tostados.Thanks, I love them toasted like this.
- DanielA mí también, saben mucho mejor.Me too, they taste much better.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “marshmallow” translations and entries malvavisco, bombón, marshmallow, 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 bombón, malvavisco, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
