pezón
/peˈθon/masculine
The Spanish word for nipple is pezón. Wiktionary also lists tetilla.
Meaning: projection of mammary gland (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pezón | /peˈθon/ /peˈson/ |
masculine |
| tetilla | /teˈtiʝa/ | feminine |
The terms refer to the projection of a mammary gland.
Which one should you use?
pezón is the standard, neutral term. The plural of pezón is pezones, and the plural of tetilla is tetillas.
How do you pronounce it?
/peˈθon/
Did you know?
- The word pezón is etymologically derived from the Latin word for 'foot', specifically through a series of diminutives meaning 'little foot'.
- In certain regions of Spain like Galicia, tetilla is the name of a specific type of soft and creamy cheese.
- While 'nipple' describes both a body part and a baby bottle attachment in English, Spanish uses the distinct word tetina for the rubber piece of a bottle.
Examples in context
- El bebé está mamando del pezónThe baby is nursing from the nipple
- El pezón es una parte sensible del cuerpo humanoThe nipple is a sensitive part of the human body
- El pezón está muy sensible.The nipple is very sensitive.
- El bebé tiene el pezón irritado.The baby has an irritated nipple.
- Ese pezón es de color oscuro.That nipple is a dark color.
Example conversation
A patient is describing symptoms to a doctor.
- JavierLucía, ¿qué síntomas tiene exactamente?Lucía, what symptoms do you have exactly?
- LucíaTengo una pequeña irritación en el pezón.I have a small irritation on my nipple.
- JavierVoy a examinar la zona ahora.I am going to examine the area now.
- LucíaGracias, Javier. Me molesta mucho.Thank you, Javier. It bothers me a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nipple” translations and entries pezón, tetilla, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pezón, tetilla, CC BY-SA 4.0.
