Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| grano | /ˈɡɾano/ | masculine |
| espinilla | /espiˈniʝa/ /espiˈniʎa/ |
feminine |
| barrillo | /baˈriʝo/ | masculine |
| comedón cerrado | /komedon θerado/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /komedon serado/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| comedón blanco | /komedon blanko/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| granujo | /ɡɾanuxo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
The terms used to describe an inflamed spot on the skin vary depending on the specific type of blemish. While grano is the general term, pústula refers specifically to a pimple containing pus. You may also encounter technical terms such as comedón cerrado or comedón blanco to describe specific types of skin issues.
Which one should you use?
Grano is the standard general term for a pimple. In contrast, espinilla is a colloquial term often used to refer specifically to a small pimple or a blackhead. Barrillo is another masculine form available in the language.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Grano is a term commonly used in Spain.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing that someone has a pimple, use the verb tener (to have) instead of estar (to be). To express that a pimple has appeared or that someone has broken out, use the verb salir (to come out/appear).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɡɾano/
Did you know?
Examples in context
- María tiene un grano en la nariz.Maria has a pimple on her nose.This sentence is useful for showing the location of a grano.Tatoeba #5017270 by don_ramon, translation #10115693 by espamatics
- Le salió una pequeña espinilla en la nariz.On his nose grew a small pimple.This sentence shows how to use espinilla to describe a small pimple appearing on the nose.Tatoeba #3786148 by Seael, translation #3621235 by weihaiping
- Tengo una espinillaI have a pimple
- Trato de evitar los granitosI try to avoid pimples
- Me ha salido un grano en la frente.I have a pimple on my forehead
- Mi hermano tiene muchos granitos en la barbilla.My brother has many pimples on his chin
- Me salió un grano en la frente.I got a pimple on my forehead.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about skincare in a cafe.
- MaríaTengo un grano muy rojo.I have a very red pimple.
- AlejandroNo te lo toques, María.Don't touch it, María.
- MaríaEs que me molesta mucho.It is just that it bothers me a lot.
- AlejandroTranquila, se pasará pronto.Relax, it will go away soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pimple” translations and entries grano, espinilla, barrillo, 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 cerrado, espinilla, grano, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
