juguetón
/xuɡeˈton/
The Spanish word for playful is juguetón.
juguetón is an adjective used to describe something that is fun, recreational or not serious.
Meaning: fun, recreational, not serious (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is derived from the noun juego (game) and the suffix -tón (which can denote an augmentative or a characteristic), literally relating to one who is full of games.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. Use juguetona for feminine nouns. For masculine or mixed-gender groups, use the plural form juguetones. For feminine groups, use the plural form juguetonas.
How do you pronounce it?
/xuɡeˈton/
Did you know?
- If you want to describe a playful or flirty attitude in a romantic context, you might use coqueto instead of juguetón.
- Calling a pet juguetón is extremely common in Spanish, but applying the word to an adult can sometimes imply they are immature or childish, depending on the tone.
- The word juego can also refer to a 'set' of things, like a 'juego de llaves' (a set of keys), which has no connection to the concept of playfulness.
Examples in context
- Se rió y me dio un empujón juguetón.She laughed and gave me a playful shove.This sentence uses juguetón to describe a playful shove.Tatoeba #1832178 by marcelostockle, translation #1832177 by marcelostockle
- Me veo y sueno como un adulto, pero dentro de mí, aún soy un niño pequeño y juguetón.I look and sound like an adult, but I'm still a playful little kid inside.This sentence uses juguetón to describe a playful little kid.Tatoeba #9494492 by dpcossio, translation #9494496 by DJ_Saidez
- Mi perro es muy juguetón. Siempre está buscando un juguete con el cual jugar.My dog is very playful. He's always looking for a toy to play with.
- Raquel tiene una personalidad jovial. Siempre está dispuesta a participar en actividades divertidas.Raquel has a playful personality. She's always willing to engage in fun activities.
- Los niños son muy traviesos. Siempre están inventando juegos y bromas.The children are very playful. They're always inventing games and jokes.
- Carla tiene una risa pícara. Siempre está buscando la manera de animar a todos en el grupo.Carla has a playful laugh. She's always finding ways to cheer everyone in the group up.
- Pedro es un chico guasón. Siempre está inventando chistes y haciendo reír a todos.Pedro is a playful boy. He's always coming up with jokes and making everyone laugh.
- El cachorro es muy juguetón.The puppy is very playful.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are talking about a new pet.
- Alejandro¿Cómo es el nuevo perro?How is the new dog?
- LucíaEs muy juguetón y cariñoso.He is very playful and affectionate.
- AlejandroQué bueno, me encanta ese carácter.That's good, I love that personality.
- LucíaSí, nos divierte mucho.Yes, he amuses us a lot.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry juguetón, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
