cabeza de papa
/kabeθa de papa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "potato head" is translated into Spanish as cabeza de papa.
This phrase is used as a playful or insulting term to describe someone whose head is shaped like a potato.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of cabeza (head) and de papa (of potato).
How do you pronounce it?
/kabeθa de papa/
Did you know?
- The word papa for the vegetable is a loanword from Quechua, the language of the Inca Empire. This reflects the history of the potato being native to the Andes mountains.
- In Spanish, the word papa is also used as baby talk for 'food' or 'mush'. This creates a funny coincidence where cabeza de papa could literally sound like 'head of baby food'.
- While papa is used in Latin America, people in Spain usually say cabeza de patata. Using the word papa in Spain might be understood, but it sounds distinctly foreign to locals.
Examples in context
- ¡Jaime siempre ha sido un cabezón! Su cabeza parece una cabeza de papa.Jaime has always been stubborn! His head looks like a potato head.
- Ese dibujo tiene una cabeza de papa.That drawing has a potato head.
- No le digas cabeza de papa a tu hermano.Don't call your brother potato head.
Example conversation
Two friends are joking around in the kitchen.
- ElenaAlejandro, eres un cabeza de papa.Alejandro, you are a potato head.
- Alejandro¡Oye! Mi cabeza es normal.Hey! My head is normal.
- ElenaNo, es redonda como una papa.No, it is round like a potato.
- AlejandroYa deja de decirme cabeza de papa.Stop calling me potato head already.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cabeza, de, papa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
