respondón
talks back
There is no single Mexican word for "sassy". A child who talks back is respondón (feminine respondona), a bold person is atrevido, and a cheeky one is descarado.
Meaning: bold and cheeky in speech (adjective)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| respondón | talks back |
| atrevido | bold |
| descarado | cheeky |
Mexican parents say no seas respondona to a daughter who answers back. For a confident style, people say con mucha actitud or muy segura de sí misma.
What mistakes should you avoid?
The word descarado can be an insult for someone shameless, so it is not always playful. Respondón is milder and usually refers to children.
Did you know?
- The word mija is a short form of mi hija and is used by Mexican parents and elders for girls and women they care about.
Examples in context
- No seas respondón con tu mamá.Do not be sassy with your mom.
- Qué atrevida eres.How bold you are.
- Es una niña muy respondona.She is a very sassy girl.
Example conversation
Mamá scolds her daughter Valeria at home in Toluca.
- MamáValeria, no seas respondona.Valeria, do not be sassy.
- ValeriaPero yo no dije nada malo.But I did not say anything bad.
- MamáEs el tono, mija.It is the tone, dear.
