Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| esquicio | /esˈkiθjo/ /esˈkisjo/ |
masculine |
| bosquejo | /bosˈkexo/ | masculine |
| esbozo | /esˈboθo/ /esˈboso/ |
masculine |
A 'sketch' refers to a quick freehand drawing. Depending on the context, you might use different terms: Dibujo is a common way to say 'sketch', while Boceto specifically refers to a preliminary or rough sketch. If you are referring to a rough or messy sketch, you can use the informal term Garabato. To perform the action of making a basic drawing, you can use the verbs esquiciar, bosquejar or esbozar. Notably, the verb esbozar is often used figuratively to mean 'to hint at' or 'to suggest' something, such as in the phrase esbozar una sonrisa (to flash or hint at a smile).
Which one should you use?
While several words exist, bosquejo is a general or technical term frequently used not just in art, but also to describe a preliminary outline of a plan, a project or a written text.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine nouns esbozo and bosquejo follow the standard rule for masculine nouns ending in -o to form their plurals: esbozos (sketches) and bosquejos (sketches).
How do you pronounce it?
/esˈkiθjo/
Did you know?
- The word esbozo descends from the Italian verb sbozzare, which means 'to rough out' a piece of stone or material.
- In professional or administrative contexts, a bosquejo is often used to describe the first rough draft of a legal document or a business plan.
Examples in context
- El artista mostró su dibujo al público.The artist showed his sketch to the public.
- Necesito hacer un boceto de mi diseño antes de empezar a pintar.I need to make a sketch of my design before starting to paint.
- ¡Mira este dibujillo que hice en cinco minutos!Look at this little sketch I made in five minutes!
- El niño hizo un garabato en el papel mientras esperaba la comida.The child made a sketch on the paper while waiting for the food.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are discussing an art project.
- JavierMira, Lucía, terminé el esquicio del retrato.Look, Lucía, I finished the sketch of the portrait.
- LucíaEstá muy bien, Javier. Tiene mucho movimiento.It's very good, Javier. It has a lot of movement.
- Javier¿Crees que debo añadir más detalles al esquicio?Do you think I should add more details to the sketch?
- LucíaNo, creo que así es perfecto.No, I think it's perfect as it is.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sketch” translations and entries esquicio, bosquejo, esbozo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bosquejo, esbozo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
