What does it mean word for word?
The phrase hacer novillos literally translates to 'to do young bulls'.
Which one should you use?
Saltarse las clases is a more neutral and widely understood way to express the idea, and Faltar a clase is also a common, neutral way to say 'skip class'. In some Latin American regions, you might hear Rajarse de clase to mean 'bailing out of class'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Hacer novillos is a colloquial expression. For a more neutral tone, use Faltar a clase or Saltarse las clases.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Hacer novillos is used primarily in Spain. In some Latin American regions, people use Rajarse de clase to mean 'bailing out of class'. The phrase Saltarse las clases is neutral and understood across the Spanish-speaking world.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using hacer novillos, the verb hacer must be conjugated to match the subject, while the word novillos remains unchanged as the object.
How do you pronounce it?
/aθeɾ nobiʝos/
Did you know?
- While hacer novillos refers to young bulls in Spain, a student in Mexico would instead use the word pinta in the phrase irse de pinta to describe skipping school.
- In some Latin American regions, the verb rajarse is used for skipping class, but it also serves as a slang term for 'chickening out' of a fight or a dare.
- The verb hacer in hacer novillos descends from the Latin 'facere', which is the ancestor of the English word 'factory'.
Examples in context
- Hoy voy a faltar a clase de matemáticas.Today I'm going to skip math class.
- Ayer, muchos estudiantes se rajaron de clase para ir a la playa.Yesterday, many students bailed out of class to go to the beach.
- No quiero hacer novillos hoy, prefiero ir a clase.I don't want to skip class today, I prefer to go to class.
- Los chicos prefieren hacer novillos hoy.The boys prefer to skip class today.
- No deberías hacer novillos en matemáticas.You shouldn't skip math class.
- Él siempre quiere hacer novillos los viernes.He always wants to skip class on Fridays.
Example conversation
Two students are talking in the hallway.
- JavierMaría, ¿quieres hacer novillos hoy?María, do you want to skip class today?
- MaríaNo puedo, Javier, tengo un examen.I can't, Javier, I have an exam.
- JavierEs una pena, yo no quiero ir.That's a shame, I don't want to go.
- MaríaMejor ve a clase para no reprobar.You better go to class so you don't fail.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hacer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
