Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| marimacho | /maɾiˈmat͡ʃo/ | masculine |
| marimacha | /maɾiˈmat͡ʃa/ | feminine, alternative form |
| machorra | /maˈt͡ʃora/ | feminine |
| chicazo | /t͡ʃiˈkaθo/ /t͡ʃiˈkaso/ |
masculine |
| varonera | /baɾoneɾa/ (from spelling rules) | Argentina, Uruguay, feminine |
| chica masculina | /t͡ʃika maskulina/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| hombruna | /ombɾuna/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
While marimacho is a slang term for a girl who acts like a typical boy, there are many other options available.
Which one should you use?
The terms differ in their nuance and social weight. marimacho is a slang term focused on behavior, whereas machorra is an informal term often used with a derogatory or sexual connotation to describe a woman perceived as masculine or a lesbian. For a more neutral and polite approach, use chica masculina or the formal muchacha varonil. Other specific forms include chicazo and hombruna.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, use muchacha varonil. If you wish to be polite and neutral, chica masculina is the best choice. Marimacho is considered slang, and machorra is informal and often derogatory.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina and Uruguay, you may hear the term varonera. In Argentina, the word machona might also be used to describe a tomboy.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun marimacho can change its ending to marimacha to agree with a female subject, although the masculine form marimacho is frequently used as a generic noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/maɾiˈmatʃo/
Did you know?
- In Portuguese, a nearly identical term maria-macho is used to describe the same concept.
- The term marimacho is actually a combination of the name 'Maria' and the word 'macho'.
- The term hombruna is used to describe a woman who has qualities typically associated with men, though it sounds quite different from 'tomboy'.
Examples in context
- Mary es un chicazo.Mary is a tomboy.This sentence uses chicazo to identify a tomboy.Tatoeba #8005570 by Seael, translation #1519013 by Spamster
- Si yo fuera chica, sería un chicazo.If I were a girl, I'd be a tomboy.This sentence uses chicazo in a conditional statement about being a tomboy.Tatoeba #10346504 by Seael, translation #10340964 by DJ_Saidez
- Tiene tendencia a ser mucho más varonil en su comportamiento que el resto de las niñasShe tends to have a more masculine behavior than the other girls
- Ella siempre fue un marimacho en la escuela.She was always a tomboy in school.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a girl they grew up with.
- Elena¿Te acuerdas de Sofía?Do you remember Sofia?
- MateoSí, era un marimacho total.Yes, she was a total tomboy.
- ElenaEs verdad, le encantaba el fútbol.It's true, she loved soccer.
- MateoJugaba mejor que muchos niños.She played better than many boys.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tomboy” translations and entries marimacho, marimacha, machorra, chicazo, hombruna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chicazo, machorra, marimacha, marimacho, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
