Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| desdentado | /desdenˈtado/ | |
| edéntulo | /edentulo/ (from spelling rules) | |
| janicho | /xanit͡ʃo/ (from spelling rules) | colloquial |
| dijusto | /dixusto/ (from spelling rules) | Central America, rare |
| sholco | /solko/ (from spelling rules) | Central America |
These terms describe a person who is lacking teeth. Depending on the context, you might use a common descriptor, a technical medical term or a slang expression.
Which one should you use?
desdentado is the common term for a person without teeth. In contrast, edéntulo is a more technical or medical term used in dentistry. The phrase carente de dientes can also be used as a formal way to express being toothless.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, use desdentado (or its feminine form desdentada) and carente de dientes. In a medical or scientific context, edéntulo is the appropriate technical choice. Janicho is a colloquial or slang term and should only be used in informal settings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Central America, the rare terms dijusto and sholco are used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective desdentado must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. It becomes desdentada for feminine nouns and desdentados for masculine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/desdenˈtado/
Did you know?
- While English speakers often use 'toothless' to describe a powerless person or an ineffective law, Spanish speakers rarely use desdentado metaphorically for a person's lack of authority.
- While English uses 'toothless' for both babies and the elderly, Spanish speakers often use different descriptors to distinguish the natural loss of baby teeth from the loss of adult teeth.
- While edéntulo is the technical term, it is derived from the Latin edentulus, sharing the same root as the English 'edentulous' used in professional dentistry.
Examples in context
- Julia se sentó al lado de un anciano desdentado que iba comiendo un helado.Julie sat down next to a toothless old man eating an ice cream.This sentence shows the use of desdentado to describe an elderly person.Tatoeba #8100317 by Shishir, translation #9733228 by DJ_Saidez
- La persona mayor que vive al lado de mi casa es desdentadaThe elderly person living next door is toothless
- La anciana está carente de dientes debido a problemas de saludThe old woman is toothless due to health issues
- Mi abuelo está sin dientes, pero eso no le impide sonreírMy grandpa is toothless, but it doesn't stop him from smiling
- En la foto antigua, mi abuela se ve desdentada pero muy feliz.In the old picture, my grandma looks toothless but very happy.
- El perro desdentado no puede morder los juguetes.The toothless dog cannot bite the toys.
- Mi abuelo está desdentado ahora.My grandfather is toothless now.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are looking at an old photograph.
- Daniel¿Quién es ese hombre desdentado en la foto?Who is that toothless man in the photo?
- ElenaEs tu tío, Daniel.It is your uncle, Daniel.
- DanielNo sabía que él estaba desdentado.I didn't know he was toothless.
- ElenaSí, perdió todos sus dientes hace años.Yes, he lost all his teeth years ago.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “toothless” translations and entries desdentado, 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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
