Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dentudo | /denˈtudo/ | |
| dientudo | /djenˈtudo/ | |
| dentón | /denˈton/ | colloquial |
These terms are used to describe a person who has prominent or large teeth.
What does it mean word for word?
The word dentudo is composed of the root dent- (meaning tooth) and the suffix -udo, which denotes abundance or prominence.
Which one should you use?
dentudo is the standard, neutral term for someone with prominent teeth. In contrast, dientudo is a more colloquial and potentially more mocking way to say toothy. There is also dentón, which is a colloquial term that specifically emphasizes the large size of the teeth, translating more closely to "big-toothed".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
dentudo is the most neutral and standard form. The terms dientudo and dentón are both colloquial.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, dentudo must agree in gender and number with the person being described. Use dentuda for a female, and use dentudos for a group of males or a mixed group.
How do you pronounce it?
/denˈtudo/
Did you know?
- While English speakers might use 'toothy' to describe a bright smile, calling someone dentudo in Spanish often focuses more on the physical protrusion of the teeth than the smile itself.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, describing someone as dentón can be a way of playfully teasing a child about their 'big' growing teeth.
- The suffix -udo used in dentudo is often used in Spanish to create humorous or slightly exaggerated descriptions of physical traits, such as barbudo for someone with a large beard.
Examples in context
- El tiburón blanco es conocido por su mandíbula dentuda.The great white shark is known for its toothy jaw.
- El niño es muy dentudo.The boy is very toothy.
- Tiene un aspecto dentudo y gracioso.He has a toothy and funny look.
- Ese personaje de dibujos es dentudo.That cartoon character is toothy.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are looking at a funny caricature in a magazine.
- Alejandro¿Viste al actor de la caricatura?Did you see the actor in the caricature?
- LucíaSí, es un hombre muy dentudo.Yes, he is a very toothy man.
- AlejandroSu sonrisa parece muy extraña.His smile looks very strange.
- LucíaEs verdad, se ve muy divertido.It is true, he looks very funny.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “toothy” translations and entries dentudo, dientudo, dentón, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
