estás flaco
/estas flako/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'you're skinny' is expressed in Spanish as estás flaco.
This phrase is used to tell someone that they have very little body fat.
Which one should you use?
The word delgado is a more polite or neutral way to say someone is thin, whereas flaco can sometimes sound blunt or even slightly negative depending on the tone.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Different regions use specific variations: In Argentina, people often use sos flaco(a). In Mexico, you can say eres flaquillo(a). In Spain, eres delgado(a) and estás delgado(a) are common. And in Colombia, you might hear eres flaco(a) de veras or estás flaco(a) de veras to emphasize that someone is genuinely skinny.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes to the feminine form flaca (as in estás flaca) if you are speaking to a woman.
Did you know?
- In some Caribbean dialects, calling someone flaco can be used as a nickname for a person who is actually quite large or robust, often as a form of ironic humor.
- The word flaco shares a common ancestor with the English word 'flabby', both originating from the Latin flaccus which described something loose or hanging.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone flaco or flaca is not an insult but a common term of endearment used by friends or even strangers to get someone's attention.
Examples in context
- Carlos, estás bien flaco. Deberíamos hacer ejercicio juntos.Carlos, you're really skinny. We should exercise together.
- Estás flaco después de la dieta.You're skinny after the diet.
- No te preocupes, solo estás flaco.Don't worry, you're just skinny.
- Desde que no comes carne, estás flaco.Since you stopped eating meat, you're skinny.
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are talking about his new workout routine.
- MateoMira mis brazos, ¿qué piensas?Look at my arms, what do you think?
- ElenaLa verdad es que estás flaco, Mateo.To be honest, you're skinny, Mateo.
- MateoTengo que comer más proteína entonces.I have to eat more protein then.
- ElenaSí, necesitas ganar un poco de músculo.Yes, you need to gain a little muscle.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries flaco, CC BY-SA 4.0.
