Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Booger in Spanish
Moco · noun · MOH-koh
The Spanish word for booger is 'moco,' a masculine noun that refers to nasal mucus in general. While English distinguishes between 'mucus' and 'booger,' Spanish uses 'moco' for both the liquid and dried forms. It is a perfectly normal word used especially when talking to or about children.
Moco is pronounced MOH-koh, a simple two-syllable word with stress on the first syllable.
El niño tenía un moco y no quería limpiarse la nariz.
The kid had a booger and didn't want to wipe his nose.
booger in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for booger, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| moco | booger | MOH-koh | Default, widely understood |
| moquito | booger | diminutive, used with children |
How Native Speakers Use Moco
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
With a child
Límpiate el moco con un pañuelo, no con la mano.
Wipe your booger with a tissue, not with your hand.
Common instruction parents give children.
Cold symptoms
Tengo mucho moco por el resfriado.
I have a lot of mucus from the cold.
Moco is also the general word for nasal mucus when sick.
Informal exclamation
¡Qué asco, tiene un moco colgando!
Gross, he has a booger hanging!
Casual and informal usage among friends or siblings.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Moco
Confusing with mocoso
Incorrect: Él es un moco. (meaning brat)
Correct: Él es un mocoso.
Moco means booger/mucus. The adjective 'mocoso' (literally 'snotty') is the slang term for a brat or snotty kid.
Pluralization
Incorrect: Tiene muchos mocos en la nariz. (when meaning one booger)
Correct: Tiene un moco en la nariz.
Use singular 'moco' for a single booger. The plural 'mocos' refers to mucus in general or multiple instances.
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Common Questions About booger in Spanish
- Does moco mean both booger and mucus?
- Moco serves as the word for both the dried booger and the liquid nasal mucus, unlike English which has separate terms for each form.
- What does mocoso mean?
- Mocoso literally translates to 'snotty' and is used colloquially to call someone a brat or a snotty kid, derived from 'moco' with the suffix '-oso.'
- How do you say 'blow your nose' in Spanish?
- The phrase is 'suénate la nariz' (informal command) or 'sonarse la nariz' (infinitive), which is the polite way to address nasal hygiene.