Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Skinny in Spanish: Flaco
Flaco · adjective · FLAH-koh
Flaco is the most common Spanish translation of skinny, carrying a casual and sometimes affectionate tone. Delgado is the neutral, polite alternative meaning thin or slim. In many Latin American countries, flaco/flaca is also used as a term of endearment regardless of body type, similar to calling someone babe or hon.
Say FLAH-koh for masculine or FLAH-kah for feminine. The stress falls on the first syllable, and the a is a clear, open vowel.
De niño yo era muy flaco, pero ahora tengo más peso.
As a child I was very skinny, but now I weigh more.
Skinny in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for skinny, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| flaco | skinny | FLAH-koh | Default, widely understood |
| delgado | skinny | neutral/polite — slim or thin | |
| escuálido | skinny | pejorative — gaunt, emaciated |
How Native Speakers Use Flaco
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Describing someone's build
Mi primo siempre ha sido muy delgado aunque come bastante.
My cousin has always been very thin even though he eats a lot.
Delgado is the polite, neutral way to describe a slim person.
Used as a term of endearment
¡Hola, flaca! ¿Cómo te fue en el examen?
Hey, sweetie! How did the exam go?
In Argentina and other countries, flaco/flaca is an affectionate nickname unrelated to body size.
Describing thinness with concern
El perro estaba tan flaco que se le notaban las costillas.
The dog was so skinny you could see its ribs.
Flaco can carry concern or pity when describing extreme thinness.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Flaco
Using flaco in formal or professional settings
Incorrect: El paciente se ve muy flaco.
Correct: El paciente se ve muy delgado.
Flaco is casual and can sound blunt in professional contexts. In medical or formal settings, delgado is the appropriate and respectful word for thin.
Assuming flaco is always about weight
Incorrect: No me llames flaco, no estoy delgado. (taking offense)
Correct: Understood — in many countries, flaco is just an affectionate nickname.
In Argentina, Uruguay, and other regions, flaco is a term of endearment like sweetie or honey. It does not necessarily comment on someone's body at all.
Lock in Skinny Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Flaco used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Skinny in Spanish
- How do you say skinny in Spanish?
- The casual, everyday word is flaco (masculine) or flaca (feminine). For a more polite or neutral tone, use delgado/delgada. Flaco is common in everyday speech, while delgado appears more often in formal or medical contexts.
- Is flaco rude in Spanish?
- It depends on context and region. Describing someone as flaco is generally casual, not rude, but it can be insensitive if you emphasize extreme thinness. In Argentina and parts of South America, flaco/flaca is actually a common term of endearment with no connection to weight.
- What is the difference between flaco, delgado, and escuálido?
- Flaco is casual and means skinny, delgado is neutral and means thin or slim, and escuálido means gaunt or emaciated with a strongly negative tone. The spectrum goes from affectionate (flaco) to neutral (delgado) to alarming (escuálido).