Inklingo

How to Say "fat" in Spanish

English → Spanish

gorda

GOR-dah/ˈɡoɾða/

adjectiveA1informal
Use 'gorda' (feminine) or 'gordo' (masculine) to describe a person or animal that is overweight or physically large.
A very round, plump pig standing in a green field, illustrating large physical size.

Examples

Mi gato está muy gordo, ¡come mucho!

My cat is very fat, he eats a lot!

La perra de mi vecina es muy gorda porque come demasiado.

My neighbor's female dog is very fat because she eats too much.

No estoy gorda, solo tengo huesos grandes.

I'm not fat, I just have big bones.

Masculine vs. Feminine

This word is the feminine form. Use 'gorda' when describing a female person or a feminine noun (like 'la mesa'). Use 'gordo' for masculine nouns.

Using 'Muy' too much

Mistake: “Está muy gorda.”

Correction: Use qualifiers like 'un poco gorda' (a little plump) or 'bastante gorda' (quite heavy) to soften the directness, as 'gorda' can be a strong word.

grasa

/grah-sah//ˈɡɾasa/

nounA1
Use 'grasa' to refer to the biological substance found in food or in the body, often in a dietary or medical context.
A thick, yellowish-white slab of animal fat, often used for cooking, resting on a simple wooden cutting board.

Examples

Esta comida tiene demasiada grasa saturada.

This food has too much saturated fat.

La nutricionista me dijo que evite la comida con mucha grasa.

The nutritionist told me to avoid food with a lot of fat.

Perdí cinco kilos de grasa corporal después de entrenar.

I lost five kilos of body fat after training.

Always Feminine

Remember that 'grasa' is always a feminine word, so you must use 'la grasa' or 'mucha grasa'.

Adjective vs. Noun

The most common mistake is using the noun 'grasa' (fat substance) when you mean the adjective 'gordo/a' (overweight). Remember: 'gordo/a' describes a being, while 'grasa' describes a substance.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.