How to Say "gay" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “gay” is “homosexual” — use this term when formally or neutrally describing a person's sexual orientation, especially when referring to men.
Use this term when formally or neutrally describing a person's sexual orientation, especially when referring to men.
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This is an informal and somewhat dated adjective used to refer to gay culture or media, often in a slightly detached or academic way.
Learn more →This word is a highly offensive slur but can be reclaimed and used neutrally or affectionately within certain LGBTQ+ communities, particularly in Spain; use with extreme caution.
Learn more →oh-moh-sek-soo-AHLomo.sekˈswal
Examples
La pareja homosexual celebró su aniversario.
The homosexual couple celebrated their anniversary.
Existe mucha literatura homosexual moderna.
There is a lot of modern homosexual literature.
Adjective Form
This adjective is special because it does not change its ending based on gender. It is used for both masculine ('un hombre homosexual') and feminine ('una mujer homosexual') nouns. It only changes form when plural: 'homosexuales'.
oh-mohˈomo
Examples
Es una película del circuito de cine homo.
It is a movie from the homo cinema circuit.
El activismo homo ha crecido mucho en esta ciudad.
Homo activism has grown a lot in this city.
Shortened Words
Just like 'tele' is short for 'televisión', 'homo' is sometimes used as a shorthand for 'homosexual' in specific social groups.
Sensitivity
Mistake: “Using 'homo' in formal settings.”
Correction: Use 'homosexual' or 'gay'.
maricón
Examples
Le gritaron insultos como «maricón» en la calle.
They shouted insults like 'faggot' at him in the street.
Avoid using 'maricón' outside of reclaimed contexts
The most common mistake is using 'maricón' without understanding its deeply offensive nature as a slur. While it can be reclaimed, it's crucial to avoid using it unless you are part of the LGBTQ+ community and aware of the specific social context, as it's otherwise highly insulting.
Related Translations
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