Inklingo

How to Say "skinny" in Spanish

English → Spanish

flaco

fla-koˈfla.ko

adjectiveA1informal
Use 'flaco' to informally describe someone who is very thin due to a low body fat percentage, often implying a healthy thinness from activity.
A very thin, slender greyhound dog standing in a yard.

Examples

Mi hermano es muy flaco porque hace mucho deporte.

My brother is very thin because he does a lot of sports.

Estás más flaco que la última vez que te vi.

You are thinner than the last time I saw you.

Prefiero comprar carne flaca para la cena.

I prefer to buy lean meat for dinner.

¿Qué haces, flaco? ¿Todo bien?

What's up, man? Everything good?

Choosing Between 'Ser' and 'Estar'

Use 'ser' if the person is naturally thin. Use 'estar' if you want to say someone looks thin today or has recently lost weight.

Matching the Gender

Don't forget to change the ending! Use 'flaco' for men/masculine things and 'flaca' for women/feminine things.

Using it as a Name

When used as a noun to address someone directly, you don't need the word 'the' (el/la). Just say '¡Hola, flaco!'.

Flaco vs. Delgado

Mistake: “Using 'flaco' in a formal doctor's report.”

Correction: Use 'delgado'. 'Flaco' is common but 'delgado' is more polite and professional.

Gendered Nouns

Mistake: “Calling a group of girls 'flacos'.”

Correction: Use 'flacas' for a group of females or 'flacos' for a mixed group.

delgado

del-GAH-dohdelˈɣaðo

adjectiveA1
Use 'delgado' to describe someone as thin or slender, but be aware it can sometimes imply being *too* thin, especially if the person is not meant to be.
A very slender, long-legged cat standing elegantly on a green field.

Examples

Mi hermano es muy alto y delgado.

My brother is very tall and thin.

Después de la enfermedad, el perro se veía muy delgado.

After the illness, the dog looked very thin.

Ella prefiere usar ropa que la haga ver más delgada.

She prefers to wear clothes that make her look slimmer.

Gender and Number Agreement

Since 'delgado' is a descriptive word (adjective), its ending must match the person or thing it describes: 'el chico delgado' (masculine singular), 'la chica delgada' (feminine singular), 'los chicos delgados' (masculine plural).

Mixing up Delgadez and Flacura

Mistake: “Using 'flaco' in a formal context when you mean 'slim' or 'slender'.”

Correction: 'Delgado' is generally the safer and more neutral choice. 'Flaco' often implies being unhealthily or overly skinny.

fideos

fee-DEH-ohsfiˈðeos

nounB2informal
Use 'fideos' metaphorically to describe a person's very thin, stringy build, similar to 'stringbean' in English.
A very tall, thin person standing next to a wide tree to show their slender frame.

Examples

¡Qué alto y flaco está tu hijo! Parece un fideo.

Your son is so tall and thin! He looks like a stringbean.

Después de estar enfermo, se quedó hecho un fideo.

After being sick, he became thin as a rail.

Comparing People to Food

When we use 'fideo' to describe a person, we often use the phrase 'hecho un fideo' or 'parecer un fideo' to make the comparison clear.

Confusing 'delgado' and 'flaco'

Learners often use 'delgado' and 'flaco' interchangeably. While both mean thin, 'flaco' is more informal and often implies a healthy thinness from exercise, whereas 'delgado' can sometimes carry a slightly negative connotation of being *too* thin.

Related Translations

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