el flaco
skinny · thin
Definition & meaning
Flaco is an adjective that usually means thin or skinny, especially when describing a person or animal with little body fat. Depending on context, it can sound neutral, affectionate, or critical.
It can also mean weak, slight, or not substantial. Figuratively, it appears in expressions about something’s vulnerable or weak aspect.
Used as a noun, el flaco or la flaca can refer informally or affectionately to a thin person, a close friend, or a romantic partner. The exact sense varies by region and context.
Grammar & Word origin
Flaco is an adjective and changes form to agree in gender and number: flaco, flaca, flacos, flacas. It comes from Latin flaccus, meaning “flabby” or “withered.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms vary with the intended meaning:
- delgado means “thin” and is generally more neutral and less blunt than flaco.
- esbelto means “slender” and usually suggests an attractive or graceful shape.
- enjuto means “lean” or “gaunt,” often emphasizing a very thin appearance.
- débil means “weak”; it fits the “weak” sense, not the physical meaning of “skinny.”
Antonyms also depend on context:
- gordo means “fat” and is the most direct opposite when describing body size, though it can sound blunt.
- grueso means “thick” or “heavyset,” and is less directly about a person’s weight.
- fuerte means “strong” and contrasts with flaco when it means “weak.”
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Mi primo es muy flaco y alto.adjective
My cousin is very skinny and tall.
Después de la enfermedad, mis brazos quedaron flacos.adjective
After the illness, my arms were left thin.
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