You know that look. Someone smiles, and those tiny indentations pop up on their cheeks, making them look instantly more charming or mischievous. We call them dimples. But if you’re trying to describe that specific cuteness to a native speaker in Madrid, Mexico City, or Buenos Aires, you might find yourself stumbling. Language isn't just a 1:1 swap of words. It's about flavor.
So, how do you say dimples in Spanish? The short answer is hoyuelos.
But honestly, if you stop there, you're missing out on how people actually talk. Spanish is a sprawling, living thing. Depending on where you are standing on the map, a "dimple" might be a poetic biological quirk or just a "little hole" in the face.
The Most Common Way: Hoyuelos
The word you’ll find in every Spanish-English dictionary is hoyuelo. It’s a diminutive of hoyo, which means "hole." Think about that for a second. In English, "dimple" sounds soft and bouncy. In Spanish, you’re literally calling them "little holes." It sounds a bit more clinical when you break it down, doesn't it?
Most people use hoyuelos specifically for the face. If you see a baby with those deep indentations while they’re laughing, you’d say, "Mira qué hoyuelos tiene ese bebé." It’s the standard. It’s safe. You can use it in a formal setting or a casual one without looking like a tourist who just swallowed a textbook.
But here is where it gets interesting.
The word hoyuelo is technically an anatomical term. According to the Real Academia Española (RAE), the authority on the language, it specifically refers to that depression in the flesh. However, humans are rarely technical when they're flirting or talking about their kids.
Regional Flairs and the "Pozo" Problem
Language travels. It mutates. In some parts of Latin America, you might hear people refer to them as pocitos.
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Pocito comes from pozo (well). So, instead of a little hole, you have a "little well." It’s arguably more romantic. If you’re in Argentina or Uruguay, pocitos feels a bit more natural in a cozy, domestic conversation. You wouldn't necessarily see it in a medical journal, but you’ll hear it at a dinner table.
Then you have the generic terms. Some people just don't use the specific word for dimple. They might say "se le hacen agujeros en las mejillas" (holes form in their cheeks). It's blunt. It's direct. It works.
Dimples That Aren't on Your Face
We need to talk about the "back dimples." You know, the two indentations on the lower back, right above the glutes. In English, we sometimes call them "Dimples of Venus."
Spanish speakers are just as poetic about this. They call them hoyuelos de Venus.
It’s one of those rare moments where the translation is almost identical. It’s elegant. But what about the dimples we don't want? I'm talking about cellulite. In English, we might describe skin as "dimpled," like an orange peel. In Spanish, you wouldn't use hoyuelos for this. That would be weird. Instead, you’d talk about piel de naranja (orange peel skin).
Using the wrong word here matters. If you tell someone you like the hoyuelos on their legs, they might think you’re being sweet, or they might think you’re making a very strange observation about their skin texture. Stick to hoyuelos for the face and piel de naranja for the gym talk.
The Science of the Smile
Why do we care so much about how to say dimples in Spanish? Because they’re a dominant genetic trait that people find universally attractive.
In a study published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, researchers noted that dimples are actually caused by a variation in the zygomaticus major muscle. Essentially, the muscle is shorter than usual, or it’s bifid (split in two). When you smile, the skin hitches over that gap. It’s a "defect" that ended up being a beauty standard.
In Spanish culture, much like in the US, dimples are often associated with youth and innocence. There’s a certain ternura (tenderness) attached to them.
Cultural Nuance: Can Dimples Be "Beautiful"?
If you want to compliment someone’s dimples in Spanish, don’t just say the word. Use the verbs that bring it to life.
- Se le marcan los hoyuelos: Their dimples show/mark.
- Tiene unos hoyuelos encantadores: They have charming dimples.
- Me encantan tus pocitos: I love your (little) dimples.
Notice the use of "se le marcan." Spanish loves using reflexive structures to describe things that just happen to a person’s body. Dimples aren't usually something you "do"; they are something that "occurs" when you smile.
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Myths and Misconceptions
There is a weird myth in some Spanish-speaking communities that you can "force" dimples to appear by pressing a pencil into your cheeks. (Spoiler: Don't do that. It doesn't work and it hurts.)
Another misconception is that hoyuelos and pecas (freckles) are related. They aren't. But in descriptive Spanish literature, you’ll often see them mentioned in the same breath to describe a "face with character."
Quick Summary of Terms
- Standard: Hoyuelos
- Cute/Regional: Pocitos
- Back Dimples: Hoyuelos de Venus
- The Action: Se le forman hoyuelos
Real-World Action Steps
If you are learning Spanish or traveling soon, don't just memorize the word. Use it in context to make it stick.
- Watch for them: Next time you’re watching a Spanish-language show (like La Casa de Papel or a telenovela), look at the actors. If you see a dimple, say out loud, "Tiene hoyuelos."
- Ask native speakers: If you're talking to a friend from a specific country, ask them: “¿Cómo le dicen a los hoyuelos en tu país?” It’s a great conversation starter and uncovers regional slang.
- Check your own: Look in the mirror. Do you have them? If so, you have hoyuelos. If not, you just have regular mejillas (cheeks).
Language is about more than just vocabulary; it's about the little details that make us human. Whether you call them hoyuelos or pocitos, you’re describing one of the most charming "glitches" in human biology. Next time someone flashes a smile at you in a cafe in Mexico City, you’ll know exactly how to describe it.
Go ahead and try using hoyuelos in your next conversation. It’s a small word that carries a lot of warmth.
Actionable Insight: To sound more like a native, use the diminutive ending -ito or -illo depending on the country. In Mexico, hoyuelitos sounds incredibly natural and affectionate, whereas in Spain, hoyuelos is perfectly standard. Avoid using agujeros unless you want to sound unintentionally harsh about someone's facial features.