Spanish word

mejilla

Pronunciation

IPA/meˈxiʝa/

Meaning

  • feminine nouncheek

Example

Me besó en la mejilla.

He kissed me on the cheek.

Illustration for mejilla (cheek)

More examples

Después del golpe, tenía la mejilla hinchada.

After the blow, he had a swollen cheek.

Core concept

Soft rounded pad of flesh at each side of the face between the eye and the mouth.

Common phrases

  • besar en la mejilla

    kiss on the cheek

  • acariciar la mejilla

    gently caress the cheek

  • un beso en la mejilla

    a kiss on the cheek

Similar words

cachete: Casual, fleshy side of the face.
moflete: Rounded, puffy cheek that bulges slightly, typical in children or chubby faces.
pómulo: Bony prominence forming the upper cheek beneath the eye.

Definition in Spanish

Porción blanda y algo redondeada de cada lado del rostro, visible al sonreír y situada entre el ojo y la comisura de los labios.

Word origin

Derives from Latin maxilla 'jaw' plus the diminutive suffix -illa, originally meaning 'little jaw' and now referring to the fleshy cheek.

Usage tips

  • Mejilla names the soft cheek flesh while pómulo refers to the cheekbone, and cachete is a common casual word that can also mean a slap depending on context.

Word lists with this word