Spanish Conversation · Level 81
60 words
Spanish word
pómulo
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈpomulo/
Meaning
- masculine nouncheekbone
Example
Se me hinchó el pómulo.
My cheekbone swelled.
More examples
El boxeador tenía el pómulo magullado.
The boxer had a bruised cheekbone.
Core concept
Bony ridge forming the upper edge of the cheek that defines the face's contour.
Common phrases
el pómulo hinchado
swollen cheekbone
dolor en el pómulo
cheekbone pain
golpe en el pómulo
blow to the cheekbone
Similar words
mejilla: Soft fleshy area on the side of the face beneath the cheekbone.
cachete: Soft part of the cheek beside the mouth, typically referred to in informal speech.
Definition in Spanish
Hueso de la cara que constituye el borde superior de la mejilla y contribuye a la forma del rostro.
Word origin
From Latin pomulus 'small fruit' (diminutive of pomum 'fruit'), originally comparing a rounded facial prominence to a fruit and later naming the cheekbone.
Usage tips
- Refers to the bone or bony prominence, not the soft cheek (mejilla), and phrases like "tener los pómulos marcados" are common in makeup and photography contexts.