How to Say Pimple in Spanish | Clear Words Locals Use

In Spanish, a pimple is often called “granito” or “espinilla,” and the best pick depends on where you are and how casual you want to sound.

You’re mid-conversation, you feel that bump on your cheek, and English pops into your head: “pimple.” Spanish gives you a few solid choices, and each one lands a little differently.

This article shows the words real people use, when each fits, how to say them out loud, and a set of ready-to-copy lines you can drop into daily talk or a text.

What Spanish Speakers Usually Say For A Pimple

Spanish doesn’t have one single everyday word that everyone uses all the time. Three options cover most situations: granito, espinilla, and grano. You’ll also hear barrito in some places, plus a few regional picks.

“Granito”

Granito literally means “little grain.” In day-to-day talk, it’s one of the most natural ways to refer to a small pimple, especially on the face. People say it with a shrug, the way English speakers say “a little zit.”

Typical vibe: casual, soft, not dramatic.

“Espinilla”

Espinilla is widely understood and shows up in dictionaries with a skin-related meaning. If you want a word that sounds clear and standard, this is a safe bet. The Real Academia Española defines “espinilla” as a skin blemish linked to clogged sebaceous glands.

Typical vibe: everyday, slightly more “proper” than granito.

“Grano”

Grano is a flexible word. In many places it can mean a pimple, a bump, or a “spot,” depending on context. If you say me salió un grano, most people will get the idea right away.

Typical vibe: neutral, broad, sometimes a touch blunt.

How to Say Pimple in Spanish For Everyday Talk

If you only want one go-to option, pick granito for casual chat and espinilla when you want to sound a bit more careful. If you’re not sure which your listener prefers, grano often works as a general stand-in.

Match The Word To The Moment

Here’s an easy way to choose without overthinking it:

• Small, new bump:granito.
• Talking about acne-type breakouts:espinilla or granos.
• General “spot” talk:grano.

When “Acné” Makes More Sense

If you’re speaking with a pharmacist, reading a product label, or describing an ongoing breakout pattern, acné is the standard medical term. The RAE entry for “acné” lists grano and espinilla as related terms. In writing, the accent matters: Fundéu explains why “acné” carries a tilde.

In plain talk, people often mix the medical label with an everyday noun: tengo acné y me salen granitos.

Pronunciation That Gets You Understood

Good news: these words are straightforward once you break them into syllables. Read them slowly once or twice, then say them at normal speed.

Granito

gra-NEE-toh (three beats). The stress sits on nee.

Espinilla

es-pee-NEE-ya. The double ll sound changes by region; many speakers use a “y” sound. Either way, you’ll be understood.

Grano

GRAH-noh. Two clean syllables.

Small Meaning Differences That Matter

English has “pimple,” “zit,” “spot,” and “breakout.” Spanish splits that idea in a similar way, just with different labels. Granito tends to point to a small, single bump. Grano can be one bump or a general breakout. Espinilla often sounds like a classic “pimple” word, and it can cover blackhead-style issues too, depending on the speaker.

If you’re describing what you see, add one adjective and you’re set: rojo (red), inflamado (inflamed), pequeño (small). The noun does the heavy lifting; the adjective adds clarity.

Polite Ways To Mention A Pimple

Spanish can sound direct if you translate word-for-word from English. A small tweak keeps it friendly, especially when you’re talking about someone else’s face.

Talking About Your Own Skin

People often soften it with me salió (“one popped up on me”) or me ha salido (“one has popped up”). It frames it as a passing thing, not a flaw.

• Me salió un granito en la barbilla. — A little pimple popped up on my chin.
• Hoy amanecí con un grano. — I woke up today with a pimple.

Talking About Someone Else

If it’s not your close friend, skip pointing it out. If you do need to mention it (makeup, a photo, a costume), keep it gentle and practical.

• Tienes un granito aquí. — You’ve got a little pimple right here.
• Se nota un poquito una espinilla en la foto. — A small blemish shows in the photo.

Regional Words And What They Signal

Spanish varies by country, so you may hear different terms for the same bump. If you’re curious about regional vocabulary, the Diccionario de americanismos is a good reference point for usage across the Americas.

In conversation, you don’t need to memorize every variant. Learn two or three core words, listen for what locals say, and mirror that.

Table 1 (after ~40% of content)

Common Pimple Words By Region And Context

Word Or Phrase	Where You’ll Hear It	Best Use
granito	Many countries; everyday talk	Small pimple, casual tone
espinilla	Widely understood	Clear, standard term for a pimple
grano	Widely understood	General “spot,” bump, pimple
barrito	Common in parts of Latin America	Casual “zit” style wording
granos	Everywhere	Multiple pimples or breakouts
acné	Clinics, packaging, formal talk	Condition name, ongoing breakouts
punto negro	Everywhere	Blackhead
punto blanco	Everywhere	Whitehead
comedón	Dermatology, product labels	Technical term for clogged pore

Copy-Ready Sentences You Can Use

These lines sound natural and don’t feel like textbook Spanish. Swap in a face area if you want: frente (forehead), nariz (nose), mejilla (cheek), barbilla (chin).

Daily Talk

• Me salió un granito justo antes del evento. — A pimple popped up right before the event.
• Estoy tratando de que no se me inflame este grano. — I’m trying to keep this pimple from getting inflamed.
• Me están saliendo espinillas en la frente. — I’m getting pimples on my forehead.

At The Pharmacy Or Store

• ¿Tienen algo para el acné? — Do you have something for acne?
• Busco un limpiador para granitos. — I’m looking for a cleanser for pimples.
• Me irrita la piel y me salen granos. — My skin gets irritated and I break out.

Texting

• No puedo creerlo… me salió un granito. — I can’t believe it… a pimple popped up.
• Hoy me tapo el grano y listo. — Today I’ll cover the pimple and that’s it.

Texting Style And Common Shortcuts

In messages, Spanish speakers often keep it simple. The everyday nouns stay the same; what changes is the rhythm. You’ll see short add-ons like jaja, uff, or ya.

• Uff, otro granito. — Ugh, another pimple.
• Me salió un grano, qué mala suerte. — A pimple popped up, what bad luck.
• Hoy no, espinilla… — Not today, pimple…

Related Skin Words That Pair Well With Pimple Talk

If you want to sound natural, it helps to know a few side words that show up in the same conversations. You don’t need all of them, but they’re handy when you’re describing what you mean.

• poro: pore
• piel grasa: oily skin
• piel seca: dry skin
• inflamado: inflamed
• rojo: red
• cicatriz: scar
• marquita: small mark

Discreet Options When You Don’t Want To Name It

Sometimes you’d rather not say “pimple” at all. Spanish has a few soft workarounds that sound normal, not evasive. The easiest is una cosita (“a little thing”), often with en la cara. Another is to stick with granito, since it already sounds gentle.

These lines are common in photos, makeup talk, or a moment when you just want to move on:

• Me salió una cosita en la cara. — A little thing popped up on my face.
• Se me nota una marquita aquí. — A small mark shows here.
• Traigo un granito, nada más. — I’ve got a little pimple, that’s all.

When you’re talking about blackheads, punto negro is the phrase that gets used across many countries. It’s simple, direct, and easy to spot in product descriptions.

Table 2 (after ~60% of content)

Phrase Builder For Real Situations

Situation	Spanish Line	Tone
You woke up with one	Hoy amanecí con un grano.	Neutral
You want it to go down	Ojalá baje este granito.	Casual
You’re breaking out	Me están saliendo granitos otra vez.	Everyday
You’re buying skincare	Busco algo para espinillas.	Practical
You’re talking about a photo	Se nota un poquito un granito.	Gentle
You want to be discreet	Me salió una cosita en la cara.	Soft
You want the medical label	Tengo acné desde hace meses.	Formal

Common Mistakes English Speakers Make

Most slip-ups come from translating too literally or choosing a word that means something else.

Mixing Up “Espinilla” With “Espina”

Espina means “thorn” or “spine,” depending on context. Espinilla is the pimple word. One extra syllable changes everything.

Using Only “Acné” For A Single Bump

Acné works well for the condition. For one bump, granito or grano sounds more natural. You can still say un granito de acné if you want to connect the ideas.

Over-explaining When A Simple Noun Works

If you can name the thing, you’re already communicating. A short line like me salió un granito beats a long description.

A Tiny Practice Drill That Sticks

Do this once and you’ll stop hunting for words next time.

1. Say the three core nouns out loud: granito, espinilla, grano.
2. Pick one frame and repeat it: me salió + noun.
3. Add a place: en la nariz, en la frente, en la barbilla.
4. Say it at normal speed: Me salió un granito en la barbilla.

That’s it. After a few reps, your mouth starts reaching for the phrase on its own.

Recap In 60 Seconds

• Granito is a friendly, casual word for a small pimple.
• Espinilla is clear and widely understood; it also appears in the RAE entry.
• Grano is a broad everyday option that often works anywhere.
• Acné fits labels, clinics, and ongoing breakouts.
• Use me salió to sound natural: Me salió un granito.