Word for Bum in Spanish | Pick The Right Meaning

In Spanish, “bum” can mean either butt (trasero, nalgas) or a person without housing (indigente, vagabundo), so the right word depends on context.

“Bum” is one of those English words that can land you in trouble when you translate it straight into Spanish. In one conversation it’s a silly way to say “butt.” In another, it points to a person on the street. Spanish has clear options for both senses, yet the tone can swing from polite to harsh with a single word.

This article helps you pick a Spanish word that matches what you mean, where you are, and who you’re talking to. You’ll get everyday options, softer alternatives, slang to treat carefully, and ready-to-use sentences that won’t make people wince.

Word for Bum in Spanish: Picking The Right Sense

Start with one question: are you talking about a body part, or a person?

• Butt (body part):trasero, nalgas, cola (region-dependent), plus slang.
• “Bum” (person): words like indigente or vagabundo, plus phrasing that stays respectful.

Spanish readers and listeners rely on context, but they also notice tone fast. When you choose a word that fits the setting, people relax. When you don’t, the room gets quiet.

When “Bum” Means Butt

If you mean the body part, trasero is a safe default in many places. It’s common, not overly formal, and works in casual talk without sounding crude. Many speakers also use nalgas when they want a clear, direct word for buttocks (it can feel a bit more anatomical than trasero).

If you want to confirm definitions from a standard reference, the Diccionario de la lengua española entry for “trasero” (RAE) is a solid anchor for meaning and usage.

Common, Neutral Choices

• Trasero: neutral “butt/backside.” Good in mixed company.
• Nalgas: “buttocks,” a touch more clinical, still normal in daily speech.
• Glúteos: “glutes,” gym/medical tone.

In Spain and parts of Latin America, you’ll also hear culo. It’s blunt. Some friend groups use it constantly, yet it can sound rude in front of kids, elders, coworkers, or strangers. If you’re unsure, skip it and stick with trasero.

Regional Words You’ll Hear

Spanish varies a lot by country. A word that sounds mild in one place can sound childish or crude in another. A few you may run into:

• Cola: “tail,” often used as “butt” in parts of Latin America, yet cola can also mean “line/queue,” so context matters.
• Pompís / pompis: cute, kid-friendly, common in Mexico and online speech.
• Trasero variations: diminutives like traserito can sound playful, sometimes flirty.

If you’re speaking with people you don’t know well, pick the plain option. You can always loosen up later once you hear what they use.

When “Bum” Means A Person On The Street

When “bum” means a person without housing, the Spanish words carry more weight. Some choices can feel judgmental. Others sound administrative. In real conversations, phrasing matters as much as vocabulary.

A commonly recognized dictionary word is indigente, which points to extreme poverty. You can check the RAE’s definition for “indigente” to see its formal sense and typical framing.

Another word you’ll see is vagabundo. It can mean “vagrant,” yet it often carries a negative edge, like accusing someone of drifting by choice or being irresponsible. If you want the meaning without the sting, it’s safer to avoid it in polite talk. If you still want to verify its range, the RAE’s entry for “vagabundo” shows the standard senses.

More Respectful Phrases In Daily Speech

In many settings, people choose a phrase instead of a single label. These are common and usually land better:

• una persona sin hogar: “a person without a home.”
• una persona en situación de calle: used widely in Latin America; “a person living on the street.”
• una persona sin techo: “a person without a roof,” common in Spain.

Language guides often recommend “persona sin hogar” style wording when the goal is clarity without insult. FundéuRAE has guidance on terms such as “sin techo” and “sin hogar” that can help you pick phrasing that reads well in edited Spanish.

Words To Treat Carefully

Some terms map to “bum” in a rough, insulting way. They may appear in subtitles, jokes, or arguments. Using them yourself can escalate a conversation fast.

• pordiosero: “beggar,” often contemptuous.
• mendigo: “beggar,” can be neutral in a news report, yet can sting in direct talk.
• vago: “lazy person,” not the same as homelessness, easy to misuse.

If your goal is to talk about a social issue, describe the situation rather than labeling the person. That keeps your Spanish accurate and your tone steady.

Meaning, Tone, And Setting At A Glance

Use this table as a quick picker. It covers both senses of “bum,” from neutral to slang, plus notes on where each fits.

What You Mean	Spanish Options	Tone And Notes
Butt (general)	trasero	Neutral, safe default in many settings.
Buttocks (more direct)	nalgas	Clear and common; can sound slightly anatomical.
Glute muscles	glúteos	Gym/medical tone; normal in training talk.
Butt (blunt slang)	culo	Rude in some contexts; common in some friend groups.
Butt (cute/child-friendly)	pompis	Playful; heard often in Mexico and online speech.
Person without housing (neutral phrasing)	persona sin hogar, persona sin techo	Respectful; works in writing and conversation.
Person living on the street (LatAm phrasing)	persona en situación de calle	Common in Latin America; clear and non-judgmental.
Extreme poverty (formal)	indigente	Administrative tone; can feel distancing in direct talk.
Vagrant (often negative)	vagabundo	Can sound accusatory; avoid in polite conversation.

How Native Speakers Choose The Word

People rarely stop to “translate.” They pick the word that matches the moment. You can do the same by checking three things: who you’re talking to, what kind of conversation it is, and whether your meaning is physical or social.

Use Neutral Words When You Want Zero Drama

If you want to talk about a bruise, clothing fit, a chair, or a funny mishap, trasero gets the job done. It’s easy to say and easy to hear. If you’re in a gym or a clinic setting, glúteos is clearer.

Match The Level Of Familiarity

Among close friends, slang shows up more. Still, slang travels poorly across ages and regions. If you learned a word from memes, treat it like a spice: a tiny amount, only when you’re sure it fits the table.

Separate Homelessness From Insults

In English, “bum” can blend homelessness with laziness. In Spanish, those ideas split into different words and different judgments. If you mean “lazy,” vago fits. If you mean “a person without housing,” use persona sin hogar or persona en situación de calle. That small choice keeps your meaning clean.

Ready-To-Use Sentences That Sound Natural

These are built for real conversations. Swap details, keep the structure, and you’ll sound smooth without forcing slang.

Butt Sense

• Me duele el trasero. (My butt hurts.)
• Me caí y me golpeé las nalgas. (I fell and hit my buttocks.)
• Ese pantalón te queda flojo del trasero. (Those pants are loose in the seat.)
• Haz sentadillas para trabajar los glúteos. (Do squats to work your glutes.)

Person Sense

• Hay personas sin hogar en esta zona. (There are people without housing in this area.)
• Veo a una persona en situación de calle cerca del metro. (I see someone living on the street near the subway.)
• El informe habla de indigencia. (The report talks about extreme poverty.)

Notice what’s missing: name-calling. You can describe what you see without turning it into a verdict.

Common Mistakes That Make Spanish Sound Off

Using “Vagabundo” As A Direct Match For “Bum”

Many learners reach for vagabundo because it shows up in dictionaries and older translations. In live speech, it can read as a moral judgment. If you mean homelessness, pick a neutral phrase. If you mean “wanderer” in a literary sense, it can fit, yet it’s rare in day-to-day chat.

Using “Cola” Without Checking The Country

Cola can mean “butt” in some places and “line” in many places. If you say “Estoy en la cola”, you might mean “I’m in line,” not “I’m on my butt.” When you’re not sure, trasero avoids confusion.

Overusing Slang You Learned Online

Spanish internet talk is full of playful terms for body parts. In person, those words can feel childish, flirty, or crude depending on who hears them. Save slang for situations where you already know the group’s vibe.

Second Table: Fast Pick By Situation

This table is a quick “what should I say right now?” helper. Keep it handy when you need a phrase that fits the setting.

Situation	Say This In Spanish	Why It Works
Talking with coworkers	trasero	Neutral and easy to hear.
Gym or physical training	glúteos	Clear, technical, normal in training talk.
Talking with kids	pompis / trasero	Soft tone; avoids crude slang.
Travel conversation about homelessness	personas sin hogar	Respectful and widely understood.
Latin America news-style phrasing	en situación de calle	Common phrasing; describes a condition.
Formal writing or reports	indigente (when accurate)	Administrative tone; use only when it matches meaning.

Mini Checklist Before You Say It Out Loud

• Do I mean a body part or a person?
• Is this a casual chat, a workplace setting, or formal writing?
• Do I know the local slang in this country?
• If it’s about homelessness, am I describing the situation without insulting the person?

If you want one safe pair to memorize and move on, use trasero for butt and persona sin hogar for a person without housing. Those two choices cover a lot of real life without awkward moments.