"Armpit" in English can be translated as either sobaco or axila in Spanish. Is each term used in different regions, or are they both used across the Spanish-speaking world? What is the difference, or are they exact synonyms? If they are synonyms, which is more common?
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I agree that sobaco is more informal and somewhat "vulgar", and axila is a more proper name. BTW, sobaco (or the word that sounds like it) means "dog" in Russian - probably just a coincidence. – Dammiam Goodtz Nov 14 '17 at 13:20
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In Colombia both forms are used about equally. I prefer axila since is a more technical term and sobaco is perhaps used more often when referring to animals. There's a Colombian saying that goes like this:
Estoy más pelado que sobaco de rana (I don't have a dime on me.)
Again, sobaco is more colloquial and axila is more formal/technical and they refer to the same part of the body on both, animals and humans.
In the Dominican Republic, sobaco is also used to refer to someone with bad odor on his armpit. See this dictionary of Dominicanismos by Colonial Tour and Travel
If you visit the Dominican Republic and someone tells you "tú tienes sobaco," is very likely that the person isn't referring to your body parts but rather urging you to take a shower and get a hold of a deodorant as soon as possible.
In several countries the word sobaco is considered vulgar and unsophisticated.
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1+1 in Spain "sobaco" is also more informal than "axila". The armpit of the animals is not a very common topic of conversation here so I don't really know if we would say "sobaco" for it :D – Javi Jan 17 '12 at 19:04
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In Perú sobaco is not very used, the usual form is axila for both, formal and informal situations. – Ricardo Jan 17 '12 at 21:27
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6In Argentina "sobaco" is much more informal, almost vulgar. You'd never hear it in a deodorant ad, or in medical speak. – leonbloy Jan 17 '12 at 22:39
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The comment regarding the Dominican Republic is incorrect. "Sobaco" has the same meaning and connotations that in other Spanish speaking countries. "Axila" is the more ethical and formal, while "sobaco" is more informal. – Oct 08 '15 at 16:35
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I m sorry to disagree. In Colombia they are not used "about equally". It is exactly the same as in other counties mentioned. Sobaco is vulgar and you will never heard an educated person saying it except on the idiom "más pelado que sobaco de rana". Axila is the more commonly used word in an "educated" context. – DGaleano Sep 06 '17 at 19:21
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I am adding this summary following what was discussed in Juntemos en respuestas wiki las respuestas cortas específicas de regiones / Let's use community wiki to summarize set of short region specific answers. Feel free to edit to add the term used in your country or region.
| Country | Usage |
|---|---|
| Argentina | Sobaco is much more informal, almost vulgar. You'd never hear it in a deodorant ad, or in medical speak. |
| Bolivia | Sobaco is really vulgar. Better use axila. |
| Chile | Sobaco is also almost vulgar and very informal. |
| Colombia | Sobaco is also almost vulgar and very informal. |
| Cuba | In Cuba we use both Axila and Sobaco. Sobaco is more informal than Axila. |
| Dominican Republic | Sobaco has the same meaning and connotations that in other Spanish speaking countries. Axila is the more ethical and formal, while sobaco is more informal. |
| Ecuador | Sobaco is more informal, I think it is better to say "axila". |
| Mexico | Sobaco is vulgar and if you do use it, it is when someone has bad odor in their armpits (te huele el sobaco, hueles a sobaco). Axila is when you are actually referring to the armpit as a body part. |
| Panama | Axila is the word that we use to refer to the armpit. Sobaco is used for people from the "Guetto". |
| Peru | Sobaco is not very used, the usual form is axila for both formal and informal situations. |
| Spain | Sobaco is more informal than axila. |
| Venezuela | Sobaco is more informal yet used by the upper class. Axila is used in medical contexts. |
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"Sobaco" is more informal, I think it is better to say "axila" (at least in Ecuador). – Sergio May 28 '12 at 23:16
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In Bolivia "sobaco" is really vulgar. Do not use it there. Way better to say "axila", for both humans and animals (even though the term is rarely used in animals). – Delonix R. Jun 24 '16 at 14:29
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In Mexico it applies the same as in other countries. "Sobaco" is vulgar and if you do use it, its when someone has bad odor in their armpits (te huele el sobaco, hueles a sobaco). Axila is when you are actually referring to the armpit as a body part. – Apr 11 '14 at 20:36
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In Panama city, "axila" is the word that we use to refer to the armpit. "Sobaco" is used for people from the "Guetto" – Dec 06 '13 at 02:27
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Algún otro español puede corroborarme que en España la palabra sobaco es la mas usada en cualquier entorno que no necesite ser puramente formal? – Brian H. Sep 07 '17 at 13:33
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In Nicaragua and Honduras, I'll add that sobaco is very informal. It's not a street slang (jerga), but it is incredibly rare that one would see it in written, formal word or spoken by cultured, highbrow people.
It is not vulgar, but it would be extremely out of place to use it in formal speech.
When used, it's almost in a derogatory sense (either to describe bad odor to that part of the body, or to indicate that the person possessing it is not someone you care much about.)
When in doubt, use axila (in Nicaragua, or in general.)
– luis.espinal Apr 17 '19 at 13:41 -
@luis.espinal cool! Feel free to edit the answer: we made it community wiki to allow that passing-by visitors like you can improve it! Many thanks – fedorqui Apr 18 '19 at 08:04
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1@jacobo genial la adaptación a tablas, buena idea. En esta respuesta en Meta a Juntemos en respuestas wiki las respuestas cortas específicas de regiones / Let's use community wiki to summarize set of short region specific answers puedes encontrar una buena lista de las que tienen este formato. – fedorqui Apr 23 '21 at 11:00
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In Spain, "sobaco" is much more used than "axila" when speaking. "Axila" is used on TV, formal writing, medicine and such. – Flamma Jun 23 '21 at 12:42