bacán

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cool, great, awesome, wealthy person, rich person
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/baˈkan/
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An informal regional word for admiration or status, with several unrelated local meanings.
Practice using bacán in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • Lo acusaron de ser un bacán que vivía del dinero de ella.
    They accused him of being a kept man who lived on her money.
  • La película estuvo bacán.
    The film was great.
  • Los vecinos oyeron el bacán desde la otra calle.
    The neighbours heard the noisy party from the next street.
  • Se compró un reloj muy bacán.
    He bought a very expensive watch.
  • Prepararon bacán con carne de cerdo y ají.
    They made bacán with pork and chilli.

Similar words

genial
acaudalado
maricón
amigo
gigoló
chulo
chévere
mantenido
hermano
compa

Meanings

Cool or excellent

adjective
social
informal
Across much of Latin America, especially Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and the Caribbean, very good, enjoyable or impressive, and of a person, pleasant or attractive.

Examples

  • La película estuvo bacán.
    The film was great.
  • Tu nueva bicicleta está bacán.
    Your new bicycle is cool.
  • Conocimos a una chica muy bacana.
    We met a very nice girl.
  • Fue bacán verte de nuevo.
    It was great to see you again.
  • Ese concierto estuvo bacán de principio a fin.
    That concert was awesome from beginning to end.

Similar words

chévere
genial
estupendo
buena onda
excelente
chido

Wealthy or luxurious

noun
wealth
informal
In Cuba, Bolivia and the River Plate region, a wealthy person, or by extension something expensive, luxurious or associated with rich people.

Examples

  • El bacán llegó en un coche importado.
    The rich man arrived in an imported car.
  • Vivía como un bacán en pleno centro.
    He lived like a wealthy man right downtown.
  • Ese restaurante es demasiado bacán para mi bolsillo.
    That restaurant is too upmarket for my budget.
  • Se compró un reloj muy bacán.
    He bought a very expensive watch.
  • Todos creían que era bacana, pero llevaba una vida sencilla.
    Everyone thought she was wealthy, but she lived simply.

Similar words

adinerado
rico
pudiente
acaudalado

Man supported by a woman

noun
relationships
slang
In Cuba, a man whose living expenses are paid by a woman with whom he has a romantic or sexual relationship, usually said with disapproval.

Examples

  • Lo acusaron de ser un bacán que vivía del dinero de ella.
    They accused him of being a kept man who lived on her money.
  • Él negó que fuera su bacán.
    He denied being her kept man.
  • En el barrio lo llamaban bacán a sus espaldas.
    In the neighbourhood they called him a kept man behind his back.
  • No era un bacán, pues pagaba la mitad de los gastos.
    He was not a kept man, since he paid half the expenses.
  • La palabra bacán sonó despectiva en aquella discusión.
    The word kept man sounded contemptuous in that argument.

Similar words

mantenido
gigoló
chulo

Derogatory label for a gay man

noun
identity
slang
In Cuba, an insulting or dismissive label for a gay man, a regional use that should not be used as a neutral name for sexual orientation.

Examples

  • Usó bacán como insulto y le pidieron que se disculpara.
    He used bacán as an insult and was asked to apologise.
  • En ese contexto cubano, bacán tenía un tono despectivo.
    In that Cuban context, bacán had a derogatory tone.
  • No lo llames bacán si quieres hablar con respeto.
    Do not call him bacán if you want to speak respectfully.
  • El personaje repite bacán para mostrar el prejuicio de la época.
    The character repeats bacán to show the prejudice of the period.
  • Prefirió decir gay en vez del ofensivo bacán.
    He preferred to say gay instead of the offensive bacán.

Similar words

maricón
homosexual
gay

Cuban wrapped pork dish

noun
food
neutral
In Cuba, a parcel of pork, tomato and chilli wrapped in banana leaves and cooked, similar in form to a tamal.

Examples

  • Prepararon bacán con carne de cerdo y ají.
    They made bacán with pork and chilli.
  • El bacán venía envuelto en hojas de plátano.
    The bacán pork parcel came wrapped in banana leaves.
  • Sirvieron un bacán caliente para la cena.
    They served a hot bacán pork parcel for dinner.
  • Cada familia sazona el bacán a su manera.
    Each family seasons bacán in its own way.
  • Compramos dos bacanes en el puesto de comida.
    We bought two bacán parcels at the food stall.

Similar words

tamal
hallaca

Lively party

noun
celebration
informal
In Nicaragua, a noisy, lively party, usually with alcoholic drinks.

Examples

  • Anoche hubo un bacán en la casa de Marta.
    Last night there was a lively party at Marta's house.
  • El bacán siguió hasta la madrugada.
    The party continued until dawn.
  • Llevaron música y cerveza para el bacán.
    They brought music and beer for the party.
  • Los vecinos oyeron el bacán desde la otra calle.
    The neighbours heard the noisy party from the next street.
  • Organizaron un bacán para celebrar el ascenso.
    They organised a big party to celebrate the promotion.

Similar words

fiesta
juerga
pachanga
parranda

Friendly form of address

noun
social
informal
In Colombia, a friendly way to address a male friend or companion, much like buddy or mate.

Examples

  • ¿Todo bien, bacán?
    Everything good, mate?
  • Gracias por la ayuda, bacán.
    Thanks for the help, buddy.
  • Venga, bacán, le guardé un puesto.
    Come on, mate, I saved you a seat.
  • Tranquilo, bacán, ya lo resolvemos.
    Relax, buddy, we will sort it out.
  • Nos vemos mañana, bacán.
    See you tomorrow, mate.

Similar words

parce
amigo
compa
hermano

Etymology

Its origin is disputed. ASALE connects the wealth sense with Genoese bocan, while other accounts trace River Plate bacán through Ligurian baccan and Turkish bakan, words associated with a boss or person in authority.

FAQ

What does bacán usually mean?

In much of Latin America it informally means cool, great, or a pleasant person.

Where is bacán used?

Its positive sense is common in countries including Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, while other senses are more local.

What is the feminine of bacán?

The feminine form is bacana.

Can bacán mean a rich person?

Yes. In Cuba, Bolivia and the River Plate region it can name a wealthy person or describe something luxurious.

Is bacán always positive?

No. Two Cuban noun senses are dismissive or insulting, so context and region matter.

What does bacán mean in Colombia?

Besides meaning cool or pleasant, it can be a friendly form of address similar to parce or amigo.

How is bacán pronounced?

It is pronounced /baˈkan/, with stress on the final syllable.

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