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.
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
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