Clara era la más empollona del curso y terminó la carrera con premio.
Clara was the most studious person on the course and graduated with a prize.
La llamaron empollona porque estudiaba durante los recreos.
They called her a nerd because she studied during break time.
Mi hermano es muy empollón y siempre saca buenas notas.
My brother is a real swot and always gets good marks.
Decirle empollón delante de todos sonó bastante despectivo.
Calling him a swot in front of everyone sounded quite disparaging.
Los empollones de la clase organizaron un grupo de estudio.
The class bookworms organized a study group.
Similar words
aplicado
tragalibros
cerebrito
friki
estudioso
nerd
Meanings
Very studious person in Spain
adjective
education
informal
In Spain, describes a student who studies a great deal and is known more for hard work than natural talent. It is often used as a noun and can sound mocking or dismissive.
Examples
Mi hermano es muy empollón y siempre saca buenas notas.
My brother is a real swot and always gets good marks.
La llamaron empollona porque estudiaba durante los recreos.
They called her a nerd because she studied during break time.
Los empollones de la clase organizaron un grupo de estudio.
The class bookworms organized a study group.
No soy empollón, pero preparo los exámenes con tiempo.
I am not a swot, but I prepare for exams in good time.
Clara era la más empollona del curso y terminó la carrera con premio.
Clara was the most studious person on the course and graduated with a prize.
Decirle empollón delante de todos sonó bastante despectivo.
Calling him a swot in front of everyone sounded quite disparaging.
Similar words
estudioso
aplicado
cerebrito
tragalibros
nerd
friki
Etymology
Formed from empollar, in its informal sense 'to study intensively', and the suffix -ón.
FAQ
What does empollón mean?
In Spain, empollón describes a student who studies a great deal, often with the suggestion that effort matters more than natural talent.
Can empollón be a noun and an adjective?
Yes. It can describe someone, as in un alumno empollón, or stand alone as a noun, as in es un empollón.
Is empollón insulting?
It is informal and often mocking or disparaging. Among friends it may be playful, but it can belittle someone for studying hard.
What is the feminine form of empollón?
The feminine form is empollona.
What are the plural forms of empollón?
The masculine or mixed plural is empollones, and the feminine plural is empollonas.
Where is empollón mainly used?
This meaning is characteristic of Spain. Other regions use alternatives such as cerebrito, nerd, or local words.
Where does empollón come from?
It is built from empollar, which informally means to study intensively, plus the suffix -ón.
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