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beso en la mejilla
/ˈbe.so en la meˈxi.ʝa/
cheek kiss
Le dio un beso en la mejilla para saludarla.
He gave her a cheek kiss to greet her.
neutral
A kiss placed on someone's cheek as a greeting, farewell, or sign of affection.
En España es común dar dos besos en la mejilla al saludar.
In Spain, it's common to give two cheek kisses when greeting.
El bebé le dio un beso en la mejilla a su abuela.
The baby gave his grandmother a kiss on the cheek.
The number of kisses (one or two) and which cheek to start with varies by region in the Spanish-speaking world.
Collocations
dar un beso en la mejillato give a cheek kissrecibir un beso en la mejillato receive a cheek kissbeso en la mejilla de despedidafarewell cheek kiss
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Cultural Note
In Spain and many Latin American countries, cheek kissing is a standard greeting between acquaintances and friends. Don't be surprised if someone you've just met leans in for a kiss—it's not romantic unless in a specific context. The cheek kiss is also common in some European countries like France and Italy.
Gold Rule
When to Use
Use 'beso en la mejilla' when referring to the social gesture of kissing someone's cheek. It's not typically used for romantic contexts unless specified. The phrase is neutral and can describe both the action and the location of the kiss.
Word Origin
From 'beso' (kiss) + 'en' (on) + 'la' (the) + 'mejilla' (cheek). The phrase is a literal combination of its components, with 'mejilla' deriving from Latin 'maxilla' (jaw).
Usage Notes
The cheek kiss is a common social gesture in many Spanish-speaking cultures, particularly in greetings and farewells. The number of kisses (one or two) and which cheek to start with varies by country and region. In some places, it's customary to kiss the right cheek first, while in others the left is preferred. This gesture is generally more common among friends and family than in formal business settings.
Word Breakdown
beso
kiss
nounen
on
prepositionla
the
articlemejilla
cheek
nounDiccionario Español-Inglés