Spanish word of the day: Empollón

What does empollón mean?

Empollón (masculine noun/adjective) – A slang word for someone who studies all the time, is obsessed with getting good grades, and often knows all the answers in class. In English, you might call this person a “nerd,” “bookworm,” or “swot.” The word comes from empollar, which literally means “to incubate” (like a hen with eggs), but in this context, it’s all about “incubating” knowledge.

Example sentences with empollón

• Mi hermano es un empollón, siempre está con los libros.
  📚🤓 My brother is a nerd; he’s always with his books.

• No hace falta ser empollón para aprobar el examen, pero ayuda.
  📝😉 You don’t have to be a bookworm to pass the exam, but it helps.

• En el colegio me llamaban empollona porque sacaba buenas notas.
  🎒🏆 At school they called me a nerd because I got good grades.

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Empollón in context

You’ll hear empollón in schools and universities all over Spain and Latin America, usually as a playful tease for someone who’s always studying or takes academics very seriously. Sometimes it’s used admiringly, but it can also be a bit of a gentle jab. The word isn’t usually meant to be mean—more often, it’s just a way to point out someone’s dedication to their studies.

If you want to sound natural in Spanish, use empollón or empollona when talking about someone who’s always hitting the books, or even joking about yourself when you’re in full study mode. It’s a word that captures both the effort and the stereotype of the super-studious student.