bacán
cool / awesome / great (South America)
Intermediate Adjective Masculine
🔊
Pronunciation
/baˈkan/
💡
Cultural Note
Used heavily in Peru, Ecuador, Chile, and other South American countries, 'bacán' means 'cool' or 'great.' Its origin is debated — some trace it to Italian 'bacano' (a man who kept a mistress, thus a man of means), which evolved to mean 'someone who lives well,' then just 'cool.' In Peru especially, it's an everyday word. 'Qué bacán' is a reflex response to any good news. Totally unknown in Spain, where they'd say 'qué guay' instead.
📝 Example Sentences
¡Qué bacán tu viaje a Machu Picchu!
How awesome, your trip to Machu Picchu!
El profesor nuevo es bien bacán, explica todo clarísimo.
The new professor is really cool, he explains everything super clearly.
📊 Adjective Forms
| Gender | Form |
|---|---|
| feminine_plural | bacanes |
| masculine_plural | bacanes |
| feminine_singular | bacán |
| masculine_singular | bacán |