It has been raining non-stop in my city this week, and it seems like the perfect weather to apapachar my husband and my dog. The word apapachar has a rich cultural significance, originating from the Nahuatl word papatzoa, which means to soften or caress with your fingers. This indigenous language, spoken by the Aztecs, has had a lasting influence on Mexican Spanish.
Latin American Pronunciation
European Pronunciation
Over time, the word apapachar has evolved from a mere physical gesture to encompass a deeper emotional connection, reflecting love, care, and comfort. It’s often described as translating from Nahuatl to mean abrazar o acariciar con el alma (to hug or caress with the soul), akin to offering a tender embrace that soothes the spirit.
Apapachar is widely used in informal, everyday language across Latin America, especially in Mexico, to describe actions of comforting or spoiling someone, usually a loved one in the context of familial or romantic relationships.
Mi abuela me apapacha cada vez que voy a visitarla.
My grandmother pampers me every time I visit her.
Apapacho is a masculine noun and it refers to the act of giving or receiving affectionate, comforting gestures, such as a hug, cuddle, or any tender expression of care. Here you can see the definite and indefinite articles for apapacho:
- el apapacho = the cuddle / the hug
- los apapachos = the cuddles / the hugs
- un apapacho = a cuddle / a hug
- unos apapachos = some cuddles / some hugs
Lo que más necesito ahora es un buen apapacho.
What I need most right now is a good cuddle.
There are several words in Spanish that share a similar meaning to the word apapachar, reflecting different ways of showing care and affection:
- abrazar = to hug
- consentir = to spoil or indulge someone
- mimar = to pamper or dote on someone, usually with affection
- acariciar = to caress or gently touch someone in a loving manner
You can also find today’s word in it’s reflexive form: apapacharse (to give oneself comfort or to engage in self-care), which conveys the idea of indulging in actions that provide personal comfort or emotional warmth, similar to the way one might pamper themselves.
Hoy voy a apapacharme con una tarde de películas y chocolate caliente.
Today, I’m going to pamper myself with an afternoon of movies and hot chocolate.
Idioms and expressions with ‘apapachar’
Darse un apapacho
Literal translation: give oneself a cuddle / hug
English meaning: to give oneself some self-care or participate in a comforting activity
Apapacho de madre
Literal translation: mother’s cuddle
English meaning: it refers to the special kind of care and attention that only a mother can give
Necesito un apapacho
Literal translation: I need a hug
English meaning: a way to express a need for comfort or a desire to be consoled
