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"Armpit" in English can be translated as either sobaco or axila in Spanish. Is each term used in different regions, or are they both used across the Spanish-speaking world? What is the difference, or are they exact synonyms? If they are synonyms, which is more common?

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2 Answers

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In Colombia both forms are used about equally. I prefer axila since is a more technical term and sobaco is perhaps used more often when referring to animals. There's a Colombian saying that goes like this:

Estoy más pelado que sobaco de rana (I don't have a dime on me.)

Again, sobaco is more colloquial and axila is more formal/technical and they refer to the same part of the body on both, animals and humans.

UPDATE

In the Dominican Republic, sobaco is also used to refer to someone with bad odor on his armpit. See this dictionary of Dominicanismos by Colonial Tour and Travel

If you visit the Dominican Republic and someone tells you "tú tienes sobaco," is very likely that the person isn't referring to your body parts but rather urging you to take a shower and get a hold of a deodorant as soon as possible.

UPDATE

In several countries the word sobaco is considered vulgar and unsophisticated.

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+1 in Spain "sobaco" is also more informal than "axila". The armpit of the animals is not a very common topic of conversation here so I don't really know if we would say "sobaco" for it :D – Javi Jan 17 '12 at 19:04
In Perú sobaco is not very used, the usual form is axila for both, formal and informal situations. – Ricardo Jan 17 '12 at 21:27
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In Argentina "sobaco" is much more informal, almost vulgar. You'd never hear it in a deodorant ad, or in medical speak. – leonbloy Jan 17 '12 at 22:39
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In Chile "sobaco" is also almost vulgar and very informal. – dusan Jan 18 '12 at 1:10
That was the word I was looking for. I think in Perú, "sobaco" is also almost vulgar. @Icarus: maybe you should add than in some countries "sobaco" is not the polite way to refer to "armpit". – Ricardo Jan 18 '12 at 7:15
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up vote 1 down vote

"Sobaco" is more informal, I think it is better to say "axila" (at least in Ecuador).

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