guardaespaldas

Spanish

Etymology

Verb-object compound, composed of guarda (“to guard (originally)”) +‎ espaldas (“shoulders, backs”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌɡwaɾdaesˈpaldas/ [ˌɡwaɾ.ð̞a.esˈpal̪.d̪as]
• Rhymes: -aldas
• Syllabification: guar‧da‧es‧pal‧das

Noun

guardaespaldas m or f by sense (plural guardaespaldas)

1. bodyguard

   Synonyms: escolta, (Dominican Republic, Venezuela) espaldero

Usage notes

• An escolta sounds more professional than a guardaespaldas.

Further reading

• “guardaespaldas”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014