The word "carrillo" refers to the fleshy part of the face, commonly known as the cheek. In the anatomical context, it may also relate to the buccal area, which is important to note in both medical and everyday conversation. It has a moderate frequency of usage and is predominantly used in oral speech, especially in colloquial contexts, as well as in written forms when discussing anatomy or facial features.
Él tiene unos carrillos muy prominentes.
He has very prominent cheeks.
Ella sonrió y sus carrillos se sonrojaron.
She smiled and her cheeks flushed.
The term "carrillo" appears in some idiomatic expressions in Spanish, often in conversations or sayings that convey affection or describe physical characteristics.
Se le subieron los carrillos al ver al chico guapo.
Her cheeks flushed upon seeing the handsome boy.
Lo hizo con mucho gusto, le sale por los carrillos.
He did it with great pleasure; it shows in his cheeks.
Tienes que dejar de comer tanto, te van a salir más carrillos.
You need to stop eating so much; you're going to get chubbier cheeks.
The term "carrillo" derives from the Latin word "carriculum," which is a diminutive form of "carrus," meaning cart or wagon. Over time, it took on the meaning of the cheek or a fleshy part of the face, as a metaphor for the rounded shape.