Garabato is a noun in Spanish.
/ɡaɾaˈβato/
The term garabato refers to a rough or careless piece of writing or drawing, often characterized by its lack of neatness or clarity. It can denote anything from a child's doodle to an adult's hurriedly written note. It's commonly used in both oral and written contexts, though it may appear more frequently in casual conversations or informal writing.
Garabato is relatively common in everyday language, particularly in informal settings. It is often used when discussing handwriting, children's drawings, or any careless forms of expression.
Los niños llenaron la hoja de garabatos sin preocuparse por lo que dibujaban.
(The children filled the page with scribbles without worrying about what they were drawing.)
No puedo leer tu nota, está llena de garabatos.
(I can't read your note; it’s full of scrawls.)
Esa firma parece un garabato, ¿puedes hacerla más legible?
(That signature looks like a scribble, can you make it more legible?)
While garabato may not be overwhelmingly present in idiomatic expressions, it can be utilized in various phrases that emphasize carelessness or lack of professionalism:
"Hacer un garabato" - This expression means to write something carelessly, usually without much thought.
No le prestes atención a ese garabato, no tiene importancia.
(Don’t pay attention to that scribble; it’s not important.)
"Escrito de garabato" - This phrase refers to a text that is poorly written or difficult to read.
El informe llegó lleno de escritos de garabato.
(The report arrived full of scrawled writings.)
"No es un garabato" - Used to assert that something is not just a mere scribble, indicating its significance.
Este boceto no es un garabato, es una obra de arte.
(This sketch is not a scribble; it’s a piece of art.)
Garabato originates from the Latin word garabatum, which means "scratched" or "scratched out." The evolution of the term has retained the notion of carelessness in the act of writing or drawing.
Synonyms: - Dibujo (drawing) - Rayado (scratching) - Nota (note)
Antonyms: - Línea (line) - Escritura (writing) - Caligrafía (calligraphy)