pagafantes

Catalan

Etymology

Verb-object compound, composed of paga (“to pay”) +‎ fantes (“Fantas”). Calque of Spanish pagafantas. Popularized in a 2009 film of the same name.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central, Balearic) [ˌpa.ɣəˈfan.təs]
• IPA^(key): (Valencian) [ˌpa.ɣaˈfan.tes]

Noun

pagafantes m or f by sense (plural pagafantesos)

1. (Spain, slang) friend-zonee, nice guy, orbiter (someone stuck in the friend zone)
   • 2022 February 9, Vincent Pons, “Pagafantes”, in Nosaltres La Veu‎^[1]:

     Un pagafantes és el típic balòstia que, pensant que pot traure’n un benefici amatori, convida a Fantes o cubates als seus ligues....El País Valencià també és pagafantes amb la gent que ve a visitar la nostra terra.

     A nice guy is the typical wimp who, thinking to get some kind of romantic benefit, treats their pals to Fantas or Cuba libres....The Valencian Community is also a nice guy to the people who come to visit our land.