bobby pin

[/ˈbɑːbi pɪn/]
nounfemininepl: bobby pins
grampo de cabelo
1. A small metal hairpin with two prongs that are pressed together, used to hold hair in place
She used bobby pins to secure her updo hairstyle.
Ela usou grampos de cabelo para prender seu penteado elevado.
2. A hairclip or pin designed to be inconspicuous in the hair
The bobby pin was barely visible once it was placed in her dark hair.
O grampo de cabelo ficou quase invisível uma vez colocado em seu cabelo escuro.
Bobby pins are a universal hair care accessory used across English-speaking countries and Brazil. The term 'bobby pin' is primarily American/English; the origin is debated but possibly derives from the bobbed hairstyle popular in the 1920s. In Brazil, 'grampo de cabelo' is the standard term. This simple accessory remains essential in styling and is culturally significant in beauty and fashion industries worldwide.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
hair cliphairpinhair gripbarrette

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
grampo de cabelo
most common term used throughout Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
grampo
shortened colloquial form often used
São Paulo
grampo de cabelo
standard usage
Portugal
mola de cabelo
Portuguese European equivalent; less commonly 'grampo'

Related Words

hairbrushhair tiecombhair accessorybarretteheadband

Related Idioms & Phrases

to pin one's hair up with bobby pins
bobby pins in a pinch (improvised use for other purposes)
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