bruto
“bruto” means “rough” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
rough, stupid
Also: brutish, clumsy
📝 In Action
No seas tan bruto, vas a romper el juguete.
A2Don't be so rough, you're going to break the toy.
¡Qué bruto soy! Olvidé las llaves adentro.
B1How stupid of me! I left the keys inside.
gross
Also: raw, crude
📝 In Action
Mi salario bruto es de dos mil euros.
B1My gross salary is two thousand euros.
La empresa exporta diamantes en bruto.
B2The company exports rough (uncut) diamonds.
brute
Also: beast
📝 In Action
Ese hombre es un bruto, no tiene modales.
B1That man is a brute, he has no manners.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: bruto
Question 1 of 2
If your boss talks about your 'salario bruto,' what is he referring to?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'brutus,' which meant heavy, dull, or irrational. It originally described animals that couldn't reason.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'bruto' always mean something bad?
Not necessarily. In finance, it's just a technical term for 'total.' When used for people, it's usually a critique of their clumsiness or lack of thought, but among close friends, it can be a lighthearted way of saying 'you're being silly.'
What is the difference between 'bruto' and 'neto'?
Think of 'bruto' as the 'big' number (total) and 'neto' as the 'real' number (what's left after deductions).