canalla
“canalla” means “scoundrel” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
scoundrel, villain
Also: rogue, swine
📝 In Action
El presidente de la compañía resultó ser un canalla que robó a sus empleados.
B2The president of the company turned out to be a scoundrel who stole from his employees.
¡Eres una canalla por haber mentido así!
B1You are a villain for having lied like that!
despicable, vile
Also: dishonorable
📝 In Action
Fue un gesto canalla dejar a su amigo solo en el problema.
C1It was a despicable gesture to leave his friend alone with the problem.
Su comportamiento canalla en la reunión ofendió a todos.
C1His vile behavior at the meeting offended everyone.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "canalla" in Spanish:
despicable→dishonorable→rogue→scoundrel→swine→vile→villain→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: canalla
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'canalla' correctly as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Italian *canaglia*, which originally meant 'pack of dogs' or 'rabble' (the lowest class of people). It ultimately traces back to the Latin word *canis*, meaning 'dog.' Its meaning shifted over time from describing the poor masses to describing people of low moral character.
First recorded: 17th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'canalla' change its ending for men and women?
No, the word 'canalla' itself always ends in -a. If you are talking about a man, you say 'el canalla,' and if you are talking about a woman, you say 'la canalla.' The ending stays the same, but the word defining the person's gender (like 'el' or 'la') changes.