Inklingo
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cobardes

/koh-BAR-des/

cowardly

Three small, cartoonish figures huddled together, trembling and hiding behind a tiny bright green bush while a harmless butterfly flutters nearby, illustrating a cowardly act.

Describing actions as cowardly means they lack courage.

cobardes(Adjective)

m/fB1

cowardly

?

Describing multiple people or actions

Also:

spineless

?

Informal description

,

faint-hearted

?

Slightly formal description

📝 In Action

Las decisiones que tomaron fueron muy cobardes.

B1

The decisions they made were very cowardly.

Ellos son cobardes y no enfrentarán el problema.

A2

They are cowardly and won't face the problem.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • miedosos (fearful)
  • pusilánimes (pusillanimous (lacking courage))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • actos cobardes – cowardly acts

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Form

This adjective is the plural form of 'cobarde.' It modifies plural nouns of both genders (masculine and feminine) without changing its ending.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Agreement

Mistake: "Using *cobardas* for a group of women."

Correction: The correct plural form is always *cobardes*, regardless of whether you are describing men, women, or things. (e.g., 'mujeres cobardes').

⭐ Usage Tips

Stronger than 'Miedoso'

While miedoso means 'fearful,' cobarde is a stronger word implying a deep character flaw or failure to act when required.

An illustration depicting five individuals standing frozen and anxious, refusing to walk across a small, easily manageable wooden plank over a tiny, shallow ditch, representing a group of cowards.

The word cowards refers to a group of people who lack courage.

cobardes(Noun)

m/fB1

cowards

?

A group of people lacking courage

Also:

chicken-hearts

?

Informal, figurative insult

📝 In Action

Los cobardes se escondieron en lugar de ayudar.

B1

The cowards hid instead of helping.

¡No seáis cobardes! Enfrentad la situación.

B2

Don't be cowards! Face the situation.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • gallinas (chickens (informal insult))

Antonyms

  • héroes (heroes)

Common Collocations

  • un grupo de cobardes – a group of cowards

💡 Grammar Points

Using the Article

When used as a noun, cobardes requires a definite or indefinite article (like 'los' or 'unos') if it is the subject of the sentence, just like any other plural noun.

⭐ Usage Tips

Referring to Individuals

If you are talking about one person, use the singular form: el cobarde (the male coward) or la cobarde (the female coward).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cobardes

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'cobardes' as a noun (referring to people)?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cobarde(coward (singular)) - noun/adjective
cobardía(cowardice) - noun
cobardear(to act cowardly) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'cobardes' change based on gender?

No. *Cobardes* is a gender-neutral plural word. You use it for both masculine plural nouns (los hombres cobardes) and feminine plural nouns (las mujeres cobardes). The singular form is 'cobarde' for both genders as well.