diablo

DEE-ah-blohˈdja.βlo

“diablo” means “devil” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:

devil🔊B1Noun

The main figure of evil; Satan

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rascal🔊B2Noun

Mischievous person

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hell🔊C1Interjection /

Used for emphasis or surprise (e.g., What the hell?)

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devil, demon

Also: fiend

NounmB1

A simplistic cartoon-like depiction of a red devil with horns, a pointed tail, and a pitchfork.

📝 In Action

Dicen que el diablo tiene muchos nombres.

They say the devil has many names.

Pintaron al diablo con cuernos y cola.

They painted the devil with horns and a tail.

Word Connections

Synonyms

demonio (demon)
Satanás (Satan)

Antonyms

ángel (angel)
Dios (God)

Common Collocations

pacto con el diablo – pact with the devil
tentación del diablo – temptation of the devil

rascal, rogue

Also: little devil

NounmB2informal

A mischievous-looking young boy with a playful smirk, holding a slingshot behind his back, illustrating a rascal.

📝 In Action

Ese niño es un diablo, siempre está haciendo travesuras.

That kid is a rascal; he’s always getting into mischief.

Tienes que ser un diablo en los negocios para tener éxito.

You have to be a rogue (clever operator) in business to succeed.

Word Connections

Synonyms

pícaro (rascal, sly)
travieso (naughty)

hell, heck

Also: blazes

Interjection / C1informal, slang

Puerto Rico / Dominican Republic

A dramatic illustration of stylized red and orange flames rising from cracked, dark ground, symbolizing chaos and intense heat.

📝 In Action

¿Qué diablo estás haciendo aquí?

What the heck are you doing here?

¡Vete al diablo!

Go to hell!

No sé cómo diablos lo hizo tan rápido.

I don't know how the devil he did it so quickly.

Word Connections

Synonyms

carajo (damn (informal exclamation))
demonios (dammit (plural usage))

Idioms & Expressions

¿Qué diablo...? – What the heck/hell...?
Mandar al diablo – To tell someone to go away rudely, or to dismiss something.
Como el diablo – Very fast, very much, or extremely well.

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "diablo" in Spanish:

blazes→demon→devil→fiend→heck→hell→little devil→rascal→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: diablo

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'diablo' in an affectionate, non-religious way?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

diabla(female rascal / devil) — Noun

diabólico(diabolical, evil) — Adjective

endiablado(devilish, furious) — Adjective

🎵 Rhymes▼

pablohablo

📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Late Latin word *diabolus*, which itself came from the ancient Greek word *diábolos*. The original Greek meaning was 'slanderer' or 'accuser,' which reflects the role of the devil in religious texts.

First recorded: Around the 10th-11th century in Spanish/Old Castilian texts.

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: diavoloFrench: diablePortuguese: diabo

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'diablo' considered a vulgar or bad word?

When used in exclamations like '¡Qué diablo!' or 'Vete al diablo,' it is very informal and potentially offensive in polite company, similar to using 'hell' or 'damn' in English. When referring to the religious figure, it is neutral.

What is the difference between 'diablo' and 'demonio'?

'Diablo' (The Devil/Satan) usually refers to the chief figure of evil. 'Demonio' (demon) refers to any lower-ranking evil spirit. They are often interchangeable in informal exclamations, though.