egoísta

/eh-go-EE-stah/

selfish

A high quality storybook illustration showing a child sitting on the ground surrounded by many toys and treats, holding them tightly and refusing to share, while another child sits nearby looking sad and left out.

Describing an action as egoísta (selfish) means it prioritizes one's own desires over others.

egoísta(adjective)

m/fA2

selfish

describing a person or action

Also:

self-centered

focused on one's own needs

📝 In Action

Mi hermano es muy egoísta y nunca comparte sus juguetes.

My brother is very selfish and never shares his toys.

Fue una decisión egoísta ignorar las necesidades del equipo.

It was a selfish decision to ignore the team's needs.

Ella no es egoísta; de hecho, siempre piensa en los demás.

She is not selfish; in fact, she always thinks of others.

Word Connections

Synonyms

egocéntrico (self-centered)

Antonyms

generoso (generous)
altruista (altruistic)

Common Collocations

actitud egoísta – selfish attitude
comportamiento egoísta – selfish behavior

💡 Grammar Points

Adjectives that don't change form

Unlike most Spanish adjectives (like 'alto/alta'), 'egoísta' always stays the same, whether you are describing a man (él es egoísta) or a woman (ella es egoísta).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Trying to make it feminine

Mistake: "Mi amiga es egoísta."

Correction: Mi amiga es egoísta. (The form is already correct; do not try to change it to *egoísto* or *egoístas* for singular feminine.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Plural Form

To make it plural, simply add an 's': 'Ellos son egoístas' (They are selfish). This rule applies whether the group is all men, all women, or mixed.

A high quality storybook illustration depicting a person walking down a path, carrying a huge, overflowing backpack and using a large umbrella just for themselves, ignoring the fact that another person beside them is getting soaked in the rain.

An egoísta (selfish person) is someone whose behavior consistently demonstrates a lack of consideration for others.

egoísta(noun)

m/fB1

selfish person

a person who is selfish

Also:

egoist

formal term for a selfish person

📝 In Action

No seas un egoísta; tienes que compartir.

Don't be a selfish person; you have to share.

La verdad es que es una egoísta de primera.

The truth is that she is a major egoist (a highly selfish person).

Los egoístas raramente son felices.

Selfish people are rarely happy.

Word Connections

Synonyms

avaro (greedy person)

Antonyms

altruista (altruist)
filántropo (philanthropist)

Common Collocations

un completo egoísta – a complete egoist
llamar a alguien egoísta – to call someone selfish

💡 Grammar Points

Using the appropriate article

When using 'egoísta' as a noun, you must match the article ('el' or 'la') to the person's actual gender, even though the noun form itself doesn't change: 'el egoísta' (the selfish man) vs. 'la egoísta' (the selfish woman).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing the article and the noun form

Mistake: "Ella es el egoísta."

Correction: Ella es la egoísta. (The word 'egoísta' stays the same, but the article 'la' must match the feminine person.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Strength of the word

'Egoísta' is a strong word, similar to 'selfish' in English. It's often used in arguments or serious critiques of behavior.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: egoísta

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'egoísta' to describe a group of women?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

egoísmo(selfishness, egoism) - noun

ególatra(egomaniac) - adjective/noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'egoísta' change form depending on the gender of the person?

No, 'egoísta' is one of those handy Spanish adjectives that stays the same whether you are describing a man or a woman (like 'optimista' or 'inteligente'). You only change it for the plural: 'egoístas'.

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'egoísta' y 'egoísmo'?

'Egoísta' (adjective/noun) describes the person or the action ('He is selfish'). 'Egoísmo' (noun) is the quality or concept itself ('Selfishness is a problem').