escándalo

/es-KAHN-dah-loh/

scandal

A prominent public figure, depicted as a simplified character in formal attire, looking distressed and embarrassed, standing alone under a harsh spotlight, symbolizing a public controversy.

Showing a public figure facing a controversy helps illustrate the meaning of escándalo as a public moral or political offense (scandal).

escándalo(noun)

mB1

scandal

public moral or political offense

Also:

shocking affair

a surprising, often negative event

outrage

intense public reaction

📝 In Action

El periódico publicó los detalles del escándalo de corrupción.

The newspaper published the details of the corruption scandal.

Su divorcio causó un gran escándalo en la alta sociedad.

Her divorce caused a great scandal in high society.

Word Connections

Synonyms

bochorno (shame/embarrassment)
vergüenza (shame)

Common Collocations

escándalo político – political scandal
causar un escándalo – to cause a scandal

Idioms & Expressions

armar un escándalo – to make a huge fuss or scene (often publicly)

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Check

Remember that 'escándalo' is always masculine, so you must use 'el' before it, even though it ends in 'o'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the wrong verb

Mistake: "Hacer un escándalo."

Correction: The most natural Spanish verb to use when someone *creates* a scene or fuss is 'armar': 'Armaron un escándalo en la tienda.' (They made a scene in the store.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Use with 'gran'

When describing a really big scandal, use 'gran' before the word: 'Fue un gran escándalo.' ('Gran' often shortens from 'grande' before singular masculine nouns.)

A chaotic scene in a simple colorful storybook style, featuring several people with exaggerated expressions of surprise, shouting, and gesturing wildly, indicating a loud commotion or uproar.

The image of people in a loud commotion clearly depicts escándalo in the sense of an uproar or loud noise.

escándalo(noun)

mA2

uproar

loud noise or commotion

racket

disruptive noise

Also:

fuss

unnecessary commotion

📝 In Action

¡Bajen la voz! Están haciendo mucho escándalo.

Lower your voices! You are making a lot of noise/racket.

El perro ladró y el escándalo despertó a todo el barrio.

The dog barked and the commotion woke up the entire neighborhood.

Word Connections

Synonyms

ruido (noise)
alboroto (commotion)

Antonyms

silencio (silence)

Common Collocations

hacer escándalo – to make a racket/noise
un escándalo de risas – a burst of laughter (loudly)

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'Mucho'

When 'escándalo' means 'racket' or 'noise,' it is often used with 'mucho' (a lot of): 'Hay mucho escándalo aquí.'

⭐ Usage Tips

Emphasis

If you want to emphasize how loud the noise is, you can use 'tremendo': '¡Qué tremendo escándalo hicieron!'

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: escándalo

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'escándalo' to mean 'loud noise'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

escandaloso(scandalous, noisy) - adjective

escandalizar(to scandalize, to shock) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'escándalo' masculine or feminine?

'Escándalo' is a masculine noun, so you always use the article 'el' before it: 'el escándalo', 'un escándalo'.

Does 'escándalo' always refer to a bad thing?

Yes, generally. Whether it means loud noise or a moral transgression, it always carries a negative connotation of disruption, excess, or offense. However, sometimes people use it jokingly to mean 'unbelievable' or 'amazing,' but that is highly informal.