grosero
“grosero” means “rude” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
rude, impolite
Also: vulgar
📝 In Action
Fue muy grosero al no saludar a la dueña de casa.
B1He was very rude for not greeting the hostess.
No uses lenguaje grosero delante de los niños.
B2Don't use vulgar language in front of the children.
coarse, rough
Also: crude
📝 In Action
El pintor usó un pincel de cerdas muy groseras.
B2The painter used a brush with very coarse bristles.
Necesitamos sal grosera para sazonar la carne.
C1We need coarse salt to season the meat.
rude person
Also: lout
📝 In Action
El grosero me empujó sin pedir disculpas.
B1The rude person pushed me without apologizing.
No quiero invitar a esos groseros a mi fiesta.
B2I don't want to invite those rude people (louts) to my party.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: grosero
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'grosero' to describe a physical quality rather than bad behavior?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin 'grossus,' which meant 'thick, large, or crude.' Over time, this physical meaning of 'crude' evolved to describe someone whose manners were unrefined, unpolished, or 'crude' in a social sense.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'grosero' and 'maleducado'?
Both mean 'rude' or 'badly behaved.' 'Maleducado' literally means 'badly educated' or 'lacking manners' and often implies a lack of proper upbringing. 'Grosero' is broader and can refer to either a lack of manners or using vulgar, offensive language.