infiel
“infiel” means “unfaithful” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
unfaithful
Also: disloyal, inaccurate
📝 In Action
Él le fue infiel a su esposa.
B1He was unfaithful to his wife.
No quiero ser infiel a mis principios.
B2I don't want to be disloyal to my principles.
cheater
Also: unbeliever
📝 In Action
Ella descubrió que él era un infiel.
B1She discovered that he was a cheater.
En la antigüedad, llamaban infieles a los que no compartían su religión.
C1In ancient times, they called those who didn't share their religion infidels.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: infiel
Question 1 of 1
How do you say 'She is unfaithful' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'infidelis', where 'in-' means 'not' and 'fidelis' means 'faithful' or 'trustworthy'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'infiel' used for lying?
Not exactly. It specifically means breaking a promise of loyalty or cheating. For general lying, use 'mentiroso'.
Can I use 'infiel' for a dog?
It's rare. We usually use 'leal' (loyal) or 'desleal' (disloyal) for pets, while 'infiel' is almost always reserved for romantic cheating or religious contexts.