mocoso
/mo-KOH-soh/
brat
A 'mocoso' can refer to a bratty or ill-mannered child.
mocoso(noun)
brat
?an annoying or ill-mannered child
snot-nosed kid
?informal way to describe someone young and inexperienced
,punk
?a disrespectful young person
📝 In Action
Ese mocoso me robó el asiento en el autobús.
B1That brat stole my seat on the bus.
No voy a dejar que un mocoso me diga qué hacer.
B2I'm not going to let some snot-nosed kid tell me what to do.
💡 Grammar Points
Using adjectives as nouns
In Spanish, words that describe things (adjectives) can easily become nouns just by adding 'the' (el/un) in front of them. 'Mocoso' literally means 'snotty,' but here it means 'a snotty person.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't use with your boss
Mistake: "Calling a younger coworker 'mocoso' in a meeting."
Correction: Use 'joven' or their name; 'mocoso' is usually seen as an insult or a very aggressive way to call someone immature.
⭐ Usage Tips
Tone matters
While often an insult, parents sometimes use it affectionately with their own kids, like saying 'you little rascal.'
Literally, 'mocoso' describes someone who is snotty or has a runny nose.
mocoso(adjective)
snotty
?covered in or full of mucus
runny
?referring to a nose that is leaking mucus
📝 In Action
El niño tiene la nariz mocosa por el resfriado.
A2The boy has a snotty nose because of the cold.
💡 Grammar Points
The '-oso' suffix
Adding '-oso' to a noun like 'moco' (snot) creates an adjective meaning 'full of' or 'covered in' that thing, just like 'snotty' in English.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: mocoso
Question 1 of 1
If someone calls a teenager a 'mocoso,' what are they implying?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'mocoso' a bad word?
It's not a swear word, but it is definitely an insult. It's like calling someone a 'punk' or a 'brat.' You wouldn't say it in a professional setting.
How do I say 'snotty girl'?
Since 'mocoso' is a masculine word, you simply change the ending to an 'a' to make it feminine: 'mocosa'.