perverso
“perverso” means “wicked” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
wicked, perverse
Also: evil, twisted
📝 In Action
El villano de la película tenía un plan perverso para dominar la ciudad.
B1The movie villain had a wicked plan to take over the city.
A veces las redes sociales pueden tener un efecto perverso en la autoestima.
B2Sometimes social media can have a perverse (harmful/opposite) effect on self-esteem.
Es una mente perversa que disfruta con el sufrimiento ajeno.
C1It is a twisted mind that enjoys the suffering of others.
wicked person
Also: villain
📝 In Action
El perverso siempre encuentra una excusa para sus actos.
B2The wicked person always finds an excuse for their actions.
No debemos dejarnos engañar por los perversos.
C1We must not let ourselves be fooled by the wicked.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: perverso
Question 1 of 3
Which word is the best synonym for 'perverso' when describing a cruel villain?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'perversus', which literally means 'turned the wrong way'. It is made of 'per-' (completely) and 'versus' (turned).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'perverso' always have a sexual meaning?
No. While it can be used that way, in Spanish it more commonly refers to general wickedness, cruelty, or a 'twisted' way of thinking or behaving.
Is 'perverso' a common word?
It is moderately common. You won't hear it every day in casual conversation (people use 'malo' or 'cruel' more), but you will see it often in books, news, and movies.
What is an 'efecto perverso'?
This is a common phrase used when a policy or action results in the exact opposite of what was intended, usually making things worse.