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pillo

PEE-yohˈpiʎo

“pillo” means “mischievous” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

mischievous, cheeky

Also: cunning
A young child with bright eyes and a mischievous smile peeking out from behind a bright blue curtain, holding a single wrapped piece of candy.

📝 In Action

Mi hijo es muy pillo; siempre encuentra dónde escondí los dulces.

A2

My son is very mischievous; he always finds where I hid the candy.

¡Qué pillo eres! Me engañaste con esa broma.

B1

What a cheeky person you are! You fooled me with that joke.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • travieso (naughty)
  • listillo (smart aleck (often used affectionately))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ser un pillo – to be a rascal

rogue, scoundrel

Also: swindler, petty thief
NounmB2informal
Chile
A man with a sly, untrustworthy expression, wearing a dark simple cloak, standing in a dimly lit alley and secretly tucking a small sack into his pocket.

📝 In Action

Ese vendedor resultó ser un pillo y desapareció con nuestro dinero.

B2

That vendor turned out to be a rogue and disappeared with our money.

La policía busca a un pillo que roba carteras en el centro.

C1

The police are looking for a petty thief who steals wallets downtown.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • un pillo de siete suelas – a complete scoundrel (very bad person)

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pillo

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'pillo' in its negative, serious meaning?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
pillar(to catch; to nab; to surprise) — Verb
pillería(mischief; trickery) — Noun
pilla(mischievous girl; female rogue) — Noun / Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word 'pillo' comes from the verb 'pillar,' which means 'to catch' or 'to grab.' Therefore, a 'pillo' is someone who is good at catching others off guard or grabbing things quickly, leading to the dual meanings of clever mischief and outright theft.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

Catalan: pillar

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if 'pillo' means 'mischievous' or 'thief'?

The context is everything! If you are talking about a child, a pet, or a mild prank, it means 'mischievous' (A2). If you are talking about money, crime, or serious deception, it means 'rogue' or 'thief' (B2).

What is the feminine form of 'pillo'?

The feminine form is 'pilla.' You would use it to describe a clever or mischievous girl ('una niña pilla') or a female rogue ('ella es una pilla').