Inklingo
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pillo

/PEE-yoh/

mischievous

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.

Depicting 'pillo' as mischievous, showing a playfully naughty child.

pillo(adjective)

mA2

mischievous

?

playfully naughty

,

cheeky

?

a bit bold or sassy

Also:

cunning

?

clever in a playful way

📝 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

💡 Grammar Points

Gender and Number

Like many Spanish adjectives, 'pillo' must match the person or thing it describes: 'pillo' (masculine singular), 'pilla' (feminine singular), 'pillos' (masculine plural), 'pillas' (feminine plural).

⭐ Usage Tips

Tone is Key

When used in this sense (A2), 'pillo' is usually said with a smile or a gentle, scolding tone, implying admiration for the person's cleverness.

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.

Illustrating 'pillo' as a rogue or dishonest man.

pillo(noun)

mB2

rogue

?

a dishonest or unprincipled man

,

scoundrel

?

a wicked or bad person

Also:

swindler

?

someone who cheats people out of money

,

petty thief

?

someone who steals small items

📝 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

  • estafador (swindler)
  • ladrón (thief)
  • canalla (scoundrel)

Antonyms

  • honrado (honest person)

Common Collocations

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

💡 Grammar Points

Noun/Adjective Switch

In this context, 'pillo' can be used as an adjective (e.g., 'el vendedor pillo') or as a noun ('es un pillo'), meaning 'he is a rogue'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Context is Crucial

Use caution: calling an adult 'un pillo' can be a serious insult, implying dishonesty, not just playful mischief.

✏️ 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

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').