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piojo

pee-OH-ho/ˈpjo.xo/

“piojo” means “louse” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

louse, lice

Also: nit
NounmA2
Spain
A close-up illustration of a tiny grey insect with six legs on a single strand of hair.

📝 In Action

Mi hijo tiene un piojo en el pelo.

A1

My son has a louse in his hair.

Hay un brote de piojos en la escuela primaria.

A2

There is a lice outbreak at the elementary school.

Necesitas un peine especial para quitar los piojos.

B1

You need a special comb to remove the lice.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • parásito (parasite)

Common Collocations

  • tener piojos – to have lice
  • peine para piojos – lice comb
  • quitar piojos – to remove lice

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser un piojo resucitado – Someone who was poor or unimportant but now acts arrogant because they have money.

runt, kid

Also: nobody
NounmB2informal
Argentina
A very small, tiny puppy standing next to a large, oversized red ball to show its small size.

📝 In Action

¡Vete de aquí, piojo!

B1

Get out of here, you little squirt!

No era más que un piojo cuando lo conocí.

B2

He was nothing but a little nobody when I met him.

Ese piojo se cree el dueño del mundo.

C1

That little runt thinks he owns the world.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Idioms & Expressions

  • no valer un piojo – To be worth nothing or to be completely useless.

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "piojo" in Spanish:

kid→lice→louse→nit→nobody→runt→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: piojo

Question 1 of 3

If a teacher says there is a 'piojo' in the classroom, what should you look for?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
piojoso(lousy / infested with lice) — Adjective
piojera(lice infestation / a dump (place)) — Noun
despiojar(to delouse) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'pediculus', which refers to a small foot or a small insect.

First recorded: 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: piolhoFrench: pouItalian: pidocchio

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'piojo' always an insult?

Not always. While it usually refers to the insect, in many Latin American countries, it's used as an affectionate nickname for small children.

What is the difference between 'piojo' and 'liendre'?

A 'piojo' is the adult insect (louse), while a 'liendre' is the egg (nit).

Can I use 'pioja' for a girl?

Technically 'piojo' is a masculine noun for the insect. However, as a slang nickname for a girl, some regions might use 'pioja,' but it is less common.