pirata
“pirata” means “pirate” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
pirate
Also: buccaneer
📝 In Action
El pirata enterró un cofre lleno de oro en la isla.
A2The pirate buried a chest full of gold on the island.
La bandera de los piratas era negra con una calavera.
A2The pirates' flag was black with a skull.
pirate
Also: bootlegger
📝 In Action
Hay muchos piratas vendiendo copias falsas en la calle.
B1There are many pirates selling fake copies on the street.
La industria musical lucha contra los piratas de internet.
B2The music industry fights against internet pirates.
pirated
Also: unauthorized, bootleg
📝 In Action
Compró una copia pirata de la película en el mercado.
B1He bought a pirated copy of the movie at the market.
Ese taxista es un pirata; no tiene licencia para trabajar.
B2That taxi driver is unauthorized; he doesn't have a license to work. (Figurative: acting like a rogue/outlaw)
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "pirata" in Spanish:
bootleg→bootlegger→buccaneer→pirate→pirated→unauthorized→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pirata
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'pirata' as an adjective describing something illegal?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin 'pirata,' which itself originated from the Greek 'peirates,' meaning 'one who attacks' or 'one who attempts.' It has always been associated with adventurous or aggressive actions.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish period, referring to sea raiders.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'pirata' masculine or feminine?
'Pirata' is tricky! It is a noun that ends in '-a' but can refer to either a male ('el pirata') or a female ('la pirata'). As an adjective, it is one of those words that never changes its ending, regardless of the noun's gender or number (e.g., 'productos pirata').
Does 'pirata' only refer to sea robbers?
No. While its original meaning is about sea robbers, today it is much more common to use it to describe someone who copies or sells illegal goods (like movies or software) or to describe the goods themselves (e.g., 'software pirata').