rebelde
/reh-BEL-deh/
rebellious
Demonstrating a spirit of defiance, this image shows a bird that is rebellious against the group's direction.
rebelde(adjective)
rebellious
?defying authority or control
,defiant
?showing refusal to obey
unruly
?describing hair or objects that are difficult to manage
,insubordinate
?in a work or military context
📝 In Action
Mi hijo adolescente es muy rebelde y nunca escucha.
B1My teenage son is very rebellious and never listens.
Siempre tengo el pelo rebelde por la mañana, no importa lo que haga.
B2I always have unruly hair in the morning, no matter what I do.
La decisión del país fue un acto rebelde contra las normas internacionales.
C1The country's decision was a rebellious act against international norms.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Form Stays the Same
Unlike many Spanish adjectives, 'rebelde' does not change its ending based on gender. It works for both male and female nouns: 'el chico rebelde' and 'la chica rebelde'.
⭐ Usage Tips
More Than Just People
Remember that 'rebelde' can describe things that won't cooperate, like a zipper that gets stuck or, most commonly, hair that is difficult to style (pelo rebelde).
The noun form, a rebel, is a person who actively resists authority, symbolized here by the solitary figure standing against the gate.
rebelde(noun)
rebel
?a person who resists authority
insurgent
?often used in political or military contexts
📝 In Action
El gobierno intentó negociar con los rebeldes en el sur.
B1The government tried to negotiate with the rebels in the south.
Ella es una rebelde sin causa, solo le gusta llevar la contraria.
B2She is a rebel without a cause; she just likes to contradict people.
El rebelde fue capturado después de un largo enfrentamiento.
C1The insurgent was captured after a long confrontation.
💡 Grammar Points
Same Form for Both Genders
As a person (noun), 'rebelde' uses the same spelling for male and female. You change the article ('el' or 'la') to show the gender: 'el rebelde' (male rebel) vs. 'la rebelde' (female rebel).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: rebelde
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'rebelde' to describe an object rather than a person?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'rebelde' change its ending for gender?
No. 'Rebelde' is a special kind of adjective that always ends in '-e' and stays the same whether you are describing a man ('el rebelde') or a woman ('la rebelde'). You only change the word that comes before it.