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rebeldes

/reh-BEL-dehs/

rebellious

A storybook illustration of a small child with crossed arms and a frown, stubbornly resisting the outstretched hand of an adult, symbolizing rebellious resistance to authority.

The child is being rebellious by refusing to cooperate with the adult.

rebeldes(adjective)

m/f (plural)B1

rebellious

?

showing resistance to authority

,

defiant

?

openly resisting

Also:

unruly

?

difficult to manage, often used for children or hair

📝 In Action

Mis hijos son muy rebeldes y siempre discuten las reglas.

A2

My children are very rebellious and always argue about the rules.

Necesitas un gel fuerte para domar esos cabellos rebeldes.

B1

You need a strong gel to tame those unruly hairs.

Presentaron ideas muy rebeldes que desafiaron a la junta directiva.

B2

They presented very defiant ideas that challenged the board of directors.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • desobedientes (disobedient)
  • insumisos (insubordinate)

Antonyms

  • obedientes (obedient)
  • sumisos (submissive)

Common Collocations

  • espíritus rebeldes – rebellious spirits
  • grupos rebeldes – rebellious groups

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Agreement

Since 'rebelde' (singular) ends in a vowel, the plural form 'rebeldes' is used to describe both masculine and feminine plural nouns (e.g., 'chicos rebeldes' and 'chicas rebeldes').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Singular/Plural

Mistake: "Using 'rebelde' when describing a group: 'Los estudiantes es rebelde.'"

Correction: Use the plural: 'Los estudiantes son rebeldes.' The adjective must match the plural noun.

⭐ Usage Tips

Stronger than 'Disobedient'

'Rebeldes' implies a deeper, more active resistance to rules or established order than simply being 'desobedientes' (disobedient).

A storybook illustration showing a small, determined group of people holding simple, blank colored flags, standing defiantly against a large, gray, imposing governmental-looking building in the background, symbolizing rebels opposing authority.

These rebels are fighting against the established government.

rebeldes(noun)

m/f (plural)B1

rebels

?

people fighting against authority

Also:

insurgents

?

armed fighters against a government

,

mutineers

?

people who revolt against their officers

📝 In Action

Los rebeldes tomaron el control de la capital por unas horas.

B1

The rebels took control of the capital for a few hours.

La policía identificó a los líderes de los rebeldes.

B1

The police identified the leaders of the rebels.

Muchos de los jóvenes se unieron a los rebeldes por ideales políticos.

B2

Many of the young people joined the rebels due to political ideals.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • insurrectos (insurgents)
  • disidentes (dissidents)

Antonyms

  • soldados (soldiers (pro-government))
  • leales (loyalists)

Common Collocations

  • un grupo de rebeldes – a group of rebels
  • líderes rebeldes – rebel leaders

💡 Grammar Points

Using the Article

When 'rebeldes' is used as a noun, you need an article (like 'los' or 'las') before it to show who you are talking about: 'Los rebeldes' (The rebels).

⭐ Usage Tips

Context is Key

In news or historical contexts, 'rebeldes' usually refers to armed groups fighting a government, not just mischievous children (though it can refer to both!).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: rebeldes

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'rebeldes' as a noun (referring to people)?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

rebelde(rebel (singular)) - noun/adjective
rebeldía(rebellion / defiance) - noun
rebelar(to rebel / to revolt) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'rebeldes' the plural form for both masculine and feminine groups?

The singular form, 'rebelde,' ends in the vowel 'e,' which is common for adjectives that don't change form based on gender. To make it plural, we simply add '-s,' resulting in 'rebeldes' for both 'los hombres' (masculine) and 'las mujeres' (feminine).

Is 'rebeldes' a strong or weak term?

It's a strong term. It implies a serious, ongoing resistance to rules, authority, or control, whether in a political sense (rebels fighting a government) or a personal one (a child who consistently refuses to obey).