sucios
/SOO-see-ohs/
dirty
A single item in an unclean state is 'sucio' (dirty).
📝 In Action
Mis zapatos están muy sucios después de la caminata.
A1My shoes are very dirty after the walk.
Hay que lavar todos los calcetines sucios.
A1We have to wash all the dirty socks.
Los trucos que usaron eran sucios e injustos.
B1The tricks they used were dirty and unfair (figurative).
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Number Match
Since 'sucios' ends in -os, it is used to describe more than one thing that is masculine (like 'zapatos' or 'platos'). If the things were feminine, you would use 'sucias' (e.g., 'mesas sucias').
Figurative Use
Just like in English, 'sucio' can describe moral corruption or unfair behavior, not just physical dirt. (e.g., 'negocios sucios' - dirty business).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up Singular and Plural
Mistake: "El plato está sucios."
Correction: El plato está sucio. (Since 'plato' is singular, the adjective must also be singular.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Appearance
Use 'estar' (like 'estar sucios') to talk about the current state of being dirty, as this state can change (they can be cleaned).
When referring to multiple dirty objects, they are 'sucios' (the dirty ones).
sucios(Noun)
the dirty ones
?referring to people or objects
,slobs
?people who are habitually unclean
corrupt people
?figurative, often political
📝 In Action
¡Que se vayan los sucios de la política!
B2Let the corrupt ones leave politics!
Separamos los sucios de los limpios para la lavadora.
B1We separated the dirty ones from the clean ones for the washing machine.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjectives Becoming Nouns
In Spanish, you can often turn an adjective into a noun by putting a definite article (like 'los') in front of it. 'Los sucios' means 'the dirty ones' (people or things).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sucios
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'sucios' to describe more than one masculine item?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'sucio' and 'sucios'?
'Sucio' is used for a single masculine item (e.g., 'el coche sucio' - the dirty car). 'Sucios' is used for multiple masculine items (e.g., 'los coches sucios' - the dirty cars).
How do I say 'dirty' if the object is feminine and plural?
You would use 'sucias'. For example, 'Las mesas están sucias' (The tables are dirty).