timar
“timar” means “to swindle” in Spanish (taking money or goods through deception).
to swindle, to scam
Also: to cheat, to rip off
📝 In Action
Ten cuidado con esos correos electrónicos, solo quieren timarte.
A2Be careful with those emails, they just want to scam you.
Me timaron en el mercado; la fruta estaba podrida por dentro.
B1I got ripped off at the market; the fruit was rotten inside.
Le timaron mil euros con un anuncio de alquiler falso.
B2They swindled him out of a thousand euros with a fake rental ad.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: timar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence means 'They scammed me'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Possibly derived from 'timo' (scam), which has roots in Caló (the language of Spanish Romani people), or related to the idea of 'depriving' someone of something.
First recorded: 19th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'timar' a bad word?
No, it is not a swear word. It is a common, informal word used to describe being cheated or scammed.
Can I use 'timar' for cheating on a test?
Not really. For school cheating, use 'copiar' or 'hacer trampas'. 'Timar' is almost always about money or being tricked out of something valuable.
How do I say 'I was scammed'?
You can say 'Me han timado' or 'Fui timado' (though 'Me han timado' is much more natural).