traidor
“traidor” means “traitor” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
traitor
Also: betrayer
📝 In Action
Lo llamaron traidor por revelar los secretos del equipo.
B1They called him a traitor for revealing the team's secrets.
La historia está llena de traidores que cambiaron de bando por dinero.
B2History is full of betrayers who switched sides for money.
treacherous, deceitful
Also: disloyal
📝 In Action
La memoria es traidora cuando uno intenta recordar detalles viejos.
B2Memory is treacherous/deceitful when one tries to recall old details.
Tuvimos que cruzar un camino traidor lleno de hielo.
C1We had to cross a treacherous path full of ice.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: traidor
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'traidor' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Late Latin word *traditor*, which itself came from the verb *tradere*, meaning 'to hand over' or 'to deliver.' Over time, this evolved to mean handing someone over to an enemy, leading to the meaning of 'betrayal.'
First recorded: Mid-13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'traidor' only used for political betrayal?
No. While it's often used for serious political or military betrayals, you can use it anytime someone breaks deep trust, whether in friendships, relationships, or business.
How is 'traidor' different from 'desleal'?
'Traidor' implies a severe, active act of betrayal that causes major harm. 'Desleal' simply means disloyal or unfaithful, which is less intense and might refer to minor breaches of trust or reliability.