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travesura

tra-ve-SOO-rah/tɾaβeˈsuɾa/

“travesura” means “mischief” in Spanish (playful but annoying behavior).

mischief, prank

Also: stunt, naughtiness
NounfB1
General Latin America
A playful kitten sitting next to a knocked-over ball of yarn with strands tangled across the floor.

📝 In Action

El perro hizo una travesura y rompió mis zapatos.

A2

The dog made some mischief and chewed up my shoes.

Los niños siempre están planeando alguna travesura.

B1

The children are always planning some prank.

Fue solo una pequeña travesura, no te enfades.

B1

It was just a little prank, don't get angry.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • diablura (mischievous act)
  • trastada (dirty trick / prank)
  • jugarreta (mean trick)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • Hacer una travesura – To do/commit some mischief
  • Una travesura de niños – A childish prank
  • Planear una travesura – To plan a trick

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "travesura" in Spanish:

mischief→naughtiness→prank→stunt→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: travesura

Question 1 of 3

Which verb is most commonly used with 'travesura'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
travieso(naughty / mischievous) — Adjective
travesear(to mess around / play pranks) — Verb
travesaño(crossbar) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the adjective 'travieso', which evolved from the Latin 'transversus', meaning 'turned across' or 'sideways'. The idea is that someone who is 'travieso' deviates from the straight path of good behavior.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: transversePortuguese: travessura

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'travesura' always for kids?

Mostly, yes. However, it can be used for pets (like a cat knocking over a glass) or for adults who are acting playfully or 'naughty' in a non-serious way.

What is the difference between 'una broma' and 'una travesura'?

'Una broma' is a joke or a prank that is usually intended to be funny for everyone. 'Una travesura' usually involves a bit of mess or light trouble-making.

How do I call a person who does many 'travesuras'?

You would call them 'travieso' (for a boy) or 'traviesa' (for a girl).