vampiro
/vam-PEE-roh/
vampire
The mythological creature: a vampire.
📝 In Action
Según la leyenda, el vampiro solo puede ser destruido con una estaca de madera.
B1According to legend, the vampire can only be destroyed with a wooden stake.
Los vampiros duermen en ataúdes durante el día y salen de noche.
A2Vampires sleep in coffins during the day and come out at night.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Note
Remember that 'vampiro' is masculine (m). If you are talking about a female vampire, the word changes to 'vampira' (f).
⭐ Usage Tips
Literary Use
This is the most common and literal meaning, often used when discussing fiction, horror, or folklore.
An exploiter, someone who drains resources from others.
vampiro(noun)
exploiter
?person who drains resources
,leech
?figurative
energy drainer
?figurative
📝 In Action
Esa empresa es un vampiro financiero; solo busca robar a sus clientes.
B2That company is a financial exploiter; it only seeks to rob its clients.
Mi compañero de trabajo es un vampiro de energía; me deja agotado después de cada reunión.
B2My coworker is an energy drainer; he leaves me exhausted after every meeting.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Context is Key
Mistake: "Using 'vampiro' to describe someone who is merely tired or sleepy."
Correction: Only use 'vampiro' in this sense if the person is actively taking or draining something (energy, money, time) from others. For someone who is just tired, use 'cansado' or 'dormilón'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Extension
Think of this meaning as an extension of the first: just as the mythical creature drains blood, a person described as a 'vampiro' drains vital resources.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: vampiro
Question 1 of 1
¿Cuál de las siguientes frases usa 'vampiro' en su sentido figurado?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Se puede usar 'vampiro' para referirse a una mujer?
No, 'vampiro' is masculine. To refer to a female vampire, you must use the feminine form, 'vampira'.
¿Es un insulto usar 'vampiro de energía'?
Yes, it is usually a negative and informal description. It means the person is selfish or emotionally draining, and you wouldn't use it in a formal setting.