vicioso
“vicioso” means “addicted” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
addicted
Also: given to vice, hooked
📝 In Action
No es bueno ser vicioso con el juego; puedes perder mucho dinero.
B1It's not good to be addicted to gambling; you can lose a lot of money.
Mi hermano es un poco vicioso de los videojuegos.
B1My brother is a bit hooked on video games.
Lleva una vida viciosa y no cuida su salud.
B2He leads a lifestyle of vice and doesn't take care of his health.
addict
Also: degenerate
📝 In Action
Ese hombre es un vicioso; se pasa todo el día en el casino.
B2That man is an addict; he spends all day at the casino.
No escuches a ese vicioso, solo quiere tu dinero para beber.
B2Don't listen to that degenerate; he just wants your money for drinking.
¡Qué vicioso eres con el dulce!
B1You're such a sugar addict!
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: vicioso
Question 1 of 3
How would you describe a 'vicious circle' (a problem that causes another problem which then makes the first one worse) in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'vitiosus', which comes from 'vitium' (meaning 'fault', 'defect', or 'vice'). It originally described something that was physically flawed or morally corrupt.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'vicioso' mean 'vicious' like a mean person?
Not usually. In English, 'vicious' means cruel or violent. In Spanish, 'vicioso' means someone has a 'vicio' (a vice or bad habit). If you want to say someone is mean, use 'cruel' or 'malvado'.
Can I use 'vicioso' for drugs?
Yes, it is often used to describe someone with a drug or alcohol dependency, though 'adicto' is more clinical/medical.
Is it always a bad word?
Mostly, yes, but it can be used lightly among friends to describe someone who is very into a hobby (gaming, sweets, etc.).