villano
/bee-YAH-noh/
villain
A 'villano' as the antagonist in a story.
villano(noun)
villain
?the antagonist in a story
bad guy
?informal description of a character
,antagonist
?the character who opposes the hero
📝 In Action
El villano de la película tiene un plan secreto.
A2The villain of the movie has a secret plan.
A veces los villanos son más interesantes que los héroes.
B1Sometimes villains are more interesting than heroes.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender of the word
This word is a noun (a naming word). When referring to a male or using it generally, use 'el villano.' For a female character, change it to 'la villana.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Villano vs. Malo
Mistake: "Using 'villano' for someone who is just being annoying."
Correction: Use 'malo' for general bad behavior. 'Villano' is usually reserved for dramatic, evil characters in fiction.
⭐ Usage Tips
Modern Usage
In modern Spanish, this is almost exclusively used to talk about fiction (movies, TV shows, and books).
The word 'villano' can describe a wicked or mean action.
villano(adjective)
wicked
?describing a mean or evil action
despicable
?describing low-down behavior
,vile
?very unpleasant character traits
📝 In Action
Fue una acción villana que nadie esperaba.
B2It was a wicked action that nobody expected.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
As an adjective (a describing word), 'villano' must match the person or thing it describes. Say 'un hombre villano' but 'una mujer villana'.
Historically, a 'villano' referred to a commoner or person of low social rank.
villano(noun)
commoner
?a person of low social rank in history
peasant
?a farm laborer who lived in a village
📝 In Action
Los villanos no tenían los mismos derechos que los nobles.
C1The commoners did not have the same rights as the nobles.
⭐ Usage Tips
Historical Context
This is the original meaning of the word! It used to just mean someone who lived in a 'villa' (a farm or village) rather than being evil.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: villano
Question 1 of 1
Which of the following is the most common modern use for 'villano'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'villano' used for women too?
Yes, but you change the 'o' to an 'a' to make it 'villana.' For example, 'Ella es la villana del cuento' (She is the villain of the story).
Does it have anything to do with the word 'villa'?
Yes! Both words come from the same Latin root. A 'villano' was originally just someone who lived in a 'villa' (a country village).