How to Say "abrasive" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “abrasive” is “áspero” — B2 level.
English → SpanishB2
adjectiveB2
someone with a difficult personality

Examples
Tiene un carácter un poco áspero.
He has a somewhat harsh character.
Me contestó con una voz áspera.
She answered me with a gruff voice.
No seas tan áspero con él, es solo un niño.
Don't be so harsh with him; he's just a child.
Using it with 'ser' vs 'estar'
Use 'ser áspero' to say someone is generally a rude person, but 'estar áspero' suggests they are being unusually cranky today.
Don't just mean 'rude'
Mistake: “Thinking 'áspero' is the same as 'maleducado'.”
Correction: An 'áspero' person isn't necessarily ill-mannered; they just lack warmth and are very direct or dry.
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.