How to Say "bad smell" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “bad smell” is “cante” — C1 level.
English → SpanishC1
nounC1informal
a strong, unpleasant body odor
Examples
Ese color de pelo da un poco el cante.
That hair color stands out a bit too much (it's a bit flashy).
No grites en el cine, que das el cante.
Don't shout in the cinema, you're making a scene.
Idiomatic Use
This meaning of 'cante' is almost always used with the verb 'dar' (to give).
Translation Trap
Mistake: “Hacer un cante.”
Correction: Dar el cante. Even though we say 'make a scene' in English, Spanish uses 'give the singing'.
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