Inklingo

How to Say "bitch" in Spanish

English → Spanish

bruja

/brú-ja//'bɾu.xa/

nounB2informal
Use 'bruja' when you want to call a woman a 'nasty' or 'mean' person, similar to calling someone a 'witch' in English as an insult, but not necessarily implying sexual promiscuity.
A storybook illustration of a woman looking very angry and stern with her arms crossed.

Examples

Esa mujer es una bruja, siempre está inventando chismes.

That woman is a nasty person; she's always making up gossip.

Mi vecina es una bruja, siempre se queja del ruido.

My neighbor is a nasty woman; she always complains about the noise.

Trató a los camareros como si fuera una bruja.

She treated the waiters as if she were a hag.

Register Warning

Mistake: “Using 'bruja' casually with strangers to mean 'nasty woman.'”

Correction: This usage is highly offensive and rude in formal settings or toward acquaintances. Reserve it only for close friends or when describing someone you genuinely dislike in a private, informal setting.

perra

/PEH-rrah//'pera/

nounC1offensive
Use 'perra' as a highly offensive insult for a woman, equivalent to the most vulgar use of 'bitch' in English, often implying manipulative or unpleasant behavior, and sometimes promiscuity.
A brown and white female dog standing happily in a grassy field.

Examples

No puedo creer que le haya dicho perra solo por ser diferente.

I can't believe he called her a bitch just for being different.

Mi vecina tiene una perra muy amigable que se llama Luna.

My neighbor has a very friendly female dog named Luna.

La perra acaba de tener seis cachorros.

The dog just had six puppies.

Le dijo que era una perra solo porque no estaba de acuerdo con él.

He called her a bitch just because she didn't agree with him.

Feminine Nouns

In Spanish, many nouns for people and animals have a male and a female version. 'Perra' is simply the female version of 'perro' (male dog). Just change the final '-o' to an '-a'.

Using an Insult Casually

Mistake: “A learner trying to sound fluent might use 'perra' thinking it's a light or playful insult.”

Correction: Avoid using this word to refer to people. It's a very strong, offensive word that can be much more hurtful than you intend. It's important to understand it when you hear it, but it's safest not to use it yourself.

Bruja vs. Perra: Offensive Nuances

Learners often confuse 'bruja' and 'perra' because both can be used as insults. However, 'perra' is significantly more offensive and vulgar than 'bruja', which is closer to 'nasty woman' or 'witch' as an insult.

Related Translations

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