Inklingo

How to Say "brat" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “brat” is “crío” — use 'crío' when referring to a young child who is misbehaving, often in a general sense of being unruly or difficult..

English → Spanish

crío

nounA2
Use 'crío' when referring to a young child who is misbehaving, often in a general sense of being unruly or difficult.

Examples

Ese crío siempre está corriendo por la calle.

That kid is always running through the street.

mocoso

/mo-KOH-soh//moˈkoso/

nounB1informal
Choose 'mocoso' for a child who is not just misbehaving but is also being annoying, rude, or ill-mannered.
A young child with a mischievous expression sticking their tongue out.

Examples

Ese mocoso me robó el asiento en el autobús.

That brat stole my seat on the bus.

No voy a dejar que un mocoso me diga qué hacer.

I'm not going to let some snot-nosed kid tell me what to do.

Using adjectives as nouns

In Spanish, words that describe things (adjectives) can easily become nouns just by adding 'the' (el/un) in front of them. 'Mocoso' literally means 'snotty,' but here it means 'a snotty person.'

Don't use with your boss

Mistake: “Calling a younger coworker 'mocoso' in a meeting.”

Correction: Use 'joven' or their name; 'mocoso' is usually seen as an insult or a very aggressive way to call someone immature.

Crío vs. Mocoso Nuance

Learners often confuse 'crío' and 'mocoso' by using 'crío' for any misbehaving child. Remember, 'mocoso' carries a stronger negative connotation of rudeness or annoyance, making it a more direct translation for 'brat' when that specific rudeness is implied.

Related Translations

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