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How to Say "brutish" in Spanish

English → Spanish

bruto

/broo-toh//ˈbɾuto/

adjectiveB1informal
Use 'bruto' when someone is acting without thinking or being unnecessarily rough, potentially causing damage.
A simple drawing of a thick, rough-hewn piece of unpolished grey stone.

Examples

No seas tan bruto, vas a romper el juguete.

Don't be so rough, you're going to break the toy.

¡Qué bruto soy! Olvidé las llaves adentro.

How stupid of me! I left the keys inside.

Changing for Gender

Remember to change the ending to 'bruta' if you are describing a woman or a feminine object.

Bruto vs. Grosero

Mistake: “Using 'bruto' to mean 'rude' in a polite sense.”

Correction: Use 'bruto' for someone who is rough or clumsy; use 'grosero' if they are being mean or impolite with words.

animal

/a-ni-'mal//a.niˈmal/

adjectiveB2informal
Use 'animal' to describe someone who lacks manners or behaves in a shockingly impolite or uncivilized way.
A simple illustration of a person stumbling and dropping several boxes, showing clumsiness.

Examples

¡Qué animal! Rompió el jarrón por no mirar.

How clumsy (or 'what an idiot')! He broke the vase because he wasn't looking.

Este conductor es muy animal, va a 140 km/h en la ciudad.

This driver is very reckless, he’s going 140 km/h in the city.

Informal Adjective Use

When used this way, animal is often used as a descriptive noun/adjective that usually means 'reckless person' or 'oaf' and is applied directly to the person being criticized.

Using the literal meaning

Mistake: “Un policía le dijo que era un animal (expecting him to be literally a non-human creature).”

Correction: This is almost always hyperbole, meaning the person is acting wildly or irresponsibly, not that they are literally a beast.

Bruto vs. Animal

Learners often confuse 'bruto' and 'animal' because both can imply a lack of refinement. Remember that 'bruto' focuses on thoughtless or rough actions, while 'animal' emphasizes a more general lack of manners or civility.

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