Inklingo

How to Say "cocky" in Spanish

The Spanish word forcockyis chuloB1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.

English → SpanishB1

chulo

adjectiveB1informal
referring to an arrogant attitude
A peacock with its colorful feathers fanned out, standing tall.

Examples

No te pongas chulo conmigo.

Don't get cocky with me.

Es un poco chulo, se cree el mejor.

He's a bit cocky; he thinks he's the best.

Changing Attitude

Use the verb 'ponerse' (to become/to get) with 'chulo' to describe someone acting cocky in a specific moment.

Ser vs. Estar

Mistake:Using 'ser' when someone is just being temporarily cheeky.

Correction: Use 'ponerse chulo' for temporary behavior.

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