Inklingo

How to Say "counterfeit" in Spanish

English → Spanish

falsa

/fal-sa//ˈfalsa/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'falsa' when referring to counterfeit or fake versions of physical items like money, documents, or accessories.
A shiny gold bar lying on a surface, with a corner chipped off revealing dull gray plaster underneath, indicating it is fake.

Examples

Llevaba una cadena de oro falsa que parecía real.

She was wearing a fake gold chain that looked real.

La policía encontró mucha moneda falsa en el mercado.

The police found a lot of counterfeit currency in the market.

Positioning

Like most descriptive adjectives, 'falsa' usually goes after the noun it describes: 'una perla falsa' (a fake pearl).

bastardos

bahs-TAHR-dohs/basˈtaɾðos/

adjectiveB2informal
Use 'bastardos' in a figurative, informal, and often strong sense to describe something impure, deceitful, or of low quality, like a trick or a dishonest person.
A simple storybook illustration of two sly-looking men in dark, ragged clothes whispering secrets and smiling mischievously.

Examples

¡Esos bastardos nos robaron todo el dinero!

Those scoundrels stole all our money!

No confíes en ellos, son unos bastardos que solo buscan problemas.

Don't trust them, they are jerks who only look for trouble.

Intense Emotion

When used in this way, 'bastardos' carries a strong negative emotion, often used in anger or frustration, similar to strong curses in English.

Literal vs. Figurative Use

Learners often confuse these by using 'bastardos' for literal counterfeit items. Remember, 'falsa' is for fake objects like money or jewelry, while 'bastardos' is a stronger, informal term for something impure or deceitful in a more abstract sense.

Related Translations

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