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How to Say "crook" in Spanish

English → Spanish

chorro

CHOH-rrohˈtʃoro

nounC1informal
Use 'chorro' for a general term for a thief or swindler, often implying someone who steals or deceives for personal gain.
A person wearing a striped shirt and a mask carrying a heavy sack over their shoulder.

Examples

¡Cuidado! Ese tipo es un chorro.

Watch out! That guy is a thief.

La policía atrapó al chorro a la vuelta.

The police caught the thief around the corner.

corrupto

ko-ROOP-tohkoˈrupto

nounB2informal
Choose 'corrupto' when referring to someone who abuses their power or position for dishonest gain, especially in a public or official context.
A person wearing a dark cloak and a mask holding a stolen treasure chest.

Examples

El corrupto huyó del país con el dinero.

The corrupt man fled the country with the money.

rata

RAH-tahˈra.ta

nounB2informal
Use 'rata' to describe someone who is stingy or a cheapskate, implying a pettiness in their dishonesty related to money or sharing.
A cartoon illustration of a person with a worried expression, tightly clutching a small, worn leather coin pouch to their chest with both hands.

Examples

No seas rata y paga la mitad de la cuenta.

Don't be a cheapskate and pay half the bill.

Ese político es una rata; solo piensa en robar.

That politician is a crook; he only thinks about stealing.

Referring to People

When used to describe a person, 'rata' is grammatically feminine (it takes 'la' or 'una'), but it can refer to a man or a woman.

Using the Masculine Form

Mistake: “Using *rato* instead of *rata* when insulting someone.”

Correction: The insult is always *rata*. *Rato* means 'a while' or 'a moment' and has a totally different meaning.

Chorro vs. Rata vs. Corrupto

Learners often confuse 'chorro' and 'rata' because both can imply dishonesty. Remember that 'chorro' is broader, referring to thieves and swindlers, while 'rata' specifically highlights stinginess or a lack of generosity.

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