Inklingo

How to Say "foul" in Spanish

English → Spanish

falta

/fahl-tah//ˈfalta/

nounA2sports
Use this word when referring to an infraction or violation in a sports game.
A large, mostly empty wooden basket resting on the floor, containing only one bright red apple, symbolizing a lack or shortage.

Examples

El árbitro pitó una falta en el área.

The referee called a foul in the penalty area.

La falta de lluvia es un problema para los agricultores.

The lack of rain is a problem for the farmers.

Tengo una falta en la clase de historia de hoy.

I have an absence in today's history class.

Cometer una falta en el examen te puede costar caro.

Making a mistake on the exam can cost you dearly.

Expressing 'Lack of...'

To say 'a lack of something', you almost always use the structure 'la falta de' followed by the thing you don't have enough of. For example, 'la falta de dinero' (the lack of money).

Forgetting 'de'

Mistake: “Tengo falta tiempo.”

Correction: Tengo falta de tiempo. Remember to include 'de' to connect 'falta' to the thing that is lacking.

sucia

SOO-see-ah/ˈsu.sja/

adjectiveB1general
Use this word to describe something that is morally wrong, dishonest, or vulgar, often in the context of behavior or language.
A simplified, golden balance scale where one side is visibly being pushed down by a large, shadowy hand, indicating unfairness.

Examples

Sus comentarios fueron muy sucios y ofensivos.

His comments were very foul and offensive.

Ella ganó la elección con una campaña sucia, llena de mentiras.

She won the election with a dirty campaign, full of lies.

No me gusta su mente sucia; siempre hace chistes inapropiados.

I don't like her dirty mind; she always makes inappropriate jokes.

Figurative Use

When 'sucia' refers to moral corruption or vulgarity, it often describes abstract feminine nouns like 'guerra' (war), 'campaña' (campaign), or 'mente' (mind).

Sports vs. Morals

Learners often confuse 'falta' and 'sucia' because both can translate 'foul'. Remember that 'falta' is specifically for rule-breaking in games, while 'sucia' describes something unpleasant, dishonest, or vulgar in a broader sense.

Related Translations

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