How to Say "grump" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “grump” is “vinagre” — B2 level.
Examples
No seas un vinagre y ven a bailar con nosotros.
Don't be such a sourpuss and come dance with us.
Mi vecino es un vinagre; siempre se está quejando de todo.
My neighbor is a grump; he's always complaining about everything.
Tiene cara de vinagre desde que llegó a la oficina.
He's had a sour face since he arrived at the office.
Using 'un/una' for people
When calling a person a 'vinagre', the word itself stays the same, but you change the article to match the person's gender: 'él es un vinagre' / 'ella es una vinagre'.
Using 'estar' vs 'ser'
Mistake: “Él es vinagre.”
Correction: Él es un vinagre. (When used as a noun for a person, you need the 'un' or 'una'). Use 'estar' without 'un' to mean 'to be in a bad mood right now'.
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.