Inklingo

How to Say "illegitimate child" in Spanish

The Spanish word forillegitimate childis bastardoB2 level.

English → SpanishB2
nounB2
formal or historical reference to birth status
A small child sitting alone on a wooden bench in a garden, looking thoughtful.

Examples

En las novelas antiguas, el hijo bastardo luchaba por su herencia.

In old novels, the bastard son fought for his inheritance.

El rey reconoció a su hijo bastardo ante toda la corte.

The king recognized his illegitimate son before the entire court.

No es un insulto aquí, simplemente describe su origen familiar.

It is not an insult here; it simply describes his family origin.

Gender Changes

To talk about a female, just change the 'o' at the end to an 'a': 'bastarda'.

Describing People

When used to describe someone's birth, it often comes after the word 'hijo' (son) or 'hija' (daughter).

Avoid Casual Use

Mistake:Calling a friend's child 'bastardo' as a joke.

Correction: Use neutral terms like 'hijo' or 'pequeño' unless the context is strictly historical.

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.