Inklingo

How to Say "indecent" in Spanish

English → Spanish

obsceno

ob-SEH-nohoβˈse.no

adjectiveB2formal
Use 'obsceno' when referring to something that is socially unacceptable, offensive, or lewd, often related to sexual or vulgar content.
A person covering their eyes with their hands while looking at a messy, vandalized wall.

Examples

Él hizo un gesto obsceno desde el coche.

He made an obscene gesture from the car.

La televisión no debe mostrar contenido obsceno en este horario.

Television should not show obscene content during these hours.

Fue arrestado por comportamiento obsceno en la vía pública.

He was arrested for indecent behavior on a public street.

Matching the Noun

Remember to change the ending to 'obscena' if the thing you are describing is feminine, like 'una palabra obscena' (an obscene word).

Plural Forms

To describe more than one thing, simply add -s: 'gestos obscenos' or 'palabras obscenas'.

Gender Mismatch

Mistake: “Esa película es obsceno.”

Correction: Esa película es obscena. 'Película' is feminine, so the adjective must end in 'a'.

sucio

SOO-thee-oh (Spain) / SOO-see-oh (Latin America)ˈsu.θjo

adjectiveB1informal
Use 'sucio' when describing something as unfair, dishonest, or 'dirty' in the context of a competition, game, or behavior, not necessarily sexual.
A cartoon character's hand secretly sliding a single playing card from under a table while looking around nervously, symbolizing deceit or dishonesty.

Examples

Ganó el partido con un juego sucio y muchas trampas.

He won the match with dirty play and lots of cheating.

Ese dinero sucio proviene de actividades ilegales.

That dirty money comes from illegal activities.

No hagas comentarios sucios delante de los niños.

Don't make indecent comments in front of the children.

Distinguishing 'Obsceno' from 'Sucio'

The most common mistake is using 'sucio' for something sexually offensive. Remember, 'sucio' refers to unfairness or dishonesty, like 'dirty play' in sports, while 'obsceno' is for lewd or socially unacceptable content.

Related Translations

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