Inklingo

How to Say "leech" in Spanish

The Spanish word for “leech” is “vampiro” — B2 level.

English → SpanishB2
nounB2informal
figurative
A storybook illustration showing one figure actively using a simple pump to siphon brightly colored liquid (representing resources) from a large, full container into a small, nearly empty container they hold.

Examples

Esa empresa es un vampiro financiero; solo busca robar a sus clientes.

That company is a financial exploiter; it only seeks to rob its clients.

Mi compañero de trabajo es un vampiro de energía; me deja agotado después de cada reunión.

My coworker is an energy drainer; he leaves me exhausted after every meeting.

Context is Key

Mistake: “Using 'vampiro' to describe someone who is merely tired or sleepy.”

Correction: Only use 'vampiro' in this sense if the person is actively taking or draining something (energy, money, time) from others. For someone who is just tired, use 'cansado' or 'dormilón'.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.