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How to Say "madman" in Spanish

English → Spanish

loco

/LOH-koh//ˈlo.ko/

NounB1Informal
Use 'loco' when referring to someone acting erratically or irrationally in a more informal or common way, implying they are 'crazy' or 'insane' in a general sense.
A whimsical illustration of an eccentric man wearing mismatched clothes and a funny hat, representing a 'crazy person'.

Examples

No le hagas caso a ese loco.

Don't pay attention to that crazy person.

Solo un loco conduciría con esta tormenta.

Only a madman would drive in this storm.

¡Qué hacés, loco! ¿Todo bien?

What's up, man! All good?

Feminine and Plural Forms

Just like the adjective, the noun form also changes. A female crazy person is a 'loca'. A group of them would be 'locos' (all male or mixed group) or 'locas' (all female).

demente

deh-MEN-teh/deˈmente/

NounB2Formal
Use 'demente' to refer to someone who is legally or clinically considered mentally unsound, often in a more formal or medical context, implying a severe state of mental derangement.
A storybook illustration portrait of an eccentric, wild-haired elderly man with a long, untrimmed white beard, wearing brightly colored, mismatched clothing, emphasizing the character of a 'madman.'

Examples

El demente escapó del hospital psiquiátrico.

The madman escaped from the psychiatric hospital.

La demente fue detenida después de causar destrozos.

The lunatic (female) was detained after causing damage.

Referring to People

When 'demente' is used as a noun, it refers to the person. You must use the correct article ('el' for a man, 'la' for a woman) even though the word 'demente' itself doesn't change: 'el demente' / 'la demente'.

Choosing between 'loco' and 'demente'

Learners often confuse 'loco' and 'demente'. While 'loco' is a more general and common term for someone acting strangely, 'demente' implies a more severe, clinical, or legal state of mental illness and is used in more formal contexts.

Related Translations

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