Inklingo

How to Say "mockery" in Spanish

English → Spanish

burla

/BOOR-lah//ˈbuɾla/

nounB1
Use 'burla' when referring to the act of teasing or making fun of someone or something, often with a tone of disrespect or ridicule.
A character with a playful, mischievous expression pointing and laughing lightheartedly.

Examples

No me gustan sus burlas sobre mi ropa.

I don't like his jokes about my clothes.

Lo hizo en son de burla.

He did it in a mocking way.

Using the word with 'de'

When you want to say who or what you are making fun of, always use 'de' after the word burla.

Burla vs. Broma

Mistake:Using 'burla' for a friendly prank.

Correction: Use 'broma' for friendly jokes. 'Burla' often implies someone's feelings are being hurt or they are being humiliated.

ridículo

nounB1
Choose 'ridículo' when you want to describe the state of being foolish or the act of making oneself look silly, often in a humorous or embarrassing way.

Examples

Si lo intentas, quizás hagas el ridículo, ¡pero es divertido!

If you try it, you might make a fool of yourself, but it's fun!

farsa

FAR-sah/ˈfaɾsa/

nounB2
Use 'farsa' to describe a situation that is a sham, a pretense, or a ridiculous imitation, implying that it's not genuine or fair.
A person smiling brightly, but subtly holding a sad, frowning mask hidden behind their back, symbolizing a pretense or sham.

Examples

La votación fue una farsa; los resultados ya estaban decididos de antemano.

The vote was a sham; the results were already decided beforehand.

No podemos permitir que este juicio se convierta en una farsa.

We cannot allow this trial to turn into a mockery.

Dejó la reunión porque dijo que todo era una farsa sin sentido.

She left the meeting because she said the whole thing was a senseless farce.

Gender Reminder

Even though 'farsa' ends in '-a', remember that it is always a feminine noun, so you must use 'la farsa' or 'una farsa'.

Confusing with 'False'

Mistake:Using 'farsa' to mean 'false' or 'untrue' in a general sense.

Correction: Use 'falso' (adjective) or 'mentira' (noun for lie). 'Farsa' specifically means a ridiculous or insincere situation or event.

Burla vs. Ridículo

Learners often confuse 'burla' and 'ridículo' because both involve making fun. Remember that 'burla' is the act of teasing someone else, while 'ridículo' is about looking foolish yourself or the state of being ridiculous.

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.