Inklingo

How to Say "nutcase" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cabra

/kah-brah//ˈkaβɾa/

nounB2Strongly informal/slang
Use 'cabra' when referring to someone who is acting wildly eccentric or unpredictably, often in a humorous or exasperated way, similar to saying someone is 'acting like a goat'.
A person wearing brightly colored, mismatched clothing is leaping wildly and joyfully high into the air with their arms flung out.

Examples

Mi vecino está como una cabra, siempre canta ópera a todo volumen por la noche.

My neighbor is a nutcase, he always sings opera at the top of his lungs at night.

Mi abuela está como una cabra, siempre bailando sola en el jardín.

My grandma is crazy/nuts, always dancing alone in the garden.

Solo a una cabra se le ocurriría subir esa montaña sin equipo.

Only a crazy person (nutcase) would think of climbing that mountain without equipment.

Fixed Phrase

This meaning is almost always used within the fixed phrase 'estar como una cabra' (to be like a goat). The word 'cabra' stays feminine even if you are talking about a man.

Using 'loco' instead of 'cabra'

Mistake: “Mi amigo es una cabra.”

Correction: While understandable, it is much more natural to say 'Mi amigo está como una cabra' when referring to a person's behavior.

chiflado

chee-FLAH-doh (The 'ch' sounds like the 'ch' in 'cheese')/tʃiˈflaðo/

nounB2Informal
Use 'chiflado' to describe someone who is acting foolishly, is a bit daft, or has lost their mind in a more general sense, often implying silliness.
A cheerful person on a hill wearing a laundry basket on their head and holding a wooden spoon, depicting a silly person.

Examples

No hagas caso a ese chiflado, solo quiere llamar la atención.

Don't pay attention to that nutcase, he just wants attention.

Ese chiflado está gritando en la calle otra vez.

That nutcase is shouting in the street again.

Mi hermana es una chiflada, siempre se ríe de todo.

My sister is a silly one; she always laughs at everything.

Adjective to Noun

It’s very common in Spanish to use an adjective (like 'chiflado') as a noun simply by adding an article (el, la, un, una). It works like saying 'the crazy one' or 'a silly one' in English.

Informal vs. Eccentric

Learners often confuse 'cabra' and 'chiflado' by using 'cabra' in situations where 'chiflado' would be more appropriate, or vice-versa. Remember that 'cabra' is more intensely informal and often implies wild, unpredictable behavior, while 'chiflado' is a more general term for someone acting silly or a bit crazy.

Related Translations

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