Inklingo

How to Say "rogue" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “rogue” is “pillo” — use 'pillo' when referring to someone who is fundamentally dishonest or unprincipled, often in a way that involves deception or financial wrongdoing..

English → Spanish

pillo

PEE-yoh/ˈpiʎo/

nounB2informal
Use 'pillo' when referring to someone who is fundamentally dishonest or unprincipled, often in a way that involves deception or financial wrongdoing.
A man with a sly, untrustworthy expression, wearing a dark simple cloak, standing in a dimly lit alley and secretly tucking a small sack into his pocket.

Examples

Ese vendedor resultó ser un pillo y desapareció con nuestro dinero.

That vendor turned out to be a rogue and disappeared with our money.

La policía busca a un pillo que roba carteras en el centro.

The police are looking for a petty thief who steals wallets downtown.

Noun/Adjective Switch

In this context, 'pillo' can be used as an adjective (e.g., 'el vendedor pillo') or as a noun ('es un pillo'), meaning 'he is a rogue'.

bandido

/bahn-DEE-doh//banˈdiðo/

nounB2informal
Choose 'bandido' for a playfully dishonest person, often used affectionately or to describe someone who is charmingly mischievous, like a 'rascal' or 'scamp'.
A small child with a playful grin hiding behind a curtain, peeking out with a mischievous look.

Examples

¡Vuelve aquí, pequeño bandido! Me has robado un beso.

Come back here, you little rascal! You stole a kiss from me.

Tu gato es un bandido; siempre se come mi comida.

Your cat is a rascal; he's always eating my food.

Don't be too literal

Mistake: “Thinking someone is calling you a criminal.”

Correction: In a social setting, if a friend calls you 'bandido' with a smile, they mean you're a rogue or a flirt, not a thief.

diablo

DEE-ah-bloh/ˈdja.βlo/

nounB2informal
Use 'diablo' for a clever person, especially a child, who is known for being mischievous and getting into trouble, but not necessarily with malicious intent.
A mischievous-looking young boy with a playful smirk, holding a slingshot behind his back, illustrating a rascal.

Examples

Ese niño es un diablo, siempre está haciendo travesuras.

That kid is a rascal; he’s always getting into mischief.

Tienes que ser un diablo en los negocios para tener éxito.

You have to be a rogue (clever operator) in business to succeed.

Using the Feminine

To refer to a mischievous woman or girl, the word is often changed to 'diabla' (la diabla), although 'diablo' can sometimes refer to either gender contextually.

canalla

kah-NAH-yah/kaˈnaʎa/

nounB2informal to neutral
Employ 'canalla' for someone who is a scoundrel or a rogue, implying a more serious level of unprincipled or morally bad behavior, often with negative consequences for others.
A cartoon illustration of a shifty-eyed man in a dark mask and striped shirt, sneaking away while holding a large sack of stolen goods.

Examples

El presidente de la compañía resultó ser un canalla que robó a sus empleados.

The president of the company turned out to be a scoundrel who stole from his employees.

¡Eres una canalla por haber mentido así!

You are a villain for having lied like that!

Gender Flexibility

Even though canalla ends in -a, it can easily refer to both men (el canalla) and women (la canalla). The word itself stays the same.

Using it too lightly

Mistake: “Using 'canalla' for a minor annoyance.”

Correction: This word carries strong negative weight. Use lighter words like 'travieso' (naughty) for small offenses. Reserve 'canalla' for genuine acts of betrayal or cruelty.

Playful vs. Serious Dishonesty

Learners often confuse 'bandido' and 'diablo' with 'pillo' or 'canalla'. Remember that 'bandido' and 'diablo' are typically used for playful mischief or cleverness, while 'pillo' and 'canalla' describe more serious, unprincipled, or even criminal behavior.

Related Translations

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