Inklingo

How to Say "rowdy" in Spanish

English → Spanish

ruidoso

/rwee-DOH-soh//rwiˈðoso/

adjectiveA1informal
Use 'ruidoso' when describing a person or group that is loud and boisterous, causing a disturbance primarily through noise.
A child enthusiastically banging on a bright red drum set with colorful zigzag lines bursting out to represent loud sound.

Examples

Mi vecino es muy ruidoso por la noche.

My neighbor is very noisy at night.

No podemos estudiar aquí, este café es demasiado ruidoso.

We can't study here; this cafe is too noisy.

El motor de ese coche viejo es extremadamente ruidoso.

The engine of that old car is extremely loud.

Matching the Gender

This word changes its ending based on what you are describing. Use 'ruidoso' for masculine things (un bar ruidoso) and 'ruidosa' for feminine things (una calle ruidosa).

Describing After the Thing

In Spanish, the word 'ruidoso' almost always comes AFTER the thing it is describing. Instead of 'a noisy party,' you say 'una fiesta ruidosa'.

Noise vs. Noisy

Mistake: “La ciudad es muy ruido.”

Correction: La ciudad es muy ruidosa.

Loud Voices

Mistake: “Él tiene una voz muy ruidosa.”

Correction: Él tiene una voz muy fuerte.

escandaloso

/es-kan-dah-lo-so//eskan̪daˈloso/

adjectiveA2informal
Choose 'escandaloso' for groups or individuals whose rowdy behavior is not just loud but also unruly, disruptive, and potentially shocking or scandalous.
A child shouting loudly with wide open mouth and hands around it, with sound waves radiating outwards.

Examples

Mis vecinos son muy escandalosos por la noche.

My neighbors are very rowdy/scandalous at night.

No seas tan escandaloso, que el bebé está durmiendo.

Don't be so loud; the baby is sleeping.

Eran un grupo de jóvenes escandalosos en el autobús.

They were a group of rowdy young people on the bus.

Matching the Ending

Remember to change the ending to 'escandalosa' for feminine things or 'escandalosos/as' for groups. If you're talking about a noisy party (la fiesta), it's 'una fiesta escandalosa'.

Describing Personality vs. State

Use 'ser' (son escandalosos) if they are naturally loud people, but use 'estar' (están escandalosos) if they are just being loud at this specific moment.

Loud vs. Noisy

Mistake: “Using 'fuerte' for a person's volume.”

Correction: Say 'eres escandaloso' instead of 'eres fuerte' when someone is making too much noise with their voice or actions.

Noise vs. Unruly Behavior

Learners often confuse 'ruidoso' and 'escandaloso' because both can imply loudness. Remember that 'ruidoso' is primarily about volume, while 'escandaloso' adds the element of unruly, potentially shocking, or scandalous conduct.

Related Translations

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