Inklingo

How to Say "rude" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “rude” is “grosero” — use 'grosero' when someone's behavior or speech is impolite, lacking basic good manners, or generally offensive to others.

English → Spanish

grosero

groh-SEH-rohɡɾoˈse.ɾo

adjectiveB1general
Use 'grosero' when someone's behavior or speech is impolite, lacking basic good manners, or generally offensive to others.
An illustration of a child rudely interrupting an adult who is speaking.

Examples

Fue muy grosero al no saludar a la dueña de casa.

He was very rude for not greeting the hostess.

No uses lenguaje grosero delante de los niños.

Don't use vulgar language in front of the children.

Gender Agreement

As an adjective, 'grosero' must match the person or thing it describes. Use 'grosero' for masculine (el hombre grosero) and 'grosera' for feminine (la mujer grosera).

Using 'Estar' instead of 'Ser'

Mistake: “Él está grosero.”

Correction: Él es grosero. (Rudeness is usually considered a characteristic or personality trait, so we use 'ser'.)

ordinario

or-dee-NAH-ryohoɾ.ði.ˈna.ɾjo

adjectiveB2general
Use 'ordinario' to describe someone who is behaving badly or has poor manners, often in a way that is considered vulgar or unrefined.
A person eating with their hands messy and feet up on a formal dinner table.

Examples

No seas ordinario, no hables con la boca llena.

Don't be rude, don't talk with your mouth full.

Ese chiste fue un poco ordinario para esta cena.

That joke was a bit vulgar for this dinner.

Se comportó de una manera muy ordinaria.

He behaved in a very boorish/vulgar way.

Using 'Ser' vs 'Estar'

Use 'ser ordinario' to describe someone's personality, and 'estar ordinario' to say they are acting rude just in this moment.

The False Friend Trap

Mistake: “Saying 'Eres ordinario' to mean 'You are an average person'.”

Correction: Be careful! In Spanish, calling a person 'ordinario' usually means you think they are vulgar or have no manners. Use 'una persona común' for 'average'.

brusco

BROOS-kohˈbrusko

adjectiveB2general
Choose 'brusco' when describing someone who is abrupt, curt, or short in their manner of speaking or interacting, often unintentionally impolite.
A colorful storybook illustration of a person turning their back and walking away from a friendly character trying to talk.

Examples

Perdona si fui un poco brusco por teléfono.

Sorry if I was a bit curt/rude on the phone.

Él tiene un carácter brusco, pero es un buen hombre.

He has a gruff personality, but he is a good man.

Recibió una respuesta brusca y se sintió mal.

She received a blunt reply and felt bad.

Ser vs. Estar

Use 'ser brusco' to describe someone's permanent personality. Use 'estar brusco' if someone is just acting rude or short in a specific moment.

Brusco vs. Grosero

Mistake: “Saying 'brusco' when someone is being intentionally offensive.”

Correction: 'Brusco' implies being short or blunt, often because of stress or personality. 'Grosero' is the word for someone being intentionally offensive or using bad language.

ofensivo

oh-fayn-SEE-boho.fenˈsi.βo

adjectiveB1general
Use 'ofensivo' when a comment, action, or behavior is directly insulting, hurtful, or socially unacceptable, causing offense.
A sad child sitting alone on a bench after hearing something mean.

Examples

Ese comentario fue muy ofensivo para mi familia.

That comment was very offensive to my family.

No quise decir nada ofensivo, lo siento.

I didn't mean to say anything offensive, I'm sorry.

Ella evitó usar un lenguaje ofensivo durante la reunión.

She avoided using insulting language during the meeting.

Gender Agreement

This word changes its ending based on the thing it describes. Use 'ofensivo' for masculine words (el gesto ofensivo) and 'ofensiva' for feminine words (la palabra ofensiva).

Word Placement

Just like most adjectives in Spanish, it usually comes after the person or thing you are describing to add detail to it.

Feeling vs. Being

Mistake: “Estoy ofensivo.”

Correction: Say 'Estoy ofendido' if you are the one who feels hurt. 'Ofensivo' describes the person or thing that CAUSES the hurt.

ofrecido

oh-freh-SEE-dohofɾeˈsiðo

adjectiveC1informal
Use 'ofrecido' to describe someone who is behaving improperly, vulgarly, or is being overly pushy and lacking decorum.
A storybook illustration depicting a scene where a character is leaning aggressively close to another character, who is visibly recoiling and uncomfortable, illustrating a lack of social boundaries.

Examples

No seas tan ofrecido; espera tu turno para hablar.

Don't be so pushy; wait your turn to speak.

Ella es muy ofrecida con los clientes, lo cual es inapropiado.

She is very forward with clients, which is inappropriate.

Understanding the Tone

In this sense, 'ofrecido' means you are making yourself too available or putting yourself forward inappropriately. It is almost always a negative description of behavior.

Grosero vs. Brusco

Learners often confuse 'grosero' and 'brusco'. 'Grosero' implies general impoliteness or ill-manners, while 'brusco' specifically refers to being curt or abrupt in speech or manner.

Related Translations

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