Inklingo

How to Say "scoundrel" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “scoundrel” is “sinvergüenza” — use this when someone acts dishonestly or shamelessly, often in a way that involves a betrayal of trust or a lack of moral integrity..

sinvergüenzaB1

Use this when someone acts dishonestly or shamelessly, often in a way that involves a betrayal of trust or a lack of moral integrity.

{ui.learnMore}
bandido🔊B2

This is often used playfully or affectionately for someone mischievous or a 'rascal,' but can also refer to a more serious criminal.

{ui.learnMore}
canalla🔊B2

Use this for a person who is deliberately dishonest or malicious, someone who acts with cruelty or ill intent.

{ui.learnMore}
pillo🔊B2

This term describes someone who is cunning and possibly deceitful, often in a way that suggests they are a 'rogue' or a clever trickster.

{ui.learnMore}
infeliz🔊B2

Use this as a strong insult, implying the person is not only bad but also unfortunate or deserving of their negative fate.

{ui.learnMore}
malvado🔊B2

This refers to someone who is fundamentally evil or wicked, often used in contexts like villains in stories.

{ui.learnMore}
miserable🔊B2

When used as a noun, this describes someone who is contemptibly mean, selfish, or wretched, performing acts of extreme cruelty or pettiness.

{ui.learnMore}
rata🔊B2

This is a harsh insult for someone considered cheap, stingy, or generally a bad person, often implying they are sneaky or untrustworthy.

{ui.learnMore}
desgraciado🔊C1

Use this for someone morally corrupt or wicked, implying they are a 'wretch' whose actions bring misfortune or are utterly despicable.

{ui.learnMore}
gusano🔊C1

This is a strong term for someone morally despicable, implying they are slimy, contemptible, and only cause trouble.

{ui.learnMore}
English → Spanish

sinvergüenza

nounB1
Use this when someone acts dishonestly or shamelessly, often in a way that involves a betrayal of trust or a lack of moral integrity.

Examples

Ese sinvergüenza me vendió un coche que no funciona.

That scoundrel sold me a car that doesn't work.

bandido

/bahn-DEE-doh//banˈdiðo/

nounB2neutral, can be informal/joking
This is often used playfully or affectionately for someone mischievous or a 'rascal,' but can also refer to a more serious criminal.
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.

canalla

kah-NAH-yah/kaˈnaʎa/

nounB2negative
Use this for a person who is deliberately dishonest or malicious, someone who acts with cruelty or ill intent.
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.

pillo

PEE-yoh/ˈpiʎo/

nounB2neutral to negative
This term describes someone who is cunning and possibly deceitful, often in a way that suggests they are a 'rogue' or a clever trickster.
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'.

infeliz

een-feh-LEEZ/infeˈliθ/

nounB2insulting, strong
Use this as a strong insult, implying the person is not only bad but also unfortunate or deserving of their negative fate.
A solitary figure wrapped tightly in a thin, worn blanket, sitting on a simple wooden bench and looking forlorn.

Examples

¡Ese infeliz me robó la cartera!

That scoundrel stole my wallet!

Pobre infeliz, perdió todo en el incendio.

Poor wretch (or poor soul), he lost everything in the fire.

Use as a Noun

When used as a person, you must use an article ('el' or 'la') before it, even though the word 'infeliz' itself doesn't change its ending for gender.

malvado

/mal-VAH-do//malˈbaðo/

nounB2negative
This refers to someone who is fundamentally evil or wicked, often used in contexts like villains in stories.
A high quality storybook illustration of a classic antagonist or villain wearing a dramatic, dark cape and a stylized, pointed helmet, standing ready for conflict.

Examples

El malvado fue desenmascarado justo antes de que pudiera ejecutar su plan.

The villain was unmasked just before he could execute his plan.

En las caricaturas, el malvado siempre tiene un bigote grande.

In cartoons, the villain always has a big mustache.

The Adjective as a Noun

When you put an article (el, la, los, las) directly before an adjective like 'malvado,' it changes the adjective into a noun, meaning 'the evil one' or 'the wicked person.' This is a very common structure in Spanish!

miserable

mee-seh-RAH-bleh/mi.seˈɾa.βle/

adjective (used as noun)B2strong negative
When used as a noun, this describes someone who is contemptibly mean, selfish, or wretched, performing acts of extreme cruelty or pettiness.
A shifty-eyed fox running quickly while holding a large, overflowing basket of stolen red apples.

Examples

Solo un miserable haría algo tan cruel.

Only a despicable person (a scoundrel) would do something so cruel.

No seas tan miserable y comparte tus galletas.

Don't be so mean-spirited (or stingy) and share your cookies.

Using it as a Noun

You can use 'miserable' just like a noun (a person) by adding 'el' or 'la.' This is a very strong insult, calling someone a 'wretch' or 'scoundrel'.

rata

RAH-tah/ˈra.ta/

nounB2insulting, informal
This is a harsh insult for someone considered cheap, stingy, or generally a bad person, often implying they are sneaky or untrustworthy.
A cartoon illustration of a person with a worried expression, tightly clutching a small, worn leather coin pouch to their chest with both hands.

Examples

No seas rata y paga la mitad de la cuenta.

Don't be a cheapskate and pay half the bill.

Ese político es una rata; solo piensa en robar.

That politician is a crook; he only thinks about stealing.

Referring to People

When used to describe a person, 'rata' is grammatically feminine (it takes 'la' or 'una'), but it can refer to a man or a woman.

Using the Masculine Form

Mistake: “Using *rato* instead of *rata* when insulting someone.”

Correction: The insult is always *rata*. *Rato* means 'a while' or 'a moment' and has a totally different meaning.

desgraciado

dess-grah-SYAH-doh/des.ɣɾaˈsja.ðo/

nounC1very negative, strong insult
Use this for someone morally corrupt or wicked, implying they are a 'wretch' whose actions bring misfortune or are utterly despicable.
A simplistic, shadowy figure with a shifty expression quickly walking away while holding a small, stolen pouch behind their back, symbolizing a scoundrel.

Examples

¡Ese desgraciado me mintió sobre el trato y se quedó con todo!

That scoundrel lied to me about the deal and kept everything!

No le hables, es un desgraciado que solo busca aprovecharse de la gente.

Don't talk to him, he's a despicable person who only looks to take advantage of people.

Used as a Noun

In this context, 'desgraciado' acts as a name for a person, so it usually needs an article before it (el desgraciado, un desgraciado).

gusano

/goo-SAH-no//ɡuˈsano/

nounC1very negative, strong insult
This is a strong term for someone morally despicable, implying they are slimy, contemptible, and only cause trouble.
A cartoonish figure with a shifty expression, wearing a dark mask, sneaking a golden coin out of a small open pouch.

Examples

No confíes en él, es un gusano que solo busca problemas.

Don't trust him, he's a creep who only looks for trouble.

Lo trataron como a un gusano después de lo que hizo.

They treated him like dirt (like a worm) after what he did.

Playful vs. Serious Scoundrels

Learners often confuse the more playful terms like 'bandido' or 'pillo' with the harsher insults like 'desgraciado' or 'canalla'. Always consider the severity of the action and your relationship with the person before choosing; using a strong insult in a lighthearted context can cause offense.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.