Inklingo

How to Say "scoundrels" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “scoundrels” is “bandidos” — use this word playfully to describe mischievous or naughty people, often children or friends, who are causing minor trouble..

bandidos🔊B1

Use this word playfully to describe mischievous or naughty people, often children or friends, who are causing minor trouble.

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desgraciados🔊B2

Use this term to strongly condemn someone who is mean-spirited, immoral, or has committed a significant wrong, often implying they deserve misfortune.

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bastardos🔊B2

This is a strong insult used for people perceived as malicious, contemptible, and acting with extreme wickedness or unfairness.

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ratas🔊B2

Use this to describe people who are deceitful, sneaky, and act like thieves or crooks, often implying a lack of loyalty and trustworthiness.

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cerdos🔊B2

This word refers to people who are extremely messy, slovenly, or morally corrupt, focusing on their lack of cleanliness or ethical standards.

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English → Spanish

bandidos

/ban-DEE-dohs//banˈdiðos/

nounB1joking
Use this word playfully to describe mischievous or naughty people, often children or friends, who are causing minor trouble.
A mischievous child hiding behind a chair with a playful grin.

Examples

¡Qué bandidos son mis sobrinos! Escondieron mis llaves otra vez.

What rascals my nephews are! They hid my keys again.

Esos perros son unos bandidos, siempre roban comida de la mesa.

Those dogs are such scoundrels, they are always stealing food from the table.

Expressing Affection

In this context, using 'unos' before 'bandidos' makes the description feel more natural and informal.

desgraciados

/dess-gra-syah-dohss//desɣɾaˈsjaðos/

nounB2insulting
Use this term to strongly condemn someone who is mean-spirited, immoral, or has committed a significant wrong, often implying they deserve misfortune.
A sneaky person wearing a mask and a striped shirt carrying a bag of stolen goods.

Examples

¡Esos desgraciados me robaron la cartera!

Those scoundrels stole my wallet!

No quiero volver a ver a esos desgraciados por aquí.

I don't want to see those jerks around here again.

Don't always use it as an insult

Mistake: “Thinking it always means 'jerk'.”

Correction: Check the context; if the person looks sad or poor, it probably means 'unfortunate'.

bastardos

bahs-TAHR-dohs/basˈtaɾðos/

adjectiveB2insulting
This is a strong insult used for people perceived as malicious, contemptible, and acting with extreme wickedness or unfairness.
A simple storybook illustration of two sly-looking men in dark, ragged clothes whispering secrets and smiling mischievously.

Examples

¡Esos bastardos nos robaron todo el dinero!

Those scoundrels stole all our money!

No confíes en ellos, son unos bastardos que solo buscan problemas.

Don't trust them, they are jerks who only look for trouble.

Intense Emotion

When used in this way, 'bastardos' carries a strong negative emotion, often used in anger or frustration, similar to strong curses in English.

ratas

RAH-tas (roll the R)ˈratas

nounB2insulting
Use this to describe people who are deceitful, sneaky, and act like thieves or crooks, often implying a lack of loyalty and trustworthiness.
A cartoon illustration of a shifty-looking man in a dark coat and wide-brimmed hat, sneaking away with a bag, representing a scoundrel or crook.

Examples

¡Esas ratas me robaron la billetera en el metro!

Those crooks stole my wallet on the subway!

No confíes en él; es una de esas ratas de la política.

Don't trust him; he's one of those political scoundrels (rats).

Insulting Both Genders

Even when referring to a group of men, 'ratas' remains feminine (las ratas), emphasizing the contemptuous nature of the insult.

Using 'Ratas' Too Casually

Mistake: “Using 'ratas' in a formal setting or with strangers.”

Correction: This word is a strong insult or slang term for thieves/bad people. Use it only in very informal or angry contexts.

cerdos

SEHR-dohs/ˈseɾðos/

nounB2insulting
This word refers to people who are extremely messy, slovenly, or morally corrupt, focusing on their lack of cleanliness or ethical standards.
A cartoonishly messy person sitting on a couch completely surrounded by huge piles of clutter, dirty dishes, and discarded wrappers.

Examples

Dejaron la mesa hecha un desastre. ¡Son unos cerdos!

They left the table a mess. They are slobs!

No confíes en ellos; son unos cerdos egoístas.

Don't trust them; they are selfish scoundrels.

Playful vs. Insulting Usage

The biggest confusion is using 'bandidos' for serious offenses. Remember, 'bandidos' is usually lighthearted, while 'desgraciados', 'bastardos', and 'ratas' are strong insults for genuinely bad people.

Related Translations

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