Inklingo

How to Say "slob" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cerdo

SEHR-doh'seɾ.ðo

nounB2informal
Use 'cerdo' when referring to someone who is extremely messy or dirty, often in a way that is considered disgusting or animalistic.
A cartoon person sitting on a couch in a room overflowing with scattered trash, dirty clothes, and food wrappers.

Examples

¡Qué cerdo eres, dejaste todos los platos sin lavar!

What a slob you are, you left all the dishes unwashed!

No quiero tratar con ese hombre, es un cerdo egoísta.

I don't want to deal with that man, he is a greedy pig/jerk.

Using 'Cerdo' as an Adjective

When used to describe a person, 'cerdo' acts like an adjective, meaning 'filthy' or 'gross.' You must match the gender: 'la persona cerda' (the filthy person) or 'el hombre cerdo'.

desordenado

des-or-deh-NAH-dohdesoɾðeˈnaðo

nounB1
Choose 'desordenado' for someone who is habitually disorganized and untidy, focusing more on messiness and lack of order than dirtiness.
A person with messy hair and a stained shirt sitting on a couch surrounded by crumbs and empty snack bags.

Examples

No seas un desordenado y recoge tus calcetines.

Don't be such a slob and pick up your socks.

Ella es una desordenada, siempre pierde las llaves.

She is a messy person; she's always losing her keys.

Turning a description into a person

In Spanish, you can often turn an adjective into a noun just by putting 'un' or 'una' in front of it. 'Un desordenado' literally means 'a messy (one)'.

Confusing the noun and adjective

Mistake: “Él tiene mucho desordenado.”

Correction: Él es muy desordenado. 'Desordenado' describes the person; if you want to talk about the 'mess' itself, use the noun 'desorden'.

sucia

SOO-see-ahˈsu.sja

nounB2informal
Use 'sucia' when referring to a female slob, emphasizing her dirtiness or the unpleasant state of her surroundings due to her messiness.
A woman with very messy hair and disorganized clothes standing in a room overwhelmed by piles of clutter, disorganized belongings, and laundry.

Examples

No dejes los platos ahí, ¡eres una sucia!

Don't leave the dishes there, you're a slob!

Llamaron a la niña 'la sucia' porque siempre jugaba en el barro.

They called the girl 'the dirty one' because she always played in the mud.

Adjective as Noun

Many Spanish adjectives can become nouns by placing an article (like 'la' or 'una') in front of them. Here, 'la sucia' means 'the dirty one' (referring to a person or thing).

Cerdo vs. Desordenado

Learners often confuse 'cerdo' and 'desordenado'. Remember that 'cerdo' implies a stronger sense of dirtiness and disgust, while 'desordenado' focuses more on general untidiness and lack of organization.

Related Translations

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