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How to Say "slob" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cerdo

/SEHR-doh//'seɾ.ðo/

nounB2informal
Use 'cerdo' when referring to someone who is excessively messy or dirty, often implying a lack of basic hygiene or tidiness, much like an actual pig.
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'.

sucia

SOO-see-ah/ˈsu.sja/

nounB2informal
Use 'sucia' to call someone a slob when they habitually make a mess or are generally untidy, focusing more on their messy habits than their overall cleanliness.
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. Sucia

Learners often confuse 'cerdo' and 'sucia' because both refer to messiness. However, 'cerdo' is stronger, implying a deeper level of dirtiness or pig-like behavior, while 'sucia' is more about general untidiness or messy habits.

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