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How to Say "slobs" in Spanish

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cerdos

SEHR-dohs/ˈseɾðos/

nounB2informal
Use 'cerdos' to describe people who are extremely messy and leave things in a state of disorder, often in a crude or unrefined way.
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.

sucios

SOO-see-ohs/ˈsu.sjos/

nounB1informal
Use 'sucios' to refer to people who are habitually unclean or, metaphorically, morally corrupt, especially in contexts like politics or business.
A group of three identical plush teddy bears, all visibly covered in brown mud and dust, sitting together.

Examples

¡Que se vayan los sucios de la política!

Let the corrupt ones leave politics!

Separamos los sucios de los limpios para la lavadora.

We separated the dirty ones from the clean ones for the washing machine.

Adjectives Becoming Nouns

In Spanish, you can often turn an adjective into a noun by putting a definite article (like 'los') in front of it. 'Los sucios' means 'the dirty ones' (people or things).

Choosing Between 'Cerdos' and 'Sucios'

Learners often confuse 'cerdos' and 'sucios' because both relate to uncleanliness. Remember that 'cerdos' specifically targets extreme messiness and disorder, while 'sucios' can extend to moral corruption or habitual lack of hygiene.

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