Inklingo

How to Say "snitch" in Spanish

English → Spanish

soplón

/so-PLOHN//soˈplon/

nounB1informal
Use 'soplón' when referring to someone who tells secrets or reports others to authorities, especially in a context where they might be seen as betraying trust or a group.
A child whispering into a teacher's ear while pointing at another child who is hiding a toy.

Examples

No seas un soplón; mi secreto está a salvo contigo, ¿verdad?

Don't be a snitch; my secret is safe with you, right?

La policía atrapó a los criminales gracias a un soplón dentro de la banda.

The police caught the criminals thanks to a snitch inside the gang.

En la escuela, a nadie le gustaba el niño que era un soplón con la maestra.

At school, nobody liked the kid who was a tattletale with the teacher.

The '-ón' Ending

The ending '-ón' is often added to verbs to describe a person who does that action a lot. Here, it comes from 'soplar' (to blow/whisper).

Gender Changes

While this entry is for the masculine 'soplón', if you are talking about a female, you must add an 'a' and remove the accent: 'soplona'.

Don't use for machines

Mistake: “Using 'soplón' to describe a leaf blower or a fan.”

Correction: Use 'soplador' for a leaf blower and 'ventilador' for a fan. 'Soplón' is only for people.

sapo

/sah-poh//ˈsapo/

nounB2informal
Use 'sapo' when describing someone who tells on others, particularly in a more colloquial or childish context, like telling a parent about a sibling's misbehavior.
A small frog-like character hiding behind a tree, pointing a finger towards another character.

Examples

No seas sapo, no le cuentes a mi mamá lo que hice.

Don't be a snitch, don't tell my mom what I did.

Ese vecino es un sapo; siempre está mirando por la ventana.

That neighbor is so nosy; he's always looking through the window.

Tuvieron que mudarse porque lo acusaron de ser un sapo de la policía.

They had to move because he was accused of being a police informant.

Adjective or Noun?

You can use 'sapo' as a label (He is a snitch) or sometimes like a description (He is being snitchy). It works both ways!

Gentle or Rude?

Mistake: “Using 'sapo' in a formal meeting.”

Correction: This is very informal and can be offensive. Only use it with friends or in casual settings.

Choosing Between 'Soplón' and 'Sapo'

Learners often confuse 'soplón' and 'sapo'. While both mean 'snitch,' 'soplón' is generally more common and can be used in a wider range of informal situations, including reporting to authorities. 'Sapo' is more specific to tattling, especially in domestic or peer-group settings.

Related Translations

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