Inklingo

How to Say "surly" in Spanish

The Spanish word forsurlyis agrioB2 level.

English → SpanishB2

agrio

adjectiveB2
unfriendly behavior
A grumpy-looking cartoon cloud with a frown and crossed arms, colored in a dull grey.

Examples

Desde que perdió su trabajo, tiene un carácter muy agrio.

Since he lost his job, he has a very bitter personality.

Me dio una respuesta agria cuando le pedí ayuda.

She gave me a harsh response when I asked for help.

Metaphorical Use

Just like in English, words for taste are used to describe personalities. A 'sour' person is someone who is unfriendly or grumpy.

Don't use for 'sad'

Mistake:Estoy agrio porque mi gato murió.

Correction: Estoy triste porque mi gato murió.

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