Inklingo

How to Say "telltale" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “telltale” is “soplón” — use 'soplón' when describing something, often a characteristic or behavior, that reveals a hidden truth or intention, similar to 'revealing' or 'snitching'.

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soplón

adjectiveB2informal
Use 'soplón' when describing something, often a characteristic or behavior, that reveals a hidden truth or intention, similar to 'revealing' or 'snitching'.

Examples

Sus ojos tristes eran un signo soplón de su infelicidad.

His sad eyes were a telltale sign of his unhappiness.

testigo

tes-TEE-gohtesˈti.ɣo

nounB1
Use 'testigo' specifically for a warning light or indicator on a dashboard that signals a problem or status.
A close-up view of a simple control panel with a single, small, bright red indicator light glowing intensely.

Examples

Se encendió el testigo de aceite del coche.

The car's oil telltale light came on.

Se me encendió el testigo de la batería mientras conducía.

The battery warning light came on while I was driving.

El manual explica qué significa cada testigo del panel de control.

The manual explains what each indicator light on the control panel means.

Technical Usage

In technical fields like mechanics, 'testigo' is often used as a shortened way to refer to the small light that 'sees' and signals a problem or status.

Indicator Light vs. Revealing Sign

The most common mistake is using 'soplón' for dashboard indicator lights. Remember, 'testigo' is the specific word for these warning lights, while 'soplón' refers to something that reveals a hidden quality or secret.

Related Translations

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