Inklingo

How to Say "thieves" in Spanish

English → Spanish

ladrones

lah-DROH-nes/laˈðɾo.nes/

nounA2general
Use 'ladrones' as the general and most common term for individuals who steal, especially in more formal or general contexts like news reports or legal discussions.
An illustration of two cartoonish figures, dressed in striped shirts and black eye masks, running quickly while carrying a single large, bulging sack over their shoulders, symbolizing stolen goods.

Examples

Los ladrones escaparon con el dinero del banco.

The robbers escaped with the bank's money.

Necesitamos más seguridad para evitar a los ladrones.

We need more security to keep out the thieves.

La policía atrapó a dos de los ladrones anoche.

The police caught two of the burglars last night.

Masculine Plural

Even though 'ladrones' is the masculine plural form, it is used to refer to any group of thieves, whether they are all male or a mix of male and female.

Accent Mark Confusion

Mistake: “Using the accent mark from the singular form: *ladrónes*”

Correction: The accent mark is dropped in the plural: 'ladrones'. This is because the stress naturally shifts to the second-to-last syllable when you add '-es'.

ratas

RAH-tas (roll the R)ˈratas

nounB2informal
Use 'ratas' to refer to petty thieves or people perceived as sneaky and untrustworthy, often in informal or emotionally charged situations.
A cartoon illustration of a shifty-looking man in a dark coat and wide-brimmed hat, sneaking away with a bag, representing a scoundrel or crook.

Examples

¡Esas ratas me robaron la billetera en el metro!

Those crooks stole my wallet on the subway!

No confíes en él; es una de esas ratas de la política.

Don't trust him; he's one of those political scoundrels (rats).

Insulting Both Genders

Even when referring to a group of men, 'ratas' remains feminine (las ratas), emphasizing the contemptuous nature of the insult.

Using 'Ratas' Too Casually

Mistake: “Using 'ratas' in a formal setting or with strangers.”

Correction: This word is a strong insult or slang term for thieves/bad people. Use it only in very informal or angry contexts.

Ladrones vs. Ratas

Learners often confuse 'ladrones' and 'ratas' by using 'ratas' too casually. Remember that 'ratas' carries a stronger negative connotation of sneakiness and is generally informal, while 'ladrones' is the neutral, everyday term for thieves.

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