How to Say "to mock" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “to mock” is “burlar” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
No es bueno burlarse de los demás.
It's not good to make fun of others.
Ellos se burlaron de mi acento.
They mocked my accent.
Se burla de todo lo que digo.
He makes fun of everything I say.
The 'Se' and 'De' Rule
To say 'to make fun OF someone,' you must include the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, etc.) and the word 'de' before the person you are mocking.
Burlar vs. Burlarse
Use 'burlar' (no 'se') for avoiding things like guards or laws. Use 'burlarse' (with 'se') for laughing at people.
Forgetting the 'De'
Mistake: “Se burlaron mi pelo.”
Correction: Se burlaron DE mi pelo. Always use 'de' to indicate the target of the mocking.
Confusing with Bromear
Mistake: “Me burlé con mi amigo.”
Correction: Bromeé con mi amigo. 'Bromear' is for friendly joking; 'burlarse' is usually more mean-spirited or at someone's expense.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.