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How to Say "you hate" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “you hate” is “odia” — use 'odia' when you are addressing a single person formally (like 'usted')..

English → Spanish

odia

OH-dee-ah/ˈoðja/

VerbA2formal singular
Use 'odia' when you are addressing a single person formally (like 'usted').
A high quality storybook illustration of a young boy with a fierce scowl and crossed arms, aggressively pushing away a plate of bright green broccoli, clearly demonstrating intense dislike.

Examples

Señora, ¿odia usted las películas de terror?

Madam, do you hate horror movies?

Mi perro odia el sonido de la aspiradora.

My dog hates the sound of the vacuum cleaner.

Ella odia esperar en la fila.

She hates waiting in line.

Él odia que le mientan, es algo que no tolera.

He hates being lied to; it is something he doesn't tolerate.

Identifying the Subject

Since 'odia' is the 'él/ella/usted' form, we know the subject is a single person (he, she, or formal you). In Spanish, you usually don't need to state 'él' or 'ella' if the context is clear.

Using 'Odiar' with Other Verbs

If someone hates doing an action, the second verb must be in its base form (infinitive): 'Odia cocinar' (She hates cooking).

Using 'Le' or 'Lo' Incorrectly

Mistake: “La odia a ella. (Using the direct object pronoun 'la' unnecessarily when the person is explicitly named.)”

Correction: Odia a su hermana. (The verb 'odiar' takes a direct object, often preceded by 'a' when referring to people, but doesn't require the extra pronoun if the object is already clear.)

odian

OH-dee-ahn/ˈo.ðjan/

Verb (Conjugated Form)B1formal plural
Use 'odian' when you are addressing a group of people formally (like 'ustedes').
A colorful storybook illustration depicting two stylized figures standing far apart, facing each other. Both figures have exaggerated expressions of anger and intense dislike directed toward the other.

Examples

Señores, ¿odian ustedes las obras de teatro largas?

Gentlemen, do you hate long plays?

Mis vecinos odian el ruido de la música alta.

My neighbors hate the noise of loud music.

Si ustedes odian las verduras, pueden comer solo la carne.

If you (formal plural) hate vegetables, you can eat only the meat.

Los niños odian ir a la cama temprano en verano.

The children hate going to bed early in summer.

Identifying the Subject

The ending '-an' tells you that the action is being done by 'ellos' (they, masculine/mixed group), 'ellas' (they, feminine group), or 'ustedes' (you, formal plural).

Hating an Activity

When 'odian' is followed by an activity, you use the plain, unconjugated verb form (the infinitive): 'Ellos odian nadar' (They hate swimming).

Using the Wrong Preposition

Mistake: “Odian de la comida.”

Correction: Odian la comida. (The verb 'odiar' usually does not need a preposition like 'de' before the thing being hated.)

Formal vs. Plural Confusion

The most common mistake is confusing 'odia' (formal singular 'you') with 'odian' (formal plural 'you'). Remember that 'odia' is for one person you address with 'usted,' while 'odian' is for multiple people you address with 'ustedes.'

Related Translations

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