Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| trampa | /ˈtɾampa/ | feminine |
| albardilla | /albaɾˈdiʝa/ | feminine |
| trafa | /tɾafa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
The noun trampa refers to an act of deception, fraud, trickery, imposture or imposition. It can also literally mean a physical trap, such as a device used to catch animals. When you want to express the verb 'to cheat', particularly in the context of games or academic settings, you use the phrase hacer trampa or the plural version hacer trampas. Note that if you are talking about cheating in a romantic or sexual relationship, a different expression is used: poner los cuernos.
Which one should you use?
Hacer trampas is an alternative expression to hacer trampa that is understood universally across various Spanish-speaking regions.
How does it change in a sentence?
While the noun is singular, the common verbal phrase for the act of cheating is the plural form hacer trampas.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtɾampa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use the singular hacer trampa when referring to a general habit of cheating, but in many contexts, the plural hacer trampas is more natural for describing the act of breaking rules.
Did you know?
- The term albardilla is a much rarer way to describe a trick or deception, derived from the word albarda, which refers to a pack saddle used for animals.
- The term trafa is used in some contexts to refer to a fraudulent scheme or a 'shady' deal, often implying a more organized form of cheating than a simple trampa.
- If someone is caught haciendo trampa in a casual game, a common slang reaction in some regions is to call them a tramposo, which turns the act into a personal character trait.
Examples in context
- Eso sería hacer trampas.That would be cheating.This sentence is useful for saying 'That would be cheating' using trampa.Tatoeba #6879635 by albrusgher, translation #3250971 by Hybrid
- Lo acusé de hacer trampa.I accused him of cheating.This sentence is useful for saying 'I accused him of cheating' using trampa.Tatoeba #1134408 by marcelostockle, translation #254980 by CK
- Tom está haciendo trampa.Tom's cheating.This sentence is useful for saying 'Tom's cheating' using trampa.Tatoeba #9423129 by ignacio, translation #2107463 by CK
- Su marido le fue infiel y ella vivió un engañoHer husband was unfaithful, and she lived through a deception
- No puedo tolerar su deslealtad en nuestro matrimonioI can't tolerate your disloyalty in our marriage
- No me gusta que trates de engañar al sistemaI don't like that you try to cheat the system
- No es justo que haga trampa en la competenciaIt's not fair that he cheats in the competition
- Le puso los cuernos a su novioShe cheated on her boyfriend
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are playing a board game.
- Elena¡No puedes mover el peón así!You can't move the pawn like that!
- AlejandroSolo cometí un error, Elena.I just made a mistake, Elena.
- ElenaNo, eso es una trampa.No, that is cheating.
- AlejandroEstá bien, lo moveré otra vez.Okay, I will move it again.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cheating” translations and entries trampa, albardilla, trafa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries albardilla, trampa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
