cobarde
neutral, Mexico
The standard word is cobarde, used for a man or a woman. In casual Mexican speech you call a scared person gallina, literally "hen". It is also called miedoso.
Meaning: a person who lacks courage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| cobarde | neutral, Mexico |
| gallina | informal, "chicken", Mexico |
| miedoso | scared person |
Gallina is used playfully among friends, as in no seas gallina. Cobarde is stronger and can be a real insult.
How does it change in a sentence?
Cobarde has the same form for both genders: un cobarde, una cobarde.
Did you know?
- The English "chicken" and the Spanish gallina are both used for a person who is scared.
Examples in context
- No seas gallina, salta.Do not be a chicken, jump.
- Huir fue de cobardes.Running away was cowardly.
Example conversation
Tito dares his friend Nacho to jump into a pool in Cancún.
- TitoÓrale, salta, no seas gallina.Come on, jump, do not be a chicken.
- NachoEs que el agua está fría.It is that the water is cold.
- TitoEso dicen todos los gallinas.That is what all the chickens say.
