diablo
/ˈdjablo/
The Spanish word diablo means "devil".
diablo refers to a supernatural being that is the personification of evil. It can also be used as an interjection, such as ¡Diablo!, to express surprise, frustration or emphasis, similar to how English speakers use "damn" or "hell".
Which one should you use?
When you are referring specifically to the personification of evil in a religious or mythological context, the form el diablo is typically used.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions of Colombia, the term El Cachudo is used in informal conversations to refer to diablo.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdjablo/
Did you know?
- The word diablo comes from the Ancient Greek diábolos, which originally meant 'slanderer' or 'accuser' rather than a monster.
- The term diablo is the namesake for a specific type of toy called a 'diabolo', which is a spinning top used in object manipulation and circus arts.
- Because of the word's weight, some Spanish speakers use the euphemism el de abajo or 'the one below' to avoid saying diablo directly in polite company.
Examples in context
- Señor, ¿qué piensa usted sobre el Diablo?Sir, what do you think about the Devil?
- ¡Ese niño es todo un diablo jugando al fútbol!That kid is quite a devil when playing soccer!
- El diablo es un personaje de la leyenda.The devil is a character from the legend.
- Dicen que el diablo vive en el infierno.They say the devil lives in hell.
- Esa pintura representa al diablo.That painting represents the devil.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are discussing a classic horror movie.
- Sofía¿Te da miedo la película del diablo?Does the movie about the devil scare you?
- MateoSí, ese diablo me da mucho miedo.Yes, that devil scares me a lot.
- SofíaEs una historia muy oscura.It is a very dark story.
- MateoEs verdad, es muy impresionante.It's true, it is very impressive.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry diablo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries diablo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
