tahúr
/taˈuɾ/masculine
The Spanish word for gambler is tahúr. Wiktionary also lists timbero and ludópata.
Meaning: one who plays at a game of chance (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tahúr | /taˈuɾ/ | masculine |
| timbero | /timbeɾo/ (from spelling rules) | South America, masculine |
| ludópata | /luˈdopata/ | feminine, masculine |
The term is used to describe someone who plays games of chance.
Which one should you use?
The form tahúr often carries a connotation of a professional or skilled gambler, sometimes implying someone who cheats. In contrast, ludópata specifically refers to someone with a gambling addiction.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In formal settings, the word apostador is often used. Tahúr can also be found in literary contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of South America, the word timbero is used to describe a gambler.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ludópata is invariant in gender, meaning it uses the same form for both masculine and feminine subjects.
How do you pronounce it?
/taˈuɾ/
Did you know?
- The term tahúr has a surprising connection to the Middle Armenian word for 'king', which itself comes from a term meaning 'crown bearing'.
- While ludópata describes an addiction, the root ludo is the same one used in the world-famous board game 'Ludo'.
- In Spanish culture, the image of a tahúr is closely tied to the romanticized figure of the rogue or the trickster in classic literature.
Examples in context
- El apostador perdió todo su dinero en una noche de mala suerte.The gambler lost all his money in an unlucky night.
- Juan es un jugador profesional muy respetado en los círculos de póker.Juan is a highly respected professional gambler in poker circles.
Example conversation
Mateo and María are looking at a painting of an old man in a casino.
- MateoMira este cuadro, parece un tahúr.Look at this painting, he looks like a gambler.
- MaríaTienes razón, tiene una mirada muy astuta.You are right, he has a very cunning look.
- MateoSeguro que engañaba a todos en la mesa.I bet he cheated everyone at the table.
- MaríaAsí es como actuaba un tahúr entonces.That is how a gambler acted back then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gambler” translations and entries tahúr, ludópata, 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 ludópata, tahúr, CC BY-SA 4.0.
