Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pereza | /peˈɾeθa/ /peˈɾesa/ |
feminine |
| fiacón | /fjakon/ (from spelling rules) | Argentina, masculine |
| flojera | /floˈxeɾa/ | feminine |
| acidia | /aθidja/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /asidja/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| galbana | /ɡalˈbana/ | colloquial, feminine |
| vagancia | /baˈɡanθja/ /baˈɡansja/ |
feminine |
| flojeritis | /floxeɾitis/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| indolencia | /indoˈlenθja/ /indoˈlensja/ |
feminine |
| haraganería | /aɾaɡaneˈɾia/ | feminine |
| boludencia | /boludenθja/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /boludensja/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| vaguería | /baɡeɾia/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| pigricia | /piˈɡɾiθja/ /piˈɡɾisja/ |
feminine |
The primary term for the quality of being lazy is pereza. Other words describe different nuances, such as flojera which refers to sluggishness or a lack of energy. For a more serious or formal connotation, ociosidad can be used to describe idleness or inactivity, while vagancia refers to a lifestyle of avoiding work or wandering. For a more extreme state, the humorous term flojeritis can be used to jokingly treat laziness as if it were a medical condition.
Which one should you use?
While pereza is the standard term for laziness, flojera is more focused on a temporary lack of energy or sluggishness. Vagancia is different because it often implies a habit of avoiding work or being a vagrant. In a humorous context, flojeritis is a pseudo-medical term used to poke fun at someone's laziness.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Pereza is the neutral, standard term suitable for most situations. Flojera is a more informal and colloquial way to speak. For highly formal contexts involving idleness, one might use ociosidad. To be humorous, you can use the made-up term flojeritis.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the masculine noun fiacón is typically used to describe a lazy person rather than the quality of laziness itself. In Mexico, the slang term huevoneo describes extreme laziness or an extreme avoidance of responsibility.
How does it change in a sentence?
pereza, flojera, acidia, galbana, vagancia, flojeritis, indolencia, haraganería, boludencia, vaguería and pigricia are all feminine nouns. fiacón is a masculine noun.
Did you know?
- The Mexican slang term huevoneo for extreme laziness is derived from the word huevo, which literally translates to 'egg'.
- In Argentina, the term fiacón is derived from the Italian word fiacca, which refers to a feeling of tiredness or weakness.
- While pereza is the general term, acidia is almost exclusively used in theological or psychological contexts to describe the 'noonday demon' or spiritual apathy.
Examples in context
- Estoy harto de su pereza.I'm fed up with her laziness.This sentence demonstrates how to express being fed up with someone's pereza.Tatoeba #7964364 by Seael, translation #261294 by CK
- Estoy avergonzado de la flojera de mi hijo.I am ashamed of my son's laziness.This sentence uses flojera to describe a feeling of shame regarding a child's laziness.Tatoeba #1517595 by marcelostockle, translation #259209 by CK
- La causa principal de su fracaso es la pereza.The primary cause of his failure is laziness.This sentence shows pereza as the cause of someone's failure.Tatoeba #728677 by Shishir, translation #286549 by CM
- La ociosidad prolongada no te llevará a ninguna parte.Prolonged idleness will get you nowhere.
- Tengo mucha flojera hoy, no quiero hacer nada.I feel very lazy today, I don't want to do anything.
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are talking about their weekend plans.
- LucíaTengo mucha pereza de salir hoy.I feel too lazy to go out today.
- DanielYo también, prefiero quedarme en casa.Me too, I prefer to stay home.
- LucíaA veces la pereza nos gana.Sometimes laziness wins.
- DanielEs verdad, Lucía, vamos a descansar.It's true, Lucía, let's rest.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “laziness” translations and entries pereza, fiacón, flojera, galbana, vagancia, indolencia, haraganería, pigricia, 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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
