mojigato
/moxiˈɡato/masculine
The English word prude is translated into Spanish as mojigato. Wiktionary also lists gazmoñero and cartuchón.
Meaning: A person who is or tries to be excessively proper (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mojigato | /moxiˈɡato/ | masculine |
| gazmoñero | /ɡaθmoɲeɾo/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /ɡasmoɲeɾo/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| cartuchón | /kaɾtut͡ʃon/ (from spelling rules) | Chile, masculine |
A prude is a person who is or tries to be excessively proper.
Which one should you use?
While mojigato refers generally to someone who is excessively proper, gazmoñero carries a stronger connotation of being a hypocritical prude.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
mojigato is a common and somewhat derogatory way to call someone a prude in informal speech.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Chile, the word cartuchón is used to describe a prude.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular form is mojigato. The feminine form is mojigata, and the masculine plural form is mojigatos.
How do you pronounce it?
/moxiˈɡato/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone mojigato describes not just a lack of sexual openness, but a specific type of faux-innocence used to manipulate others.
- The term gazmoñero is closely tied to the concept of 'simulated ignorance', where a person pretends not to understand a suggestive joke to appear virtuous.
- The word mojigato is often applied to people who act overly pious not because they are actually religious, but to signal a fake sense of moral superiority.
Examples in context
- Sos un mojigato.You're a prude.Tatoeba #1922738 by hayastan, translation #1895633 by CK
- No soy un mojigato.I'm not a prude.Tatoeba #10303780 by DJ_Saidez, translation #3821333 by CK
- No seas tan mojigata, disfruta un poco más de la vida.Don't be such a prude, enjoy life a bit more.
- Algunos consideran a Ana como una puritana por sus conservadoras creencias religiosas.Some consider Ana a prude due to her conservative religious beliefs.
- Ellos siempre han sido un poco mochos, les cuesta abrirse a cosas nuevas.They have always been a bit prudish, finding it difficult to open up to new things.
- Ella es bastante recatada en comparación con sus amigas.She is rather modest compared to her friends.
- Pedro es muy estirado. Nunca se relaja en las fiestas.Pedro is so uptight, he never relaxes at parties.
- Ese chico es un mojigato.That boy is a prude.
Example conversation
Daniel and María are talking about a coworker at the office.
- DanielNo le gusta nada de la fiesta.He doesn't like anything about the party.
- MaríaEs que es un mojigato.It's just that he is a prude.
- Daniel¿De verdad es tan serio?Is he really that serious?
- MaríaSí, siempre es muy reservado.Yes, he is always very reserved.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “prude” translations and entries mojigato, 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.
