rebelde
/reˈbelde/feminine, masculine
The English phrase 'rebel' is translated into Spanish as rebelde.
A rebelde is a person who resists an established authority. You can also use the related verb rebelarse to express the act of resisting or becoming defiant towards something.
Meaning: person who resists an established authority (noun)
Which one should you use?
While rebelde is the noun used to identify a rebel, rebelarse is the reflexive verb used to describe the action of rebelling.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun rebelde is used for both masculine and feminine subjects. To form the plural, add an 's' to get rebeldes.
How do you pronounce it?
/reˈbelde/
What mistakes should you avoid?
When using the verb rebelarse to specify what is being resisted, remember that it is a reflexive verb and usually requires the preposition contra (e.g., rebelarse contra).
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the concept of being rebelde can be applied to inanimate objects, such as a car that 'rebelliously' refuses to start.
- The spelling of rebelde contains a hidden historical quirk: the 'l' and 'd' are actually descendants of a double 'l' from Latin that became difficult to pronounce.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone a rebelde can be a playful compliment for a child who refuses to follow simple instructions, rather than a political accusation.
Examples in context
- Tom es un rebelde.Tom is a rebel.This sentence uses rebelde to identify Tom as a rebel.Tatoeba #1619781 by Shishir, translation #1604622 by Spamster
- Yo no soy un rebelde.I'm no rebel.This sentence uses rebelde to state that the speaker is not a rebel.Tatoeba #4628953 by Francisco_M, translation #2248118 by CK
- ¿Quién no ama a un rebelde?Who doesn't love a rebel?This sentence uses rebelde to ask who does not love a rebel.Tatoeba #5505067 by baudelaire, translation #405677 by FeuDRenais
- El líder rebelde luchó por la independencia de su país.The rebel leader fought for the independence of his country.
- El grupo insurgente se enfrentó a las fuerzas del gobierno.The insurgent group confronted the government forces.
- El escritor fue acusado de ser un sedicioso por su discurso provocativo.The writer was accused of being a rebel due to his provocative speech.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are discussing a character in a novel.
- Lucía¿Crees que Mateo es un rebelde?Do you think Mateo is a rebel?
- MateoNo, él es un hombre muy obediente.No, he is a very obedient man.
- LucíaEntonces, ¿quién es el rebelde de la historia?Then, who is the rebel in the story?
- MateoLa protagonista es una rebelde valiente.The protagonist is a brave rebel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rebel” translations and entries rebelde, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rebelde, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
