personaje sospechoso
/peɾsonaxe sospet͡ʃoso/from spelling rules
The English phrase "shady character" is translated into Spanish as personaje sospechoso.
This phrase describes a person who appears to be dishonest or untrustworthy and is likely involved in illegal activities.
Which one should you use?
You can use more formal alternatives like individuo sospechoso (suspicious individual) or persona de dudosas intenciones (person with questionable intentions). In informal settings, you might use tipo sospechoso to describe a suspicious person. Additionally, sujeto de dudosa reputación can be used to literally mean a "person of questionable reputation".
How does it change in a sentence?
To change the phrase into its plural form, personajes sospechosos, both the noun and the adjective must take the plural suffix -es or -s.
How do you pronounce it?
/peɾsonaxe sospetʃoso/
Did you know?
- The word personaje refers to a character in a play or book as well as a person in real life. When used to describe a 'shady character', it subtly implies the person is playing a role or acting a part to deceive others.
- Unlike English where 'shady' uses light and shadow as a metaphor for dishonesty, Spanish uses sospechoso, which focuses on the act of suspicion rather than visual darkness.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, calling someone a personaje can be a sarcastic way of saying they are a 'real character' or a weirdo, rather than a shady person.
Examples in context
- El fiscal interrogó al individuo sospechoso durante horas.The prosecutor interrogated the suspicious individual for hours.
- La policía arrestó a una persona de dudosas intenciones en relación con el caso.The police arrested a person with questionable intentions in connection to the case.
- Vi a un tipo sospechoso merodeando por el vecindario.I saw a shady character lurking around the neighborhood.
- Ese hombre parece un personaje sospechoso.That man seems like a shady character.
- Ese hombre es un personaje sospechoso.That man is a shady character.
- No hables con ese personaje sospechoso.Do not talk to that shady character.
- Vi a un personaje sospechoso cerca del banco.I saw a shady character near the bank.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are walking in a park at night.
- Mateo¿Viste a ese personaje sospechoso?Did you see that shady character?
- SofíaSí, me dio mucha mala espina.Yes, he gave me a very bad feeling.
- MateoMejor nos vamos de aquí.We better leave here.
- SofíaTienes razón, Mateo.You are right, Mateo.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
