delatar
/delaˈtaɾ/
The English phrase 'snitching' can be translated into Spanish as delatar.
The term refers to the act of telling an authority figure that someone has done something wrong.
Which one should you use?
While delatar can be used to mean 'to snitch', it is also the standard verb used to 'denounce' or 'expose' someone in a formal or legal sense.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
delatar is a formal way to express the concept of snitching. For a slang alternative, some Latin American contexts use buchonear to mean 'to snitch' or 'to act like a snitch'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
buchonear is used as slang in some Latin American contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun form for the act of snitching is delación.
How do you pronounce it?
/delaˈtaɾ/
Did you know?
- The Spanish verb delatar is a cognate of the rare Scottish dialect word 'delate', which also means to accuse or denounce someone.
- The slang term buchonear derives from buche, which refers to the crop or throat of a bird, suggesting the snitch is releasing information stored there.
- In some Latin American countries, the term buchón has evolved from meaning 'snitch' to describing people who ostentatiously flaunt wealth gained from crime.
Examples in context
- El testigo decidió delatar al sospechoso al identificarlo como el autor del crimen.The witness decided to denounce the suspect by identifying him as the author of the crime.
- No me delates.Don't snitch on me.
- Él va a delatar a sus compañeros.He is going to snitch on his classmates.
- No me gusta delatar a la gente.I don't like snitching on people.
Example conversation
Two coworkers are talking in the break room about a colleague.
- Daniel¿Crees que ella va a delatar a Luis?Do you think she is going to snitch on Luis?
- ElenaNo lo creo, ella no es una delatora.I don't think so, she isn't a snitch.
- DanielEspero que no nos delate a nosotros también.I hope she doesn't snitch on us too.
- ElenaNo te preocupes, Daniel, ella es leal.Don't worry, Daniel, she is loyal.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry delatar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries delatar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
