es mezquino
/es meθkino/from spelling rules
To say someone is petty in Spanish, you use es mezquino.
The term is used to describe someone with a small-minded or petty personality. While it is commonly used for petty behavior, it carries a strong connotation of being stingy or miserly with resources, more so than the English word 'petty' typically does.
What does it mean word for word?
The word mezquino literally refers to someone who is stingy or miserly, but it is frequently applied to describe petty character traits.
Which one should you use?
While the English word 'petty' focuses on trivial or spiteful behavior, mezquino has a stronger association with being ungenerous or stingy with money and resources.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you can use the phrase Es un/a tiquismiquis to describe someone who is petty.
How does it change in a sentence?
You must adjust the gender and number of the adjective to match the person you are describing: use es mezquina for a female, and use the plural form son mezquinos when referring to a group of people.
How do you pronounce it?
/es meθkino/
Did you know?
- The word mezquino traces its roots back to the Arabic word miskīn, which originally meant 'poor' or 'destitute'.
- While 'petty' in English is often about trivialities, calling someone mezquino in Spanish can strike them as being morally bankrupt or truly contemptible.
- Because mezquino is so closely tied to being miserly, calling someone this in a business context is a much harsher insult than calling someone 'petty' in English.
Examples in context
- Él es mezquino con el dinero.He is petty with money.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are discussing a mutual friend's behavior.
- DanielDaniel dice que no quiere compartir el postre.Daniel says he doesn't want to share the dessert.
- LucíaNo puedo creerlo, él es mezquino.I can't believe it, he is petty.
- DanielSí, siempre hace lo mismo con todo.Yes, he always does the same thing with everything.
- LucíaEs una actitud muy fea, Lucía piensa lo mismo.It is a very ugly attitude, Lucía thinks the same.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries es, mezquino, CC BY-SA 4.0.
