es consentido
/es konsentido/from spelling rules
To say that someone is spoiled in Spanish, you use es consentido.
This phrase describes a person, often a child, who behaves badly because they are given everything they want. You can also use the informal expressions estar malcriado/a or estar mimado/a to convey the same meaning.
What does it mean word for word?
The word consentido is derived from the verb consentir, which means to allow or to indulge.
Which one should you use?
The term consentido specifically implies that someone is spoiled through excessive indulgence. In contrast, the word malcriado focuses more on the person's bad behavior or lack of manners.
How does it change in a sentence?
If the person being described is female, use consentida. To describe multiple people, use son consentidos for a group of males or a mixed-gender group and son consentidas for a group of only females.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling a child consentido is often used as a term of endearment by grandparents, whereas in English 'spoiled' almost always carries a negative judgment.
- The word consentido shares a linguistic root with the English word 'consent', as both stem from the Latin 'consentire' meaning 'to feel together'.
- In some Latin American countries, malcriado is used as a harsh insult for adults who are perceived as rude or lacking in basic social etiquette, not just for spoiled children.
Examples in context
- Me parece que Juan está malcriado, siempre quiere salirse con la suya.I think Juan is spoiled, he always wants to get his own way.
- La niña está completamente mimada por sus abuelos.The girl is completely spoiled by her grandparents.
- Mario es un niño consentido, sus padres siempre le compran todo lo que quiere.Mario is a spoiled child, his parents always buy him everything he wants.
- María es una niña consentida. Sus padres siempre le cumplen sus caprichos.María is a spoiled girl, her parents always fulfill her whims.
- Aquel hombre tiene demasiados privilegios y eso lo ha vuelto un poco consentido.That man has too many privileges, which has made him a little spoiled.
- El príncipe es tremendamente malcriado.The prince is extremely spoiled.
- Juanita, estás muy mimada.Juanita, you are very spoiled.
- Nuestro jefe es una persona sumamente malcriada.Our boss is an extremely spoiled person.
- Ese niño es muy consentido por sus abuelos.That child is very spoiled by his grandparents.
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are talking about their nephew.
- MaríaAlejandro, el niño quiere otro juguete.Alejandro, the boy wants another toy.
- AlejandroYa tiene demasiados, es consentido.He already has too many, he is spoiled.
- MaríaTienes razón, no debemos darle más.You are right, we should not give him more.
- AlejandroExacto, así aprenderá a esperar.Exactly, that way he will learn to wait.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries es, CC BY-SA 4.0.
