niño mimado
/niɲo mimado/from spelling rules
The English phrase "spoiled child" is translated into Spanish as niño mimado.
The phrase describes a child who behaves badly because they are given everything they want. You can also use consentido as a synonym to describe a child who is indulged or given their way constantly. If you want to focus specifically on a child who is ill-mannered or badly behaved, the term malcriado is a common choice.
Which one should you use?
While niño mimado implies a child is spoiled through excessive affection or indulgence, malcriado focuses more on the child's bad behavior or lack of manners.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a spoiled girl, change the noun to the feminine niña and the adjective to the feminine mimada. For a group of spoiled children, use the plural form niños mimados.
How do you pronounce it?
/niɲo mimado/
Did you know?
- The word niño is believed to be an imitative word based on the sounds of infantile language, rather than a formal Latin root.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone a consentido can sound like a compliment of being 'the favorite', even if you intend it to mean they are spoiled.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling a child malcriado is a more severe criticism than mimado because it implies a failure in the parents' discipline.
Examples in context
- Tom es un niño mimado.Tom is a spoiled child.This sentence uses niño mimado to identify a specific person.Tatoeba #1496812 by marcelostockle, translation #1496810 by Spamster
- Deja de comportarte como un niño mimado y obedece.Quit acting like a spoiled child and obey.This sentence uses niño mimado to describe a way of behaving.Tatoeba #7861686 by Seael, translation #10832563 by Luornu
- No tiene sentido halagar a un niño mimado. Ellos deben recibir una educación estrícta.There is nothing to be gained by praising a spoiled child. They should be brought up strictly.This sentence uses niño mimado to discuss the effects of praise on such a child.Tatoeba #4727311 by marcelostockle, translation #4727313 by marcelostockle
- María tiene un niño consentido que siempre consigue lo que quiere.Maria has a spoiled child who always gets what he wants.
- La niña mimada siempre espera que le hagan todo.The spoiled child always expects everything to be done for her.
- Ese niño es tan mimado, siempre tiene todo lo que quiere.That child is so spoiled, they always have everything they want.
- Mi hermana pequeña es una consentida, mis padres le dan todo lo que pide.My little sister is a spoiled child, my parents give her everything she asks for.
- Ese chico malcriado siempre grita y patalea cuando no obtiene lo que quiere.That spoiled boy always screams and throws a tantrum when he doesn't get what he wants.
Example conversation
Mateo and María are discussing their nephew's behavior at a party.
- MateoMira cómo grita, es un niño mimado.Look how he's screaming, he is a spoiled child.
- MaríaSí, sus padres le dan todo lo que pide.Yes, his parents give him everything he asks for.
- MateoNecesita aprender a compartir sus juguetes.He needs to learn to share his toys.
- MaríaExacto, no puede seguir siendo un niño mimado.Exactly, he cannot keep being a spoiled child.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mimado, niño, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
