ladrón
neutral
The standard word is ladrón for a man and ladrona for a woman. In Mexico a petty thief is often called a ratero.
Meaning: a person who steals (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| ladrón | neutral |
| Ladrona | for a woman |
| Ratero | petty thief, Mexico |
A shout of ¡Al ladrón! is what you hear when someone is running off with a stolen item. Ratero suggests a pickpocket or a small-time thief.
Which one should you use?
Ladrón can describe any thief, while ratero is for small thefts like pickpocketing.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes with gender: un ladrón, una ladrona.
Did you know?
- The word ratero comes from rata, meaning rat.
Examples in context
- Un ladrón entró a la casa.A thief broke into the house.
- Cuidado con los rateros en el metro.Watch out for pickpockets on the subway.
- ¡Al ladrón!Stop thief!
Example conversation
Don Luis warns a tourist named Emma at a crowded market in Mexico City.
- Don LuisCuide su bolsa, hay muchos rateros.Watch your bag, there are many pickpockets.
- EmmaGracias, la voy a llevar adelante.Thanks, I will carry it in front.
- Don LuisAsí está mejor.That is better.
