vanidoso
/baniˈdoso/
The Spanish word for vain is vanidoso.
The word vanidoso is used to describe someone who is overly proud of their appearance or self-image.
Meaning: overly proud of one's appearance (adj)
Which one should you use?
While vanidoso focuses on vanity regarding one's appearance or self-image, presumido is often used for someone who boasts or shows off their possessions or abilities.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, creído is used to mean conceited and sobrado/a is used to mean arrogant.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes its ending based on gender and number: vanidosa is the feminine form, vanidosos is the masculine plural form used for a group of males or a mixed group and vanidosas is the feminine plural form used for a group of females.
How do you pronounce it?
/baniˈdoso/
Did you know?
- While vanidoso is the standard term, in parts of Mexico or Colombia, calling someone 'fresa' can imply they are vain and superficial due to their wealthy or upper-class lifestyle.
- If you want to insult someone's vanity by calling them 'sobrado', you are literally saying they are 'left over' or 'excessive', implying they have more than they need of themselves.
- If you want to call someone vain in a much more aggressive way, you can use the word engreído, which implies the person is 'swollen' with their own importance.
Examples in context
- ¡No puedo creer lo creído que es Juan!I can't believe how vain Juan is!
- Esa chica es presumida, siempre tratando de destacar su apariencia.That girl is so vain, always trying to emphasize her appearance.
- Pablo es un fantoche. Siempre intenta demostrar su valía.Pablo is such a show-off, he's always trying to prove his worth.
- María es vanidosa.María is vain.
- Carlos y Laura son presumidos.Carlos and Laura are vain.
- Es evidente que Marta es una persona vanidosa. Siempre se mira en el espejo.It's obvious that Marta is a vain person, she always looks at herself in the mirror.
- Mi jefe es un hombre presumido que solo se preocupa por su imagen.My boss is a vain man who only cares about his image.
- ¡No seas tan creída! Nadie está tan interesado en tus logros como tú.Don't be so vain! Nobody is as interested in your achievements as you are.
- Los actores famosos a menudo son criticados por su actitud engreída.Famous actors are often criticized for their conceited attitude.
- Es un hombre muy vanidoso.He is a very vain man.
- Él es un poco vanidoso con su cabello.He is a little vain about his hair.
- No seas tan vanidoso con tu ropa nueva.Don't be so vain with your new clothes.
- Ese modelo es muy vanidoso.That model is very vain.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are talking about a mutual friend at a cafe.
- Alejandro¿Crees que Luis es muy vanidoso?Do you think Luis is very vain?
- SofíaSí, siempre se mira en el espejo.Yes, he is always looking at himself in the mirror.
- AlejandroEs un hombre demasiado vanidoso.He is too much of a vain man.
- SofíaTienes mucha razón, Alejandro.You are very right, Alejandro.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vain” translations and entries vanidoso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
