villano
/biˈʝano/masculine
The English word 'villain' is translated into Spanish as villano.
Villano is commonly used to describe antagonists in fictional works. While it can mean a scoundrel in a literary or archaic sense, in modern everyday Spanish it most commonly refers to a fictional antagonist or movie villain.
Meaning: scoundrel (noun)
Which one should you use?
In modern everyday Spanish, villano most commonly refers to a fictional antagonist or movie villain, though it can also carry the meaning of a scoundrel in a literary or archaic sense.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America and certain regions of Spain, maleante is commonly used to refer to a villain or criminal.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of the noun is villana. The masculine plural form is villanos and the feminine plural form is villanas.
How do you pronounce it?
/biˈʝano/
Did you know?
- The word villano shares the same root as the English word 'village'. In its earliest forms, it did not describe a moral character but simply someone who lived in a 'villa' or rural farm.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, describing someone as a villano in a real-life argument is seen as overly dramatic or theatrical, as if the speaker is in a soap opera.
- In old Spanish literature, calling someone a villano was often a classist insult implying that the person lacked the manners and refinement of the aristocracy.
Examples in context
- ¿Quién es tu villano de película favorito?Who's your favorite movie villain?This sentence is useful for asking about a favorite movie villain using villano.Tatoeba #1677775 by teskmon, translation #908728 by CK
- En esta historia, el héroe también es el villano.In this story, the hero is also the villain.This sentence is useful for describing a character who is both a hero and a villano in a story.Tatoeba #2996390 by hayastan, translation #2982301 by Hybrid
- Un asesinato hace a un villano, millones a un héroe.One murder makes a villain, millions a hero.This sentence is useful for illustrating how a single act can make someone a villano.Tatoeba #1247770 by marcelostockle, translation #27606 by Zifre
- El villano cruelThe cruel villain
- El malhechor astutoThe cunning evildoer
- El maleante peligrosoThe dangerous criminal
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are discussing a book they both read.
- LucíaEl villano de este libro es muy cruel.The villain of this book is very cruel.
- JavierSí, Javier no soporta a ese villano.Yes, Javier cannot stand that villain.
- Lucía¿Crees que el villano cambiará al final?Do you think the villain will change at the end?
- JavierNo, un villano así nunca cambia.No, a villain like that never changes.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “villain” translations and entries villano, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries villano, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
