What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bichos (bugs/creatures) and raros (strange/rare).
Which one should you use?
Raritos is an informal and familiar way to refer to 'weirdos', often used playfully or affectionately among friends or family. In a slang context, particularly popular among younger Spanish speakers, you might hear friquis, which originates from the English word "freaks".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Bichos raros is an informal, amusing and lighthearted way of referring to 'weirdos' in a friendly setting. The phrase is informal and can be used affectionately or pejoratively depending on context. For more formal settings, you can use excéntricos to describe people who possess peculiar or unconventional behavior or individuos peculiares to highlight uniqueness or eccentricity without being offensive.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the term raros is used to describe 'weirdos'. In Latin America, both bichos raros and raritos are commonly used to refer to 'weirdos'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form is bicho raro. Both the noun bicho and the adjective raro must be pluralized to refer to multiple weirdos.
How do you pronounce it?
/bitʃos ɾaɾos/
Did you know?
- In some Caribbean dialects, calling someone a bicho can be much more vulgar than calling them a 'bug', potentially acting as a slang term for male genitalia.
- In some contexts, bicho is used as a general term for any small animal or insect, but it can also be a colloquial way to describe a mischievous child who is a 'handful'.
- The word excéntrico carries a much higher social status than bicho raro, implying the person is wealthy or sophisticated rather than just odd.
Examples in context
- En el mundo del arte, es común encontrar a excéntricos con gustos no convencionales.In the art world, it is common to find eccentrics with unconventional tastes.
- La compañía de tecnología valora a sus empleados, incluso si son individuos peculiares.The technology company values its employees, even if they are peculiar individuals.
- En nuestro grupo de amigos, siempre hay uno o dos raritos que hacen cosas extrañas, ¡pero los queremos igual!In our group of friends, there is always one or two weirdos who do strange things, but we love them anyway!
- Aquí en el barrio, siempre hay bichos raros que hacen cosas graciosas.Here in the neighborhood, there are always weirdos doing funny things.
- Aquellos friquis del salón de clases siempre nos alegran el día con sus ocurrencias.Those freaks from the classroom always brighten our day with their antics.
- Esos tipos son unos bichos raros.Those guys are weirdos.
- No quiero juntarme con bichos raros.I don't want to hang out with weirdos.
- En ese barrio hay muchos bichos raros.There are many weirdos in that neighborhood.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are talking about a strange group of people at a party.
- Alejandro¿Viste a esos chicos?Did you see those guys?
- SofíaSí, son unos bichos raros.Yes, they are weirdos.
- AlejandroMe dan un poco de miedo.They scare me a little.
- SofíaNo te preocupes, Alejandro.Don't worry, Alejandro.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
