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"Cretino" is an adjective which is often translated as "stupid", and "canalla" is a noun which is often translated as "scumbag". Learn more about the difference between "cretino" and "canalla" below.
cretino, el cretino, la cretina(
kreh
-
tee
-
noh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (pejorative) (idiotic)
An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g., redneck).
a. stupid (pejorative)
An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g., redneck).
¿Estaba borracho? Hay que ser muy cretino para manejar a 200 kilómetros por hora.Was he drunk? You have to be very stupid to drive at 200 kilometers per hour.
b. moronic (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Yo solía ser un adolescente cretino que se metía siempre en problemas con la ley.I used to be a moronic teenager who always got in trouble with the law.
2. (medicine)
a. cretinous (old-fashioned)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
El médico se especializa en el cuidado de personas cretinas.The doctor specializes in taking care of cretinous people.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
3. (pejorative) (idiotic person)
An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g., redneck).
b. moron (pejorative)
An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g., redneck).
¡Eres un cretino! ¡Quemaste la comida y casi prendiste fuego a la casa!You're a moron! You burned the food and you almost burned the house down!
4. (medicine)
a. cretin (old-fashioned)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
En general, los cretinos son de baja estatura.Cretins are usually short in height.
el canalla, la canalla, canalla(
kah
-
nah
-
yah
)This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
1. (colloquial) (rascal)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. scumbag (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¡Ese canalla me las pagará!I'm gonna make that scumbag pay!
b. bastard (colloquial) (pejorative)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g., redneck).
El canalla se coló en la fila desvergonzadamente.That bastard cut in line shamelessly.
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
2. (lowlife)
a. rabble
El joven artista es popular entre la clases altas y la canalla.The young artist is popular among the high classes and the rabble alike.
b. riffraff
"Parece que tendré que viajar en clase turista con la canalla", dijo la duquesa."I guess I will have to fly economic class with the riffraff," said the duchess.
c. mob
A la canalla parece gustarle este estilo nuevo de música, erótico y escandaloso, llamado tango.The mob seems to enjoy this new, erotic, and scandalous music called tango.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
3. (colloquial) (despicable)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. rotten (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¿Qué otras mentiras sobre mí te contó ese anciano canalla?What other lies did that rotten old man told you about me?
