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"Sneak" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "colarse", and "snitch" is a noun which is often translated as "el soplón". Learn more about the difference between "sneak" and "snitch" below.
sneak(
snik
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. colarse
Who invited you to this party? - No one. I snuck in.¿Quién te invitó a esta fiesta? - Nadie. Me colé.
b. escabullirse
The actress snuck out of the theater before anyone could ask for her autograph.La actriz se escabulló del teatro antes de que alguien le pudiera pedir un autógrafo.
c. acercarse sigilosamente
Stephanie tried to sneak up on her boyfriend, but he heard her coming.Stephanie intentó acercarse sigilosamente a su novio, pero la oyó llegar.
d. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Bob got caught trying to sneak in to the movies without paying.Bob fue sorprendido intentando entrar a hurtadillas al cine sin pagar.
The burglar tried to sneak out of the house, but a neighbor saw him.El ladrón trató de salir a hurtadillas de la casa pero un vecino lo vio.
2. (colloquial) (old-fashioned) (to tattle) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
a. acusar
The little girl snuck on her friend about having eaten all the candy.La niña acusó a su amiga de haber comido todos los dulces.
b. ir con cuentos (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Rebecca snuck about seeing Yolanda with her boyfriend when she should have been in class.Rebecca fue con cuentos sobre que había visto a Yolanda con su novio cuando debió haber estado en clase.
c. chivarse de (colloquial) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
Jimmy sneaked about his brother's foul language to his mother.Jimmy se chivó del lenguaje grosero de su hermano a su mamá.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
3. (colloquial) (contemptible person)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. el soplón (M), la soplona (F) (colloquial) (Spain)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
She's such a sneak! She went behind my back and told Tim what I said about him.¡Qué soplona! Le dijo a Tim a mis espaldas lo que yo había dicho de él.
b. el chivato (M), la chivata (F) (colloquial)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Gabriel is a nosy sneak who never minds his own business.Gabriel es un chivato entrometido que siempre se mete en los asuntos de otros.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
4. (to smuggle)
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Mark snuck a bottle of rum into class.Mark introdujo una botella de ron de contrabando en el aula.
The scientist snuck a dead rat out of the lab for further research.El científico sacó a escondidas del laboratorio una rata muerta para investigar más a fondo.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Armina snuck a drink during the meeting.Armina tomó un trago sin que nadie se diera cuenta durante la reunión.
Gary snuck a peek at Brenda.Gary miró con disimulo a Brenda.
snitch(
snihch
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (colloquial) (informant)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. el soplón (M), la soplona (F) (colloquial)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Nobody likes a snitch, so make sure you keep your mouth shut.A nadie le gustan los soplones, así que asegúrate de mantener el pico cerrado.
b. el chivato (M), la chivata (F) (colloquial)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
I am not a snitch, but I think there is something that you need to know.No soy un chivato, pero creo que hay algo que tienes que saber.
c. el sapo (M), la sapa (F) (colloquial) (Andes) (Costa Rica) (Uruguay)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Costa Rica
Regionalism used in Uruguay
You should be very careful with that snitch.Ten mucho cuidado con ese sapo.
2. (slang) (nose) (United Kingdom)
A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
a. las napias (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Unlike a monocle, a pince-nez rests on your snitch.A diferencia de un monóculo, los quevedos se sientan sobre tus napias.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
3. (slang) (to inform)
A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).
a. ir con el cuento (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
If you snitch on me to Mom, you'll have me to deal with.Como le vayas a mamá con el cuento de lo que hice, te las verás conmigo.
b. soplar (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
The boss found out that we'd arrived late because his secretary snitched on us.El jefe se enteró de que nosotros habíamos llegado tarde porque su secretaria se lo sopló.
d. chivarse (colloquial) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
I could have gotten away with the crime if you hadn't snitched on me.Yo podría haber salido impune del delito si no te hubieras chivado de mí.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
4. (colloquial) (to steal)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. birlar
My sister snitched a piece of pie while our mother wasn't looking.Mi hermana birló un trozo de tarta cuando nuestra madre no miraba.
