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vicious and Spanish vicioso
In English
vicious
cruel / violent
In Spanish
vicioso
con malos hábitos
Spanish "vicioso" means: addicted / depraved
Why they get mixed up Spanish "vicioso" describes someone with harmful vices or addictions. English "vicious" is someone violent, ruthless, or fierce. Spanish "vicioso" in English is "addicted," or you describe the specific vice.
If you want to say...
- viciouscruel o feroz
- addictedvicioso (con vicios)
- vicious circlecírculo vicioso
Examples
It was a vicious attack.
Fue un ataque feroz.
The dog has a vicious bite.
El perro tiene una mordida feroz.
The dog became vicious after being abused.
El perro se volvió feroz después de sufrir maltrato.
She spread a vicious rumor about her rival.
Difundió un rumor cruel sobre su rival.
Common mistakes in Spanish
Incorrect: Es un perro vicioso, muerde a todos.
Correct: Es un perro feroz, muerde a todos.
Vicioso means with vices or addicted. For vicious (cruel, violent), use feroz or cruel.
Incorrect: Fue un ataque vicioso.
Correct: Fue un ataque brutal.
Use brutal or feroz for a vicious attack.
Phrases you will hear
- a vicious attackun ataque brutal
- a vicious dogun perro feroz
- a vicious rumorun rumor cruel
- a vicious circleun círculo vicioso
- addictedadicto
- depraveddepravado
In a conversation
- A:
The dog became vicious after being abused.
El perro se volvió feroz después de sufrir maltrato.
- B:
That's a vicious cycle.
Eso es un ciclo cruel.
- A:
Yes, a vicious circle.
Sí, un círculo vicioso.
- B:
And the owner was addicted to gambling.
Y el dueño era adicto al juego.
Test yourself
"A vicious dog" is a dog that is...
To remember it
Vicious = cruel/violent. Addicted (Spanish "vicioso") = addicted.
Frequently asked questions
What does Spanish "vicioso" mean?
Spanish "vicioso" means "addicted / depraved". It looks like the English "vicious", which is exactly why it gets confused, but "vicious" means "cruel / violent".
Does English "vicious" mean the same as Spanish "vicioso"?
Spanish "vicioso" describes someone with harmful vices or addictions. English "vicious" is someone violent, ruthless, or fierce. Spanish "vicioso" in English is "addicted," or you describe the specific vice.