Spanish word

alimaña

Pronunciation

IPA/aliˈmaɲa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounpest

Example

Esa alimaña dañó la cosecha.

That pest damaged the crop.

Illustration for alimaña (pest)

More examples

Tuvimos que exterminar alimañas que invadieron el sótano.

We had to exterminate pests that invaded the basement.

Core concept

Vermin or morally contemptible person.

Common phrases

  • alimañas domésticas

    household pests

  • exterminar alimañas

    exterminate pests

Similar words

sinvergüenza: Brazen, shameless person who takes advantage of others without remorse.
canalla: Cruel, scheming person who betrays or traps others with malicious intent.
rata: Person who commits theft or betrayal and behaves in a despicable way.
malnacido: Person whose character and deeds are extremely bad and morally condemnable.

Definition in Spanish

Persona o animal considerado dañino o despreciable; nombre coloquial para plagas o animales nocivos.

Word origin

Alimaña ultimately traces to Latin animalia 'animal' and in Spanish names both nuisance animals and, by metaphorical extension, morally contemptible people.

Usage tips

  • Compared with English pest, alimaña is more likely to be used as a personal insult rather than a mild complaint about insects or rodents.

Other meanings

  • verminnoun
  • scoundrelnoun

Word lists with this word