Spanish Conversation · Level 106
59 words
Spanish word
impostor
Pronunciation
IPA/imposˈtoɾ/
Meaning
- masculine nounimpostor
Example
No hables con ese impostor.
Don't talk to that impostor.
More examples
El público se dio cuenta de que era un impostor y lo abucheó.
The audience realized he was an impostor and booed him.
Core concept
Person pretending to be someone else.
Common phrases
ser un impostor
be an impostor
detectar al impostor
detect the impostor
poner al descubierto al impostor
expose the impostor
Similar words
suplantador: Impersonates another person by taking their identity or social role.
estafador: Deceives people to obtain money or other valuables.
Definition in Spanish
Persona que se hace pasar por alguien que no es para engañar o aprovecharse de los demás.
Word origin
From Latin impostor, ultimately from imponere 'to place upon, to impose', originally meaning someone who imposes a false identity on others.
Usage tips
- Calling someone un impostor in Spanish is a direct accusation, so when evidence is uncertain speakers often describe the behavior with se hace pasar por or finge ser instead.
Other meanings
- fraudnoun
- posernoun
Opposites
- persona legítimalegitimate personnoun
Related words
- impostorafemale impostornoun
- imposturaimposturenoun