Spanish word

infiel

Pronunciation

IPA/inˈfjel/

Meaning

  • adjectiveunfaithful

Example

No puedo confiar en alguien infiel.

I cannot trust a person who is unfaithful.

Illustration for infiel (unfaithful)

More examples

Ella terminó la relación porque él fue infiel.

She ended the relationship because he was unfaithful.

Core concept

A romantic partner betraying trust.

Common phrases

  • pareja infiel

    unfaithful partner

  • ser infiel a la pareja

    be unfaithful to one's partner

Similar words

desleal: Shows a lack of loyalty toward friends, allies, or a group, acting against their interests.
traicionero: Behaves treacherously and deceptively, betraying others through secret schemes or lies.
adúltero: Engages in sexual relations outside marriage or a committed partnership, breaking fidelity.
insincero: Speaks or acts without genuine feeling, hiding true intentions or emotions.

Definition in Spanish

Describe a quien traiciona la confianza afectiva o incumple un compromiso.

Word origin

From Latin infidelis, from in- 'not' + fidelis 'faithful', originally meaning 'not faithful' and preserved in Spanish to denote disloyalty in love or obligations.

Usage tips

  • Spanish infiel commonly describes a cheating partner or someone who breaks promises, while English infidel usually refers to a nonbeliever, so the words are false friends.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word