Spanish Conversation · Level 56
72 words
Spanish word
petulante
Pronunciation
IPA/petuˈlante/
Meaning
- adjectivesassy
Example
No seas petulante con tu hermana.
Don't be sassy with your sister.
More examples
Su tono petulante irritó a la audiencia.
His sassy tone irritated the audience.
Core concept
A person looking down at someone with a smug, dismissive expression.
Common phrases
actitud petulante
sassy attitude
tono petulante
sassy tone
aire petulante
arrogant air
Similar words
insolente: Being plainly rude or disrespectful toward other people.
engreído: Holding an inflated self-view and behaving with proud conceit.
arrogante: Behaving haughtily from an inflated sense of one's importance.
presumido: Showing off one's qualities or successes to attract admiration.
Definition in Spanish
Que actúa con arrogancia o desdén hacia los demás, mostrando poca consideración y una confianza exagerada en sí mismo.
Word origin
From Latin petulans 'impudent', adopted into Spanish through medieval usage to describe forward or insolent behavior that developed into the modern sense of arrogant disdain.
Usage tips
- Petulante can sound harsher than English sassy, since it implies active contempt rather than playful cheek.