Spanish word

timo

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtimo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounscam

Example

No quiero caer en un timo.

I don't want to fall for a scam.

Illustration for timo (scam)

More examples

Recibí un timo telefónico y bloqueé el número.

I received a phone scam and blocked the number.

Core concept

A deliberate trick that extracts money or other advantage from a person.

Common phrases

  • timo telefónico

    phone scam

  • timo bancario

    bank scam

  • timo por internet

    internet scam

Similar words

estafa: Carries out a planned scheme to obtain significant sums of money, typically a criminal offense.
fraude: Obtains illicit advantage by falsifying documents or using dishonest schemes, often in institutions.
engaño: Misleads someone with lies or false appearances to make them believe something untrue.
timador: Person who deliberately deceives others to extract money, valuables, or other advantage.

Definition in Spanish

Engaño intencional para sacar dinero o ventajas a otra persona mediante artimañas o promesas falsas.

Word origin

The noun timo derives from the verb timar 'to swindle', which became common in colloquial Spanish from the early modern period while its deeper origin remains uncertain.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech timo appears in complaints like 'me han timado' and in phrases such as 'es un timo', and it covers both petty rip-offs and elaborate scams.

Other meanings

  • thymusnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • timarscamverb
  • timadorscammernoun
  • timadoscammedadjective

Word lists with this word