Spanish Conversation · Level 149
30 words
Spanish word
vicioso
Pronunciation
IPA/biˈθjoso/
Meaning
- adjectivevice-ridden
Example
Tiene un hábito vicioso de morderse las uñas.
He has a vice-ridden habit of biting his nails.
More examples
Un círculo vicioso de estrés y malos hábitos empeora su salud.
A vicious circle of stress and bad habits worsens his health.
Core concept
A repeated harmful habit that leads to dependence.
Common phrases
hábito vicioso
bad habit
círculo vicioso
vicious circle
Similar words
adicto: Develops a strong dependence on a substance or activity and loses control.
obsesivo: Becomes fixated on a specific thought or action to the exclusion of others.
habitual: Occurs regularly as a habit or routine.
Definition in Spanish
Que describe un hábito repetido y poco saludable que puede derivar en dependencia o en conductas dañinas.
Word origin
From Latin vitiosus 'full of faults', from vitium 'fault, vice', hence applied to repeated unhealthy habits that can become addictive.
Usage tips
- Calling someone 'vicioso' sounds accusatory in everyday speech, so Spanish speakers often use 'tener un hábito vicioso' or softer expressions like 'tener tendencia a' or 'ser propenso a'.