Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Bully in Spanish: Acosador
Acosador · noun · ah-koh-sah-DOHR
Acosador is the standard Spanish noun for bully, referring to a person who repeatedly intimidates, harasses, or mistreats others, especially in school settings.
ah-koh-sah-DOHR
El acosador del colegio fue suspendido.
The school bully was suspended.
Bully in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for bully, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| acosador | bully | ah-koh-sah-DOHR | Default, widely understood |
| matón | bully | informal, emphasizes physical intimidation | |
| abusón | bully | Spain, colloquial | |
| acosar | bully | verb form: to bully |
How Native Speakers Use Acosador
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
School context
Los maestros deben identificar al acosador antes de que la situación empeore.
Teachers must identify the bully before the situation gets worse.
Discussing anti-bullying policies in a school meeting.
Cyber bullying
El acosador cibernético usa las redes sociales para intimidar a otros.
The cyberbully uses social media to intimidate others.
Talking about online harassment.
Standing up
Mi hijo aprendió a no quedarse callado frente al matón.
My son learned not to stay quiet in front of the bully.
A parent describing their child's growth in confidence.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Acosador
Using buleador as a translation
Incorrect: El buleador lo molesta todos los días.
Correct: El acosador lo molesta todos los días.
Buleador is an anglicism derived from bully that is not standard in Spanish; acosador or matón are the accepted terms.
Forgetting feminine form
Incorrect: Ella es un acosador en la escuela.
Correct: Ella es una acosadora en la escuela.
Acosador changes to acosadora when referring to a female, following standard Spanish noun gender agreement.
Lock in Bully Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Acosador used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using acosador in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El acosador del colegio fue suspendido. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Bully in Spanish
- How do you say 'bully' in Spanish?
- The standard translation is acosador (noun) or acosar (verb), which covers bullying in school, work, and online environments across the Spanish-speaking world.
- What is the difference between acosador and matón?
- Acosador is the broader, more formal term covering all types of harassment, while matón emphasizes physical intimidation and has a more colloquial, street-level connotation.
- How do you say 'bullying' as a concept?
- The noun form is acoso — for example, acoso escolar (school bullying) or acoso cibernético (cyberbullying) — and it is the term used in awareness campaigns and legal contexts.