Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say "Selfish" in Spanish: Egoísta
Egoísta · adjective · eh-goh-EES-tah
Selfish in Spanish is egoísta (eh-goh-EES-tah). It works as both an adjective and a noun: es egoísta (he/she is selfish), es un/una egoísta (he/she is a selfish person). The word does not change form for gender.
eh-goh-EES-tah — four syllables, stress on EES. Same form for all genders.
No seas egoísta, comparte los dulces con tu hermano.
Don't be selfish, share the candy with your brother.
Selfish in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for selfish, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| egoísta | selfish | eh-goh-EES-tah | Default, widely understood |
| interesado | selfish | Universal (self-interested) | |
| tacaño | selfish | Universal (stingy, related but distinct) |
How Native Speakers Use Egoísta
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Calling out selfish behavior
Fue muy egoísta de su parte no ofrecer ayuda cuando todos estábamos trabajando.
It was very selfish of him not to offer help when we were all working.
Egoísta used as a predicate adjective to describe someone's action.
As a noun
No quiero ser una egoísta, pero necesito tiempo para mí misma.
I don't want to be selfish, but I need time for myself.
Egoísta as a noun (una egoísta) — a selfish person.
Softer phrasing
A veces es necesario ser un poco egoísta para proteger tu salud mental.
Sometimes it's necessary to be a little selfish to protect your mental health.
Modifying egoísta with un poco (a little) to soften the judgment.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Egoísta
Trying to make egoísta agree in gender
Incorrect: Mi hermano es egoísto.
Correct: Mi hermano es egoísta.
Egoísta is invariable for gender — it ends in -ista (like optimista, pesimista, artista). Use egoísta for both masculine and feminine. Only number changes: egoístas (plural).
Confusing egoísta with egocéntrico
Incorrect: Using egoísta when you mean self-centered.
Correct: Egoísta = selfish (won't share/help). Egocéntrico = self-centered (thinks everything revolves around them).
Egoísta focuses on unwillingness to share or consider others' needs. Egocéntrico is about believing you're the center of everything. They overlap but aren't synonymous.
Lock in Selfish 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 Egoísta used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using egoísta in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear No seas egoísta, comparte los dulces con tu hermano. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Selfish in Spanish
- How do you say selfish in Spanish?
- Selfish is egoísta in Spanish. It doesn't change for gender: él es egoísta, ella es egoísta. The noun selfishness is egoísmo. To say 'don't be selfish': no seas egoísta.
- Does egoísta change for masculine and feminine?
- It does not change form. Like all -ista adjectives in Spanish (optimista, realista, materialista), egoísta stays the same regardless of gender. Only the article changes: un egoísta (masc.), una egoísta (fem.).
- What's a stronger word than egoísta?
- For intensified selfishness: mezquino (mean-spirited, petty), interesado (calculating, only looking out for yourself), or the phrase solo piensa en sí mismo/a (only thinks of himself/herself).