Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Snitch in Spanish: Soplón, Chivato, Sapo
Soplón · noun (masculine) · soh-PLOHN
Snitch has colorful regional translations in Spanish: soplón (one who blows, from soplar) is widely understood, chivato dominates in Spain, and sapo (literally toad) is slang for snitch in Colombia and neighboring countries. The formal term is delator.
soh-PLOHN / chee-BAH-toh / SAH-poh
Nadie confía en un soplón.
Nobody trusts a snitch.
Snitch in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for snitch, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| soplón | snitch | soh-PLOHN | Default, widely understood |
| chivato | snitch | Spain | |
| sapo | snitch | Colombia, Ecuador, Peru | |
| delator | snitch | formal: informer |
How Native Speakers Use Soplón
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Schoolyard accusation
¡No seas chivato y no le cuentes al profesor!
Don't be a snitch and don't tell the teacher!
Childhood context in Spain.
Colombian slang
Ese tipo es un sapo, siempre anda contándole todo al jefe.
That guy is a snitch, he's always telling the boss everything.
Sapo in Colombian workplace slang.
Crime context
El delator proporcionó información clave a las autoridades.
The informant provided key information to the authorities.
Formal/legal term delator.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Soplón
Using soplón in formal contexts
Incorrect: El soplón testificó ante el juez.
Correct: El delator testificó ante el juez.
Soplón is informal slang — in legal, journalistic, or formal settings, delator or informante is the appropriate term for someone who provides information to authorities.
Confusing sapo with the animal
Incorrect: Vi un sapo en el jardín. (wanting to say snitch)
Correct: Hay un sapo en la oficina que le dice todo al jefe.
Sapo literally means toad — only context makes it clear you mean snitch. Without a social or workplace context, listeners will think you are talking about the amphibian.
Lock in Snitch 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 Soplón used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using soplón in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Nadie confía en un soplón. 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 Snitch in Spanish
- How do you say 'snitch' in Spanish?
- The most universally understood informal term is soplón. Spain uses chivato, Colombia and neighboring countries use sapo, and the formal word is delator. Each region has its own slang, but soplón travels well.
- What does chivato mean?
- Chivato is Spanish slang for snitch, derived from chivo (goat) — the connection is that goats bleat loudly, metaphorically broadcasting secrets. In Spain, chivato can also refer to a warning light or indicator on a dashboard, which is an unrelated meaning.
- Is there a verb for 'to snitch' in Spanish?
- Several verbs exist: soplar (to blow, i.e., to snitch), chivarse (to snitch, Spain), sapear (to snitch, Colombia), and delatar (to inform on, formal). Each matches its regional noun — the verb follows the same geographic distribution as the slang noun.