Oye, te estoy hablando, vago.
Hey, I'm talking to you, lazybones.
As a way to address someone, vago is far from kind, because it blames the other person for not moving a muscle.
From Karate Kid · Spanish audio
Spanish vocabularyA1 · Beginner
How to say "lazy" in Spanish
vago
adjectivefeminine: vaganoun: un vago
In Spain, "lazy" is usually vago, or vaga for a woman, and people often use it as a noun: Es un vago (He's a slacker). Perezoso means the same and is understood everywhere, and in Mexico and Chile you'll hear flojo.
Hear "vago" in a real scene
One line where vago calls someone out. The video starts and stops on that line.
Vago, perezoso or flojo?
All of them mean lazy. Where you are decides which one you hear most.
| Word | Where people use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| vago | Spain, all the time in everyday speech | Es un vago. (He's a slacker.) |
| perezoso | Everywhere, a little more neutral | un gato perezoso (a lazy cat) |
| flojo | Mexico, Chile and other parts of Latin America | No seas flojo. (Don't be lazy.) |
| holgazán | Everywhere, more formal or old-fashioned | un holgazán (an idler) |
Tip: Vago can also mean vague, as in una respuesta vaga, and el perezoso is the sloth, the animal.
Grammar: vago, vaga
Four points for calling someone lazy.
Four forms
vago, vaga, vagos, vagas. Es una chica vaga.Adjective or noun
Es vago describes him. Es un vago labels him as a lazy person, a slacker.Can't be bothered
For the feeling, Spain uses pereza: ¡Qué pereza! or Me da pereza.The v sounds like b
Say BAH-goh. Spanish v and b are the same sound, and the g between vowels is soft.Example sentences
Sentences from the Wordy Spanish course. Tap to listen.
Es un vago.
He's a slacker.
Es una chica vaga.
She's a lazy girl.
Son unos vagos.
They're a bunch of slackers.
Oye, te estoy hablando, vago.
Hey, I'm talking to you, lazybones.
Common mistakes
Mistakes learners make with this word, and how to fix them.
✗Ella es vago
✓Ella es vaga
Vago agrees with the person it describes.
✗VAH-goh (pronunciation)
✓BAH-goh
Spanish v is pronounced like b.
✗Es muy vago (meaning he's vague)
✓Sus respuestas son vagas
About a person, vago means lazy. Save vague for answers and ideas.
Practice: 3 quick exercises
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The other 27 exercises on this topic are in the app.
How to remember it
Vago looks like the start of vagabond, someone who drifts from place to place instead of working.
Questions about "lazy" in Spanish
How do you say lazy in Spanish?
In Spain, vago, or vaga for a woman. Perezoso is understood everywhere, and in Mexico and Chile people say flojo.
What does "es un vago" mean?
"He's a slacker" or "he's a lazy guy". With un in front, vago works as a noun for a lazy person.
How do you say laziness in Spanish?
La pereza. In Spain, ¡Qué pereza! means "I can't be bothered" or "what a drag".
Does vago mean vague?
It can, for answers and ideas: una respuesta vaga. About a person, it means lazy.
