The Spanish word ladrón originates from the Latin word latronem, meaning robber or bandit. Ladrón is a person who steals or takes someone else’s property unlawfully. In English, we refer to this person as a thief.
Latin American Pronunciation
European Pronunciation
Ladrón is a masculine noun that represents a person who commits the action of stealing. It takes the following definite and indefinite articles:
- el ladrón = the thief
- los ladrones = the thieves
- un ladrón= a thief
- unos ladrones = some thieves
Ladrón can be used to describe a female thief too but the word changes to ladrona without the accent on the o.
La policía atrapó al ladrón que entró a mi casa por la ventana.
The police caught the thief who entered my house through the window.
In its literal sense, ladrón refers to someone who steals either illicitly or sneakily, which in English we call a thief. If someone commits theft through force or intimidation, we would call that person a robber. In Spanish, this person is still referred to as a ladrón, but if weapons were involved, they are often called an atracador (robber).
Ladrón can also be used figuratively to describe someone who takes credit for another’s ideas or work. This type of individual fails to acknowledge the effort, creativity, or contributions of others, instead passing it off as their own. This behaviour is often seen in professional and academic settings, especially where collaboration is common.
La escritora es una ladrona de ideas. Su libro dice lo mismo que el libro de la otra autora.
The writer is a thief of ideas. Her book says the same thing as the other author’s book.
A ladrón can also refer to someone perceived as dishonest, even if they aren’t actively stealing something specific. For example, someone who engages in fraude (fraud) or malversación (embezzlement) in a business setting is being dishonest and reaping benefits from their job for personal gain. They are indirectly stealing, whether through fake sales, inflating work hours, sharing confidential information with other companies, or in various other ways.
Mi compañero de trabajo fue acusado de ladrón al cometer fraude por manipulación de registros contables.
My co-worker was accused of being a thief by committing fraud by manipulating accounting records.
Below are some specific types of ladrones:
- ladrón de mano armada = armed robber: someone who commits a robbery by using a weapon to threaten or intimidate victims
- ladrón de identidad = identity thief: someone who steals someone’s personal information to commit fraud
- ladrón de guante blanco = white collar thief: someone who commits non-violent crimes, such as fraud or embezzlement (usually in business settings)
- ladrón de poca monta = petty thief: someone who steals minor things or performs small thefts such as pickpocketing or shoplifting
- ladrón de casa = house burglar: Someone who commits a house burglary to steal valuables
- ladrón de autos = car thief: someone who steals vehicles from others
- ladrón profesional = professional thief = refers to someone who engages in nonviolent theft with a high level of skill
There are also various synonyms for ladrón and other words that have a close meaning. Robador (robber) means the same thing as ladrón. There is also the colloquial word, ratero, which means rat and refers to a thief. A crook is referred to as caco or a ladrón. If the ladrón steals through force, they are called atracador. In English, we often refer to this kind of person as a mugger. If a person steals in a sneaky way through wit, we refer to this person as an estafador (scammer).
El atracador entró al banco con una máscara puesta para robar dinero sin ser reconocido.
The robber entered the bank with a mask to steal money without being recognised.
The acts of a ladrón are varied. The act of stealing is called robar (steal) and theft is called a robo. Another word is atracar, which means to rob someone. Usually, this kind of theft is done forcefully, sometimes with an arma (weapon). A similar term is asalto, which is an assault. The colloquial English word for this term is mugging.
There are many other words related to a ladrón . For example, when a person steals, they become a criminal (criminal) or a delincuente (delinquent) because they committed a delito (crime). We also often refer to a thief as a felón (felon) or an ofensor (offender). The victim of the ladrón is called a víctima. The victim can denunciar (report) a thief when an act of theft is committed.
Spanish expression featuring ‘ladrón‘
There are many common expressions featuring the word ladrón. Below are a few:
Ladrón que roba ladrón means A thief that steals from a thief. It implies that wrongdoing among wrongdoers is less severe.
Más ladrón que un gato tranlates to More of a thief than a cat. It refers to someone who is very sneaky in committing theft.
El ladrón siempre vuelve al lugar del crimen translates to The thief always returns to the scene of the crime. It implies that a person often returns to a risky and familiar situation. (This can be used metaphorically.)
No hay ladrón que no sepa que es ladrón translates to There is no thief who doesn’t know they are a thief. This phrase suggests that people are aware of their wrongdoings.
El ladrón juzga por su condición: translates to The thief judges by his own condition in English. It’s similar to the English expressions, It takes one to know one or A thief thinks everyone steals.
Spanish idoms featuring ‘ladrón‘
Ser ladrón de sueños
Literal translation: to be a dream thief
English meaning: to be someone who takes away or hinders someone else’s hopes, dreams, or ambitions
Ser ladrón de tiempo
Literal translation: to be a time thief
English meaning: to be someone who wastes others’ time
