General
malandra
What does malandra mean?
As an adjective, describing someone sly, dishonest, or up to no good.
"No te juntes con gente malandra. (Don't hang out with shady people.)"
Origin
Lunfardo from early-1900s Buenos Aires, documented by the Academia Portena del Lunfardo; derived from Italian 'malandrino' (rogue), a derivation that is well established.
Frequently asked questions
What does malandra mean?
It means a petty criminal, crook, or lowlife.
Where did malandra come from?
From the Italian 'malandrino', meaning a rogue or scoundrel.
Is malandra masculine or feminine?
Malandra is used for both; the variant 'malandrin' is specifically masculine.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
