chismoso

es
en
Change language
Translating...
gossipy, gossip, snitch, informer, kerosene lamp
Find language
Deutsch
German
Español
Spanish
Magyar
Hungarian
Français
French
Português
Portuguese
/tʃisˈmoso/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
A person who gossips, a regional American Spanish word for a snitch or informer, and in Cuba a homemade kerosene lamp.
Practice using this word in conversation

Examples

  • La policía habló con un chismoso del barrio.
    The police spoke with a neighborhood informer.
  • La chismosa alumbraba la cocina de la casa.
    The kerosene lamp lit the kitchen of the house.
  • No le cuentes secretos a esa amiga chismosa.
    Do not tell secrets to that gossipy friend.
  • Le dijeron chismosa por acusar a sus vecinos.
    They called her a snitch for accusing her neighbors.
  • La llama de la chismosa se apagó con el viento.
    The flame of the kerosene lamp went out in the wind.

Similar words

correveidile
botón
murmurador
cuentista
chafardero
enredador
lámpara
candil
informante
lámpara de queroseno

Meanings

Gossipy

adjective
social
informal
Fond of gossiping or spreading stories about other people's private affairs.

Usage

Use chismoso for a person or behavior that spreads gossip, with chismosa for feminine nouns.

Examples

  • Mi vecino es muy chismoso y siempre habla de todos.
    My neighbor is very gossipy and always talks about everyone.
  • No le cuentes secretos a esa amiga chismosa.
    Do not tell secrets to that gossipy friend.
  • Los chismosos del barrio se reúnen en la esquina.
    The neighborhood gossips gather on the corner.
  • Ese comentario chismoso solo causó problemas.
    That gossipy comment only caused problems.
  • La oficina se volvió insoportable por tanta gente chismosa.
    The office became unbearable because of so many gossipy people.

Common mistakes

The word is sometimes treated as harmless curiosity, but it usually implies spreading private talk.
IncorrectCorrect
Mi vecino es chismoso porque guarda secretos. Mi vecino es chismoso porque cuenta secretos.
Ella es un chismoso. Ella es una chismosa.
Una persona discreta es chismosa. Una persona discreta no es chismosa.

Similar words

murmurador
cotilla
chafardero
cuentista
correveidile
enredador
chismero
argüendero

Informer or snitch

noun
social
slang
A derogatory regional word for an informer, snitch, or person who tells on others.

Usage

Use chismoso for an informer only in the American regional sense where it means snitch or tattler.

Examples

  • Nadie confía en el chismoso que delató al grupo.
    No one trusts the snitch who informed on the group.
  • La policía habló con un chismoso del barrio.
    The police spoke with a neighborhood informer.
  • Le dijeron chismosa por acusar a sus vecinos.
    They called her a snitch for accusing her neighbors.
  • El chismoso señaló quién había entrado primero.
    The informer pointed out who had gone in first.
  • En la cárcel castigan al chismoso que informa a los guardias.
    In prison they punish the snitch who informs the guards.

Common mistakes

The informer sense is regional and stronger than ordinary gossip.
IncorrectCorrect
El chismoso protegió al grupo sin decir nada. El chismoso delató al grupo.
La chismoso habló con la policía. La chismosa habló con la policía.
Chismoso siempre significa solo curioso. Chismoso puede significar delator en varios países americanos.

Similar words

delator
soplón
chivato
acusador
informante
botón

Kerosene lamp

noun
home
neutral
A Cuban word for a homemade kerosene lamp.

Usage

Use chismosa for a kerosene lamp only in Cuban contexts, where the word is feminine.

Examples

  • Encendieron la chismosa antes de que anocheciera.
    They lit the kerosene lamp before nightfall.
  • La chismosa alumbraba la cocina de la casa.
    The kerosene lamp lit the kitchen of the house.
  • Mi abuela guardaba queroseno para la chismosa.
    My grandmother kept kerosene for the lamp.
  • La llama de la chismosa se apagó con el viento.
    The flame of the kerosene lamp went out in the wind.
  • En el campo usaban una chismosa cuando faltaba la luz.
    In the countryside they used a kerosene lamp when the power was out.

Common mistakes

The Cuban lamp sense is easy to misread as a person unless the context mentions light or kerosene.
IncorrectCorrect
El chismoso alumbraba la cocina. La chismosa alumbraba la cocina.
La chismosa cubana es una persona que delata. La chismosa cubana puede ser una lámpara de queroseno.
Apagaron la chismosa para dejar de hablar. Apagaron la chismosa para ahorrar queroseno.

Similar words

lámpara de queroseno
quinqué
lámpara
candil

Usage

Use context to separate gossip from informing: private talk points to gossip, authorities point to snitching, and Cuban kerosene or light points to a lamp.

Common mistakes

Chismoso is softened to merely curious, but it normally carries criticism and can also mean a regional informer or Cuban lamp.

Etymology

From chisme, gossip or rumor, plus -oso, a suffix meaning full of or inclined to.

FAQ

What does chismoso mean?

Chismoso usually describes someone who gossips or likes spreading private talk.

Is chismoso masculine or feminine?

The masculine form is chismoso, the feminine is chismosa, and the plurals are chismosos and chismosas.

Can chismoso mean snitch?

Yes. RAE records a derogatory regional American Spanish sense meaning informer or snitch.

What does chismosa mean in Cuba?

In Cuba, chismosa can mean a homemade kerosene lamp.

Where does chismoso come from?

It comes from chisme, meaning gossip or rumor, plus -oso, meaning inclined to or full of.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.
Look up word or phrase...