Skip to content

mendigo

beggar

noun men-DEE-goh Rare
People & Society Community

Origin: Latin mendicus (needy person)

Usage Note

Mendigo is the standard word for a person who begs for money. The feminine is mendiga. It is factual rather than slang; the more colloquial pordiosero carries an older register. In informal Spanish pedir limosna is the corresponding verb phrase (to beg for alms). Learners should note that in some registers it can sound blunt, so persona sin hogar is preferred in social-services contexts.

Examples

"Un mendigo pedía limosna frente a la iglesia."

Natural Translation

A beggar was asking for alms in front of the church.

Explore Spanish by topic