noun
General Slang
Malandra
/maˈlandɾa/ · noun · slang
A petty criminal, crook or lowlife, a fixture of the tango underworld.
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Definitions
1
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.)”
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2
A criminal, crook, or shady lowlife. The source is the Italian 'malandrino' (rogue/scoundrel), shortened and feminized in porteno usage to 'malandra'.
“El barrio estaba lleno de malandras. (The neighborhood was full of crooks.)”
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The masculine form 'malandrin' is also used for a rogue.
“Ese malandrin me debe plata. (That rogue owes me money.)”
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Malandra In A Sentence
Cuidate de los malandras de la esquina. (Watch out for the crooks on the corner.)
Tango glamorizes and mourns the malandra of the arrabal.
Tiene cara de malandra. (He's got the face of a crook.)
Origin & Usage
Lunfardo from early-1900s Buenos Aires, documented by the Academia Portena del Lunfardo; derived from Italian 'malandrino' (rogue), a derivation that is well established.
People Also Ask
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.
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