English

Noun

malandro ‎(plural malandros)

1. A young criminal, punk, or thug in Venezuela or Brazil; one conscious of image and status; preoccupied with projecting coolness and non-conformity, and willing to use violence to establish social status.

References

• http://coa.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/24/2/107?ck=nck

Portuguese

Etymology

Back-formation from malandrino.

Noun

malandro m (plural malandros, feminine malandra, feminine plural malandras)

1. (Brazil) someone who takes advantages of others instead of working in order to get by

Spanish

Noun

malandro m ‎(plural malandros, feminine malandra)

1. (colloquial, Venezuela) young delinquent
2. (colloquial, Uruguay, masculine only) delinquent
3. (colloquial, Mexico) young thug

Synonyms

• delincuente
• maleado (Chile)