Traidor

Traidor is a noun used in Spanish and Portuguese to describe a person who betrays trust, loyalty, or a cause, often by collaborating with enemies or by divulging confidences. The term is equivalent to the English word traitor. Etymology traces it to Latin traditor, from tradere “to hand over,” reflecting the act of handing someone over to an enemy or betraying a trust. In both languages, the word carries a strong negative connotation and is used in political, social, and personal contexts.

In a legal sense, traitor and treason are related concepts, though definitions vary by jurisdiction. Treason typically refers to formal acts against the state, such as waging war against one’s country, aiding enemies, or attempting to overthrow the government. The precise criteria for labeling someone a traidor depend on national or historical legal frameworks. In everyday speech, traidor can describe someone who breaks a promise or betrays a friend, and it is frequently used as a moral or rhetorical judgment.

Culturally and historically, traitors are common motifs in religious, political, and literary texts. Figures such as Judas Iscariot and Brutus are often described or depicted as traitors in Western tradition. The word appears in Spanish- and Portuguese-language journalism and literature to condemn acts of betrayal, whether personal or political, highlighting the perceived violation of loyalty.

See also: Traición; Traidor (usage in Spanish and Portuguese).