rudo

Rudo is a Spanish word with meanings centered on roughness or lack of refinement. In everyday use, it functions as both an adjective and a noun, and appears across different Spanish-speaking regions with slightly varying nuances.

As an adjective, rudo describes something rough in texture, harsh in sound, or behavior that is coarse or uncultured. It can apply to physical objects, language, or people when their manners are blunt or unsophisticated. Depending on context, it can carry a negative or mildly disparaging tone; synonyms include tosco, áspero, grosero, and bruto.

As a noun, a rudo refers to a rough or crude person. In casual speech, the label conveys disapproval but is generally less strong than more explicit insults, and its connotations can range from teasing to contempt.

In Mexican professional wrestling, rudo denotes a defined character role: the villain or antihero who uses underhanded tactics to gain advantage. The rudo archetype contrasts with the técnico, the face or crowd-pleasing wrestler. Rudos aim to provoke the audience and often employ rule-bending or aggressive tactics as part of the storytelling.

See also: lucha libre, técnico, Spanish-language terminology.

Origin and cognates: The term derives from Spanish, reflecting roughness or lack of refinement; cognate forms appear in other Romance languages, such as Italian ruvido.