In Spanish, bed bugs are called chinches (informal) or, more precisely, chinches de cama — literally "bed bugs." The singular is chinche (one bed bug). Both terms are understood across Spanish-speaking countries, so either will get the point across clearly.
Whether you are translating for a guest, talking to a landlord, or searching for help, knowing how to say bed bugs in Spanish matters. The short version: bed bugs are chinches or chinches de cama. This English-language guide walks through what that word means and the key Spanish vocabulary for bites, signs, and treatment, so bilingual readers can ask the right questions.
To make it easy to reference, this page includes one small tool: a Quick Spanish Bed Bug Glossary you can scan and share whenever you need the right term fast.
The word chinches is the everyday Spanish term for bed bugs. In its most precise form, you say chinches de cama — which translates directly to "bed bugs" (literally "bugs of the bed"). The singular form is chinche, meaning one bed bug.
One thing to know: in casual Spanish, the word chinche can also refer to other true bugs, and in some countries it even means a thumbtack. Because of that, adding de cama ("of the bed") removes any doubt and makes it clear you mean the insect that bites you at night.
The most common ways to say it:
These bugs are small — an adult is only about 5–7 mm long, roughly the size of an apple seed — which is why people often learn the name before they ever spot one. If you want to know exactly what they look like, see what do bed bugs look like.
Beyond the name itself, this Spanish bed bug vocabulary covers the words you actually need when describing bites, spotting signs, or asking about treatment. The glossary below pairs each English term with its common Spanish translation so you can point, read, or say the right phrase.
| English | Spanish (Español) |
|---|---|
| Bed bug | chinche (de cama) |
| Bed bugs (plural) | chinches de cama |
| Bed bug bites | picaduras de chinches |
| Bite marks | marcas de picaduras |
| Eggs | huevos |
| Nymph / baby bug | ninfa / chinche bebé |
| Infestation | infestación / plaga |
| Mattress | colchón |
| Sheets | sábanas |
| Itching | picazón / comezón |
| Rash | sarpullido / erupción |
| Signs | señales / indicios |
| Exterminator / pest control | exterminador / control de plagas |
| How to get rid of bed bugs | cómo eliminar las chinches |
If you need to describe the bites, the key word is picaduras de chinches (bed bug bites). A single bite is una picadura, and the bite marks left behind are marcas de picaduras. The itching is picazón or comezón, and any rash that appears is a sarpullido or erupción.
Reassuringly, bed bugs are not known to spread disease — in Spanish, las chinches no transmiten enfermedades. Their bites are mainly an itchy nuisance. To compare what bites can look like on skin, see bed bug bites.
To talk about evidence, use señales or indicios (signs). You might mention huevos (eggs), a ninfa or chinche bebé (a baby bug), and where they hide — the colchón (mattress) and sábanas (sheets). A growing problem is una infestación or, casually, una plaga. Knowing the early signs of bed bugs helps you act sooner.
When you are ready to act, the phrase cómo eliminar las chinches means "how to get rid of bed bugs." For professional help, look for an exterminador or a company that does control de plagas (pest control). For a step-by-step English guide, see how to get rid of bed bugs, and if you are weighing professional help, bed bug exterminator.
This page is a language guide, not medical advice. Bed bugs are not known to transmit disease, but bites can itch and, for some people, cause a stronger skin reaction.
If a bite reaction is severe or does not improve, see a doctor — consulte a un médico. For pest removal, a licensed control de plagas professional can help.