Similar words
canalla
rufián is more literary or archaic than canalla, historically implying a pimp or villain.
Similar in other languages
Portuguese
canalha
canalha is the Portuguese word for the same thing — both mean "scoundrel."
Portuguese
patife
patife is the Portuguese word for the same thing — both mean "scoundrel."
Practice
1 What does rufián mean?
scoundrel
2 Fill the gap: Es un ___.
Full sentence: Es un rufián. (He's a scoundrel.)
3 Which fingerprint chart matches rufián?
rufián: neutral register, academic frequency, general domain, neutral connotation.