Spanish profanity
Spanish profanity is the assortment of words considered blasphemous or sacrilegious in the Spanish language. These words are generally varied from nation to nation, and many have historical relevance. Several words in Spanish are the equivalent to the verb "fuck." For example, joder, chingar and ponchar, etc. are all equivalents or have the same, or in many cases, more significance than their English counterpart.
Chingar
Chingada is a profane term in the Spanish language. It is the feminine form of the past participle of the verb chingar, roughly equivalent to the English word fuck or rape.
The word has its roots tied to the legend of La Malinche, a 16th century Native American, who helped translate for the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés during his 1519 invasion and conquest of the Aztec Empire; she later bore him at least one mixed race child, Martín Cortés, the first of Mexico's mestizos and the first hijo de la chingada.
Chíngate and related derivatives are equivalent to saying "go fuck yourself"; chinga a tu madre ("go fuck your mother") is arguably the most offensive thing you can say to a Mexican. Because La Malinche is considered by many a traitor to the Mexican race, this verb has been linked also to betrayal and seduction, along with sexual significance. It is for this reason that this verb is considered one of the most vulgar in the Spanish language.
Quotations on the verb "Chingar"
Imprecación, propósito, saludo, proyecto de vida, filiación, recuerdo, voz de los desesperados, liberación de los pobres, orden de los poderosos, invitación a la riña y al trabajo, epígrafe del amor, signo del nacimiento, amenaza y burla, verbo testigo, compañero de la fiesta y de la borrachera, espada del valor, trono de la fuerza, colmillo de la marrullería, blasón de la raza, salvavidas de los límites, resumen de la historia: santo y seña de México: tu palabra. — Carlos Fuentes (La muerte de Artemio Cruz)
- ("Curse, goal, greeting, plan for life, affiliation, memory, voice of the desperate, liberation of the poor, order of the powerful, invitation to fight and to work, love's epigraph, birth's mark, threat and gibe, watchword, companion in celebration and inebriation, sword of bravery, throne of strength, sharp fang of cajolery, badge of the race, lifeguard of the limits, summary of history: saint and symbol of Mexico: your word.")
Es una voz mágica. Basta un cambio de tono, una inflexión apenas para que su sentido varíe. Hay tantos matices como entonaciones: tantos significados como sentimientos. — Octavio Paz (El laberinto de la soledad)
- ("It is a magic word. A change of tone, a mere inflection is enough for its meaning to shift. It has as many nuances as intonations: as many meanings as feelings.")
Joder
Joder is the infinitive form of the Spanish verb equivalent to the English fuck. To say, jodéte, or jode a tu mama, for example means to literally say, "go fuck yourself" or “go fuck your mother.” This verb is equivalent to the Portuguese verb foder. The simple difference of “j” instead of an “f” presents a perfect example of lenition.The Spanish verb Chingar is arguably worse than joder, as it implies rape and the historical traitor “La Malinche.”
In Andaluz it becomes more an onomatopeaic for troublesomeness with minor hassle, whistled almost as "hoh-ay" where aye is just the same as 'a' . The use is not al all the sense of fuck , but the same sense in which fuck-that or -it is used . Castilians are shocked at the way anglos use fuck , but not at the way they themselves use hoh-ay .
Related words
The word fuck generally has several equivalents in the Spanish language, and varies from country to country. For example, in Mexico "chingar," "joder," "verguear," (literally an implication of intrusion of the penis, i.e. "to dick" as "verga" is a slang term equivalent to "dick") and "ponchar." In Argentina, however, the verb coger is often used, which in other nations simply indicates to hurl or to throw. In Cuba, singar is often used - a derevitive of the Mexican "chingar." In Spain the verb follar is generally used.
De Puta Madre
This means 'far out' , really good . It means literally " from the mama's pussy" . It is stronger than the recent american newcomer "chulo" which means 'cool' or cute ( una tia chula - a cutey ) . It also means something bad . The understanding comes from the circumstances -it is always bad if it is with a participle like "eres un chulo"- 'you're a thievin' shithead' ect.
Great attention has to be paid to "de puta madre" by the new to Spanish as it can get you killed like snapping a finger-should you get it wrong and say "en tu puta madre" as that means 'fuck your mother' , and the knife will fly . It is an invition to fight , never more, nor less .
Cagar en la Madre
A real feeling expression of disgust with some sharp injury or loss could be "Me cago en la madre qu(ien) me pari(d)o" , which is really what 'fuuuuck it' says . It literally says fuck that mother who gave me birth(-enjoy Spanish swearing) .
Other terms
Peninsula Spanish has absorbed , like British English has from Hollywood , several terms from acrosss the Atlantic .
"Chulissimo" ('most chulo ) means like 'fucking great ... place, horse, car'.
"chulillo"( endearing diminutive) BUT again with this term - watch yourself , as ," eres un chulo" means you have been sized up as a dangderous big-head at least, and it's time you leave . Otherwise it reverts to the original meaning of the word which is literally " a pimp" . To say someone is a chulo is to say that they are a shameless or brazen advantage taker , on the sly and slightly dangerous or thieving .
It morphs onwards to the term "chorizo" which means you are a hot sausage , a crook . Care again when you order a chorizo , Don't say just " un(o) chorizo" say "por favor" to avoid accusation ,as you shout for food .
Several other profane Spanish terms exist. Cabron, for instance, is the equivalent to the English motherfucker or 'bastard'. Puta, meaning "whore," implies the notion of "bitch" in English. Other words to describe sexual notions vary from region to region as well. Mariposa meaning butterfly, implies faggot in some regions, but marícon is used in others.
Terms of endearment amongst known contemporaries can be like "Donde va(s)... chulo " or".. sin verguenza" which really means 'where's the action , you crazy guy' .
"Sin verguenza'" means without shame , and to the proud is a cutting accusation .
'Olde Englishe' Wanker or onanist comes out as "Gilipolla" with the g as in h for hip, the ll pronounced without fail as a y .
Cagar-To Shit upon
The richness of spanish for palabrotas or swearing is unmatched on the planet , according to most who witness it . In general the word to shit upon serves to link any combination of resonant combinations. It starts with the reflexive ME cago - I shit - EN something . Like " Me cag(o) en tu puta madre" or me cag' en tu muerto o tu puta muerto . Or on all your dead (family) - "me cag' en to'os tus muertos" or on the saints , ect .
A specially common colloquialism acceptable between thirsty men of even an education , but under temporary release from pomposity , would be to say "Me cag' en La Virgen (v)amos a tomar una cerveza" .
The most normal working man , with a family and a church , can easily and shamelessly shit on the virgin and all the saints at once ("la Virgen y todos los santos" if he receives sudden unexpected work-pain .
"Una mierda para ti" means fuck you , a shit for you . Fuck as in joder just is exlanatory more than actively aggressive. "Te vas a joderte"- you're going to do youreslf harm (like a car crash from stupid driving, or gambling or such .
"Follar" is descriptive . "Es follandola" - 'he's fucking her'.
"Te van a joder" is 'they're gonna screw you , man '.
The use of Hombre
We all know the word . It is used by anglos as in 'one wierd hombre' , say .
"ll" sounding as a "y" in castellano which is what real spanish language always is called , "hombre" clearly has its un-pejorative sense of 'man, men' . 'How many men ?'-"muchos hombres"-many men .
But , as anglos now borrow it from the afro-american it is not used in the peninsula at all . No one say "oye , hombre , pasa me la botella " .The equivalent word is "tio" whilst literally meaning 'uncle' ,actually ,unless, you know their uncle , or they're talking about going to see their uncle , tio means just 'dude' or guy . How many dudes ?- "quatro tios habian"- 'there were 4 dudes' .
"Tirar" literally pull ( as in a trigger) can mean shoot , so it can mean shoot off (quick), or 'fuck off' . "Tira(s)te de aqui" - 'fuck off outa here' .
Variable Endings
Endings of words can be built upon to add force and charm . This is called " hablar exagera(d)o" and is poetic . The Sevillanos , perhaps like the Italians or the Irish are the masters, but everywhere it's "deme uno tragillo"- 'give us a tinyswig'( from "trago"-to swallow) .
Cabron become "cabronazo" , 'huge bastard' . 'Bastard' is not translated, and switches instead to "hijo puta" or 'son of a bitch' ,as above . A result of a huge typical to that bastard cock-up or fuck-up is a "cabronada" .
"Un mariconazo" from what happens when it ought not to but you knew it would with the "maricon" in question . Maricon comes from the famous beach in Brazil.
Spanish speakers have far more trouble with English than the other way around- it is next to impossible to explain the 'us' in 'give us a drink' meaning me .
"Joder, tio, me cago en la puta , deme un tragillo, chorizo que eres!" -'Fuck it , man , give us a swig ,you creep! '
Don't try and bend the rules, nor the local rules . Don't let down your guard , you gotta respect , and it starts with you "tonto perdido"-asshole ( lost nutcase) .
"No seas tonto , pedro"- don't be silly ,Pete', or 'stoopid' .
A place to start swearing is "ostia"-not too dire, substitute for virgin, "Me cago en la ostia ,'amos para una cerveza"- lets go and get a fucking drink . "Ostia" is a slap to the head. like you just slapped yourself alert. It is safe , because , well, it's you slapping yourself . "Ostia! , he perdido mis llaves"- 'fuck it ,I lost my keys!' .
"Sur-normal" means twit, idiot , same but parallel to "idiota", every bit or more critical .
Mierda
Mierda is the equivalent to shit. To say "vete a la mierda," however, would mean simply to "go to hell," etc. Caca, however, is a more acceptable term, equivalent to saying "boo boo"
Other terms
Several other profane Spanish terms exist. Cabron, for instance, is the equivalent to the English motherfucker. Puta, meaning "whore," implies the notion of "bitch" in English. Other words to describe sexual notions vary from region to region as well. Mariposa meaning butterfly, implies faggot in some regions, but marícon is used in others.
Commonly, pendejo is used as an insult equivalent to asshole, etc. Several words referring to the testicles are also used, such as albondigas (lit. meatballs), and huelvos (lit. eggs).