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.
Profanity dealing with Maternal subjects
Several profane phrases in Spanish deal with maternal bonds.
Cagar en la madre
A real feeling expression of disgust with some sharp injury or loss could be "Me cago en la madre que me parió". This literally says "I shit on that mother who gave me birth". This expression, and its derivates, are more common in European Spanish than American.
Pendejo
Pendejo is a vulgar term of abuse. To call a person a pendejo is essentially to call him stupid, although it also carries implications of willful stubbornness and rank ineptitude. The female equivalent is pendeja; either form can be used as a noun or an adjective. The insult is particularly prevalent in the Spanish spoken in North and Central America, where it is considered moderately to highly offensive. In terms of equivalent cultural impact, it ranges somewhere at the level of the British English "wanker" or the U.S. English "asshole". The term is also used in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay, where it also means "immature" (again, in a derogatory sense).
The literal meaning of pendejo is "strand of pubic hair". Etymologically it comes from the Latin pectiniculus.
In February 2004, reacting to the flight of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide from Haiti during opposition revolts, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez used the word in reference to U.S. President George W. Bush for the U.S.'s refusal to participate in restoring Aristide to power.
On Barrapunto, the Spanish-language clone of the Slashdot internet forum, the initial name of the Anonymous Coward user was pendejo sin nombre ("nameless prick"). The administrators subsequently deemed this too offensive and changed it to Pobrecito Hablador ("poor little talker"), one of the pseudonyms of the 19th-century Spanish author Mariano José de Larra.
Other terms
Castillian Spanish has taken many swear words from Latin American nations, just as the British have adapted profanity from American dialects.
For instance, "Chulissimo" (extreme chulo, as -isimo is the augmentive prefix in Spanish) means 'fucking great ... place, horse, car'.
"Chulillo", however, is an endearing diminutive). One should take cautio with this term, as " eres un chulo" means you have been sized up as a dangerous as arrogant, etc. It may also revert 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 [piece of] shit for you . Fuck as in joder is exlanatory more than actively aggressive. "Te vas a joderte"- you're going to do yourself 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
Hombre is the equivalent to the English, man.
"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 says "oye , hombre , pasame 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 ?- "habia cuatro tios"- 'there were 4 dudes' .
"Hombre" is used as an explanation in the peninsual only when you have a) not seem me for a long enough time for it to be a genuine surprise greeting ("Oye , hombre, Pedro"- means ,'Pedro , wow-where the fuck you been.' it can even in exactly the same manner be used to ask Maria the same : "Hombre Maria, de donde vienes?" - 'Wow-mary! Where did you spring from?' .
Apart from this use hombre is used in serious but civil argument, as in "Pero , hombre ,non!" - 'But NO to you '(you are being un-reasonable) , again for both sexes .
"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 "maricón" 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.
Several words referring to the testicles are also used, such as albondigas (lit. meatballs), and huevos (lit. eggs).