Local profanity is key to surviving in Spain, because being able to curse in a language means mastering a language. At least that’s what my 12 year old students seem to think.

Tacos

Literally means: Swear words

Tacos is the word for “profanity” in Spain. Swear words are also called “groserías,” “palabrotas,” and “insultos.”

Don’t ask for “tacos” at a restaurant and expect to keep a smile on your face.

Joder

Literally means: “Fuck”

Usage:

Interjection

¡Joder! Shit!/ Damn!

Verb, “to fuck with”

No me jodas. Don’t fuck with me. La he jodido. I fucked it up.

Me cago en…

Literally means: “I shit on…”

Usage:

Insult to basically anything.

*Hint- The more family members and sacred Catholic beliefs you include, the better.

Me cago en Dios. I shit on God. Me cago en tus muertos. I shit on your dead. Me cago en tu puta madre. I shit on your fucking mother. Me cago en la hostia. I shit on the host. Me cago en la virgen. I shit on the Virgin.

Hostia

Literally means: “Communion host”

Usage:

Interjection

¡Hostia! Fuck!/Shit!

Abstract comparison

Hace calor de la hostia. It’s hot as hell. Ella es más fea que la hostia. She’s ugly as fuck.

Coño

Literally means: “Cunt”

Usage:

Interjection

¡Coño! Shit!/Damn!

Adverb

Qué coño haces? What the fuck are you doing? Dónde coño estamos? Where the hell are we?

Puta

Literally means: “Whore”

Usage:

Insult

Eres una puta! You’re a whore! Eres un hijo de puta! You’re a son of a bitch!

Adjective, similar to “fucking” in English

No quiero mirar tu puta cara. I don’t want to look at your fucking face. Dame el puto libro. Give me the fucking book.

“De puta madre,” something awesome

Esta cerveza es de puta madre! This beer is kickass! Él canta de puta madre. He sings motherfucking great.

Cabrón

Literally means: “Goat”

Usage:

Insult, similar to “bastard” or “asshole”

Tu novio es un cabrón. Your boyfriend is an asshole.

Mierda

Literally means: “Shit”

Usage:

Interjection:

¡Mierda! Shit!

Insult

Vete a la mierda! Go to hell!

Noun, a “shitty” or “worthless” thing

Eres un cobarde de mierda! You’re a goddam coward! Esa tarea es una mierda. This homework is a pile of shit. Tu comentario me vale mierda. Your comment is worthless to me.

Follar

Literally means: “to fuck”

Usage:

Me gusta follar. I like to have sex.

Gilipollas

Literally means: “dumbass”

Usage:

Insult

Tu amigo es un gilipollas Your friend is a dumbass. No seas gilipollas Don’t be an asshole

Culo

Literally means: “Ass”

Usage:

Noun

¿Has visto su culo? Did you see her ass?

Insult

A tomar por culo vosotros! Fuck you guys!

Latin American profanity not used in Spain

Pendejo

Pinche

La verga

Chingar

Joto

Guey

No mames

Unless the person you’re talking to has been watching lots of Diego Luna movies recently, you can tell people to “Vete a la verga” or call them a “Pinche pendejo” all you want. Your point will not get across.

Related Posts