Accidentally said a curse word

Question

I was explaining about where to mail something and why and said:

El cartero es stúpido a veces.

One of them covered her mouth like she was surprised (but amused). She explained it was a bad word.

I had heard others from El Salvador use that though which is why I tried it. The girl who said it was a bad word was from Honduras. So maybe its not a bad word everywhere? They explained it is safer to use "tonto".

(Though I suppose I shouldn't be saying that at all. When our regular postman doesn't come, we always have problems with the mail tho and its a bit frustrating.)

Rachel

Answer 1

When I was a police officer in Madera, California, in the central valley, I had a police K-9. I befriended a man who had an eye infection and needed a job. I began to go by his house regularly to see how he and his family were doing, took them some food and chatted with the numerous kids living in the house. I was trying to learn Spanish and would talk to the kids about my dog. I tried to pronounce the double r sound in perro but no matter how hard I tried it came out as a d. The kids would giggle and carry on and it was weeks before I learned why perro pronounced with a d in place of the double r was so funny to them. You all can look up what that word is in see why they laughed at me every time they saw me after that.

You mean "pedo" as in "fart?' Hahaha..now that's funny! - --Mariana--, Sep 19, 2009

I should add that for years I though quinceanera, just from the sound of the word, was spelled with a t like "quinceaneta. - ocbizlaw, Sep 19, 2009

jaja... very cute. - NikkiLR, Sep 19, 2009

Oh that is funny. Those kids will never forget you & your *dog*. What is quinceanera? - RachelC, Sep 19, 2009

A quineanera is a celebration, traditionally Mexican, when a girl turns 15. It is in some ways like a débutante celebration. - ocbizlaw, Sep 20, 2009

Answer 2

It means stupid.

But how is that a "bad word"? Its not nice I admit, but hardly a curse word! ?? - RachelC, Sep 19, 2009

no, but it is more harsh than other words that you could say. - NikkiLR, Sep 19, 2009

estúpido means stupid, apparently we'll have to ask her friend what stúpido means - 0074b507, Sep 20, 2009

Answer 3

Once, I was in my US History class with a recent Mexican immigrant that I was getting help from with my Spanish homework, and we got into a little conversation.

At this point, I was just a beginning Spanish student and was talking about my sister who was pregnant. So, I said, "Mi hermano es pregunta." It made sense to me.

Well, "pregunta" = "question"

And to make it worse, I continued by saying "Estoy embarazada." which means "I'm pregnant." It just got worse and worse.

lol - --Mariana--, Sep 19, 2009

Answer 4

Great learning experience though.

Answer 5

Yea there are...much funnier, too!

Answer 6

Hmm, Well it is worse than the words menso o tonto... but personally I think it is not a horrible curse word. There are much more words out there that are worse than that.

Answer 7

So what does it mean? (If you can say without cursing )

Rachel

Answer 8

Sure are!