"me pusiste los cuernos"
Hi!
"me pusiste los cuernos" = you cheated on me
"poner cuernos a alguien" = to cheat on someone
Are these right? And if so, why do I need "los" in the first phrase but not in the second? Are there other ways to describe the act of cheating in Spanish?
In English the formal way would be "to have an affair" and the informal "to cheat on someone". Is it the same in Spanish? Is the phrase "poner cuernos a alguien" informal? If so, what is the formal manner of refering to an affair?
Thank you!
5 Answers
I will try to help you with this, but it is one of the most extensive questions I have faced in SD 
Ponerle los cuernos a alguien is also used. I don´t know why the article is used, but I guess it has to do with ´definite´ horns.
Are there other ways to describe the act of cheating in Spanish?
Yes, because the neighbour's grass is always greener. But poner los cuernos is the most popular.
Another: Tirarse una cana al aire.
(There are probably other informal expresions but we have to keep this site family-friendly)
Is the phrase "poner cuernos a alguien" informal?
Yes, it is. *Engañó a su mujer / marido / esposo / esposa / etc. is more formal.
What is the formal manner of refering to an affair?
Apart form the options above,
- Tuvo una aventura.
- Tuvo un romance
- Ha cometido una infidelidad
- Ha sido infiel
About the origin of the expression, you have this short article.
¡Hola! Renaerules:
Our dictionary as between the term "poner cuernos a alguien " and the English word "cuckold" tends, in my view, to suggest these words apply only when a wife cheats on her husbund. Then, it is said she cuckolded him or she put the horns on him. To the very best of my knowledge, where the man is the philanderer, the term does not apply.
I do not propose words or terms that could be used were unmarried persons are unfaithful or were men cheat on their wives. I leave that for you or others to investigate. Where a wife cheats on her husband, then for the husband "to have the horns put on him" or "to be cuckolded" is probably the most mean spirited way to say, she cheated on him. I have only seen (in writing) or heard the words/terms used in the most derisive and spiteful ways as blatant attacks on the husbands masculinity.
Muchos saludos/Best regards,
Moe
What about 'haber una aventura'?
I have heard the term "infiel" used.
My doña says "no me engañas"
