Marica huebón

Question

Living in Bogotá, you hear marica and huebón all the time in normal conversation in the same vein as you here mate, pal, bro and butt (that is Welsh English by the way) in English.

Would this be offensive in other geographies?

I know that marica means gay but is it derisive to some, offensive to others, and acceptable to others?

Do I keep my maricando and hueboneando to my new home town or is it safe to travel with?

Thanks, Alex

Answer 1

Well, it depends on where you are and with whom you are speaking. If I am with a group of people whom I know well, those words may cross their lips and enter my ears, and I am not offended, nor is it meant in an offensive way.

On the other hand, if I were talking with someone's grandmother, I would not choose that vocabulary any more than I might choose certain words in English.

Until a person actually establishes residence in a place, better safe than sorry.

In Mexico it is used, but in casual exchanges with friends. However, a headline in a local paper accused the "ejército de echar hueva" when it comes to narco, so I guess the paper was either trying to make a point or was being casual. Several locals were chortling over the choice of words.

Yeah, I understand that, as per the norms of any culture. I have no feel though for how 'rude' they might appear to some - a young Spanish friend suggested that calling someone marica would be offensive... - afowen, Dec 24, 2010

I think it depends on who the person is and the tone of voice that is used. - mountaingirl123, Dec 24, 2010