What words shouldn't be said?

Question

Hola amigos and amigas! I have a question about what to say and what not to say when I go to Mexico and or Spain. I have no ideas on what not to say I would hate to offend some one and make them mad at me so can somebody please help me out ?

Google "dirty words in Mexican Spanish" and you will have thousands to either use or avoid . - ray76, Dec 11, 2015

Answer 1

Regarding the comment by txustaboy re huevos:

Don’t go into a grocer’s and ask the shopkeeper “Where are your eggs?” by asking him:

“¿Dónde están tus huevos?”

(Sorry I just couldn't resist a little humor instead of providing a helpful answer, of which I think you have already gotten several).

It's funny how many Mexican "palabrotas" are based on food items. I once asked a waitress if she had "chile verde" and after apologizing for fifteen minutes I had to leave, muy avergonzada. Who knew? Not me that's for sure. - Daniela2041, Dec 11, 2015

Haha I seen that gato before it's funny - Nickelbackfan1, Dec 11, 2015

English has several food items as well. I don't know if I am allowed to put a few examples or not. :) - bosquederoble, Dec 11, 2015

Answer 2

Regarding to Mardle answer, I want to add that in Spain the "dirty words" (known here as palabrotas used by children or tacos used by adults) are basic in the Spanish communication. We use hundreds of bad words all day.

In Spain the word coño (the vulgar way to refer to the female sex) is used for many things: some good and some bad. It is used as interjection to show surprise or many others feelings. In the same way as coño is used ¡¡ostias!!. It has no literal translation but it also means other things:

Te voy a dar una ostia I'm going to hit you

Esto es la ostia This is so cool or this is amazing

For me the best Spanish "dirty" word is cojones. It means man balls. There are a lot sentences that have a difference meaning in function of the other words of the sentence (the number of cojones also is used to give a different meaning. There is many Spanish post about this because is really funny:

Next text is copied from other web, but it is easy to find in many websites. It is in Spanish but it is too long to translate it now:

Si va acompañado de un numeral tiene significados distintos según el número utilizado. Así, uno significa costoso (valía un cojón), dos valentía (tiene dos cojones), pero tres significa desprecio (me importa tres cojones) y un número grande y par implica dificultad (conseguirlo me costó mil pares de cojones).

Por otra parte el verbo cambia el significado. Tener indica valentía (esa persona tiene cojones), aunque entre admiraciones indica sorpresa o incredulidad (¡la cosa tiene cojones!). Con el verbo poner se expresa un reto, especialmente si se pone en algunos lugares (puso los cojones encima de la mesa). También se utiliza para recalcar una apuesta (me corto los cojones) o para amenazar (si te veo con otra te corto los cojones).

El tiempo del verbo altera el significado de la frase. Así, el presente indica molestia, hastío o indiferencia (me toca los cojones), el reflexivo significa vagancia (está todo el día tocándose los cojones), pero el imperativo apunta sorpresa y amenaza (eso es, tócate los cojones).

Los prefijos y sufijos modulan su significado: “a” expresa miedo (acojonado), “des”, risa (descojonarse), el sufijo “udo”, excelencia, perfección (cojonudo) y “azo” indolencia (cojonazos).

Las preposiciones matizan la expresión: “de” significa logro, éxito (me salió de cojones) o cantidad (hacía un frío de cojones), “por” expresa voluntariedad (esto lo saco yo por cojones), “hasta” expresa límite de aguante (estoy hasta los cojones), pero “con” indica valor (eso era un tío con cojones) y “sin” cobardía o poco carácter (era un tío sin cojones).

El color, la forma, el tamaño o la tersura aportan más variantes. El color violeta expresa frío (se me quedaron los cojones morados), la forma puede expresar dejadez, holgazanería (tenía los cojones cuadrados), mientras que el desgaste implica experiencia (tenía los cojones pelados de repetirlo).

Importan también el tamaño y la posición (tenía los cojones grandes y bien plantados); sin embargo hay un tamaño máximo que no debe superarse (tiene los cojones como el caballo del Cid), porque entonces indica torpeza o vagancia. O también (ese tiene unos cojones que le cuelgan, o que se los pisa, o que se sienta sobre ellos o necesita una carretilla para llevarlos).

La interjección ¡cojones! es simplemente sorpresa. Cuando uno llega a la máxima perplejidad dirá: ¡manda cojones!.

Y es que en tan masculino lugar reside la voluntad y es ahí de donde surgen las órdenes (porque me sale de los cojones).

PD: It is also possible to replace the word cojones with huevos

I agree in Spain many words are used enthusiastically but thought as a female foreigner Nickel back should take care. Cojones by Arturo Perez Reverte on YouTube is good! - Mardle, Dec 11, 2015

This gave me a good laugh. Some of these would be quite hard to translate. - Manity, Dec 11, 2015

My neighbours on one side of thehouse use no normal words, only swearwords, my knowledge of these has improved greatly. My husband thought their young daughter´s name actually was cono, because they always shout ´´ Niña, coño´´ Yes. I believe she is actu - annierats, Dec 11, 2015

actually called Alegría, but this took me months to work out. - annierats, Dec 11, 2015

Jajaja, that's sentence remind me my childhood...Niño, coño!!! XD - txustaboy, Dec 11, 2015

'that sentence reminds me of my childhood' - Mardle, Dec 11, 2015

Thanks Mardle - txustaboy, Dec 22, 2015

Answer 3

Hi, agima. I think this is a difficult question to answer. It takes years of study, which you can do to get an understanding of the different cultures. One thing that comes to mind is the word "coger." That's a word you have to be careful about using because it could carry sexual connotations in some parts of the Hispanic world.

You seem to have a lot of questions on SD. My recommendation is to study Spanish through the use of learning materials like books that you might find at your local library, work on your skills by participating in the games, and over time a lot of these questions that you have will be answered.

And if you have a question that you'd like to ask every once in a while on SD please feel free to do so.

It's just a friendly suggestion from one Nickelback fan to another

Thanks Sassette you are very kind and smart and I will take your recommendation and study Spanish PS I did not know you were a Nickelback fan. :) - Nickelbackfan1, Dec 10, 2015

Sassette, I agree wholeheartedly with your answer. - annierats, Dec 10, 2015

What is a Nickelback? - 005faa61, Dec 10, 2015

The name of a Canadian rock group. - Mardle, Dec 10, 2015

What the lead singer used to give all the customers when they paid in cash for their coffees when he worked at Starbuck's.- A nickel back. Apparently the drink prices ended in 0.95. Or at least I saw him saw something like that on an interview once. - bosquederoble, Dec 10, 2015

It was Chad's brother Mike that came up with the name because when he gave change he would say here's your nickel back . - Nickelbackfan1, Dec 11, 2015

Sorry if i sounded rude did not mean to. :) - Nickelbackfan1, Dec 11, 2015

No problem I knew it was something like that, I watched the interview many years ago. :) - bosquederoble, Dec 11, 2015

Answer 4

Just keep improving your Spanish!

Sassette has suggested you avoid 'coger' This should definitely be avoided in Mexico, but is a common ordinary word in Spain. Notes in Spanish does lots of good free podcasts which will help you with Spanish in Spain and many informal phrases.

In Spain they have loads of expressions with 'huevos' but whilst some are regularly used most risk offending someone. People will be impressed you are trying to use their language. Make sure if you get to practice Spanish with a Spanish speaker they do not think it funny to teach you all the swear words. If you have a job interview or speak to someone who expects respect and formality just take care, but otherwise if you use an inappropriate phrase either through ignorance or bad pronunciation the person will giggle or quietly correct you.

At the moment you seem to be concentrating on translating lyrics from your favourite band - anything which encourages you to use the language is a benefit, but do not fill your head with lots of slang then not be able to engage in a simple conversation.

I am not going to list 'offensive' words here as

1. It is a waste of time

2. Words wrong in one country are ok elsewhere

3. In trying to avoid the forbidden words you will probably learn them!

You have to be careful with slang as it can sound dated and what teenagers say to each other may offend or mystify another group.

If you are keen check on the internet.

Meanwhile here is a song which I and I am sure others have posted before. They are easy to listen to and explain the different meanings of words. This is a video plus words in Spanish.

I know on youtube they have also posted a version with English subtitles

Que dificíl es hablar español

Edit - here is one with English or you can click for Spanish subtitles:

how difficult is it to speak Spanish

Thanks Mardle :) - Nickelbackfan1, Dec 10, 2015

OK I have now added the version with English subtitles. - Mardle, Dec 10, 2015

I am sure the word Qué in the sentence above: Qué difícil es hablar español should have an accent on the é, otherwise it means 'that' instead of How in this context! - FELIZ77, Dec 10, 2015

Very good advice, Mardle :) - FELIZ77, Dec 10, 2015

It should I was typing on my tablet and didn't add it. I will edit it when I am on my laptop. - Mardle, Dec 10, 2015

Answer 5

Just a "quickie"

Just learn proper Spanish. As a foreign tourist, you will probably make many mistakes. Indeed you are almost expected to. If you accidently drop a "palabrota" It will give those you are with a good chuckle, before they correct you.

(There is even a mistake in the cartoon)

;) - jrschenk, Dec 11, 2015