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"Rajo" is a form of "rajar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to crack". "Carajo" is an interjection which is often translated as "fuck". Learn more about the difference between "carajo" and "rajo" below.
carajo(
kah
-
rah
-
hoh
)An interjection is a short utterance that expresses emotion, hesitation, or protest (e.g., Wow!).
1. (vulgar) (to express anger or surprise)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
2. (vulgar) (male genitalia)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
3. (vulgar) (for emphasis)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¡Carajo con esta cafetera! Necesitamos comprar otra.This damn coffeemaker! We need to buy another one.
¿Dónde carajo puse mi cartera?Where the hell did I put my wallet?
a. damn thing (vulgar)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
No entendí un carajo de lo que dijiste.I didn't understand a damn thing you said.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
5. (pejorative) (vulgar) (contemptible person) (Latin America)
An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g., redneck).
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
rajar(
rrah
-
hahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to break)
a. to crack
El candelabro cayó al suelo y rajó los cerámicos.The chandelier fell to the ground and cracked the tiles.
b. to tear
Escapamos y vimos como el oso rajó la tela de la tienda de campaña.We escaped and saw the bear tear the fabric of the tent.
c. to rip
¡Rajaste las medias con tus uñas largas!You've ripped your pantyhose with your long nails!
2. (colloquial) (to stab)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to knife (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Sacó un cuchillo y me dijo, "¡Dame la billetera o te rajo!"He pulled out a knife and said, "Give me your wallet or I'll knife you!"
b. to cut up (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Un tipo borracho me rajó la cara con una botella rota.A drunk man cut up my face with a broken bottle.
c. to slash
Si te vuelvo a ver por este barrio, te rajo el cuello.If I see you in this neighborhood again, I'll slash your throat.
3. (education) (South America)
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
a. to fail
Rajé el examen de matemáticas porque no tuve tiempo para estudiar.I failed the math exam because I didn't have time to study.
b. to flunk (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
Si rajo este examen, me quitan la beca.If I flunk the exam, I will lose my scholarship.
4. (colloquial) (to lay off) (River Plate)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to fire
Hace rato que no veo a Marcos en la oficina. - Lo rajaron la semana pasada.I haven't seen Marcos around in the office in a while. - He got fired last week.
5. (colloquial) (to throw out) (Southern Cone)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to kick out (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Mi jefe amenazó con rajarme de la oficina si sigo llegando tarde al trabajo.My boss threatened to kick me out of the office if I keep on showing up late for work.
6. (colloquial) (to inform on) (Mexico)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. to rat out (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¿Qué te pasa? ¿Por qué me rajaste con el jefe?What's your problem? Why did you rat me out to the boss?
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
7. (colloquial) (to speak ill; used with "de") (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to bad-mouth (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
No rajarías del yoga si alguna vez lo hubieras practicado.You wouldn't badmouth yoga if you had tried it.
b. to run down
No la contratamos porque se la pasó rajando de su trabajo anterior.We didn't hire her because she kept on running down her previous job.
c. to slander
Mis colegas rajan de mí porque están celosos.My coworkers slander me because they are jealous.
d. to slag off (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Aunque los críticos la rajen, es una actriz brillante.Despite being slagged off by critics, she's a brilliant actress.
8. (colloquial) (to talk incessantly) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. to chatter
Ya deja de rajar, hombre. Me estás dando jaqueca.Stop chattering, man. You're giving me a headache.
9. (colloquial) (to flee) (South America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
b. to hightail it (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
Rajemos del parque antes de que se largue el diluvio.Let's hightail it from the park before it starts pouring.
c. to scarper (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Los inquilinos rajaron y se llevaron todo del apartamento antes de que el dueño pudo cobrar el alquiler.The tenants scarpered and cleared the apartment before the landlord could collect the rent.
rajarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
10. (to break)
d. to rip
La costura del pantalón se rajó cuando me senté.The seam on my pants ripped when I sat down.
11. (colloquial) (to refrain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to back out
Cuando fui a tirarme en paracaídas, me rajé al momento de saltar.When I went skydiving, I backed out when I had to jump.
b. to pull out
Tenía planeado ir a navegar, pero me rajé en el último momento.I intended to go sailing, but I pulled out at the last minute.
12. (colloquial) (education) (South America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
a. to fail
¡Un cuatro en Literatura! Si me rajo otra vez, mis padres me matarán.A four in Literature! If I fail again, my parents will kill me.
b. to flunk (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
¿Cómo te fue en el examen de física? - Me rajé porque no había estudiado mucho.How did you do on the physics exam? - I flunked because I hadn't studied much.
13. (colloquial) (to flee) (South America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
a. to run away
Me rajé cuando el perro me empezó a ladrar.I ran away when the dog started barking at me.
b. to hightail it (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
Rajémosnos antes de que llegue la policía.Let's hightail it before the cops get here.
c. to scarper (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Este es un barrio peligroso. Rajémonos o nos van a robar.This is a dangerous area. Let's scarper or we're going to get mugged.
14. (colloquial) (to be charitable) (Bolivia) (Chile)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Bolivia
Regionalism used in Chile
a. to be generous
Mis suegros se rajaron y nos pagaron la luna de miel.My in-laws were generous and paid for our honeymoon.
15. (colloquial) (to boast) (Costa Rica)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Costa Rica
a. to show off (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Deja de rajar con tu nuevo lap, Javier.Stop showing off with your new laptop, Javier.
