These contain some examples of vulgar language.
 Download mp3 (file size 2 MB) - right click and choose 'save target as'
 Get a print version of this page
This is the area in which you're most likely to hear a huge variety of expressions ranging from simple sarcasm to crude insults and creative metaphors. When things get a bit out of hand, verbal sparks can fly.  You're getting on my nerves
Get lost!
Looking for trouble
(* = familiar, ** = very familiar, *** = vulgar, R = plain rude, Lit. = Literally)
Dar la paliza (*) Lit. To give (someone) the thrashing. To bug/hassle (someone).
Se pasa el día dándome la paliza en el trabajo (*) She spends the day bugging me at work.
Un tío/Una tía paliza, pesado/a, pelma (**) An annoying man/woman.
Ser un plomo/plomazo (*) Lit. To be (as heavy as) lead. To be very dull and boring. Applies to both people and things.
Su última novela es un auténtico plomazo (*) His latest novel is an absolute yawn.
Ser un muermo (*) Something or someone so quiet and/or boring that you fall asleep.
La discoteca fue un muermo total (*) The nightclub was dead.
Me importa un pimiento(*)/pepino(*)/comino(*)/pito(*)/tres cojones (***) Lit. I care as much as a pepper/cucumber/cumin seed/a whistle/three testicles. In other words, I don't give a damn.
Nuestra opinión le importa un pepino (*) He doesn't care what we think. back to the top Cabrearse (*) To get pissed off.
Estar cabreado (**) To be pissed off.
Me estás cabreando (*) You're getting on my nerves.
Estoy cabreado (*) I'm pissed off.
Tocar los huevos/las narices (***/*) Lit. To touch (someone's) testicles/noses (yes, in plural to add more drama!). To piss (someone) off.
Lleva todo el día tocándome las narices y se va a arrepentir (*) She's been getting on my nerves all day and she's going to regret it.
Dar la lata/ser una lata (*) Lit. To give the tin/ be a tin. To be a pain.
Deja ya de dar la lata y vete a dormir (*) Lit. Stop giving the tin and go to sleep. Stop being such a pain and go to sleep.
El horno no está para bollos (*) Lit. The oven is not ready for buns. It means you're not in the mood for any nonsense.
¡Pírate! ¡Lárgate! ¡Piérdete! (**) Ways of saying: Get lost!
¡Déjame en paz! (*) Lit. Leave me in peace! Leave me alone.
¡Vete a freír espárragos! (*) Lit. Go off and fry asparagus. Basically disappear and do whatever you want as long as it is out of my sight!
¡Vete a hacer puñetas! (**) Lit. Go off and make lace cuffs! Las puñetas were very fashionable in the olden days, with very intricate designs requiring meticulous and patient job. Hence a way of telling someone to get lost.
¡Vete a la mierda! (R) Lit. Go off to the shit! Obviously the rudest expression of the lot.
back to the top Borde (*) Lit. Edge. Used when someone has a bad attitude.
Es una tía super borde (*) She's a girl with really bad attitude.
Tener mala sangre/leche/uva (*) Lit. To have bad blood/milk/grapes. To be a bad-tempered, nasty person.
Hay que tener mala uva para echarla así de casa (*) You need to be quite nasty to kick her out of home like that.
Un animal, un/una bestia, un/una bruto/a (*) Lit. An animal, a brute. Used to describe someone when they use unnecessary force.
¡Tío, eres un bestia, lo has vuelto a romper! (*) Mate, you're too much, you've broken it again!
Cabrón/Cabrona (**) Lit. Cuckold. Based on the word cabra "goat" with the intensifier, it means "bastard/bitch".
La muy cabrona le robó el dinero (**) The bitch stole his money.
Poner los cuernos (**) Lit. To put horns (on somebody). To cuckold somebody. Hence the connection with una cabra, a goat (see above). back to the top |
