These contain some examples of vulgar language.
Download mp3 (file size 700 KB) - right click and choose 'save target as'
Get a print version of this page
Many general expressions can be traced back to Catholic themes. Although religious people frown upon them, they're in general use and you can even hear them on prime-time TV shows. Here are some of them. Hostia
La Virgen
Dichoso
(* = familiar, ** = very familiar, *** = vulgar, R = plain rude, Lit. = Literally)
Hostia (**) Lit. Host. Colloquially used to mean several things: Dar/pegar una hostia (**) To hit, slap or smack. Como no te calles, te voy a dar una hostia (**) If you don't shut up, I'm going to smack you.
... de la hostia (**) Lit. ... of the host
This expression is added to nouns to indicate if something's very good, very big or very intense: Tengo un frío de la hostia (**) I am absolutely freezing. Se compró una casa de la hostia (**) She bought a massive house.
Es la hostia (**) Lit. It's the host
It's amazing, funny, cool or incredible; it can be applied to people and things: Su nuevo coche es la hostia, tiene de todo (**) His new car is amazing, it has the lot. back to the top La Virgen María (*) is Mother Mary, but la virgen is used colloquially to mean the following: ... de la virgen is added to nouns to indicate if something's very good, very big or very intense. ¡Virgen Santa! ¡Virgen Santísima! (*) Oh my God! Goodness me! ¡Virgen Santa! ¿Qué te ha pasado? (*) Oh my God! What happened to you? back to the top dichoso/a (*) Lit. full of happiness, usually of a religious nature. However, it's mostly used to curse something that's gone wrong: Ya se ha vuelto a estropear el dichoso ordenador (*) The damned PC has broken down again. back to the top |