Cursing

Even if you don't personally want to swear in Spanish, I think this is still important info for a couple reasons. One, swearing is a part of language and an important part of becoming fluent. Two, I think it's important to know when you're being insulted so you can react appropriately. Three, many of these swears are not that bad and you could say around your family, some are very bad and many people may take offense to, and some are slurs you absolutely shouldn't touch.

I also thought swearing was important to include here because it's difficult to find lists that are specific to one country, and also updated to how people actually talk. It's also something you might not be able to directly ask your family about, as I usually suggest doing.

Many of these are used among friends casually, think like how Australians talk.

This is going to be very Puerto Rico specific, as cursing is incredibly coloquial and changes a ton based on area. Make sure you know what you're saying and who you're saying it to before using these. Some words which may be used even jokingly, affectionately, or even that aren't considered curse words in Puerto Rico (Like coño) may be VERY VERY VULGAR AND OFFENSIVE in other countries.

  • Pendejo - Stupid
  • Cojerte de pendejo - Taken you for a fool, they tricked you
  • Cabrón - Literally means big male goat. Can mean cuckold, used as a general insult. Female version is Cabróna. No one would ever use this word for an actual goat.
  • Carajo, vete par carajo - Comes from the crow's nest on boats. No one wanted to be up in the crow's nest, so it was used as punishment. Vete par carajo is used the same as go to hell. Spanishdict says it also means male genitalia, I've never heard this use. Carajo is also used as an exclamation similar to "shit" or "fuck" in English.
  • Puñeta - Very vulgar, literally means masturbation, also used as exclamation
  • Coño - The word you use when you stub your toe. Not really vulgar in Puerto Rico. But it's incredibly vulgar in other countries!
  • Diablo - The devil. Exclamation, or "¡Ea Diablo!" used as surprise, positive or negative, kind of like "Daaamn!" or "Holy shit!"
  • Dios mio, Ay Dios mio - literally "Oh my god". Basically not vulgar, its exactly the same as saying oh my god in English.
  • Bendito sea Dios - Frustrated exclamation.
  • Maricon, marica - Faggot. This is very much a slur. It's also very commonly used. It is also not reclaimed by gay people in the same way fag is in the United States. This is the only one on the list I'd recommend you should really not say in conversation with anyone.
  • Joder - Literally means to fuck. Used more in Spain than in Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico used to mean "bother". "No joda mas" "Deje de joder". Still very much vulgar.
  • Bicho, bicha - In Spain, just means an insect. In Puerto Rico means "dick", as in male genitalia, or as in someone who's a jerk.
  • Mamabicho - Cocksucker. This one is listed as Puerto Rico specific on Spanishdict.
  • Hijueputa - Son of a bitch
  • Idiota - Idiot, an insult but only as vulgar as it is in english
  • Estupida - Stupid, same as idiota its an insult but not like a curse word
  • Maldita, maldita sea - Damn, damn it