Colourful Spanish expressions – A class in streetwise slang & vulgar vocab



Fancy coming to my Spanish class? My classmates, Cat, Matt and Lia and our Spanish teacher, Ana take a break from grammar and share our favourite colourful Spanish expressions, sayings and vulgar vocabulary. If you’re easily offended you might want to skip this episode!

Have you ever needed to describe bad sex? Uff! There’s a phrase for that. Do you carry a torch for someone or have feelings for an old flame? Do you consider yourself to be jammy? Lucky you! But how do you say all of these things in Spanish? Ever wanted to call someone a sucker or a loser? Ouch!  We’ll tell you how in this episode of When in Spain, along with other useful everyday expressions like, ‘That’s all I needed!’, ‘About time!’ and ‘Talk of the devil!’. And what does it mean when you’re grandmother gives birth?! Find out in our streetwise Spanish class!

Here’s a list of the phrases and vocab from the episode!
  • ¡Me cago en la cuna que me arrulló! (I shit in the the cradle that rocked me!)
  • ¡Me cago en la leche! (I shit in the milk!)
  • ¡Me cago en la virgen! (I shit on the virgin!)
  • ¡Me cago en tu madre! (I shit on your mother!)
  • ¡Me cago en Dios! (I shit on God!)
  • ¡Me cago en tus muertos! (I shit on your dead relatives) = To express annoyance, anger, disbelief
  • Donde hubo fuego cenizas quedan (Where there was a fire ashes remain) = old flames die hard / where there’s smoke, there’s fire / to carry a torch for someone/ still have feelings for someone after a romance has ended.
  • Donde hubo fuego, siempre quedan rescoldos (Where there was a fire, embers always remain) = old flames die hard / where there’s smoke, there’s fire / to carry a torch for someone/ still have feelings for someone after a romance has ended.
  • Cortar el bacalao (to cut the cod) = to wear the trousers/to be the boss/to call the shots
  • Follar peor que un perro sin patas delanteras (To fuck worse than a dog without front legs) = To have bad sex
  • Sobre gustos no hay nada escrito (There’s nothing written about tastes)
  • Para gustos, los colores y para tetas sujetadores (For tastes, colours and for tits bras) =There’s no accounting for taste / each to their own
  • ¡A buenas horas mangas verdes! (About time green sleeves!) = Too little too late!/better late than never!/ About time too! / to lock the barn door after the horse has bolted/ Don’t cry over spilt milk.
  • ¡Hablando del Rey de Roma, por la puerta asoma! (Talking of the King of Rome, at the door he appears!) = Talk of the devil!
  • ¡Éramos pocos y parió la abuela! (There were a few of us and grandmother gave birth!) = This is the last straw! / “Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse! / That’s all we needed!
  • ¡Lo que faltaba! (What was missing) =That’s all I needed!
  • ¡Qué morro! (What a snout!) = What a cheek! / What a nerve! / Lucky you! / Good for you!/ Bully for you!
  • Pringao = looser/ sucker / minion / a nobody / small fry

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WHAT IS WHEN IN SPAIN?

The When in Spain show is a weekly podcast show, recorded in Madrid (and other parts of Spain) where l talk about my ‘warts and all’ observations and insights on life and culture on the Iberian peninsular.

I cast an eye on everyday life, people, places, politics, culture and history and attempt to give an honest opinion from a Brit who has a love-frustration relationship with Spain. I shall attempt to dispel or indeed confirm Spanish stereotypes through my ramblings and see if I can delve into the Spanish psyche.

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WHO THE HELL IS WHEN IN SPAIN?

I’m Paul Burge, former BBC journalist, Hispanophile and Manchego lover. A Brit, born in Oxford and living in Spain for almost 5 years. I currently live in the centre of Madrid.

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CONTACT wheninspain1@outlook.com