13 Palabrotas That Don't Mean S#*@ In English

Started by HuffingtonPost, May 03, 2013, 01:30 PM

HuffingtonPost



As anyone who speaks more than one language knows, words don't always translate precisely.

In Spanish that's particularly true of curse words.

Many Spanish swear words and insults cover similar territory to their English counterparts. Defecation, genitalia and intercourse provide the basis for a lot of both languages' more taboo expressions.

But there's a lot of Spanish words out there whose literal meaning differs considerably from its figurative meaning. For Spanish speakers, it's not confusing -- the colloquial meaning of the words are clear, whether or not one reflects on the words' origins.

English speakers, on the other hand, might have a hard time understanding why some Spanish speakers refer to idiots as "pubic hairs" or others say that they "poop on the poop" when they're frustrated.

Check out 13 palabrotas that make no sense when translated into English in the slideshow above.

Via: HuffingtonPost