8

A random question,

In English I use words like 'bloody', 'damn', 'darn', 'blimmin', 'bleedin', 'freaking', to express frustration without using harsh swear words. (Ok maybe 'freaking' is just a spin on a swear word to make it sound less harsh)

For example:

"You took your bloody time!"

"I can't find the blimmin TV remote!"

"Im pretty damn hungry!"

Are there an equivalent ways to express frustration without using really harsh swear words?

I know that these words are very region dependent but is there a common word that is widely accepted in most regions?

These are really common colloquialisms in English (at least where I live). You also hear them often in movies or TV shows when people want to avoid using harsh swear words.

Cheers =)

Improve this question
2
  • It's worth mentioning that many of these you mentioned are very specific to British English (which shows that they're region-dependent even in English).
    – jrdioko
    Commented Jan 20, 2012 at 3:37
  • Yeah I suppose they are used more in some places than others. I'm from New Zealand and they are very common here. Also these words may not be used much in other regions but I think that they would be easily understood/recognised.
    – Kage
    Commented Jan 20, 2012 at 3:43

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
8

Here it goes some light words for it

maldito / maldita

condenado/ condenada

puñetero / puñetera

dichoso / dichosa (thanks to MikMik)

And this other one which is stronger. It is considered a swearword.

jodido / jodida

All of them are adjectives and are usually used before a noun (not after it), e.g.

Apaga la maldita televisión

I think all of them are quite international, but if not comments are welcome to correct it.

Improve this answer
2
  • An even lighter one, in my opinion, would be dichoso.
    – MikMik
    Commented Jan 24, 2012 at 12:05
  • "puñetero" is not used in Argentina, all others are ok. "dichoso" is the less rude one.
    – leonbloy
    Commented Jan 25, 2012 at 14:37
6

In Mexico, pinche is quite common:

¡Apaga la pinche televisión!

Improve this answer
2
  • Aha, I have heard this on Mexican Youtube shows but never knew quite how to translate it, ty
    – Kage
    Commented Jan 22, 2012 at 20:21
  • 1
    @Kage: Be careful with "pinche", it is a swearword. You could use "mentado/mentada" as in "¡Apaga la mentada televisión!"
    – Sergio Romero
    Commented Apr 30, 2012 at 21:40
4

This is definitely regional, but many (most?) Spanish countries don't have a problem with using swear words, except in very formal contexts. As an example, we found it silly when they bleep them out in american TV shows.

Some not-too-hard expressions used in Argentina are del orto and carajo:

Este auto del orto no quiere arrancar.

Tengo un calor del carajo.

Then there are harsher ones, like de mierda, or puto/a. The latter, when used as an adjective, is equivalent to English's fucking:

¿Dónde están las putas llaves?

As said before, you might not want to use them with a customer, but you'll definitely hear them on TV, even during the day.

Improve this answer
2
  • These one are quite common indeed, but also rather swear words :-) BTW "orto" is a strong-rude argentine word for "ass (buttocks)"
    – leonbloy
    Commented Jan 25, 2012 at 14:40
  • I wouldn't think of "orto" as strong. The thing is, we don't use any "pseudo-swear" words like maldito here.
    – Diego Mijelshon
    Commented Jan 25, 2012 at 14:47

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.