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I recently saw this billboard in León, Guanajuato, México:

Tecate billboard

[Sorry for the awkward placement of the light pole in the photo; I was driving when I snapped it.]

The sign is an advertisement for Tecate beer, and follows a pattern similar to other Tecate advertisements which also read "Es fácil ser hombre", with some sort of clever or cute photo with a simple caption. (The one I recall was a wire coat hanger as a TV antenna).

But this one puzzles me. What does a photo of a woman, and the caption "Prima" mean in this context?

There must be some double-meaning with which I am unfamiliar.

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  • It can also be used as the words beautiful, lovely and sexy. – user7143 Dec 10 '14 at 23:10
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In this context, "Prima" means the same thing you're most likely thinking (female cousin), the deeper meaning comes from a Mexican (vulgar) saying that goes:

A la Prima se le arrima

The word arrima in this particular case has sexual connotations (kind of bringing your genitals closer to her, so to speak).

Paraphrasing some guy on the Wordreference forums:

Situation: Jorge and Juan are at a coffee shop. Jorge greets a chick that's passing by, and Juan asks: "Quien es ella?"; these are 2 possible scenarios based on that:

  1. Jorge states she's his cousin, and says: "Tu prima bien buena, presentame a tu prima, porque a la prima se le arrima, ¿O no?"

  2. Jorge states she's Jose's cousin (He's one of their friends), and then says: "Esta buenisima, dile a Jose que me presente a su prima, porque a la prima se le arrima"

So basically as you can see the lady in the advertisement is quite attractive and following the premise that Es fácil ser hombre it's easy for a guy to see a beautiful lady and want to do "nasty" things with her or something like that...

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    A la prima se le arrima hasta que gima y si es prima hermana, con más ganas the complete phrase in Perú. – El_Mochiq Feb 24 '14 at 22:55
  • It should be pointed out that the word "Prima" also has a specific (and quite boring) meaning in financial /insurance terms, meaning the same as in the english "Primes or Premiums". However, Prima in this instance is referring to the first meaning of this homonym, namely: female cousin. – hlecuanda Mar 18 '17 at 12:30
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You can have a lot of female cousins and your wife, girlfriend or date probably won't meet them all. So if you happen to be talking or spending a lot of time with a girl or even seeing someone else and your partner/date questions you about her it's a great excuse to say she is your cousin since she can't get mad that you are spending time with your "family".

-"Y ¿quién es tu amiguita?","¿De quién es esa foto?", "¿Con quién estabas hablando?", etc.

-"Es mi prima."

-"Ah... ok."

That's why it also says "Es fácil ser hombre"

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    Yes, I do agree with you Newbie... although the other answers I have seen so far are OK as well. Nevertheless, I would say that your interpretation of the advertisement is much closer to what the Tecate marketing people were trying to convey. – Antonio Mejia Aug 26 '13 at 15:39
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@darkajax answer gives probably the most accurate connotation, but I'd say that it's not the only one. A la prima se le arrima is unarguably the topic they evoke with the word prima in there, but arrimar is not always an euphemism for "bringing your genitals closer to her". It also means just

"introduce me to your cousin, that's what you are expected to do with a cousin!".

Therefore, I don't consider it always as an offense. Of course in the Tecate poster, it's the vulgar connotation they refer to, but I complement darkajax's answer just to let people know that the phrase it's not always that vulgar.

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  • Good point! Its one of the most prevalent "Rhyme sayings". In mexico we're particularly fond of those – hlecuanda Mar 18 '17 at 12:26
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Prima in proper spanish is a cousin. However, in colloquial terms or slang, prima can be a good friend one socializes with often. Like homegirl in english.

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