MovieChat Forums > Narcos (2015) Discussion > Does Spanish only have one swear word?

Does Spanish only have one swear word?


Seriously, almost every time they swear, the word they actually say is "puta." Specifically, I know it is used for both *beep* and "bitch." A direct translation according to google is whore/prostitute. Does it mean all of these things, or is Netflix just playing fast and loose with the translations?

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Puta is pretty much an all purpose and popular swear word much like the English equivalent of f#@k which though traditionally a verb is used as a noun, adjective and adverb. I have Cuban friends and instead of puta it's coño, another all purpose curse word. In fact if some of my friends could not use the word coño, I'm not sure they would be able to verbalize a proper sentence.


He killed sixteen Czechoslovakians. Guy was an interior decorator.

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Listen harder. I'm pretty sure they say "marica" and "maricon" a lot too.

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You can use puta for every purpose, so it's handy.

Obviously Spanish has more swear words but it's generally a bad language for swearing. My native language has like a million very unique swear words and knowing French I know there are other languages that are very inventive with cursing as well. I don't find Spanish to be one of those, most of the insults are lame and unimaginative, although that is obviously country-specific more than language-specific. Like the Brits and the Americans speak the same language but the Brits are soooooo much better at cursing.


Do you even know what honor is?
- A horse.

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I guess my question was more about the meaning. I know that is the word they are using, but it is being translated in the subtitles to mean different things. I was wondering if it is an incorrect translation or if it the word means different English equivalents based on the context.

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Puta means:
Slut bitch whore
Marika Maricon means:
*beep* and I'm using the worst word because it's a meant as an insult in the most demeaning way.

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"Puta" can be used aswell as a shorter form for "Me cago en la Puta" so it is not talking about anyone in particular but about a "puta" *beep* situation.
Anyway I think they use much more the words marica, gonorrea and above the rest malparido.

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So when would the word 'chinga' be used? I always figured it would be more common to use that rather than 'puta', and I don't recall hearing it at all on the show.

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Chinga *beep* is used exclusively (or nearly, with the meaning we are discussing) in Mexican spanish, so it's normal that it isn't heard.

I think that the OP is confused about hearing all the time "puta" instead of "hijueputa" (son of a bitch) that is used all the time in the series, along with malparido (more or less bastardo) and marica (queer).

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'Chinga' is a Mexican word! That would be like hearing 'shag' on an American show...shm.

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Ah, makes perfect sense now. Thanks for clearing that up, guys.

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You're welcome!

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There are tons of curse words in Spanish. These are only Colombian curse words below and I direct them at you OP ;D

Hijueputa
Gonorrea
Malparido
Tarado
Bobo
Estupido
Idiota
Mongolico
Atolondrado
Pichurria
Gonorriento
Percanta
Pirovo
Zunga
Guisa
Marica
Maricon
Perra
Sapo Hijueputa
Huevon o Guevon
BalurdoLoca
Arrogante
Prepotente
Insulso
Imbecil
Lampara
Ñero
Pato
Garbimba
Ridiculo
Simplon
Gorsofia
Gurrupleta
Piroberta
Guache
Gasofia
Hueva o Gueba
Care Chimba
Chunchurria
Pendejo
Corroncho
Care Monda
Zorra
Fufa
Fufurufa
Mierda
Jodanse
Jódete
Coscorria
Bazofia
Guasampiro
Ordinario
Garnupia
Atontado
Mediocre
Cretino
Baboso
Bobalicon
Tontarron
Bruto
Insensato
Mamerto
Puberto
Culicagado
Menso
Lerdo
Muergano
Obtuso
Tarado
Lambon
Zuripanta

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Malparido seemed like the dominant insulting way to describe an adversary in season two. It kind of means that whoever they are describing was poorly born, shouldn't have been born or maybe implies they should have been an abortion. It was interesting to read the subtitles while knowing Spanish. They were seldom exact translations but the main points were dead on.

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"Malparido" means that. Someone who was born with a defect/retardation or some other health issue which Pablo referred to a lot as.

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