pendejo
What does “pendejo” mean in English?
It’s primarily an insult meaning fool or asshole in many Latin American countries. Literally, it translates to 'pubic hair,' which adds a layer of insult in context.
Literally “pubic hair”
You’ll encounter it as a directed insult, similar to calling someone a 'dumbass' or 'idiot' in English. Its strength can vary, and in some areas, it can also refer to a young person, so context is key.
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Related Spanish words
pendejada
3/5 · VulgarIt refers to a stupid act or nonsense. Often used to describe something foolish or trivial.
gilipollas
3/5 · VulgarIt's a vulgar insult for someone who's acting like a fool or an arsehole. It's particularly common in Spain.
capullo
3/5 · VulgarIt's an insult for someone who's being a complete idiot or obnoxious. Literally, it refers to a bud or cocoon, but that's not the point here.
chulomierda
3/5 · VulgarThis is an insult for someone who is an arrogant or swaggering fool. It literally translates to 'shit show-off.'
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About this data
Swear Atlas is a source-attested, AI-curated reference — not a native-speaker-certified dictionary. Meanings and the 1–5 Burn Rating are approximate editorial assessments that vary with context, region, tone and speaker. Inclusion of a word does not constitute endorsement of its use.
The literal gloss is a short editorial translation to show word-for-word sense, not an etymological claim.
“Sounds like” is an English-friendly approximation of how the word sounds, not an authoritative pronunciation. Where shown, the romanisation is a conventional Latin-script transliteration of the original spelling.
Term attested via LDNOOBW, 4troDev/profanity.csv, Viddexa SafeText (CC-BY-4.0, MIT). Editorial content © Swear Atlas.