hijueputa / hijo de puta

ˈi.xo ðe ˈpu.tafamily insult, gendered slur

What does hijueputa / hijo de puta mean? hijueputa / hijo de puta is a Spanish severe that translates to “son of a bitch / motherfucker” in English.

son of a whore / son of a bitch

01

"son of a bitch / motherfucker"

Male person born to a prostitute; general term for despicable male.

¡Hijo de puta, me engañaste! (Son of a bitch, you tricked me!)

Context

  • Expressing strong frustration or emphasis
  • Only among very close friends who share this register

Avoid

  • Professional or formal settings
  • Around elders or authority figures
  • Public spaces — will cause genuine offense
  • Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations

Cultural Context

Universal Spanish insult but severity varies. 'Hijueputa' is the contracted form common in Colombia and Central America. In Spain, 'hijo de puta' is extremely offensive. Can be used with admiration for someone clever or tough ('¡Qué hijo de puta!' = What a clever bastard!). The feminine 'hija de puta' is equally severe. Attacking someone's mother is grave in all Spanish-speaking cultures.

More in Spanish 🇪🇸

View all →
3 / 5sexual, gendered slur

puta

ˈpu.ta

whore / bitch / fucking (as intensifier)

Prostitute or promiscuous woman; used as general expletive or intensifier. When combined with 'madre' becomes extremely severe.

3 / 5character attack, sexual act

pajero

paˈxe.ɾo

wanker / lazy bastard / flake

Someone who masturbates a lot; figuratively, a supremely lazy person or someone who talks a lot but never follows through.

4 / 5scatological, character attack

comemierda

ˌko.meˈmjeɾ.ða

arrogant prick / stuck-up bitch / full of shit

A deeply arrogant, conceited person who thinks they are better than everyone else, or alternatively, a complete fool.

3 / 5family insult, exclamation

la madre que te parió

la ˈma.ðɾe ke te paˈɾjo

you son of a bitch / goddammit to hell

An exclamation of anger, frustration, or bewildered amazement directed at someone. It leaves the actual insult unsaid but heavily implied.

4 / 5verb, sexual

chingar

tʃinˈɡaɾ

to fuck / to screw / to mess with

Ubiquitous Mexican verb with dozens of meanings including to bother, ruin, steal, drink heavily, or engage in sexual activity. The center of Mexican profanity.

4 / 5anatomical, regional variant

concha

ˈkon.tʃa

cunt / pussy

Seashell in Spain and most of Latin America; vulgar slang for female genitalia in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, and parts of Mexico.

2 / 5anatomical, character attack

pelotudo

pe.loˈtu.ðo

idiot / moron / dumbass

Stupid person, idiot. Similar to boludo but slightly more insulting in Argentina.

4 / 5exclamation, anatomical

la concha de la lora

la ˈkon.tʃa ðe la ˈlo.ɾa

for fuck's sake / godfuckingdammit

An exclamation of extreme frustration, surprise, or anger. It vividly expresses that a situation has gone completely wrong.