maldita sea
What does maldita sea mean? maldita sea is a Spanish moderate that translates to “goddammit / damn it to hell” in English.
Literal Translation
let it be cursed
Meaning & Usage
"goddammit / damn it to hell"
A generalized curse expressing frustration with the world at large.
Examples in the Wild
Muttered while running through the rain after dropping your umbrella.
Regional Variations
When to Use It
Context
- Casual conversations with friends
- Informal settings where profanity is accepted
- As a spontaneous exclamation
Avoid
- Professional or formal settings
- Around religious or conservative communities
- Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations
Cultural Context
One of the most cinematic curses in Spanish. If you watch a dubbed Hollywood action movie, 'maldita sea' is exactly what the voice actor yells when the bomb has 3 seconds left. In real life, it's widely used across all dialects as a medium-spicy interjection. It invokes religious cursing ('damned be') without explicitly targeting God, making it acceptable for television but still retaining dramatic flair.
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An exclamation of extreme frustration, surprise, or anger. It vividly expresses that a situation has gone completely wrong.
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“whore / bitch / fucking (as intensifier)”
Prostitute or promiscuous woman; used as general expletive or intensifier. When combined with 'madre' becomes extremely severe.
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“fucking (intensifier) / male whore / faggot”
Male prostitute; homophobic slur; or intensifier similar to 'fucking'.
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To have sexual intercourse. It is the absolute standard vulgar verb for sex in Spain.
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Stupid person, idiot. Similar to boludo but slightly more insulting in Argentina.