maricón
What does maricón mean? maricón is a Spanish severe that translates to “faggot / pussy / coward” in English.
Literal Translation
faggot / gay man (from María)
Meaning & Usage
"faggot / pussy / coward"
Homophobic slur for gay men; also used to call someone cowardly or unmanly regardless of sexuality.
Examples in the Wild
¡No seas maricón, aguanta! (Don't be a pussy/coward, take it! - offensive)
When to Use It
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
Extremely offensive homophobic slur in most contexts, though sometimes reclaimed within LGBTQ+ communities. In Spain and Latin America, deeply insulting to straight men (implying lack of masculinity). In Colombia and Venezuela, 'marica' has been somewhat reclaimed among young men as 'dude' or 'bro', but 'maricón' remains severe. The word carries violent connotations and historical persecution of gay men. Use constitutes hate speech in many contexts.
More in Spanish 🇪🇸
View all →puta
“whore / bitch / fucking (as intensifier)”
Prostitute or promiscuous woman; used as general expletive or intensifier. When combined with 'madre' becomes extremely severe.
pajero
“wanker / lazy bastard / flake”
Someone who masturbates a lot; figuratively, a supremely lazy person or someone who talks a lot but never follows through.
comemierda
“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.
la madre que te parió
“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.
chingar
“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.
concha
“cunt / pussy”
Seashell in Spain and most of Latin America; vulgar slang for female genitalia in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, and parts of Mexico.
pelotudo
“idiot / moron / dumbass”
Stupid person, idiot. Similar to boludo but slightly more insulting in Argentina.
la concha de la lora
“for fuck's sake / godfuckingdammit”
An exclamation of extreme frustration, surprise, or anger. It vividly expresses that a situation has gone completely wrong.