rompebolas

rom.peˈβo.lascharacter attack, anatomical

What does rompebolas mean? rompebolas is a Spanish moderate that translates to “pain in the ass / ball-breaker” in English.

ball-breaker

01

"pain in the ass / ball-breaker"

An exceptionally irritating, persistent, and annoying person or situation.

Complaining to your sibling about your mother's constant checking in.

Argentina
Uruguay

Context

  • Casual conversations with friends
  • Informal settings where profanity is accepted

Avoid

  • Professional or formal settings
  • Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations

Cultural Context

The Argentine cousin to Spain's 'tocapelotas'. It perfectly describes a nagging parent, a clingy partner, or a bureaucratic hurdle that just won't go away. Despite the anatomical reference to testicles ('bolas'), women use it constantly and apply it to both genders. It's so normalized that it often feels more like a descriptive adjective than a true obscenity.

More in Spanish 🇪🇸

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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.

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.

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.

4 / 5sexual, homophobic

puto

ˈpu.to

fucking (intensifier) / male whore / faggot

Male prostitute; homophobic slur; or intensifier similar to 'fucking'.

3 / 5class-based, intensifier

pinche

ˈpin.tʃe

fucking / damn / stupid

Kitchen helper in Spain; in Mexico, a versatile intensifier meaning 'fucking' or 'damn'.

4 / 5verb, sexual

follar

foˈʎaɾ

to fuck / to shag

To have sexual intercourse. It is the absolute standard vulgar verb for sex in Spain.

2 / 5anatomical, character attack

pelotudo

pe.loˈtu.ðo

idiot / moron / dumbass

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