carajo
/ka-RA-ho/
damn!
As an interjection, '¡Carajo!' is used to express strong frustration, anger, or sudden pain, similar to 'Damn!' or 'Fuck!'
carajo(Interjection)
damn!
?expressing annoyance or frustration
,fuck!
?expressing strong anger, pain, or surprise
,hell!
?used for emphasis, often in questions
📝 In Action
¡Carajo, se me olvidaron las llaves otra vez!
B2Damn it, I forgot the keys again!
¿Pero qué carajo estás haciendo aquí?
C1What the hell are you doing here?
¡Carajo! Me pegué en el dedo del pie.
C1Fuck! I stubbed my toe.
⭐ Usage Tips
Handle With Care
This is a very strong word. Think of it like the f-word in English. It's common between close friends but is highly inappropriate in formal settings, with strangers, or around children.
A Versatile Expletive
You can use '¡Carajo!' on its own to show frustration, or inside a question like '¿Dónde carajo...?' (Where the hell...?) to add strong emphasis.
In phrases like 'mandar al carajo' (send to hell) or 'quedar en el quinto carajo' (to be in the middle of nowhere), the noun 'carajo' signifies a very remote, distant, or undesirable place.
carajo(Noun)
a damn
?in phrases expressing indifference, e.g., 'no me importa un carajo'
,hell / the middle of nowhere
?as a destination in phrases like 'vete al carajo'
penis
?a vulgar and less common meaning
📝 In Action
Me importa un carajo lo que piensen los demás.
C1I don't give a damn what other people think.
Después de la discusión, lo mandó al carajo.
C1After the argument, she told him to go to hell.
Esa casa queda en el quinto carajo.
C2That house is in the middle of nowhere.
💡 Grammar Points
It Lives in Phrases
You'll almost never see 'carajo' used as a simple noun like 'libro' (book). It's almost always part of a set phrase that you can learn as a single vocabulary item.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: carajo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'carajo' to express that someone doesn't care about something at all?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'carajo' the worst or strongest swear word in Spanish?
It's definitely one of the strongest and most versatile, much like the f-word in English. Its power can change depending on the country, the situation, and your tone of voice. But it's safe to say it's always considered vulgar and should be avoided in polite company.
Can I use 'vete al carajo' with friends?
Even with friends, it's very strong. It means 'go to hell' or 'fuck off'. You would only use it if you were genuinely very angry with them or if your friend group has a very high tolerance for strong language and you're clearly joking.