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cojón

ko-HOHN/koˈxon/

“cojón” means “ball” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

ball, courage

Also: a lot
NounmC1slang
Spain
Two smooth, round, tan-colored egg shapes resting side by side.

📝 In Action

Le dio una patada en el cojón.

B2

He kicked him in the ball.

Para hacer eso hay que tener cojones.

C1

You need to have guts to do that.

Ese reloj cuesta un cojón.

C1

That watch costs a fortune (a hell of a lot).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • testículo (testicle (medical/polite))
  • valor (bravery)

Antonyms

  • cobardía (cowardice)

Common Collocations

  • tener cojones – to have balls/courage
  • un cojón de – a huge amount of
  • tocar los cojones – to annoy someone greatly

Idioms & Expressions

  • Me importa un cojón – I don't give a damn/crap
  • ¡Y un cojón! – No way! / Not a chance!

Dammit!, Wow!

A person with a red face and steam coming from their ears, looking extremely frustrated.

📝 In Action

¡Cojones! Me has asustado.

C1

Dammit! You scared me.

¡Cojones, qué frío hace!

C1

Hell, it's so cold!

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: cojón

Question 1 of 3

If something costs 'un cojón', what does that mean?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
cojonudo(great/awesome) — Adjective
acojonar(to frighten/intimidate) — Verb
descojonarse(to laugh one's head off) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
avióncorazóncampeón
📚 Etymology▼

Derived from the Latin word 'coleus', which meant a leather bag or sack. It eventually evolved to refer to the contents of the 'sack' in a slang anatomical sense.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: coglioneFrench: couille

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'cojón' as bad as the 'F-word' in English?

Not exactly. While it is vulgar, it is much more socially acceptable in Spain than the F-word is in the US or UK. You will hear it on TV and in bars constantly, though you should still avoid it in formal situations.

Can I use this word in Mexico?

People will understand you, but it sounds very 'Spanish from Spain.' In Mexico, people are much more likely to say 'huevo' or 'cabrón' depending on the context.

What does 'cojonudo' mean?

Interestingly, this adjective is usually positive! It means something is 'great,' 'awesome,' or 'excellent,' despite coming from a vulgar root.