diablos
“diablos” means “what the hell” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
what the hell, what on earth
Also: damn it, for goodness' sake
📝 In Action
¿Qué diablos haces despierto a esta hora?
B1What the hell are you doing awake at this hour?
¡Diablos! Olvidé por completo nuestra cita.
B1Damn it! I completely forgot about our meeting.
¿Dónde diablos puse el control remoto?
B2Where on earth did I put the remote control?
devils
Also: demons, fiends
📝 In Action
La película trata sobre una lucha entre ángeles y diablos.
B2The movie is about a fight between angels and devils.
En el carnaval, muchas personas se disfrazan de diablos.
B2At the carnival, many people dress up as devils.
Según la leyenda, los diablos viven en el infierno.
C1According to the legend, devils live in hell.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: diablos
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'diablos' to express frustration rather than talking about literal devils?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'diabolus', which itself came from the Greek 'diábolos'. In Greek, it meant 'slanderer' or 'accuser', someone who 'throws across' accusations. Over time, it came to mean the ultimate accuser, the Devil.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'diablos' a very offensive swear word in Spanish?
Not really. It's considered a mild swear word, similar to 'damn' or 'hell' in English. While you shouldn't use it in formal settings like a job interview, it's very common and generally acceptable in casual conversations among friends and family.
Can I use 'diablo' (singular) in the same way as an exclamation?
Yes, but it's less common. People more frequently use the plural form '¡Diablos!' as a standalone exclamation. However, the singular 'diablo' appears in many other idioms, like 'pobre diablo' (poor devil/soul) or 'el diablo sabe más por viejo que por diablo' (the devil knows more from being old than from being the devil - meaning wisdom comes with age).