diablos
/DYA-blohs/
what the hell
The expression of shock and frustration often associated with the interjection ¡Diablos! (Damn it! / What the hell!).
diablos(Interjection)
what the hell
?Used in questions for emphasis, e.g., '¿Qué diablos...?'
,what on earth
?A slightly milder equivalent to 'what the hell'
damn it
?Used on its own as an exclamation
,for goodness' sake
?Expressing exasperation
📝 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?
💡 Grammar Points
Adding Emphasis to Questions
You can slip 'diablos' into a question right after the question word (like qué, dónde, cuándo) to add a strong feeling of frustration or disbelief. For example, '¿Qué quieres?' is 'What do you want?', but '¿Qué diablos quieres?' is 'What the hell do you want?'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using in Formal Situations
Mistake: "Le dije a mi jefe, '¿Dónde diablos está el informe?'"
Correction: It's better to say, 'Disculpe, ¿dónde está el informe?'. 'Diablos' is too informal for the workplace and can sound disrespectful.
⭐ Usage Tips
A 'Mild' Swear Word
Think of 'diablos' like 'hell' or 'damn' in English. It's used to blow off steam and isn't the strongest swear word, but you should still only use it in casual situations with people you know well.
A depiction of several diablos (devils) in the literal noun sense.
diablos(Noun)
devils
?The plural of 'devil'
demons
?Supernatural evil beings
,fiends
?Cruel or wicked people
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Plural of 'diablo'
This is simply the plural form of 'diablo' (devil). Like most Spanish nouns ending in a vowel, you just add an '-s' to make it plural.
⭐ Usage Tips
Look for Context
If you see 'diablos' in a question like '¿Qué diablos...?', it's almost always the exclamation. If you see it with words about religion, stories, or costumes, it's probably the literal noun 'devils'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: diablos
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'diablos' to express frustration rather than talking about literal devils?
📚 More Resources
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).