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mierda

MYER-dah/ˈmjeɾ.ða/

shit, rubbish

Also: nothing, crap
NounfB1slang
SpainCaribbean
A small, neatly coiled brown pile of animal droppings on a patch of green grass.

📝 In Action

Ten cuidado, hay una mierda de perro en el suelo.

A2

Be careful, there is some dog poop on the floor.

Este coche es una mierda; siempre se rompe.

B1

This car is a piece of junk; it always breaks down.

No entiendo una mierda de lo que dice el profesor.

B2

I don't understand a single damn thing the teacher is saying.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • excremento (excrement)
  • basura (trash)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • Vete a la mierda – Go to hell / Piss off
  • Una mierda de... – A crappy...
  • Comer mierda – To go through a hard time / To put up with crap

Idioms & Expressions

  • No valer una mierda – To be completely worthless

shit!, damn!

Also: crap!
A frustrated character with a cartoonish angry expression holding a broken toy.

📝 In Action

¡Mierda! He perdido el autobús.

A1

Shit! I missed the bus.

¡Ay mierda, qué susto me has dado!

A1

Oh crap, you scared me!

¡Mierda, se me rompió el móvil!

A2

Damn, my phone broke!

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ¡Mierda pura! – Total crap!

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "mierda" in Spanish:

crap→damn!→nothing→rubbish→shit!→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: mierda

Question 1 of 3

If someone says 'Este examen es una mierda,' how do they feel?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
mierdilla(insignificant person/thing) — Noun
mierdoso(crappy/covered in shit) — Adjective
mierdón(big pile of shit) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'merda,' which literally meant dung or filth. It has been used in Spanish for centuries to describe both physical waste and things of no value.

First recorded: 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: merdeItalian: merdaPortuguese: merda

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'mierda' as bad as the 'S-word' in English?

Yes, the intensity is very similar. It is a vulgar swear word and should be used with caution.

Can I use 'mierda' to describe a person?

Yes, calling someone 'un mierda' (note the masculine 'un' for a person) implies they are a contemptible person or a coward.

Is it used differently in Spain versus Latin America?

The meaning is the same everywhere, but Spaniards tend to use it more frequently as a general exclamation in everyday conversation compared to some more conservative Latin American regions.