narices
“narices” means “the heck” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
the heck, the hell
Also: absolutely not
📝 In Action
¿Qué narices haces aquí a estas horas?
B2What the heck are you doing here at this hour?
No vamos a ir a esa fiesta. ¡Ni de narices!
C1We are not going to that party. Absolutely not!
¿Dónde narices has escondido mis llaves?
B2Where on earth have you hidden my keys?
noses
📝 In Action
Los payasos tienen narices grandes y rojas.
A2Clowns have large, red noses.
El doctor examinó las narices de los niños para ver si tenían alergias.
B1The doctor examined the children's noses to see if they had allergies.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: narices
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'narices' in its strong, idiomatic sense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *nāris*, meaning 'nostril' or 'nose.' The shift from 'z' (in the singular *nariz*) to 'c' (in the plural *narices*) is a standard spelling change in Spanish that has been around since medieval times.
First recorded: 13th century (as *nariz*)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'nariz' spelled with a 'z' but 'narices' with a 'c'?
This is a basic Spanish spelling rule! In Spanish, the letter 'z' is never followed by the vowels 'e' or 'i'. When you make a word ending in 'z' plural, you must change the 'z' to a 'c' before adding '-es'.
Is 'narices' a rude word?
It is not technically a curse word, but it is highly informal and adds a strong tone of annoyance, surprise, or anger. It is often used as a milder replacement for genuinely vulgar words, so use it carefully and only with people you know well.