Me vale un reverendo cacahuate
/meh VAH-leh oon reh-veh-REN-doh kah-kah-WAH-teh/
A strong, dismissive way of saying 'I couldn't care less' or 'I don't give a damn'.
💡 Understanding the Idiom
🎨 Literal vs. Figurative
Literally, this means 'It's worth a reverend peanut to me.'
In practice, it's a strong and informal way to say 'I don't care at all'.
Key Words in This Idiom:
📝 In Action
¿Que tu ex novio se va a casar? A mí me vale un reverendo cacahuate.
C1So your ex-boyfriend is getting married? I couldn't care less.
Le advertí que no invirtiera en eso, pero le valió un reverendo cacahuate y perdió todo su dinero.
C1I warned him not to invest in that, but he didn't give a damn and lost all his money.
📜 Origin Story
This is a classic piece of Mexican slang. The humor and force come from combining two ideas. First, a 'cacahuate' (peanut) is something of tiny, insignificant value. Second, 'reverendo' is used as an intensifier, like saying 'a hell of a...' or 'a damned...' in English. So, something that is worth a 'damned peanut' is worth absolutely nothing. It’s a creative and colorful way to express total indifference.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use to Show Strong Indifference
This isn't a neutral 'I don't mind'. It's a forceful 'I don't care at all'. Use it when you want to be very clear that something is completely irrelevant to you. Because it's so strong, it can sound rude, so be mindful of who you're talking to.
It's All About Mexico
This phrase is a hallmark of Mexican Spanish. Using it will make you sound very authentic in Mexico, but it will likely confuse speakers from Spain or most of South America. It’s a great example of how Spanish slang can be very regional.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using it in Formal or Polite Company
Mistake: "Saying 'me vale un reverendo cacahuate' to your boss when they assign you a task you don't like."
Correction: This is slang and should be reserved for informal situations with friends. In a professional or polite setting, you would express indifference with phrases like 'No tengo preferencia' (I don't have a preference) or 'Me es indiferente' (It's indifferent to me).
🌎 Where It's Used
Mexico
Extremely common, widely used, and instantly recognizable as Mexican slang.
Latin America
Generally not used outside of Mexico and some Central American countries. It will likely be understood from context but will clearly mark the speaker as using Mexicanisms.
Spain
Not used at all. A Spaniard would use expressions like 'Me importa un pimiento' or 'Me la trae floja'.
🔗 Related Idioms
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: Me vale un reverendo cacahuate
Question 1 of 1
If your Mexican friend says 'Me vale un reverendo cacahuate' about a new political law, what do they mean?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this phrase offensive?
It's not a swear word, but it is very dismissive and can be considered rude or insulting depending on the context and your tone of voice. It's best used among close friends or when you intentionally want to show complete disregard for something.
Can I just say 'me vale'?
Yes! 'Me vale' is a very common, shorter version that means the same thing ('I don't care'). Adding 'un reverendo cacahuate' just adds more color and emphasis. You can also hear 'me vale gorro' (I don't care a hat) or the much stronger 'me vale madre'.