Poner los cuernos
/poh-NER lohs KWER-nohs/
To be unfaithful to one's romantic partner; to cheat on someone.
💡 Understanding the Idiom
🎨 Literal vs. Figurative
Literally, this means 'to put the horns on someone'.
In reality, it means to cheat on your romantic partner.
Key Words in This Idiom:
📝 In Action
Descubrió que su marido le estaba poniendo los cuernos con una compañera de trabajo.
B2She discovered her husband was cheating on her with a coworker.
No puedo perdonarla. Que me pusiera los cuernos fue lo peor que pudo hacer.
C1I can't forgive her. Cheating on me was the worst thing she could have done.
¿Crees que él te está poniendo los cuernos? Siempre está con el móvil.
B2Do you think he's cheating on you? He's always on his phone.
📜 Origin Story
This phrase has ancient roots in Europe. For centuries, a man whose wife was unfaithful was called a 'cuckold' and was often depicted in stories and plays with horns growing from his head. The horns were a symbol of public shame, suggesting he was like a castrated, docile bull who had lost control of his 'herd'. So, when someone 'puts the horns on' their partner, they are symbolically marking them as the one being cheated on.
⭐ Usage Tips
Who Gets the Horns?
This is the key to using it correctly! The person who gets the horns is the one being cheated on. The cheater is the one who puts the horns on them. For example, 'Ana le puso los cuernos a Pablo' means 'Ana cheated on Pablo'.
Using 'Tener' vs. 'Poner'
Related to the first tip, 'tener cuernos' (to have horns) means you are the one being cheated on. 'Poner los cuernos' (to put the horns) means you are the cheater. It's a subtle but crucial difference!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing the Roles
Mistake: "A learner might say, 'Él tiene cuernos,' trying to say 'He is a cheater.'"
Correction: This actually means 'He is being cheated on.' To say he is the cheater, you must say, 'Él pone los cuernos' (He cheats) or 'Él le puso los cuernos a ella' (He cheated on her).
🌎 Where It's Used
Spain
Extremely common and universally understood.
Latin America
Universally understood and very widely used across the entire continent. It's one of the most standard idioms in the Spanish language.
🔗 Related Idioms
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: Poner los cuernos
Question 1 of 1
If your friend tells you, 'Creo que mi novia me pone los cuernos,' what do they suspect?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'poner los cuernos' a vulgar expression?
It's informal and very direct, but not typically considered vulgar or a swear word. It's used commonly in everyday conversation, on TV shows, and in movies. However, the topic itself is sensitive, so the context is important.
Can this be used for non-romantic betrayal, like in business?
No, this idiom is reserved exclusively for romantic infidelity. For business or friendship betrayal, you would use a different word like 'traicionar' (to betray).