How to Say "crappy" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “crappy” is “apestoso” — use 'apestoso' when you want to describe a situation, experience, or thing as generally bad, unpleasant, or of poor quality..
apestoso
/ah-peh-STOH-soh//apesˈtoso/
Examples
Tuve un día apestoso en el trabajo.
I had a lousy day at work.
¡Qué suerte apestosa tenemos!
What rotten luck we have!
Ese es un trato apestoso y no lo acepto.
That is a crappy deal and I don't accept it.
Figurative Language
Just like in English when we say something 'stinks' to mean it's bad, Spanish uses 'apestoso' to describe things that are unpleasant even if they don't actually have a smell.
Overusing in Formal Settings
Mistake: “Using 'apestoso' in a business meeting to describe a report.”
Correction: Use 'deficiente' or 'malo' instead. 'Apestoso' is too informal for work.
pinche
/PEEN-cheh//ˈpintʃe/
Examples
¡Pinche tráfico! Siempre llego tarde por su culpa.
Damn traffic! I'm always late because of it.
No puedo creer que este pinche teléfono se rompió otra vez.
I can't believe this crappy phone broke again.
Ese pinche mentiroso no me engaña.
That lousy liar isn't fooling me.
Adjective Placement
Unlike most Spanish adjectives that come after the noun, this slang word almost always comes before the noun you are complaining about.
Gender Consistency
This word is 'gender neutral'—it stays exactly the same whether you are talking about a man, a woman, or a masculine/feminine object.
Watch the Crowd
Mistake: “Using 'pinche' in a job interview or with your grandma.”
Correction: Use 'malo' or 'terrible' in formal settings. This word is very informal and can be seen as rude.
Choosing Between 'Apestoso' and 'Pinche'
Related Translations
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