How to Say "curse" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “curse” is “maldición” — use 'maldición' when referring to a supernatural hex or an evil spell intended to bring misfortune..
maldición
Examples
La bruja lanzó una maldición sobre el pueblo.
The witch cast a curse on the village.
plaga
/PLAH-gah//ˈpla.ɣa/
Examples
La burocracia es la plaga de nuestra sociedad.
Bureaucracy is the curse/scourge of our society.
Ese ruido constante es una plaga para los vecinos.
That constant noise is a nuisance for the neighbors.
La falta de transporte público es una plaga en las afueras de la ciudad.
The lack of public transport is an affliction in the city outskirts.
Using 'Ser' (To Be)
You often use 'ser' (to be) with 'plaga' to describe something that permanently or characteristically causes trouble: 'El tráfico es una plaga' (Traffic is a plague/curse).
taco
/tah-koh//ˈtako/
Examples
No digas tacos delante de tu abuela.
Don't say swear words in front of your grandmother.
A veces se le escapa algún taco cuando está enfadado.
Sometimes a swear word slips out when he is angry.
Collective use
Even if someone says many bad words, people often say 'Él dice muchos tacos' (He says many swear words).
Taco vs. Grosería
Mistake: “Using 'taco' to mean a swear word in Mexico.”
Correction: Use 'palabrota' or 'grosería' outside of Spain for better clarity.
Confusing 'maldición' with 'taco'
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.