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How to Say "darn" in Spanish

English → Spanish

caray

kah-RIGH (rhymes with 'eye')/kaˈɾai̯/

interjectionA2informal
Use 'caray' as a mild exclamation of frustration, disappointment, or even surprise, similar to 'darn it!' or 'wow!' in English.
A small, wide-eyed child standing next to a massive, vibrant yellow sunflower that towers over them, looking up in awe and surprise.

Examples

¡Caray, olvidé las llaves otra vez!

Darn it, I forgot the keys again!

¡Caray, qué coche tan rápido tienes!

Wow, what a fast car you have!

¡Caray! Se me olvidó la cartera en casa.

Darn it! I forgot my wallet at home.

Caray, no sabía que hablabas tres idiomas.

Goodness, I didn't know you spoke three languages.

Always Unchanging

As an interjection, 'caray' is always used alone or at the start of a sentence. It never changes its form—it doesn't have a plural or a feminine version, and it doesn't need to agree with anything.

Confusing Register

Mistake: “Thinking 'caray' is a strong curse word.”

Correction: 'Caray' is a great, safe choice. It allows you to express strong emotion (like frustration or surprise) without being rude or vulgar. It is much milder than its root word.

maldito

/mal-DEE-toh//malˈdito/

adjectiveB1informal
Use 'maldito' to describe a noun that is causing frustration or annoyance, functioning like 'damn' or 'darned' before the noun.
A highly frustrated man standing next to a small, broken-down car with the hood open, depicting annoyance.

Examples

Este maldito tráfico me está volviendo loco.

This darned traffic is driving me crazy.

¡Este maldito coche no arranca!

This damn car won't start!

Se me olvidaron las llaves otra vez, ¡qué maldita suerte!

I forgot the keys again, what darn/bad luck!

No encuentro el maldito control remoto por ninguna parte.

I can't find the damn remote control anywhere.

Goes Before the Noun

When you use 'maldito' to show you're annoyed, it almost always goes before the thing you're complaining about. For example, 'el maldito tráfico' (the damn traffic), not 'el tráfico maldito'.

Using it in Formal Situations

Mistake: “Profesor, el maldito proyector no funciona.”

Correction: Using 'maldito' with a teacher or boss is too informal and can sound rude. A better choice is to just state the problem: 'El proyector no funciona' (The projector isn't working).

rayos

/RY-ohs//ˈra.ʝos/

interjectionB1informal
Use 'rayos' as an exclamation to express mild surprise or annoyance, often when something unexpected or irritating happens, like 'heck!' or 'darn!'
A simplistic bear cub standing next to a dropped scoop of pink ice cream on the ground, exhibiting a slightly annoyed expression.

Examples

¿Qué rayos significa esto?

What the heck does this mean?

¿Qué rayos estás haciendo?

What the heck are you doing?

¡Rayos! Olvidé mi cartera en casa.

Darn it! I forgot my wallet at home.

No sé dónde rayos está la llave.

I don't know where the heck the key is.

Adding Emphasis

'Rayos' is a versatile word that can be placed after question words (qué, dónde, cómo) to make the question sound more surprised, annoyed, or dramatic.

Register Mix-Up

Mistake: “Using 'rayos' in a formal business meeting or academic essay.”

Correction: This usage is highly informal. Use 'Por favor' or 'Disculpe' for formal expressions of confusion or frustration.

Interjection vs. Adjective

Learners often confuse 'caray'/'rayos' with 'maldito' because they all express annoyance. Remember that 'caray' and 'rayos' are standalone exclamations, while 'maldito' must modify a noun, like 'this darn car'.

Related Translations

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