Inklingo

How to Say "darn it!" in Spanish

English → Spanish

maldición

InterjectionA2informal
Use 'maldición' for a very mild, almost casual expression of annoyance when something inconvenient happens, like forgetting an item or making a small mistake.

Examples

¡Maldición! Olvidé las llaves en casa.

Darn it! I forgot the keys at home.

caramba

/kah-RAHM-bah//kaˈɾamba/

interjectionB1informal
Use 'caramba' to express surprise or mild annoyance, often when reacting to something unexpected or impressive, not just a personal mistake.
A small, cheerful person depicted in a storybook style, raising their eyebrows and widening their eyes dramatically, with a slightly open mouth, showing an expression of total astonishment or awe.

Examples

¡Caramba! ¡Qué casa tan grande tienen!

Wow! What a big house they have!

¡Caramba! Olvidé la cartera en la oficina otra vez.

Darn it! I forgot my wallet at the office again.

¡Caramba, ese es un buen precio!

My goodness, that's a good price!

Always an Interjection

Since 'caramba' is an interjection, it always stands alone or starts a sentence and needs exclamation marks (¡!) in writing.

Using it as an Adjective

Mistake: “No es una 'caramba' situación.”

Correction: It is only an exclamation and cannot be used to describe people or things.

Choosing Between 'Maldición' and 'Caramba'

Learners often confuse 'maldición' and 'caramba' because both express mild frustration. The key difference is that 'maldición' is more directly tied to a personal mistake or inconvenience, while 'caramba' can also express surprise or mild exasperation at external events.

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