Inklingo

How to Say "fuck" in Spanish

English → Spanish

joder

ho-DARExoˈðer

interjectionB2informal
Use 'joder' as a strong exclamation of anger, frustration, or shock, similar to 'damn!' or 'shit!' in English.
A frustrated person looking at a flat bicycle tire with their hands on their head.

Examples

¡Joder, se me olvidó el pasaporte!

Damn, I forgot my passport!

¡Joder, qué calor hace!

Damn, it's so hot!

¡Joder, me he olvidado las llaves!

Fuck, I forgot my keys!

He ganado la lotería. -¡Joder, qué bien!

I won the lottery. -Wow, that's great!

Independent Exclamations

This word doesn't need to connect to other words; it can stand alone to show your emotion instantly.

pta

poo-tahˈputa

interjectionC1vulgar
Use 'pta' for a more intense and vulgar exclamation of anger or extreme frustration, akin to 'fucking hell!' or a stronger 'dammit!'
A cartoon character with a frustrated expression holding a dropped ice cream cone.

Examples

¡Pta, llegué tarde otra vez!

Fucking hell, I'm late again!

¡Pta, se me olvidaron las llaves!

Dammit, I forgot my keys!

Pta, ¡qué difícil es esto!

Shit, this is so hard!

¡Pta! ¿Otra vez?

Fuck! Again?

Sentence Starter

When used this way, it usually sits at the very beginning of a sentence to set the tone of frustration for the rest of what you're saying.

Overuse

Mistake:Starting every sentence with 'pta'.

Correction: Use it sparingly; otherwise, it loses its impact and makes you sound very angry or uneducated.

Choosing Between 'Joder' and 'Pta'

Learners often confuse 'joder' and 'pta' due to their similar exclamatory uses. Remember that 'joder' is a strong but generally accepted informal exclamation, while 'pta' is significantly more vulgar and should be used with extreme caution.

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