Inklingo

How to Say "shit!" in Spanish

English → Spanish

mierda

/MYER-dah//ˈmjeɾ.ða/

interjectionA1informal
Use this common and versatile translation for 'shit!' when you are expressing general anger, frustration, or surprise, especially in informal situations.
A frustrated character with a cartoonish angry expression holding a broken toy.

Examples

¡Mierda! He perdido el autobús.

Shit! I missed the bus.

¡Ay mierda, qué susto me has dado!

Oh crap, you scared me!

¡Mierda, se me rompió el móvil!

Damn, my phone broke!

Standalone Power

As an exclamation, it doesn't need to follow any grammar rules; you just shout it when something goes wrong!

Adding Emphasis

You can add '¡Qué...!' before it, but usually, it stands alone for maximum impact.

Underestimating Strength

Mistake: “Using it as a substitute for 'darn' in front of your host family.”

Correction: It is much stronger than 'darn.' Use 'miércoles' (Wednesday) or 'jolines' if you want a polite alternative.

verga

/behr-gah//ˈbeɾɣa/

interjectionB2colloquial/informal
This is a more colloquial and often stronger exclamation, typically used in Latin America to express intense surprise or anger, similar to 'shit!' or 'fuck!' in English.
A person looking very surprised with wide eyes and hands on their cheeks.

Examples

¡Verga! Se me olvidaron las llaves en la casa.

Shit! I forgot my keys at home.

¡A la verga! ¿Viste ese rayo?

Holy shit! Did you see that lightning?

¡Qué verga! No me digas que perdimos otra vez.

Damn it! Don't tell me we lost again.

Stand-alone Power

This word functions as a complete sentence when used as an exclamation to show strong emotion.

Overuse

Mistake: “Using 'verga' as every other word in a conversation.”

Correction: While common in some youth cultures, it makes your Spanish sound limited and aggressive.

Choosing between 'mierda' and 'verga'

Learners often confuse 'mierda' and 'verga' because both express negative surprise or anger. While 'mierda' is more universally understood and can be used in a wider range of informal contexts, 'verga' is primarily a Latin Americanism and can sound harsher or more intense to some speakers.

Related Translations

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