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How to Say "the hell" in Spanish

English → Spanish

coño

interjectionC1informal
Use 'coño' as an interjection to express sudden frustration, surprise, or anger, often at the beginning of a sentence, similar to 'damn!' or 'hell!'

Examples

¡Coño! Se me olvidaron las llaves otra vez.

Damn! I forgot my keys again.

narices

nah-REE-ses (or nah-REE-thes in Spain)/naˈɾises/

nounB2informal
Use 'narices' as an intensifier within a question to express strong disbelief or annoyance, similar to 'the heck' or 'in the world'.
A small, cartoonish figure shrugging their shoulders dramatically, looking utterly confused and bewildered with a gaping mouth, representing intense questioning or surprise.

Examples

¿Qué narices haces aquí a estas horas?

What the heck are you doing here at this hour?

No vamos a ir a esa fiesta. ¡Ni de narices!

We are not going to that party. Absolutely not!

¿Dónde narices has escondido mis llaves?

Where on earth have you hidden my keys?

Using 'Narices' as an Intensifier

When used in questions starting with qué, dónde, quién, etc., 'narices' doesn't literally mean 'noses.' It simply adds strong feeling, frustration, or annoyance, similar to saying 'the heck' or 'the hell' in English.

Using 'Narices' in Formal Settings

Mistake: “Using '¿Qué narices quiere?' when speaking to your boss.”

Correction: This usage is very informal and can be considered rude or vulgar in formal settings. Stick to '¿Qué quiere?' or '¿Qué es lo que quiere?'

Interjection vs. Intensifier

The most common mistake is using 'coño' as a question intensifier when 'narices' is more appropriate. Remember, 'coño' typically stands alone to express emotion, while 'narices' is embedded within a question for emphasis.

Related Translations

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