{"id":143244,"date":"2023-03-13T05:09:05","date_gmt":"2023-03-13T09:09:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/weird-unique-spanish-words\/"},"modified":"2025-02-24T03:57:52","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T08:57:52","slug":"weird-unique-spanish-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/spanish\/weird-unique-spanish-words\/","title":{"rendered":"46 Weird and Unique Spanish Words With No Direct English Translations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Numerous words exist in Spanish that don’t have direct English translations.\u00a0Some words may mean something in English literally, but they mean something completely different in Spanish.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Knowing these weird Spanish words won’t just help you understand native speakers but also give you tons of new ways to express ideas. We’ve previously covered some on our YouTube channel<\/a> but you’ll find more in the post below:<\/p>\n

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[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

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1. Pardo <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> The color between gray and brown.<\/p>\n

Some of the first things we teach our children are the colors, right?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Have you ever seen a car that isn’t quite gray but it isn’t quite brown either? I have one, actually, and whenever English-speaking people ask me what color my car is I just shrug. When Spanish-speaking people ask me, I’ve got an answer.<\/p>\n

2. Lampi\u00f1o <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> Hairless, but more specifically a man who cannot grow facial hair or has very thin facial hair. A person who is clean-shaven.<\/p>\n

Do you know someone like this? I have a friend who looks like he’s twelve even though he’s in his thirties. He doesn’t really have substantial facial hair, can’t grow a beard and has evidently found the fountain of youth.<\/p>\n

3. Manco <\/em> \/ Manca<\/em> <\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> A one-armed person.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, we don’t have this word in the English vocabulary. We have words that come close, but most of them are derogatory.<\/p>\n

4. Tuerto <\/em> \/ Tuerta<\/em> <\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> A one-eyed person. A person who is blind in one eye.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To say that someone has one eye or is blind in one eye, you can use the word tuerto\/tuerta<\/em> in Spanish.<\/p>\n

5. Verg\u00fcenza Ajena\u00a0<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> To feel embarrassed for someone even if they don’t feel embarrassed themselves; “second-hand embarrassment.”<\/p>\n

Have you ever heard of the trope of “people of Walmart”? The idea is that people decided to go to Walmart with no shame. Most are wearing clothes that are too inappropriate or downright scary.<\/p>\n

This is an example of verg\u00fcenza ajena,<\/em> when you feel embarrassed for someone else.<\/p>\n

6. Morbo <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> A morbid fascination.<\/p>\n

Do you love Tim Burton? Or the sight of blood? Maybe you enjoyed reading \u201cThe Tell-Tale Heart\u201d by Edgar Allen Poe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Or better yet, something super popular right now that I bet a lot of people can relate to is binge-watching true crime. Have you come across any of those YouTube channels of people telling real-life stories of murders or kidnappings for 30-40 minutes? If they make you want to get cozy in bed and grab a bag of popcorn, true crime might be your <\/span>morbo.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

When you love something dark, and you aren\u2019t sure why because it\u2019s creepy or gross, that thing is your <\/span>morbo<\/span><\/i> in Spanish. In English, it means something like \u201cmorbid fascination.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Empalagar <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> When something’s sickening\u00a0or nauseating\u00a0because it’s too sweet.<\/p>\n

On a rare occasion, I’ll take a bite of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and think to myself, “Wow! That’s sweet!” Minutes later I’ll regret that chocolate cake because my head is pulsing from sweetness overload.<\/p>\n

Have you ever felt a little nauseated after seeing a couple be overly affectionate with each other? This verb works for that, too.<\/p>\n

8. Quincena <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> A period of 15 days, biweekly pay.<\/p>\n

Everyone is waiting for the quincena! <\/em>That’s the payment that many employees receive in the Spanish-speaking world: once on the 15th of the month, and once at the end of the month.<\/p>\n

For people awaiting paychecks, that first payment of the month always falls on the 15th.<\/p>\n

9. Duende <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> The feeling of awe and inspiration. The overwhelming sense of beauty and magic.<\/p>\n

Duende<\/span><\/i> is a very multi-faceted word in Spanish. The meaning changes based on the context. <\/span>Duende<\/span><\/i> can mean \u201celf,\u201d \u201cgoblin\u201d or \u201cspirit.\u201d But the main meaning? You know that \u201cmagical\u201d feeling you get when you\u2019re walking barefoot in the grass, watching a sunset, or in awe of nature? That\u2019s <\/span>duende<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

10. Aturdir <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> When something overwhelms, bewilders, or stuns you to the point that you can’t focus and think straight.<\/p>\n

I often felt this way when I was in college, and I had two papers, an exam, a project and twenty pages of reading due the next day.<\/p>\n

We can also use this verb when we hear any news that dumbfounds or stuns us, leaving us speechless or bothered.<\/p>\n

11. Enmadrarse <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> When a child is very attached\u00a0(emotionally) to their mother.<\/p>\n

This word is often used in Spanish to describe children who are very emotionally attached to their mothers.<\/p>\n

12. Concu\u00f1ado <\/em> \/ Concu\u00f1ada<\/em> <\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> The sibling or spouse of your brother- or sister-in-law.<\/p>\n

This summer my husband was shadowing a doctor to learn more about his practice. When people asked how we knew the doctor it became confusing fast. If only concu\u00f1ado <\/em>were a word in English.<\/p>\n

13. Consuegro <\/em> \/ Consuegra<\/em> <\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> The relationship between two sets of in-laws. The parent-in-law of your daughter or son.<\/p>\n

This word is used in Spanish to describe the father-in-law or mother-in-law of your son or daughter. The in-laws of your child are your\u00a0consuegros<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

14. Resol <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> The reflection of the sun off of a surface or the glare of the sun.<\/p>\n

Have you ever held a mirror in your hand, caught the sun’s glare just right and shined it in your older brother’s eyes? Who hasn’t?<\/p>\n

15. Recogerse <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> To go indoors in the evening once the day is over or to go home to rest or go to bed.<\/p>\n

You’ve been sitting on the porch enjoying the evening. But now the sun has set. The evening’s coming to an end and you all decide to go indoors.<\/p>\n

16. Estrenar <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> To wear something for the first time or to break something in.<\/p>\n

After you go shopping, you’re beyond excited to wear your new clothes for the first time. At least, that’s how I always feel.\u00a0<\/p>\n

17. Merendar <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> Going out to have a snack, coffee, brunch or some other small meal.<\/p>\n

In English, we often call this “going out for coffee.” But that’s very limiting to just getting coffee. Merendar <\/em>widens that idea up quite a bit.<\/p>\n

18. Sobremesa <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> The conversation at the dinner table after the meal is over.<\/p>\n

Do you ever stay long after finishing a meal talking to those you are dining with?<\/p>\n

This is such a key part of the culture in many Spanish-speaking countries, so much so that there is a word to describe this after-dinner conversation: sobremesa<\/em>.<\/p>\n

19. Puente <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> When Thursday is a holiday, and you take off Friday to bridge the holiday to the weekend.<\/p>\n

Or, when Tuesday is a holiday and you take off Monday to extend your weekend.<\/p>\n

20. Antier <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> The day before yesterday.<\/p>\n

Technically this word can be translated directly into English, but it’s a lengthy, wordy phrase. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a single word?<\/p>\n

Antier\u00a0<\/em>is a bit antiquated, and anteayer<\/em> \u00a0<\/em>is the more common phrase in modern day.<\/p>\n

21. Friolento <\/em> \/ Friolenta<\/em> <\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> A person who is sensitive to the cold (in terms of weather, drinks or food).<\/p>\n

We all know someone who is always cold, even in the middle of a heatwave. The word to describe someone who is sensitive to the cold in Spanish is friolento\/friolenta<\/em>.<\/p>\n

22. Desvelado <\/em> \/ Desvelada<\/em> <\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> Unable to sleep or sleep-deprived.<\/p>\n

We’ve all had those nights when we’ve tossed and turned and tried to sleep but couldn’t convince the sandman to stop at our mattress.<\/p>\n

23. Te q<\/em>uiero <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> More than “I like you,” but not quite “I love you.”<\/p>\n

You’re in a new relationship. You’re starting to fall for this guy\/girl. You like them as more than a friend, but jumping from friend to “I love you” is like trying to jump across a vast lake.\u00a0<\/p>\n

24. Tutear <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> When you speak to someone in the informal\u00a0t\u00fa<\/em> form.<\/p>\n

Usted<\/em>\u00a0versus t\u00fa<\/em><\/a> is a confusing concept for someone who’s just learning Spanish or for someone who speaks no Spanish at all. We don’t have formal and informal speeches in English.<\/p>\n

25. Estadounidense <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> Someone who’s from the United States.<\/p>\n

In Spanish, there is a specific word for someone from the United States. In English, the word is “American,” but if you say this translated literally into Spanish (americano<\/em>) it refers to the American continent and you’ll often be asked to clarify exactly where (e.g., North America or South America).<\/p>\n

To say that you are from the United States, the correct demonym in Spanish is: estadounidense<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

26. Entrecejo <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> The space between your eyebrows.<\/p>\n

Do you remember Bert and Ernie from “Sesame Street”? Bert had that fabulous unibrow, a fuzzy line across his puppet face. He didn’t have an entrecejo<\/em>.<\/p>\n

27. Chapuza <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> A lousy\u00a0job, a shabby piece of work. When something’s\u00a0put together poorly.<\/p>\n

Have you ever seen a car held together by zip ties and duct tape? Or maybe someone has made a cake and it looks awful?<\/p>\n

28. Dar un toque <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> Calling someone, letting it ring once, then hanging up so the person knows to call you back.<\/p>\n

I could be wrong, but I don\u2019t think this even exists in American culture. But it\u2019s extremely common in Spanish-speaking countries.<\/p>\n

Has someone ever called you, let it ring only one time, then hung up to let you know they want you to see their message or call them back? That\u2019s exactly what dar un toque<\/em> means. It literally means \u201cto give a touch.\u201d So you can think of it as tapping the call button, then quickly giving the \u201cend call\u201d button a touch.<\/p>\n

I remember when I first solo traveled to Peru. My friend would tell me she was coming to pick me up, and when she got to my apartment, she would text me that she was here, then immediately call me for just one ring and hang up before I could answer. She did this to get my attention so I could let her in quickly.<\/p>\n

29. Golpista <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> The leader of a military coup.<\/p>\n

Perhaps it’s good that we haven’t needed this word in English.<\/p>\n

30. Mimoso <\/em> \/ Mimosa<\/em> <\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> Someone who enjoys being given affection or wants to give affection through physical contact.<\/p>\n

From your grandma to your cat, we all know that person who loves hugs, kisses, and affection. They may even like to be fussed over.<\/p>\n

31. Pavonearse <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> Strutting around like a peacock, acting like they own the place.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m willing to bet you have someone in your life who can\u2019t seem to do anything or go anywhere without their significant other. Or you have a pet who is always at your hip, whines when you leave the house, and is always on your lap when you\u2019re on the couch or in bed.<\/p>\n

We call these people or pets mimoso<\/em>\u00a0in Spanish. It\u2019s like a combination of cuddly, attached, always on your hip, and affectionate. Someone who is mimoso<\/em> or mimosa<\/em> enjoys being given affection or wants to give it through physical contact.<\/p>\n

32. Soler <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> Doing something out of habit, doing something that you’re used to doing.<\/p>\n

Everyone does this a million times a day without even realizing it\u2014tying our shoes, washing our hands a certain way, pouring our cereal first then the milk, etc.<\/p>\n

33. Tocayo <\/em> \/ Tocaya<\/em> <\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> Someone who has the same name as you.<\/p>\n

If we had a fun word in English like this, children would stop being annoyed when someone else has the same name.<\/p>\n

34. Amigovio <\/em> \/ Amigovia<\/em> <\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> Friend with benefits.<\/p>\n

Have you ever been in a relationship that\u2019s not actually a relationship? You don\u2019t really know what to call it or where you stand with this person\u2014some call it \u201cthe talking phase,\u201d a \u201csituationship,\u201d etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other times you do know what you have with them: something casual. More like friends with benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amigo<\/span><\/i> means friend and <\/span>novio<\/span><\/i> means boyfriend, so you can guess what it means when you put them together. You end up with something in between\u2014someone more than a friend, but not quite a boyfriend or girlfriend. An <\/span>amigovio<\/span><\/i>. Or <\/span>amigovia <\/span><\/i>if you\u2019re talking about a woman.<\/span><\/p>\n

35. Madrugar <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> To wake up at sunrise, to get up very early.<\/p>\n

Madrugar <\/em>is commonly used to say “to get up early” in Spanish.<\/p>\n

This word is also featured in the wise Spanish proverb:<\/p>\n

“No por mucho madrugar amanece m\u00e1s temprano.<\/em>” (Waking up early doesn’t make the sun rise earlier.)<\/p>\n

36. Dominguero <\/em> \/ Dominguera<\/em> <\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> A person who leaves the city on weekends and holidays to go to the countryside.<\/p>\n

This word reminds me of those Hallmark movies where the super successful, highly independent daughter escapes from her big city life in New York to her humble hometown on holidays or the weekends. In Spanish, we\u2019d call her a <\/span>dominguera.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

A <\/span>dominguero<\/span><\/i> is someone who takes \u201cmini vacations\u201d or getaways to the countryside over holidays or the weekends, usually to escape the city.<\/span><\/p>\n

But <\/span>dominguero<\/span><\/i> also has another meaning. Is there something you do every Sunday without fail\u2014it\u2019s just become your Sunday routine? Or have you ever had someone ask what your \u201cSunday plans\u201d are? We can use <\/span>dominguero<\/span><\/i> to turn the word \u201cSunday\u201d into an adjective in these cases. For example, <\/span>mi plan dominguero es ver el partido y tomar unas cervezas<\/span><\/i> (my Sunday plan is to watch the game and drink a few beers).<\/span><\/p>\n

37. Picotear <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> To peck, nibble on, snack on.<\/p>\n

Are you the type of person who hovers by the snack table at a party?<\/p>\n

You’ll find many uses for the verb picotear<\/em>. There’s also a noun form to describe the type of social event where one can picotear:<\/em> un picoteo<\/em> .<\/p>\n

38. Gentilicio <\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> An adjective that describes where someone comes from.<\/p>\n

Examples of gentilicios<\/em>:<\/p>\n