The Giant Falls: Spanish study pack

Show 7 more expressions

pibagirl, young woman

colloquial

Rioplatense term for a young woman or girl. The masculine form is pibe. Widely used across all age groups in everyday speech and carries no negative connotation.

Una piba del barrio me avisó que habían cerrado el almacén.A girl from the neighbourhood told me the corner store had closed.

cagado a trompadasbeaten up, punched repeatedly

vulgar

Literally involves crude language; used to describe someone who has been punched or beaten. Very graphic and informal.

Llegó al hospital cagado a trompadas después de la pelea en el bar.He arrived at the hospital beaten to a pulp after the fight at the bar.

estar hecho mierdato be in terrible shape physically or emotionally, to be wrecked

vulgar

Describes someone who is exhausted, sick, emotionally destroyed, or physically deteriorated. Context determines which dimension is meant.

Después de tres noches sin dormir, estaba hecho mierda.After three nights without sleep, he was completely wrecked.

andá a cagargo to hell, get lost (very offensive dismissal)

vulgar

A strong, rude way to tell someone to go away or dismiss them completely. Not used in polite company; signals real anger or total rejection.

Cuando le dijo que era su culpa, ella lo miró y le dijo que se fuera a cagar.When he told her it was her fault, she looked at him and told him to go to hell.

capoawesome, brilliant, top of their game (used as praise)

colloquial

In Argentine Spanish, capo is used as an adjective or noun to praise someone who is skilled, impressive, or admirable. It has no criminal connotation in casual use.

Tu hermano es un capo, arregló todo el sistema en una hora.Your brother is brilliant, he fixed the whole system in an hour.

hincharse los huevosto get completely fed up, to lose patience entirely

vulgar

Expresses the point at which someone has had enough and can no longer tolerate a situation. Crude but extremely common in informal Argentine speech.

Se le hincharon los huevos de esperar y se fue sin decir nada.He got completely fed up with waiting and left without saying a word.

quedar pegadoto get caught up in something, to be left holding the blame or consequences

colloquial

Means to be implicated in or stuck with the fallout from a situation, often one you were only partially responsible for.

Ella no quería quedar pegada en ese lío que armaron los demás.She didn't want to get caught up in the mess the others had caused.

The Giant Falls

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Key vocabulary