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pendejo

pendejo

14 9.9
A rude Spanish word for a foolish person used to insult someone
  • noun
  • /pɛnˈdeɪhoʊ/
  • Offensive
translation icon : idiota
  • Hey, what do you think I am, a pendejo?
  • fucking pendejos
  • call me pendejo

Examples

  • Don't pay any attention to that pendejo.

  • You married some pendejo for your papers.

  • Use your head, pendejo; it is well known now who the killers are.

    Blog text (11)
  • He's a pendejo, she says, suddenly angry.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • We're here to work, just like you pendejos.

  • Well, good for you, mijo, 'cause love makes pendejos of us all.

  • You're a pendejo.

  • You're a pendejo for believing that he would help you.

  • Don't be such a pendejo; think before you act.

  • She called him a pendejo for forgetting their plans.

Synonyms

dumbo
vspendejo
  • Offensive
2 8.7

A person who is not very smart

is used more strongly and can imply contempt or inexperience
baka
vspendejo
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A foolish or silly person used as an insult

is a harsher, broader insult covering stupidity in Spanish speech
el stupido
vspendejo
  • Slang
1 9.9

A joking name for someone who does something silly

is normally a harsher insult not only playful or self-directed
salame
vspendejo
  • Offensive
9.9

A foolish or clumsy person said as an insult

is a stronger, more general insult including inexperience or contempt in Spanish use

Antonyms

758 2.1

Showing good judgment from experience

507 3.4

Able to think, understand, and learn new things

How Insulting

pendejo
  • Offensive
14 9.9
moron
  • Slur
483 8.1
idiot
  • Offensive
1.2
imbecile
  • Slur
60 8.8
dolt
  • Offensive
15 8.8
fool
  • Offensive
1.4

Surface Forms

pendejo singular
pendejos plural

Etymology

Pendejo first meant 'pubic hair' in Spanish and comes from a root pend- meaning 'to hang', like something that hangs. One common story says it then came to mean a young, 'inexperienced' person (with little beard), and from that it became a strong slang insult for someone 'stupid' or a 'coward', which is how it is used today.