BajaNomad

The CH* word

pauldavidmena - 8-18-2014 at 05:53 AM

Growing up, any use of any variation of the verb "" was considered extremely vulgar, certainly something never uttered in polite conversation. Lately, however, I've seen variations in Spanish-language advertisement, most recently on a t-shirt for a Mexican restaurant, serving what was described as "Comida ona". My abuelita is rolling in her grave!

DENNIS - 8-18-2014 at 06:54 AM

"Chingoles" is a Mexican cultural tradicion that has hundreds of applications. I would suggest that if you aren't completely knowledgeable about all of it, it's best left to the experts. Things like this can easily cause irreparable damage.

pauldavidmena - 8-18-2014 at 12:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
"Chingoles" is a Mexican cultural tradicion that has hundreds of applications. I would suggest that if you aren't completely knowledgeable about all of it, it's best left to the experts. Things like this can easily cause irreparable damage.


That seems like sage advice. I'd hate to offend someone - or worse - by getting too haphazardly comfortable with colloquial language.

micah202 - 8-18-2014 at 12:48 PM

.
....not fully 'on' with your banter,,,but ''---cacabra'',,,and ''---basco'' both come to mind as chu-words best not fully named

..........not to mention my soon-to-be-released hotsauce of the same name's:biggrin: .....
''---CACABASCO SAUCE''...the HOT'n'stormy devil-sauce!!
..you heard it here first!! :wow::wow::spingrin::cool:



[Edited on 8-18-2014 by micah202]

dasubergeek - 8-19-2014 at 11:38 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by pauldavidmena
Growing up, any use of any variation of the verb "" was considered extremely vulgar, certainly something never uttered in polite conversation. Lately, however, I've seen variations in Spanish-language advertisement, most recently on a t-shirt for a Mexican restaurant, serving what was described as "Comida ona". My abuelita is rolling in her grave!


Are you sure it wasn't "Comida Chingona"?

I mean, we used to be horrified at plays on words like "best town by a dam site", but now that word is out loud and proud on street advertisements.

As for abuelita, I bet she's taking off her ghostly chancla...

Mexitron - 8-19-2014 at 11:44 AM

Best town by a dam site...hmmmm, Lake Havasu?
Best town by a damn site....Marfa, Texas, for one.

pauldavidmena - 8-19-2014 at 11:45 AM

@dasubergeek - you are correct - it was "Comida Chingona" and not "Comida ona". I'm not sure where I came up with the additional "ar", but then again, I didn't think it was wise to snap a photo of the woman with the t-shirt.

My abuelita's favorite exclamation - probably appropriate in this context - was "sin vergüenza!"

BajaGringo - 8-19-2014 at 12:04 PM

Down here in our neck of the peninsula, the verb ch**gar is so widely used in all its forms and mutations, that you almost feel out of place if it's not part of your normal, daily vernacular. If you think about it, it is quite similar to our use of the F word...

Uses of the F Word

I especially thought the Famous historical quotes section of the page was interesting...


[Edited on 8-19-2014 by BajaGringo]

pauldavidmena - 8-19-2014 at 12:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaGringo

Uses of the F Word

I especially thought the Famous historical quotes section of the page was interesting...

[Edited on 8-19-2014 by BajaGringo]


That was F*ing awesome!

DebMer - 3-10-2015 at 09:59 PM

Have you heard people using the "minced oath" version? A friend in D.F. used to exclaim, "Chin!" when something went wrong. Nobody told me specifically that it was an abbreviated form of the ch__ word, but I made that connection based on how and when she used it. Could be wrong, of course.

It still makes me smile to remember that when I lived on the coast of Colombia, everybody would use "miercoles!" as the substitute swear word for mierda. They would overpronounce the first syllable dramatically, and even sometimes change the o in miercoles to an a, to further psych you out that they were going to drop a cussword.

huh??

captkw - 3-11-2015 at 07:37 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Mexitron  
Best town by a dam site...hmmmm, Lake Havasu?
Best town by a damn site....Marfa, Texas, for one.
.......... I thought Marfa was known for the "Marfa lights".. not a damn...what damn ??

xolotl_tj - 10-10-2015 at 11:38 AM

Octavio Paz wrote a celebrated essay about the word back in 1950. Here is a translation in English:

http://www.lahc.edu/classes/socialscience/history/valadez/19...

Paz was able to print the word en tous lettres without causing much offense even back then. In its non-expletive meanings (to annoy, to joke, to drink to excess), the word offends only those who wish to be offended -- such as this board's automated naughty-word filter!

I once used the word in its expletive meaning around a nice filipina lady, under the assumption that she would hear only meaningless syllables, and she reacted the way an upper-class Mexican lady might react.

"Do you know" she asked "that in my village you just said something very rude? Not in Tagalog, but in the language of my village. Where did you learn that?"

It turned out that she came from the eastern coast of the Philippines and the phrase was introduced there by sailors of the Nao de China. Go figure.

bacquito - 10-10-2015 at 02:46 PM

Quote: Originally posted by captkw  
Quote: Originally posted by Mexitron  
Best town by a dam site...hmmmm, Lake Havasu?
Best town by a damn site....Marfa, Texas, for one.
.......... I thought Marfa was known for the "Marfa lights".. not a damn...what damn ??


The dam lights!!

bacquito - 10-10-2015 at 02:57 PM

Quote: Originally posted by DENNIS  
"Chingoles" is a Mexican cultural tradicion that has hundreds of applications. I would suggest that if you aren't completely knowledgeable about all of it, it's best left to the experts. Things like this can easily cause irreparable damage.


Yes, good advise

shari - 10-10-2015 at 05:22 PM

Quote: Originally posted by DebMer  
A friend in D.F. used to exclaim, "Chin!" when something went wrong. Nobody told me specifically that it was an abbreviated form of the ch__ word, but I made that connection based on how and when she used it. Could be wrong, of course.


this is pronounced CHEEN and is used by the youngsters and polite women etc...who wouldnt use groserias...swear words. You also hear INGA TU.... which you can probably imagine what that means! Another is A La Bestia!!!! Ask a spanish amigo what that is polite for!

Osprey - 10-10-2015 at 05:47 PM

Down here the word "Chingon" means "The boss" the guy who knows all about boat motors, electricity, complicated work --- a supervisor. >> hence the connotation.

Used in that way it is not a derogation but a simple statement of excellence.

[Edited on 10-11-2015 by Osprey]

durrelllrobert - 10-11-2015 at 01:56 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Mexitron  
Best town by a dam site...hmmmm, Lake Havasu?
Best town by a damn site....Marfa, Texas, for one.


...or my favorite Chinese restaurant in Mexicali:

BajaBreak - 8-13-2016 at 02:52 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Osprey  
Down here the word "Chingon" means "The boss" the guy who knows all about boat motors, electricity, complicated work --- a supervisor. >> hence the connotation.

Used in that way it is not a derogation but a simple statement of excellence.

[Edited on 10-11-2015 by Osprey]


A while back a local guy, salt of the earth type guy, who I've talked to a lot, referred to me as that in casual conversation. He didn't seem to be trying to insult me, and I just thought it sounded funny as heck. 'Ay, chingon!'

My translation was that it was like 'F----r' in English. Your explanation makes sense. I'll have to start adding it to my casual vocabulary down south, haha.

DENNIS - 8-13-2016 at 07:05 PM


I'm not so sure "Chilango" is insulting to one from DF. I believe they proudly accept it, giving them a status separating them from the less Chilango segment of Mexico.
On the other hand, to call an outsider a Chilango is definitely an insult.

pacificobob - 8-14-2016 at 10:02 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bacquito  
Quote: Originally posted by DENNIS  
"Chingoles" is a Mexican cultural tradicion that has hundreds of applications. I would suggest that if you aren't completely knowledgeable about all of it, it's best left to the experts. Things like this can easily cause irreparable damage.


Yes, good advise


yes, consider your mexican acquaintances who have good english and their clumsy, use of words like s**T, or f@@k....it rarely seems to sound right. and reminds me not to employ slang terms that really require a life time of exposure to use well.

[Edited on 8-14-2016 by pacificobob]

gsbotanico - 8-14-2016 at 12:34 PM

Quote: Originally posted by pacificobob  
yes, consider your mexican acquaintances who have good english and their clumsy, use of words like s**T, or f@@k....it rarely seems to sound right. and reminds me not to employ slang terms that really require a life time of exposure to use well.

[Edited on 8-14-2016 by pacificobob]

Couldn't agree more. You'll never offend anybody or embarrass yourself by not using the questionable words.