Spanish · Insults (Aimed at a Person)
Capullo
kah-POO-yoh · /ka.ˈpu.ʎo/
Jerk / prick
3/5 Watch your audience
genuinely rude; friends only, never at work
Literally
"Flower bud / cocoon"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
Spain's other everyday "jerk/prick," a shade below "gilipollas." Innocently it means a flower bud, which is why the insult can also land almost affectionately between mates ("anda, capullo"). Spain-only; in Mexico it just means the bud.
Heard in the wild
No seas capullo y ayúdame con esto.
Don't be a prick and help me with this.
Where it lands
Spain; harmless literal meaning elsewhere
Quick answers
- What does "Capullo" mean?
- In Spanish, "Capullo" means "Jerk / prick". Literally it's "Flower bud / cocoon". Spain's other everyday "jerk/prick," a shade below "gilipollas." Innocently it means a flower bud, which is why the insult can also land almost affectionately between mates ("anda, capullo"). Spain-only; in Mexico it just means the bud.
- Is "Capullo" offensive?
- It's genuinely rude — a 3/5 (Watch your audience) on the Punch-o-Meter. Fine among friends, never at work or with people you've just met.
- How do you pronounce "Capullo"?
- Say it "kah-POO-yoh" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ka.ˈpu.ʎo.
Related in Spanish
The same idea, elsewhere
Via concepts like "You idiot".
- French Con Idiot / dumbass — the single most useful insult in French
- German Arsch Arse / ass — and the second great compound-engine of German
- Greek μαλάκας Asshole / idiot — OR — dude / mate. The single most important word in Greek.
- Italian Stronzo! Asshole! / Bastard!
- Japanese ばか Idiot / dummy / stupid
- Korean 바보 Dummy / silly — the soft, safe, often affectionate 'idiot.'
- Polish debil Moron / idiot — the standard hard 'you idiot.'
- Portuguese Otário Sucker / gullible fool / mug
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