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Spanish · Insults (Aimed at a Person)

Gilipollas

hee-lee-POH-yahs · /xi.li.ˈpo.ʎas/

Dickhead / jackass

3/5 Watch your audience

genuinely rude; friends only, never at work

Literally

"(no clean literal — 'pollas' = dicks)"

Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.

How to use it

The definitive Spanish (Spain) insult for "idiot/jackass" — you'll hear it constantly in Madrid and never in Mexico, where it just sounds like you've been watching Spanish TV. Rude but not a hate word; friends say it, strangers mean it. If you're in Spain, this is your "pendejo."

Heard in the wild

¡Mira por dónde vas, gilipollas!

Watch where you're going, dickhead!

Where it lands

Spain (ubiquitous); not used in Mexico

Quick answers

What does "Gilipollas" mean?
In Spanish, "Gilipollas" means "Dickhead / jackass". Literally it's "(no clean literal — 'pollas' = dicks)". The definitive Spanish (Spain) insult for "idiot/jackass" — you'll hear it constantly in Madrid and never in Mexico, where it just sounds like you've been watching Spanish TV. Rude but not a hate word; friends say it, strangers mean it. If you're in Spain, this is your "pendejo."
Is "Gilipollas" 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 "Gilipollas"?
Say it "hee-lee-POH-yahs" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: xi.li.ˈpo.ʎas.

Related in Spanish

Güey GWEY (rhymes with 'way') Dude / man (filler); also 'idiot' when aimed Pendejo pen-DEH-hoh Dumbass / idiot Baboso bah-BOH-soh Idiot / fool / dope Menso MEN-soh Silly / dummy / dim Naco NAH-koh Tacky / trashy / classless Mamón mah-MOHN Stuck-up jerk / smug show-off

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "You idiot".

how to say "You idiot" →

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