Spanish · The Chingar Family
Chingar
cheen-GAR · /tʃin.ˈɡaɾ/
The root verb behind half of Mexican profanity
genuinely rude; friends only, never at work
Literally
"To violate / screw / mess with"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
Meet the most productive verb in Mexican Spanish — Octavio Paz devoted a famous chapter of "El laberinto de la soledad" to it. From this one root you get "chingón" (badass), "chingada" (the violated one, ultimate mother-insult), "chingadera" (piece of junk), "chingo" (a ton), "chingaquedito" (a sneaky troublemaker), and dozens more. The verb itself means to screw someone over ("me chingaron en el trabajo") or to bug someone ("no me chingues"). Master the family and you understand how Mexico curses.
Heard in the wild
No me chingues, ya te dije que no.
Don't mess with me, I already told you no.
Where it lands
Mexico (universal); the keystone of Mexican profanity
Quick answers
- What does "Chingar" mean?
- In Spanish, "Chingar" means "The root verb behind half of Mexican profanity". Literally it's "To violate / screw / mess with". Meet the most productive verb in Mexican Spanish — Octavio Paz devoted a famous chapter of "El laberinto de la soledad" to it. From this one root you get "chingón" (badass), "chingada" (the violated one, ultimate mother-insult), "chingadera" (piece of junk), "chingo" (a ton), "chingaquedito" (a sneaky troublemaker), and dozens more. The verb itself means to screw someone over ("me chingaron en el trabajo") or to bug someone ("no me chingues"). Master the family and you understand how Mexico curses.
- Is "Chingar" 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 "Chingar"?
- Say it "cheen-GAR" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: tʃin.ˈɡaɾ.
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