Spanish · Words You'll Hear But Must Never Say
Sudaca
soo-DAH-kah · /su.ˈða.ka/
Spain's slur for South Americans. You'll hear it; never say it.
nuclear/taboo — comprehension only, never recommended
Literally
"(derogatory clip of 'sudamericano')"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
Included so a Latin American traveler in Spain isn't ambushed by it. "Sudaca" is a contemptuous term Spaniards use for South American immigrants — a genuine ethnic slur, not banter. You may hear it in the wild or online; understand that it's an insult and never adopt it. There is no in-crowd version that makes it okay.
Heard in the wild
—(slur en España; documentado, no usar)—
—A slur heard in Spain; documented so you recognize it, never to use.—
Where it lands
Spain (anti–Latin-American slur); comprehension-only
Quick answers
- What does "Sudaca" mean?
- In Spanish, "Sudaca" means "Spain's slur for South Americans. You'll hear it; never say it.". Literally it's "(derogatory clip of 'sudamericano')". Included so a Latin American traveler in Spain isn't ambushed by it. "Sudaca" is a contemptuous term Spaniards use for South American immigrants — a genuine ethnic slur, not banter. You may hear it in the wild or online; understand that it's an insult and never adopt it. There is no in-crowd version that makes it okay.
- Is "Sudaca" offensive?
- Yes — very. It rates 5/5 on the Punch-o-Meter (Do not deploy). nuclear/taboo — comprehension only, never recommended. Read the usage note before you even think about it.
- How do you pronounce "Sudaca"?
- Say it "soo-DAH-kah" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: su.ˈða.ka.
Related in Spanish
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