¡carajo!
damn it! / hell! / shit! (Latin American exclamation)
Pronunciation
/kaˈɾa.xo/
Cultural Note
Originally a nautical term for the crow's nest (the lookout platform at the top of a ship's mast — the worst place to be sent as punishment), 'carajo' evolved into one of the most versatile swear words in Latin American Spanish. '¡Carajo!' is the general-purpose exclamation of frustration across Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and beyond. 'Irse al carajo' means to go to hell or fall apart completely. 'Importar un carajo' means to not give a damn. In Spain, it's less common — they prefer 'hostia' and 'joder' — but in Latin America, 'carajo' reigns supreme.
📝 Example Sentences
¡Carajo, se me olvidó la cita con el dentista!
Damn, I forgot the dentist appointment!
¡Vete al carajo! No quiero saber nada de ti.
Go to hell! I don't want anything to do with you.