coño
damn / shit / WTF (vulgar exclamation)
Advanced Interjection Masculine
🔊
Pronunciation
/ˈko.ɲo/
💡
Cultural Note
Anatomically, this is a very vulgar word for female genitalia. But in practice, Spaniards use 'coño' as a general-purpose exclamation the way English speakers use 'damn' or 'shit.' It can express surprise, frustration, happiness, or disbelief — tone is everything. '¡Coño, qué alegría!' is a perfectly warm greeting between old friends. In Venezuela, 'coño de la madre' is one of the strongest insults possible, while in Spain 'coño' is practically a punctuation mark. Context and country matter enormously.
📝 Example Sentences
¡Coño, que bien que te veo! ¡Cuánto tiempo!
Damn, great to see you! It's been ages!
Pero coño, ¿cómo no me avisaste antes?
But damn, why didn't you tell me earlier?