hostia
damn / holy shit / wow (vulgar exclamation)
Advanced Interjection Feminine
🔊
Pronunciation
/ˈos.tja/
💡
Cultural Note
Literally 'the communion wafer' — yes, the body of Christ. Spain turned a Catholic sacrament into one of its most versatile swear words, and that tells you everything about the country's relationship with the Church. '¡Hostia!' expresses shock, awe, anger, or pain. 'Una hostia' also means 'a punch' or 'a crash.' 'De la hostia' means 'amazing.' It ranges from mildly vulgar to quite rude depending on context. Absolutely Spain-only — Latin Americans find it baffling and mildly blasphemous.
📝 Example Sentences
¡Hostia, qué susto me has dado!
Holy shit, you scared me!
Se dio una hostia con la moto tremenda.
He had a massive crash on his motorcycle.