boludo

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idiot, fool, dude, mate, lazy person
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/boˈluðo/
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A vulgar Spanish slang word that ranges from fool or idiot to friendly mate, with regional senses for laziness, rounded shape, wealth, youth, and large size.

Examples

  • No seas boludo, mirá antes de cruzar.
    Do not be an idiot, look before crossing.
  • Se casó con una heredera boluda.
    He married a rich heiress.
  • Le dicen boludo porque evita cualquier esfuerzo.
    They call him a slacker because he avoids any effort.
  • Esa boluda ya quiere manejar sola.
    That girl already wants to drive alone.
  • El empleado boludo nunca termina el trabajo.
    The lazy employee never finishes the work.

Similar words

tonto
estúpido
zapallo
compa
adinerado
idiota
joven
parsimonioso
saliente
pelotudo

Meanings

Fool or idiot

noun
everyday
slang
A rude slang word for a foolish, stupid, or clueless person, often used as an insult.

Examples

  • No seas boludo, mirá antes de cruzar.
    Do not be an idiot, look before crossing.
  • Me olvidé las llaves como un boludo.
    I forgot the keys like a fool.
  • Ese comentario boludo arruinó la reunión.
    That stupid comment ruined the meeting.
  • La película se ríe de un personaje bastante boludo.
    The film laughs at a rather foolish character.
  • Le dijo boludo y la charla terminó mal.
    He called him an idiot and the conversation ended badly.

Similar words

Friendly mate

noun
conversation
informal
A familiar way to address a friend, especially in Argentina, where tone decides whether it feels warm or insulting.

Examples

  • Che, boludo, vení un segundo.
    Hey, dude, come here a second.
  • ¿Todo bien, boludo?
    All good, mate?
  • Gracias, boluda, me salvaste.
    Thanks, dude, you saved me.
  • Dale, boludo, vamos al bar.
    Come on, bro, let's go to the bar.
  • Mirá, boluda, te cuento algo.
    Look, girl, I will tell you something.

Similar words

Lazy person

noun
work
slang
A lazy, slow, or irresponsible person, especially in parts of Mexico, Central America, Uruguay, and nearby areas.

Examples

  • El empleado boludo nunca termina el trabajo.
    The lazy employee never finishes the work.
  • No contrates a alguien tan boludo para la obra.
    Do not hire someone so lazy for the job.
  • Mi primo anda boludo y no quiere ayudar.
    My cousin is acting lazy and does not want to help.
  • Le dicen boludo porque evita cualquier esfuerzo.
    They call him a slacker because he avoids any effort.
  • Dejá de hacerte el boludo y ayudá.
    Stop playing dumb and help.

Similar words

Bulging or round

adjective
shape
neutral
Rounded, bulging, or sticking out, and in Cuba used of shoes with a rounded toe.

Examples

  • Compró unos zapatos boludos para el desfile.
    He bought round-toed shoes for the parade.
  • El pomo quedó boludo después del golpe.
    The knob became bulging after the blow.
  • La pieza boluda no entraba en la caja.
    The bulging part did not fit in the box.
  • El adorno tenía una punta boluda y redonda.
    The ornament had a rounded tip.
  • La fruta salió más boluda que las otras.
    The fruit came out more bulging than the others.

Similar words

Wealthy

adjective
money
informal
Wealthy or well-off, a regional sense especially recorded for El Salvador.

Examples

  • Dicen que ese comerciante es boludo.
    They say that merchant is wealthy.
  • La familia boluda compró otra casa.
    The rich family bought another house.
  • El vecino boludo llegó en un auto nuevo.
    The wealthy neighbor arrived in a new car.
  • En el pueblo todos conocen al ganadero boludo.
    Everyone in town knows the well-off rancher.
  • Se casó con una heredera boluda.
    He married a rich heiress.

Similar words

Youth or adolescent

noun
age
slang
A young person who is no longer a child, especially in Chilean and Uruguayan regional use.

Examples

  • Los boludos salieron tarde del liceo.
    The teenagers left the high school late.
  • Esa boluda ya quiere manejar sola.
    That girl already wants to drive alone.
  • El club abrió un taller para boludos.
    The club opened a workshop for young people.
  • Los boludos del barrio juegan al fútbol.
    The kids from the neighborhood play soccer.
  • Cuando era boludo, pasaba horas en la rambla.
    When I was a teenager, I spent hours on the waterfront.

Similar words

Very large

adjective
size
slang
Very large or bulky, a regional Uruguayan sense used for things.

Examples

  • Trajo una valija boluda para dos días.
    He brought a huge suitcase for two days.
  • Pusieron una mesa boluda en el comedor.
    They put a big table in the dining room.
  • El perro encontró un hueso boludo.
    The dog found a huge bone.
  • La campera boluda ocupaba todo el bolso.
    The bulky jacket took up the whole bag.
  • Compró un televisor boludo para el cuarto.
    He bought a huge television for the room.

Similar words

Etymology

From bola plus the suffix -udo, originally pointing to something large or ball-like before the slang meanings developed.

FAQ

What does boludo mean?

Boludo most often means an idiot or fool, but in Argentina it can also be a friendly address like mate or dude.

Is boludo offensive?

Yes, it can be vulgar and insulting. Among close Argentine friends it may be affectionate, but tone and relationship matter.

Can boludo be feminine?

Yes. The feminine form is boluda, with plurals boludos and boludas.

Where is boludo used as a friendly address?

ASALE records boludo as a youth formula for addressing a friend in Argentina, and similar slang is heard in Rioplatense speech.

What is the origin of boludo?

Boludo comes from bola plus -udo, a suffix used for having or being marked by something.

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