An adult male goat and, by extension, a regionally variable word for a contemptible person, a cuckold, an impressive or difficult person or thing, a close friend, a pimp, or the goat-shaped Devil.
La víctima declaró contra el cabrón que la amenazaba.
The victim testified against the pimp who threatened her.
El cabrón saltó la cerca del corral.
The he-goat jumped over the pen fence.
El cabrón guiaba el rebaño por la ladera.
The billy goat led the herd along the hillside.
¡Qué cabrón, resolvió el problema en un minuto!
What a badass, he solved the problem in a minute!
El cabrón controlaba varias casas clandestinas.
The pimp controlled several illegal houses.
Similar words
chingón
compa
hábil
diablo
desgraciado
chivo
proxeneta
duro
demonio
cabronazo
Meanings
Adult male goat
noun
animals
neutral
An adult male goat, especially one kept for breeding.
Examples
El cabrón guiaba el rebaño por la ladera.
The billy goat led the herd along the hillside.
Compraron un cabrón para la cría.
They bought a billy goat for breeding.
El cabrón saltó la cerca del corral.
The he-goat jumped over the pen fence.
La cabra y el cabrón permanecieron junto al establo.
The doe and the billy goat stayed beside the stable.
Ese cabrón tiene los cuernos muy largos.
That billy goat has very long horns.
Similar words
cabro
macho cabrío
chivo
buco
bode
Nasty, troublesome, or contemptible
adjective
insults
slang
Vulgarly describes a person, animal, or thing that behaves badly, causes trouble, or is intensely unpleasant, and also works as a noun for such a person.
Examples
Ese cabrón me vendió una pieza rota.
That bastard sold me a broken part.
La muy cabrona ocultó la carta.
That bitch hid the letter.
No seas cabrón y devuelve el dinero.
Do not be an asshole, give the money back.
El perro cabrón volvió a morder la manguera.
That damned dog bit the hose again.
Fue una semana cabrona, llena de problemas.
It was a brutal week, full of problems.
Similar words
canalla
sinvergüenza
malnacido
desgraciado
hijo de puta
cabronazo
Deceived by an unfaithful partner
adjective
relationships
slang
Vulgarly describes a man whose female partner is unfaithful, especially one who knows of or tolerates it, and also functions as a noun.
Examples
En la comedia, el marido acaba siendo un cabrón consentido.
In the comedy, the husband ends up a willing cuckold.
Lo llamaron cabrón al enterarse de la infidelidad.
They called him a cuckold when the affair came to light.
El personaje teme quedar como cabrón ante el pueblo.
The character fears being seen as a cuckold by the town.
La novela presenta al cabrón como objeto de burla.
The novel presents the cuckold as an object of ridicule.
No uses cabrón con ese sentido si solo quieres decir “idiota”.
Do not use cabrón in that sense if you merely mean “idiot.”
Similar words
cornudo
consentido
engañado
Highly skilled, impressive, or difficult
adjective
regional slang
slang
In Mexico, Cuba, and parts of Central America and the Caribbean, intensifies praise for a highly capable person or describes something exceptionally tough or difficult.
Examples
Lucía es cabrona para negociar contratos.
Lucía is a badass at negotiating contracts.
El examen estuvo cabrón.
The exam was really tough.
¡Qué cabrón, resolvió el problema en un minuto!
What a badass, he solved the problem in a minute!
La subida está cabrona después de la lluvia.
The climb is brutal after the rain.
Ese equipo es cabrón cuando juega en casa.
That team is formidable when playing at home.
Similar words
hábil
astuto
chingón
duro
difícil
impresionante
Rough address between friends
noun
friendship
slang
In familiar speech in Mexico and some other regions, an affectionate or teasing way to address a close friend, similar to “dude” or “mate.”
In parts of Latin America, a derogatory term for a man who controls or profits from the prostitution of others.
Examples
La policía detuvo al cabrón que explotaba a las mujeres.
Police arrested the pimp who exploited the women.
El cabrón controlaba varias casas clandestinas.
The pimp controlled several illegal houses.
En esa región, cabrón también puede significar proxeneta.
In that region, cabrón can also mean pimp.
La víctima declaró contra el cabrón que la amenazaba.
The victim testified against the pimp who threatened her.
La novela retrata al cabrón como un explotador violento.
The novel portrays the pimp as a violent exploiter.
Similar words
proxeneta
rufián
chulo
padrote
The Devil represented as a goat
noun
religion
neutral
With the article and often a capital letter, a traditional name for the Devil imagined in the form of a male goat, especially in accounts of witches’ gatherings.
Examples
Según la leyenda, el Cabrón presidía el aquelarre.
According to legend, the Devil presided over the witches’ gathering.
Las brujas rendían homenaje al Cabrón.
The witches paid homage to the goat-shaped Devil.
El grabado representa al Cabrón con grandes cuernos.
The engraving depicts the Devil with large horns.
En el relato, el Cabrón aparece junto al fuego.
In the tale, the Devil appears beside the fire.
El nombre Cabrón alude aquí al diablo del aquelarre.
Here the name Cabrón refers to the Devil of the witches’ gathering.
Similar words
diablo
demonio
Maligno
Tentador
Etymology
From cabro, “male goat,” with the augmentative suffix -ón. The literal animal name developed figurative senses involving cuckoldry, abuse, rough praise, and familiar address.
FAQ
What does cabrón mean?
Depending on context, cabrón can mean a male goat, a bastard or asshole, a cuckold, a badass, a close friend, a pimp, or the goat-shaped Devil.
Is cabrón always offensive?
No. The animal sense is neutral, and familiar regional speech can make it praise or friendly address, but most human uses remain vulgar and risky.
Can cabrón be a compliment?
In Mexico, Cuba, and some nearby varieties, cabrón can praise a highly skilled or impressive person, though its tone remains rough.
What is the feminine and plural of cabrón?
The feminine is cabrona, the masculine plural is cabrones, and the feminine plural is cabronas.
How is cabrón pronounced?
It is pronounced /kaˈbɾon/, with stress on the final syllable.
Comments & contributions
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