PARGUELA: MEANING, ORIGIN OF THE TERM AND EXAMPLES OF USES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

Parguela is a term used mostly by the Spanish youth population that has gained popularity in recent years thanks to its exposure on the Internet. According to Internet users, the term arose in Seville and its use spread throughout the rest of Spain.

Although it was considered at one time as a word in disuse, it was retaken again thanks to the young people. Some language specialists indicate that this type of communication is an alternative speech modality of the standard or dominant current, also producing the differentiation between social and even economic groups.

The popularity of this word is mainly due to a couple of factors: the forcefulness and degree of expressiveness of it when used in the daily vocabulary, as well as its versatility due to the synonyms it has, which are also introduced in the speaks.

Meaning

According to the glossary of terms used in popular and colloquial Urban Dictionary, "parguela" refers to the type of person who "has not done anything with his life." However, according to other Internet users, the word also serves to explain someone who is cowardly or simply stupid.

In fact, at this point it should be mentioned that this same expression is related to a couple more terms that we can include:

-It is estimated that young people associate it with "pringao", someone who does not have the ability to decide or influence other people, is easy to deceive or suffers from calamities from which they cannot easily escape.

-On the other hand, it is also interpreted as an insult or derogatory term towards homosexuals.

The Royal Spanish Academy defines the expression as follows: "Similar to a woman in her person and in her ways." However, the word is understood to contain a series of meanings that will vary depending on the context in which it is used.

Relationship with "fool"

According to the above, parguela is also synonymous with “tonto”, one of the words with the greatest meanings and variations in Spanish.

For example, previously the RAE admitted "Galician" as a similar word until it was withdrawn in 2014, as it was considered offensive to a particular ethnic group.

On the other hand, there are endless associations, such as: zombie (stunned); "The fool of the boat", a term whose antecedents go back to the s. XIX; even “playing the blonde”, currently considered offensive and which refers specifically to Rosalie Duthé, a dancer who took long pauses before speaking.

Origin of the term

As already mentioned, it is estimated that the word began to be used in Seville and then spread throughout the rest of Spain.

Although there is no clear origin, it is known that the term was included in the Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy in 1970, thanks to its use and popularity at the time.

However, it was discontinued until it became common again in youth and adolescent slang in the late 1990s. It is used today.

Examples of uses

Due to the variety of uses depending on the context, some examples can be mentioned:

- "What parguela falls on the user number 1000"?

- "Whoever takes out the pipe and doesn't shoot is a parguela."

- “Have you seen Collantes? That really is a parguela ”.

- "When he says he is a crack but in reality he is a parguela".

- "They are insulting you and you don't say anything, what a payoff."

Curiosities

-Due to the popularity of its use, it has also been used to make jokes and memes of all kinds, including mockery of sports and clubs, and even characters in Spanish politics.

-The term in English is similar to loser ("loser") or fool ("fool").

-One of the most common and well-known synonyms is “pringao / a”, although the correct way to write and pronounce it is “pringado / a”.

-Generally it is considered a very offensive insult, but not vulgar or rude.

-There are other associated words, also of common expression, such as "nobody", "mindundi" and "pagafantas". This last term refers specifically to a man who is in a friendly relationship with a woman, but who is unable to generate a sexual encounter with her.

Other popular expressions

There are a number of words that are also widely known and used in youth slang, which are worth noting:

-Mud troll: someone really ugly or very unattractive.

-Morral: this word has two meanings. On the one hand it refers to a rude person, while on the other it refers to someone lazy or with little interest in doing something.

-Chusta: as in the previous case, it also has several interpretations, which range from cigarette to an expression of disappointment or defeat.

-Captain Obvius: a person who says or points out obvious things.

- Fail: this word is a sample of the inclusion of English terms in expressions of daily use. In this case it refers to a situation with a disappointing and unexpected result.

-Mordor: this word was taken from the works of Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, and refers to a place that is too far or on the outskirts of the city.

-Okey, Oc, oki, okeler, okis: another variation of the “ok” in English, whose origin dates back to the expression used by the United States Army during warfare to indicate that there were no casualties among the ranks. Punctually means 0 killed.

-Thin: a person who is no longer obese but has sagging skin due to weight loss. It is also used as a synonym for another popular expression called fofisano. The latter also has its origin in the English expression dad bod.

-This is olive oil: it refers to something or someone is very good.

-Fav: the term used to share content on social networks has also become common in everyday speech. If someone says something accurate or meaningful, they respond with a “fav” as a sign of approval.

References

1. What is Parguela? (sf). In Tuenti. Retrieved: May 21, 2018. In Tuenti de tuenti.es.
2. What is a parguela? (2013). In ZonaForo. Retrieved: May 21, 2018. In ZonaForo de meristation.as.com.
3. What does parguela mean? (sf). In HiNative. Retrieved: May 21, 2018. On Hinative's HiNative.
4. "Make a nextazo", and 41 other expressions of your child that you do not know. (2015). In the country. Retrieved: May 21, 2018. In El País de elpais.com.
5. Microlinguistic study of youth language in La Pella and Ciudad Rayada by José Ángel Mañas. (sf). In UM. Retrieved: May 21, 2018. In UM de um.es.
6. The terms for saying 'silly' that you don't know. (2017). In Cadenaser. Retrieved: May 21, 2018. In Cadenaser de Cadenaer.com.
7. Pay it off. (sf). In DIRAE. Retrieved: May 21, 2018. In DIRAE of dirae.es.
8. Pay it off. (sf). In Urban Dictionary. Retrieved: May 21, 2018. In Urban Dictionary at urbandictionary.com. g
9. Pagafantas. (sf). In Wiktionary. Retrieved: May 21, 2018. In the Wiktionary of es.wiktionary.org.
10. Meaning of pringao in Spain. (sf). In open and collaborative dictionary. Retrieved: May 21, 2018. In Open and Collaborative Dictionary of significade.org.