On Huevos and Pelotas

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Profane language ahead. Enter at your own risk.

Huevos and pelotas are two words interchangeaby used to refer to the testicles. (Did you know the etimology for testicles/testículos is rooted in the Latin word for witness).

The curious thing is we’ve created several expressions referring to them in strange ways:

  • Romper los huevos – Literally to break the eggs, it means to annoy, bother, or disrupt.
    No empieces a romper los huevos tan temprano.
    (Don’t start being annoying so early.)
  • No me rompas las pelotas – Same idea.
    (Don’t mess with me / Don’t be a pain in the ass.)
  • Ser un/una rompepelotas/rompebolas – Someone who constantly bothers.
    Ese tipo es un rompepelotas total.
    (That guy’s a total pain.)
  • Una patada en los huevos/en las bolas – Literally a kick in the balls, it can refer to physical pain or something extremely unpleasant.
    Perder ese laburo fue una patada en los huevos.
    (Losing that job was a real blow.)
  • Me seca los huevos – Crude and expressive way of saying someone is draining me.
    Me seca los huevos con sus quejas.
    (He won’t stop whining—it’s exhausting.)
    Some women use the expression ‘secar la concha’ to avoid the patriarchalism, but still..

Until next time, amigx


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