¡mucha mierda!
To say "break a leg" in Spanish, meaning good luck to a performer, say ¡mucha mierda! Wiktionary also lists ¡mucha miola/miércale/porra! (bowdlerized).
Meaning: expression of best wishes to a performer (intj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| ¡mucha mierda! | |
| ¡mucha miola/miércale/porra! | bowdlerized |
Like break a leg, it is said to actors and other performers before they go on stage to wish them a good show.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means a lot of muck, using a vulgar word for excrement.
Which one should you use?
Milder versions replace the rude word, such as ¡mucha miola/miércale/porra!
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
¡mucha mierda! is considered vulgar and is best kept for close colleagues or theater settings.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use it outside a performance context or with people you do not know well, since out of context it sounds crude.
When do people say it?
The expression comes from theater tradition. A large amount of horse manure outside a theater meant many carriages had arrived, which meant a full house and a successful show.
Did you know?
- The word mierda is a cognate of the obsolete English word 'merd', which appears in the works of some early English writers.
- In some Spanish regions, ¡mucha porra! is used as a polite alternative, though 'porra' can refer to a police baton or a type of fried dough.
- The tradition of wishing for 'muck' is shared across several European cultures, including the French who use the similar phrase merde.
Examples in context
- Sé que lo harás genial, ¡mucha mierda!I know you'll do great, break a leg!
Example conversation
Javier is about to go on stage for a musical performance.
- MaríaJavier, ya casi es tu turno.Javier, it is almost your turn.
- JavierSí, estoy un poco nervioso.Yes, I am a little nervous.
- MaríaNo te preocupes, ¡mucha mierda!Don't worry, break a leg!
- JavierGracias, María.Thanks, María.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “break a leg” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mierda, CC BY-SA 4.0.
