piojos
/pjoxos/from spelling rules
The English phrase "cooties" can be translated into Spanish as piojos.
piojos is a childish term used to refer to lice or imaginary germs passed between children.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of piojos is /pjoxos/.
Did you know?
- The word piojo is used in several Spanish idioms, such as no tiene un piojo, which describes someone who is completely broke and has no money.
- To say 'you gave me cooties' in a social context, children often use the verb contagiar, which is the same word used for catching a serious virus.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, piojoso is used as a slang insult to describe someone who is socially awkward or poorly dressed, beyond just having lice.
Examples in context
- ¡No me toques, tienes piojos!Don't touch me, you have cooties!
Example conversation
Two children are playing in a park.
- Sofía¡Aléjate de mí, Alejandro!Stay away from me, Alejandro!
- Alejandro¿Por qué me gritas, Sofía?Why are you shouting at me, Sofía?
- Sofía¡Tú tienes piojos!You have cooties!
- Alejandro¡Eso no es verdad!That is not true!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
