puaj
/ˈpwax/
The English phrase "eww" is translated into Spanish as puaj.
puaj is an exclamation used to express disgust or dislike toward something unpleasant.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the expression ¡Qué asquete! is equivalent to saying "eww" or "yuck".
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpwax/
Did you know?
- While puaj is used for physical disgust, Spanish speakers often use ¡Guácala! in Mexico and Central America to express the same feeling.
- The sound of puaj is an onomatopoeia, meaning it is intended to mimic the actual sound a person makes when they are about to gag or vomit.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, the expression of disgust is accompanied by a gesture of pushing the hand away from the face or waving it in the air.
Examples in context
- ¡Puaj! No quiero ni pensar en esoEww! I don't even want to think about it
- ¡Puaj, qué asco!Eww, how gross!
- ¡Puaj! No quiero tocar eso.Eww! I don't want to touch that.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are looking at a messy kitchen sink.
- DanielMira todos los platos sucios.Look at all the dirty dishes.
- Lucía¡Puaj, qué desastre!Eww, what a mess!
- DanielLucía, ¿podemos limpiar esto ahora?Lucía, can we clean this now?
- LucíaNo, mejor lo hago mañana.No, I'll do it tomorrow instead.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry puaj, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
