pareces un cerdo
/paɾeθes un θeɾdo/from spelling rules
The phrase you look like a pig in Spanish is pareces un cerdo.
This is an insulting remark used to tell someone that they are unattractive or dirty.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of pareces (you look/appear), un (a) and cerdo (pig).
Which one should you use?
While pareces un cerdo is the default, you can also say pareces un cochino to convey the same meaning.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb pareces is the second-person singular indicative form of parecer (to seem/to look like). To change the subject from 'you' to 'he' or 'she', change pareces to parece. If you are addressing a female, the noun cerdo changes to the feminine form cerda, resulting in pareces una cerda.
How do you pronounce it?
/paɾeθes un θeɾdo/
Did you know?
- Calling someone cerdo in certain contexts can be a way of accusing them of being sexually perverse or 'sleazy' rather than just dirty.
- The Spanish word cerda can also refer to a single bristle or hair from a pig, which is how the animal name evolved into the general term cerdo.
- The term cerdo is formed by adding the masculine suffix -o to the word cerda, which originally referred only to the female pig.
Examples in context
- Con esa ropa sucia, pareces un cerdo.With those dirty clothes, you look like a pig.
- Después de trabajar en el campo, pareces un cerdo.After working in the field, you look like a pig.
Example conversation
Elena is scolding Javier because he is very messy.
- Elena¡Javier, límpiate un poco!Javier, clean yourself up a bit!
- JavierEs que estoy muy cansado.It's just that I am very tired.
- ElenaNo me importa, pareces un cerdo.I don't care, you look like a pig.
- JavierEstá bien, me iré a la ducha.Fine, I'll go take a shower.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cerdo, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
