Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| guácala | /ˈɡwakala/ |
| fuchi | /ˈfut͡ʃi/ |
| fuchila | /fut͡ʃila/ (from spelling rules) |
| puaf | /ˈpwaf/ |
These expressions are used to indicate disgust. You can use ¡Puaj! as a direct equivalent to "yuck", or the phrase ¡Qué asco! to mean "What disgust!" or "How disgusting!" While ¡Qué asco! is used among friends or family, other single-word interjections like guácala, fuchi, fuchila and puaf serve different nuances of disgust.
Which one should you use?
The choice between these words depends on the type of disgust you are feeling. guácala is typically used for physical disgust related to smells or tastes. In contrast, fuchi is often used for something that is simply unpleasant or "gross" in a more general sense. Additionally, puaf is an onomatopoeic expression used to mimic the sound of someone reacting to a sudden, strong bad smell.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The terms guácala and fuchi are considered colloquial or informal. Specifically, fuchi is frequently used by children or in a playful, lighthearted way to express mild disgust.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɡwakala/
Did you know?
- While guácala is widely understood, it is particularly iconic to Mexican Spanish and is rarely heard in Spain.
- The word fuchi is often paired with the gesture of pinching the nose to emphasize the smell.
- While puaf is used to mimic the sound of a bad smell, in some Spanish-speaking regions, it can also be used as a way to dismiss an idea as being completely worthless or nonsense.
Examples in context
- El olor de esta comida es repugnanteThe smell of this food is repugnant
- El sabor de estas galletas es asquerosoThe taste of these cookies is disgusting
- ¡Puaj! Esta comida está realmente malaYuck! This food is really bad
- ¡Qué asco me da el sabor de esta bebida!I find the taste of this drink really disgusting!
- ¡Puaj! Esta leche está agriaYuck! This milk is sour
- El olor del producto es realmente repugnanteThe smell of the product is truly repugnant
- No puedo comer este plato, ¡qué asco!I can't eat this dish, it's disgusting!
- La apariencia de esa sustancia es asquerosaThe appearance of that substance is disgusting
- ¡Guácala! No quiero comer esto.Yuck! I don't want to eat this.
- ¡Guácala, qué asco!Yuck, how gross!
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are looking at a spoiled piece of fruit in the kitchen.
- Elena¡Guácala! Mira este tomate.Yuck! Look at this tomato.
- DanielEs verdad, está muy feo.It's true, it is very gross.
- ElenaVoy a tirarlo ahora mismo.I am going to throw it away right now.
- DanielGracias, Elena, huele muy mal.Thanks, Elena, it smells very bad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yuck” translations and entries guácala, fuchi, puaf, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
