Cheech and Chong word?

February 25, 2008 7:47 AM

I have a question about an Spanish-language word that may have been used in one or more episodes of Cheech and Chong. NSFW drug references/language.

I'm pretty sure from the person who passed me this question that the word I'm looking for is two things:

a) used to reference gay people, and
b) probably quite rude, or at least something you wouldn't say when Grandma's around: something along the lines of f*g.

The person who said the word to me said something that sounded like parejo, but that doesn't really make sense; however, as he's a native Russian speaker, I may have misheard him. He was adamant that it was from Cheech and Chong, though.

I realize this isn't a lot to go on, but Cheech and Chong was before my time, and I'm not going to lose my job by watching hours of old episodes on YouTube while at work.

Thanks!

posted by mdonley to writing & language (16 comments total)

Would that be Pendejo?
posted by Ufez Jones at 7:52 AM on February 25

That's it! What was that, like three minutes? Wow.
posted by mdonley at 7:55 AM on February 25

I always thought it was bendejo, but I'm the farthest thing from a Spanish speaker, so I wouldn't know.
posted by slogger at 8:09 AM on February 25

a) used to reference gay people

I'm curious if this applies to pendejo in common usage. The urbandictionary link does not have that sense of the word listed. It's always sounded to me like a dismissive term, but not directed at sexuality. More 'useless asshole' than 'fag'.

Anyone?
posted by dirtdirt at 8:30 AM on February 25

It's always sounded to me like a dismissive term, but not directed at sexuality. More 'useless asshole' than 'fag'.

I'm not a native speaker, but I've spent my fair time around them, and yes, in my experience, your assumption is correct. To use a more modern equivalent, I tend to think of pendejo as a direct translation of fuckwit.

For the homophobic insult, the word you (hopefully don't) want is maricón, although I'm sure there are countless others depending on region and local slang terms.
posted by Ufez Jones at 8:41 AM on February 25

The person who asked me told me he thought the word meant "gay", but now I can see that he meant it in the "that sweater/car/umbrella/box of cat food is so gay" sense of "lame". Thanks everyone.
posted by mdonley at 8:53 AM on February 25

I agree with Ufez.
posted by ludwig_van at 9:33 AM on February 25

now I can see that he meant it in the "that sweater/car/umbrella/box of cat food is so gay" sense of "lame".

In which case, your Russian friend is a pendejo.
posted by mumkin at 10:26 AM on February 25 [1 favorite]

Puto?
posted by doctor_negative at 11:17 AM on February 25

My understanding has always been that the verb "pender" means "to hang," making pendejo something that hangs, aka penis and/or balls. It's a way of calling someone a dick. Growing up in Los Angeles, I often heard it tossed around between men, sometimes playfully, sometimes not. Not that I'm any cultural anthropologist, or anything...
posted by DawnSimulator at 11:20 AM on February 25

My understanding has always been that the verb "pender" means "to hang," making pendejo something that hangs, aka penis and/or balls.

That's pretty much irrelevant to how it's used, which in most of Latin America is more or less equivalent to "dumbass." In Peru it means 'sly devil, sharp character,' while in and around Buenos Aires (the porteño dialect I learned) it's more 'snot-nosed kid.' Nowhere, as far as I know, does it carry any implication of homosexuality.
posted by languagehat at 11:48 AM on February 25

Let me tell you something, pendejo. You pull any of your crazy shit with us, you flash a piece out on the lanes, I'll take it away from you and stick it up your ass and pull the fucking trigger til it goes "click."
posted by tizzie at 12:13 PM on February 25

The 'Hat has spoken, and my experience completely lines up with that of Ufez Jones. Where I learned Spanish (Caracas) it was explained to me that "pendejo" was technically a reference to pubic hair. Not only would I agree with the "fuckwit" translation but I'll add that in Venezuela at least, acts of fuckwittery are often called "pendejadas" (just to fill out the usage of the term.)
posted by ambrosia at 1:19 PM on February 25 [1 favorite]

as LH says, pendejo is mostly a South American usage. The Castillian I speak uses it to denote language used by a SA character and the meaning is idiot, dimwit, it has no known homosexual connotations in peninsular Spanish.

Having said that, I've always translated it in my mind as "wanker" (UK usage), so I'm interested that there do appear to be sexual ovetones and would be interested to hear more of the Pender origin but YMMV.
posted by Wilder at 1:20 PM on February 25

heheh You said "peninsular".
posted by Mr. Gunn at 2:40 PM on February 25

In Mexican Spanish, "pendejo" means something along the lines of stupid or stupidass. But it carries a little bit more weight in terms of offensiveness than 'stupid' would have in English. You might say it amongst friends, but you'd never use it in polite company or to strangers to which you want to keep on their good side.

But both 'puto', or 'maricon' are both offensive Mexican Spanish slang for homosexuals, are quite offensive, and mean something to the effect of slut, or faggot, respectively.

Maybe you heard wrong, or something was mixed up somehow. Considering Cheech's background, and the fact that the movies take place in Southern California, Mexican Spanish and its slang will likely be the regional variant you want to pay attention to the most.
posted by sinscriven at 3:09 AM on February 26