Spanish Word of the Day: Chungo
This adjective is essential slang talk in Spain, a word with lots of meanings, all of them fairly negative.
Chungo is a colloquial way of saying that something is difficult, dodgy or bad.
It can be used to describe a variety of scenarios and it’s a great way of talking like a native Spanish speaker.
You can talk about the weather being chungo if there are ominous black clouds up ahead.
If you’re stepping into a dodgy neighbourhood, then watch out because it’s un barrio chungo.
If you bought a hairdryer at the rastro (flea market) and it doesn’t work properly, then it’s clearly chungo, and the seller is just as chungo.
Maybe you’ve just sat an exam with complicated questions, you’d call it un examen chungo.
Or if you don’t feel very well, then you’re the one that is chungo.
There’s even an expression to say that things aren’t looking good - la cosa está chunga.
All in all, chungo is a very versatile adjective that you can incorporate into most daily speech even though it’s colloquial.
Here are some examples to help you get used to using chungo.
Example:
Está el tiempo un poco chungo, mejor no vamos a la playa.
The weather isn’t very good today, it’s best if we don’t go to the beach.
Example:
¡Ojo! Es un tío bastante chungo así que no te fíes de él.
Be careful! He’s a pretty dodgy guy so don’t trust him.
Example:
Le has comprado un perfume muy chungo a mamá por el Día de la Madre.
You’ve bought Mum a really crappy perfume for Mother’s Day.
Example:
El barrio de El Príncipe en Ceuta es muy chungo, ¡ten cuidado!
El Príncipe neighbourhood in Ceuta is very dodgy, be careful!
Example:
Me encuentro un poco chungo, con mareos y nauseas.
I’m feeling a bit bad, I’m dizzy and nauseous.
Example:
¿Dama de honor cuando el novio es tu ex? ¡Qué situación más chunga!
Maid of honour when the groom is your ex? ¡That’s an uncomfortable situation!
Example:
¡La cosa está chunga! El Barça tiene que marcar cinco goles para clasificarse.
Things aren’t looking good. Barça have to score five goals to qualify.
See Also
Chungo is a colloquial way of saying that something is difficult, dodgy or bad.
It can be used to describe a variety of scenarios and it’s a great way of talking like a native Spanish speaker.
You can talk about the weather being chungo if there are ominous black clouds up ahead.
If you’re stepping into a dodgy neighbourhood, then watch out because it’s un barrio chungo.
If you bought a hairdryer at the rastro (flea market) and it doesn’t work properly, then it’s clearly chungo, and the seller is just as chungo.
Maybe you’ve just sat an exam with complicated questions, you’d call it un examen chungo.
Or if you don’t feel very well, then you’re the one that is chungo.
There’s even an expression to say that things aren’t looking good - la cosa está chunga.
All in all, chungo is a very versatile adjective that you can incorporate into most daily speech even though it’s colloquial.
Here are some examples to help you get used to using chungo.
Example:
Está el tiempo un poco chungo, mejor no vamos a la playa.
The weather isn’t very good today, it’s best if we don’t go to the beach.
Example:
¡Ojo! Es un tío bastante chungo así que no te fíes de él.
Be careful! He’s a pretty dodgy guy so don’t trust him.
Example:
Le has comprado un perfume muy chungo a mamá por el Día de la Madre.
You’ve bought Mum a really crappy perfume for Mother’s Day.
Example:
El barrio de El Príncipe en Ceuta es muy chungo, ¡ten cuidado!
El Príncipe neighbourhood in Ceuta is very dodgy, be careful!
Example:
Me encuentro un poco chungo, con mareos y nauseas.
I’m feeling a bit bad, I’m dizzy and nauseous.
Example:
¿Dama de honor cuando el novio es tu ex? ¡Qué situación más chunga!
Maid of honour when the groom is your ex? ¡That’s an uncomfortable situation!
Example:
¡La cosa está chunga! El Barça tiene que marcar cinco goles para clasificarse.
Things aren’t looking good. Barça have to score five goals to qualify.
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