pinche
3 synonyms for pinche, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — In Mexican Spanish slang, a vulgar intensifier placed before a noun to express contempt or annoyance, roughly equivalent to 'damn' or 'fucking'.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
How to use pinche
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
pinche güey
pinche vieja
pinche trabajo
Vulgar; regionally Mexican. Avoid in formal or mixed company.
Etymology
A Spanish word whose oldest recorded sense is 'kitchen boy'; the intensifier use is a later Mexican development.
Full origin of pinche →Frequently asked questions
How offensive is pinche?
It is genuinely vulgar in Mexico, on a par with 'fucking' as an intensifier, though among friends it is thrown around casually. It is much milder or simply unfamiliar in some other Spanish-speaking countries.
What is the difference between pinche and pendejo?
Pinche is an intensifier attached to a noun — pinche coche, pinche día. Pendejo is a noun insult aimed at a person, meaning idiot or arsehole. They are often stacked together as 'pinche pendejo'.
Does pinche have a literal meaning?
Yes. In standard Spanish a pinche is a kitchen hand or commis, and the word is still used that way in professional kitchens.
