Spanish is quickly becoming one of the most common languages around the world. If you don’t know the pendejo meaning, it may be time to brush up on your skills. Understanding the Spanish language can open many doors and make communicating with the fastest-growing demographic in the United States easier. Here are some quick facts about Español to help you understand how influential this language truly is.
#1. Romancing The Language
Many languages around the world trace their roots back to Latinized Rome. These Romance languages stem from the fall of the Holy Roman Empire as citizens branched out from the country’s borders and dialects diverged. Eventually, these splintered modes of speaking developed into languages all their own. In addition to Spanish, other Romance languages include French, Italian, and Portuguese.
This makes it somewhat easier to cross-translate words. For example, in Spanish, the pendejo meaning comes from the Latin word for “pubic hair.” While originally referring to troublesome prepubescent teens, it has developed to mean “stupid” or “idiot” today. However, the meaning can be ascertained by looking at other Romance language words for pubic hair such as “pentelho” in Portuguese or “pentello” in Galacian
#2. Borrowed Words
Thanks to its Latin-language heritage, there are many common words that originated in Spanish that have been adopted by English speakers everywhere. The meaning of pendejo isn’t the only word you can identify from its Roman heritage. Some of the most commonly borrowed Spanish words include:
- Patio: An open area or courtyard connected to a house.
- Guerrilla: A small fighting force using covert tactics against a larger combat group.
- Cockroach: This species of insect has been a household pest all over the globe.
- Breeze: A gently blowing wind.
- Vanilla: The flavouring that complements many baking and dessert dishes.
There are a host of words that many languages have taken from Spanish, and understanding Español can help you to grasp other languages as well!
#3. Tilting Windmills
Not only is Spanish connected to one of the most influential languages ever, but it is also responsible for the first instance of the modern novel. The epic “El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha” by Miguel de Cervantes, most commonly known as “Don Quixote,” was written in the early 17th century, making it one of the earliest known long-form fictional works ever produced.
While many many people see Don Quixote as epitomizing the meaning of pendejo, most readers come away with a soft spot for the demented hero.
#4. Unique Letters And Punctuation
One of the most interesting aspects of the Spanish language is the plethora of punctuation used to denote new letters and sounds. For example, the tilde (~) changes the English “n” for words like “piñata.” In total, there are 27 letters in the language as compared to English’s 26, though not all are found in both.
There are some benefits to Spanis punctuation as well. Unlike in English, questions and exclamations in this Romance language are preempted by an upside-down symbol that denotes the nature of the sentence. This way, Spanish readers know ahead of time what kind of inflexion the statement deserves. Seeing an upside-down question mark tells you that you are about to read a question, so you should imagine the phrasing accordingly.
#5. Seven Dialects
Spanish is growing to be one of the most common languages spoken worldwide. This doesn’t mean that every Spanish speaker knows all of the same syntax and vocabulary. The number of areas that Spanish languages cover means it has developed into a number of different dialects, including”
- Castillian
- Latin American
- Mexican
- Adalusian
- Colombian
- Carribean
- Rioplatense
While these languages are exceptionally similar to one another, it can be difficult for even the most skilled translator to be able to cross-reference them all.
#6. It’s Growing
Learning Spanish is a great idea because of how quickly the language is growing. While it may have originated in Spain, the multitude of dialects is a testament to how quickly the language is becoming a dominant presence on the world stage. Mexico currently hosts the largest Spanish-speaking population, but the United States isn’t too far behind. In fact, there are more Spanish-speaking people in the US than Chines, French, Native American, and Hawaiian languages combined!
Getting Ahead
Understanding one of the fastest-growing languages in America can only be a good thing. As the language gains in popularity, those who can translate it will have an edge in both their personal and business lives. Instead of becoming the definition of a pendejo, Spanish language learners can create a bridge of dialects that benefits the community as a whole!