The word pedo alone in Spanish means fart, but when the word is paired with virtually any preposition and put into any other context, it can take on an entirely different meaning. Keep in mind that many of these are country-specific to Argentina, while some could be used in almost any Spanish-speaking country. Lunfardo (the slang used in Argentina) can be quite inventive, especially when it comes to cussing!
Let’s take a look at some of the more common and unique pedo uses:
Pedo #1: Que pedo! / What a fart!:
This depends entirely on context. A) Que pedo te agarraste anoche! How drunk were you last night! B)Que pedo se tiró el perro!! The dog farted something horrific! C)Que pedo tiene ese chabon en la cabeza That guy doesn’t understand a thing
Pedo #2: Al pedo / Farting around:
To be al pedo is to not have anything to do whether you are lazy or just have some free time. Example: Juan: Tomamos unos mates esta tarde? Pablo: Si! Estoy re al pedo.
Pedo #3: En pedo / Wasted:
To be en pedo is to be totally smashed. Drunk. Plastered. It is most often paired with the verb ponerse. Example: Yo me puse en pedo (I got drunk). If used after the verb to be (estar), that can also mean someone’s crazy: Ese pibe esta en pedo, como va a ir de campamento en el glaciar?! That guy is crazy! How can he go camping on the glacier ??
Pedo #4: A los pedos / Quickly:
Tengo que ir a los pedos would best translate to one being in a hurry- or that something is moving fast. Ese chabon maneja a los pedos That guy is driving really fast.
Pedo #5: Es todo un pedo / It’s a wreck:
It’s all messed up. Similar to the more commonly used lunfardo phrase Es un quilombo or Es un lio, Es todo un pedo is more of a universal Spanish way of saying that it’s a big mess.
Pedo #6: Me importa un pedo / I don’t give a shit about __:
Examples and alternatives in Argentina: Me importa un pedo /choto/ una mierda si no le gusta I don´t give a shit if he doesn’t like it.
A classic lunfardo expression is me chupa un huevo, but just be careful about using the verb correctly! It could lead to an embarrassing Spanish moment like these.
Pedo #9: Ni en pedo!:
Not even if I was drunk / I’d have to be crazy to do that / No way. Ni en pedo me voy hasta Mendoza en bondi There’s no way I’m going to Mendoza by bus
