caramba

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish caramba, a euphemism for the real expletive carajo.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [kaˈɹam.ba]

Interjection

caramba

  1. (non-vulgar) Exclamation of surprise or dismay.; golly!
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:wow, Thesaurus:dammit

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish caramba, a euphemism of carajo. In Portuguese, it is similarly used as an euphemism for caralho.

Pronunciation

 
  • (Brazil) IPA(key): /kaˈɾɐ̃.bɐ/
    • (Southern Brazil) IPA(key): /kaˈɾɐ̃.ba/

  • Rhymes: -ɐ̃bɐ
  • Hyphenation: ca‧ram‧ba

Interjection

caramba!

  1. (colloquial) gee, gosh (an expression of shock, surprise or anger)
    Synonyms: caracha, concho

Further reading

Spanish

Etymology

Euphemism for carajo.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kaˈɾamba/ [kaˈɾãm.ba]
  • Rhymes: -amba
  • Syllabification: ca‧ram‧ba

Interjection

¡caramba!

  1. (euphemistic) gee, gosh, shucks, blimey, darn (an expression of shock, surprise or anger)

Derived terms

Further reading