rayos y centellas

Spanish

Etymology

Development on earlier rayos (“dang it”). Literally, “lightnings and sparks”.

Pronunciation

 
  • IPA(key): /ˌraʝos i θenˈteʝas/ [ˌra.ʝos i θẽn̪ˈt̪e.ʝas] (most of Spain)
  • IPA(key): /ˌraʝos i θenˈteʎas/ [ˌra.ʝos i θẽn̪ˈt̪e.ʎas] (rural northern Spain)
 
  • IPA(key): /ˌraʝos i senˈteʝas/ [ˌra.ʝos i sẽn̪ˈt̪e.ʝas] (most of Latin America)
  • IPA(key): /ˌraʝos i senˈteʎas/ [ˌra.ʝos i sẽn̪ˈt̪e.ʎas] (Andes Mountains, Paraguay, Philippines)
 
  • IPA(key): /ˌraʃos i senˈteʃas/ [ˌra.ʃos i sẽn̪ˈt̪e.ʃas] (Buenos Aires and environs)
  • IPA(key): /ˌraʒos i senˈteʒas/ [ˌra.ʒos i sẽn̪ˈt̪e.ʒas] (elsewhere in Argentina and Uruguay)

  • Syllabification: ra‧yos y cen‧te‧llas

Interjection

¡rayos y centellas!

  1. good heavens!, blimey!, dang it!
    Synonyms: recórcholis, caracoles, repámpanos, rayos, pamplinas
    • 2017 November, María Parr, Corazones de gofre‎[1], Nórdica Libros, →ISBN:
      —¡Rayos y centellas! ¡De ninguna manera! —exclamó el abuelo, aunque la tía abuela le tiene dicho que no diga «rayos y centellas» delante de los niños—.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
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