It’s taken me some time to work up the courage to write this post on penis in Spanish. I’m an internal processor, and I’m always catching my wife by surprise with ideas I’ve been thinking about but not sharing (by this time they’re basically not ideas anymore, rather plans of action).
This time it was no different, when I finally told her what my next post would be about, she gave me a pretty hard time. After a few quick comments about how sophomoric I can be, I realized that I needed her help to make sure that this post remained on the straight and narrow.
In all seriousness, I decided to write this post because on a regular basis students in my medical Spanish classes get a little squeamish about the topic, and definitely want to handle it properly. Additionally, as with any delicate body part, there are several slang terms for penis in Spanish that you’ll want to make sure you understand when used, and be sure to avoid in professional settings.
So, I think it makes sense to set the record straight so that you can do your work with patients, use professional vocabulary with confidence, and not raise any eyebrows.
What is the best word for penis in Spanish?
The best, safest, and most professional word for penis in Spanish is: el pene
What are some less formal terms for penis in Spanish that you need to know?
- el pájaro (or el pajarito) = weenie. This terms is most commonly used as a euphemism with children (like in English), you probably wouldn’t use it much in adult settings.
- el miembro (masculino) = member. This term can be used for penis in Spanish in adult settings without any problem.
- partes privadas = private parts. While not specifically penis in Spanish, it’s generally well understood.
What are some vulgar terms for penis in Spanish (from the Americas) that you’d never want to use in a professional setting?
- la chorra
- el carajo
- el chile
- el choto
- la cuca
- la picha
- la pinga
- la pirinola
- la riata
- la turca
- la verga
- la pajarilla
Yes, there are quite a few vulgar terms for penis in Spanish. Since we’re not focusing on those in a professional setting, it’s enough to know that you shouldn’t use them; el pene should be your go-to term. But you may be interested in some other anatomical terms in Spanish related to penis; if so, keep reading…
What are some anatomical and other terms related to penis in Spanish:
- el prepucio or el forro = foreskin
- los testÃculos = testicles
- el escroto = scrotum
- el largo del pene = the shaft
- la punta del pene = the head
- eyacular = to ejaculate (acabar and venir are less formal terms).
If you have to discuss male genitalia in Spanish, hopefully this post is helpful. Comment below if you have some questions about delicate topics that I can help with. Did you see the post on how to say butt in Spanish?
Also, did you know that we have a free Learning Medical Spanish group on Facebook? Check it out if you’re working on learning medical Spanish.
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Keep up the good work speaking responsible Spanish to your patients! Check out our other books, classes & products to help you !
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…what about the equivalent of a male rooster/chicken, el pollo? Or, pollito, pollo enorme, JK, hehe 🙂
This is so helpful! More than once, I’ve been in the middle of a conversation in Spanish with a patient, then suddenly realized I only know a slang word for a private body part and it’s probably not even close to a PC term. Cue awkward pause in the conversation!
You bet Robin! Cheers,
Thanks for this and the 2 related articles. I started learning Spanish over 50 years ago, and have taught now for over 30, in all settings and ages. Somehow, there are words that it’s just never quite proper to bring up. I took a Medical Spanish course too, and had to confirm some of the technical anatomical words there. But, like I always tell students, since Spanish is spoken in over 20 countries, and each has its own cuss words and slang and regionalisms, how can anyone learn all the stuff we SHOULD know, let alone all the stuff we SHOULDN’T ever say. My favorite illustration is how it’s offensive to call a man “pato” (duck) in some places but not in others. My first job out of college was at a Job Corps Center with Dominican and Puerto Rican students from New York and Chicago. Believe me, I learned some words there that you never learned in the classroom!
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