Sure, I could tell you that “hijo de puta” means “son of a bitch” or, more literally, “son of a whore.” But that just doesn´t translate how the colorful phrase is used so colorfully and almost non-stop by portenos. It can be shit, damn, fuck and all kinds of other things, but to really get it you need to see it in action. And thanks to YouTube and a cultural tipoff I got today, you can.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwuC5dw2ZOw&feature=related]
You don´t have to know Spanish to appreciate the flexibility of “hijo de puta” in real-life situations. The malleable “mala palabra” helps passionate portenos express anything. Anything.
This awesome documentation comes from a now defunct TV show for the early 2000s called “Todo Por Dos Pesos.” Clearly the “HP” series is a spoof but it sure seems real to me. (You got it. “HP” for “Hijo de Puta.”)
This HP episode is particularly hilarious because it features Graciela Dufau, a famous actress of dramas. Check out her use of HP. Epa!