pendejo
noun, adjectiveVulgar
A Mexican Spanish slang term. Browse all Mexican slang.
What it means
Idiot, fool. Stronger than tonto and weaker than the worst options available; it attacks judgement rather than intelligence.
As an adjective: stupid, careless. No seas pendejo — don't be an idiot.
Examples with translations
No seas pendejo, guarda el archivo antes de cerrarlo.
Don't be an idiot, save the file before you close it.
Me vio la cara de pendejo y me cobró el doble.
He took me for a fool and charged me double.
Note: ver la cara de pendejo — to be treated as a mug. A very common fixed phrase.
Where it comes from
Originally pubic hair, hence something trivial and worthless. The route from there to 'fool' runs through a general sense of insignificance.