Coño – Feminist Liberation or Just a Rude Word?

Spanish and English talk about genitalia in completely different ways.

In English, men can fling around insults based on their genitalia all day—some are playful, some are crude, but they’re mostly acceptable in everyday usage.

When it comes to female genitalia, though, we’re stumped. It’s either the rudest word in the English language or purely a medical term—not a lot in between. English speakers are peculiarly terrified of mentioning this part of the female body as anything other than taboo.

In Spain?

Well, let’s just say I think it’s one of the most interesting pieces of linguistics I’ve encountered. What I’m about to share might make you squeamish, but I absolutely love it.

Yes, I’ll say it out loud: “Coño” (literally “c*nt”) is one of the most interesting words in Spanish!

(The gasps! The horror!)

“¡Olé Mi Coño!”

One afternoon, Mari Carmen popped over to our garden to help Pedro solve our little rabbit problem.

The wily critters had taken a keen interest in our lettuce patch. After some detective work, Mari Carmen found their entry hole and patched it up. Triumphant, she stood back, hands on her hips, marvelling at the now rabbit-free zone.

Suddenly, she announced, “¡Olé mi coño!”.

It translates, in the most literal sense, to “Congratulations my c*nt!”

I nearly choked. “Olé tu… qué, Mari Carmen?” I asked, trying to confirm I’d heard right.

“Mi coño,” she repeated, pointing unapologetically south as Pedro clapped and bowed in deference, like a knight honouring a queen.

Can you imagine this scenario in English?

The shock alone would freeze the entire neighbourhood. Yet in Spain, “coño” is tossed around in daily conversation—not always politely, mind you, but with a certain casual acceptance that makes me question why we’re so squeamish in English.

Over time, I’ve collected some downright fascinating uses of “coño” that illustrate its incredible versatility:

  • “¡Qué coño tiene esa mujer!”
    I overheard this in a café, spoken admiringly about a woman’s strength or daring. In English, we might say, “That woman’s got balls!” But in Spain, they say, “She has quite a coño,” which makes sense if you think about flipping the male-centric language on its head.
  • “Tiene un coño grande como una mesa.”
    I stumbled upon a story about a radio presenter who, in front of Spain’s former Vice President Irene Montero, declared she had “a coño the size of this table.” She reportedly blushed, but also acknowledged it as a bizarre sort of compliment—implying she had great fortitude.
  • “¡No me toques el coño!”
    Instead of saying “Don’t be a pain in the arse,” some Spaniards might blurt out, “Don’t touch my coño!”—a colourful way to demand personal space or express annoyance.

The Feminist Case for the Use of “Coño” in Spanish

Whenever I gush about my newfound appreciation for “coño” to friends back home, I get the same reactions: wide eyes, slack jaws, and a chorus of “That sounds horrible!”

But could there by a hint of feminism to it? By using female genitalia as a source of strength or even admiration, Spanish culture (at least in casual speech) moves away from the English tradition of framing female anatomy as either taboo or purely medical.

In English, the c-word ranks among the most offensive insults you can wield. But in Spain, while it’s certainly not always polite, it can also be celebratory, comedic or matter-of-fact – but never used with shame or horror.

Of course, there’s nuance here. “Que coño tiene” can also mean something like, “What a b*tch”.

But every time I hear “coño” used positively or see a Spaniard revel in the comedic shock value it offers, I’m reminded how much cultural weight we put on these words. Perhaps it’s time English speakers caught up, loosened the corset strings around certain terms, and allowed ourselves the freedom to celebrate the female body?

After all, language is power, and if “coño” can command respect in the way Mari Carmen used it…maybe there’s something there?

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