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In polite circles, "Trasero" is seldom used for refering to the butt but rather 'the lower back'.

Pendejo: coward, Idiot, and would only be used as Prolijo suggested in the case of two very good friends, and then only when both parties knew for certain it was in jest!!

Culo is the word most commonly used, often even in polite conversations, to refer to the butt or ass.

Cola- As stated is the "tail" and is concidered very vulgar and is never used in mixed company except by some gringos who do not know better (like me a few years ago with my ex wife-damn did I find out what a temper that Colombiana had)

Regarse: Another word more commonly used with the same meaning when used in the same context is "polvo"

And a couple of other commonly use words:

Maes: friends

chante; building, house, etc. Commonly used to refer to a Sala de Masaje (MP)

Compas: shortened form of companarios (companions)

One that I have always found interresting is the verb 'coger' to take or catch. like 'to take the bus'. Problem is in many latin countries it is used to refer to 'Plucking" and if you say "cogere el autobus' ( "I will take the bus") you are saying "I will pluck the bus".

Just as in english, there are many, many clolqual words and phrases that have very different meanings in different regions or countries, which makes using the right word or phrase very difficult at time for the non local, non native speaker.

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

That's not quite right but I think I know what you meant to say.

Using pendejo as a "friendly insult" WOULD only be used between people when they're more than just casual friends AND therefore the subject knew the other was just joking. HOWEVER, pendejo is ALSO commonly used, perhaps more commonly used, when it is intended just as it sounds - a very bad insult between people when they REALLY don't like each other. I've heard hispanics use it between themselves when arguing and there was NOTHING that sounded very friendly or joking about it.

Correct! "coward, idiot' are the literal translation of the word and it is used quite often, and most commonly, in the 'heat' of an argument and is very derogatory.

Oh! and it is my favorite word when upset with Ticos! But under my breath!! jejeje

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

Again, not quite right. Re-read my first post. I used to think it simply meant asshole, coward or idiot too and that's what it does mean in EFFECT and USAGE. HOWEVER, the LITERAL translation is actually either DINGLEBERRY or PUBIC HAIR (the ones that hang down between your ass and your balls). Pretty disgusting, isn't it? Thats what makes it so insulting. Think about what dangles down like a PENDULUM and then you'll realize where the word really came from.

Pro good work...that etymology(sp?) is hilarious

I'm in an etymological mood today. If you were a VIP you could see another interesting post I made today in the VIP ssection on the origin of the term "goat-rope".

Wait 'til Brother Prolijo goes to work on the term "stump-broke", a cowboy insult.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

I will guarentee you that in my Spanish/ English dictionary (LAROUSSE) that no where does it use DINGLEBERRY NOR PUBLIC HAIR. The definition in said dictionary is: 1. (coobarde) coward-2. (tonto) prat, idiot.
If you go to "Street Spanish /the Best of Naughty Spanish" you will see that it is used in Mexico as "Phucker; phucked (said of a contemptible person. And in Maxico and Argentina-- pendejo de mierda m --An insult in reference to a trouble-making little Ch*ld, "a piece of shit"- (lit.) public hair of shit.

Therefore I contend that my statement is correct !!! Now if you want to keep spliting hairs, we will; but I concider the whole discussion a total waste of time and space.

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

Well, I'll jump in too. Prolijo is actually correct re the literal meaning. As I mentioned in another topic, Spanish and the other Romance languages are simply evolved versions of local dialects of Latin that were spoken in the Roman provinces. Back in Old Iberia I'm sure that "pendejo" (or an earlier version of it) meant the same thing as the regular Latin form; over time it took on its current meaning and usage.

BB,
I don't want to split hairs either ... at least not those hairs.

I'm not surprised that neither "DINGLEBERRY NOR PUBLIC HAIR" are in your Larousse Dictionary because:
a) the correct term is PUBIC HAIR w/o an "L"
b) Pubic Hair is 2 seperate words and
c) Dingleberry is itself a slang term in english and I'm sure most english slang expressions won't be found in that book.

I didn't realize that ""Street Spanish /the Best of Naughty Spanish" was the definitive source on street spanish and can't attest to its completeness. Apparently, it does confirm pendejo as a term of derision and contempt, but I wasn't disputing how it is used or what it means IN PRACTICE. I was referring to its LITERAL meaning and its etymological origin.

If you look "dickhead" in the American Heritage Dictionary, it cites only what the term means as it is used. The only definition you'll find is "an inept, foolish, or contemptible person." and when you call someone a "dickhead" you don't mean he literally has a penis growing out of his neck. But wouldn't you acknowledge that is exactly where the expression comes from. Just because your source doesn't go into detail about a term's origins doesn't mean they aren't true.

It seems quite clear to me that PENDejo shares a common latin root with terms like PENDulum, PENDant and even oroPENDula (the bird in CR with the hanging nests). All those words refer to something that HANGS. Your own quote refers to a "pendejo de mierda". Does that mean a "coward or idiot of shit" or does it mean a "hanging piece of shit"? And what does shit hang from? I assume you must have copied that last part of the quote incorrectly and meant pubic w/o an "L", but it only backs up what I've been saying. (LITERAL) PUBIC HAIR OF SHIT. I don't know how you take a crap, but I never get shit on the pubic hairs ABOVE my dick, only on the ones below my balls and into my ass. So it seems quite clear to me that not only does the term Pendejo originallly refer to something that hangs but the hanging pieces of pubic hair near your ass that get shit stuck to them - aka dingleberries. BTW, another interpretation of pendejo that I've seen is someone who allows himself to get shit on, obviously not literally, but LIKE the hairs in your ass.

You can believe what you want to believe and disagree if you want to, but I'll continue to believe in the accuracy of my sources. We're not disagreeing about what the term refers to IN USE, however what I am talking about is the terms LITERAL meaning and origin.

The only "pend-" words Brother Prolijo left out were pending, as in trips, and pendulous, as in breasts. So how about y'all agree to disagree on this, and we go on to more substantive matters? My 2 cents.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

You're absolutely right that we should leave it at that and agree to disagree. Otherwise, I see the risk of this morphing into an "asshole shaving thread" and we all know how long those such threads can go on for. Now what was the original subject?

Hay muchos pendejos en CRT! Empezando con los dos de arriba.

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Hit them fast, Hit them hard and NEXT!
A good chica is like a good carpenter - No wood gets wasted!!!

I don't know Jazz I think we were both just insulted. Unless JOsie THINKS he's a really good friend that can get away with that.

Well Pro, JOsie DID add a string of big smiles at the end of his statement so I would assume that he was using the term in jest.

Otherwise, I would contend that HE was the the primero pendejo!

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western