Verdugo

[jabejuventus]

Ever been called un(a) verdugo(a)? Ever hear the word said and wondered what on Earth it meant? Guilty and guilty. Today, I heard it again. I was shopping at an Iberia today when some girls (workers) referred to someone as a verdugo.

When I got back home I decided to myself out of the misery of not knowing and Google Translate it. The definition is a bit harsher than I suspected.

Verdugo = tyrant, executioner.

Well, , , , , have you ever been called a verdugo(a)?

 

[Dolores1]

No, that is not in Dominican Spanish. In Dominican Spanish it is used in the same way you would call someone "brilliant" or "smart."

It means you are good at what you do, are an expert, or are good at getting away with things.

 

[jabejuventus]

Great! So people have been recognizing my brilliance w/o me knowing it. This is one time I don't mind being corrected. Thanks D. You are a true verduga.

 

[jabejuventus]

While on the subject, how can a word have almost diametrically opposed meanings. Can anyone think of other such examples in Dominican Spanish?

 

[dv8]

No, that is not in Dominican Spanish. In Dominican Spanish it is used in the same way you would call someone "brilliant" or "smart."

really? miesposo says it means "stupid". i did a quick search and found this:

VERDUGO (Ver-Doo-Go):
a. adjective.,
1. Real meaning is Executioner
2. In the Dominican wrestling, Los Hermanos Bronco were called “Los Verdugos”, since they were considerably bigger muscle-wise than the average Dominican Wrestler, the term is also now used to describe someone who is muscular or strong 3. Someone who is heavy handed
from: Dominican Slang / Lingo Language Dictionary | ThatsDominican.com

Verdugo
Rep?blica Dominicana Rep?blica Dominicana
1-Persona con grande cualidades para hacer una actividad. Es equivalente a montro.
2- Un mojon de mierda muy grande.
from: Diccionario Libre: Verdugo

El dominicano no es un experto. Es un verdugo.
from: Republica Dominicana, Dominican Republic

my workers called me sicaria. it means exactly what it means

 

[AlterEgo]

Just asked husband and son - yes it means executioner, but in Caribbean Spanish slang they both say it means you're really good at something.

 

[jabejuventus]

sicaria

As in "Killer Woman." It fits.

 

[Mauricio]

While on the subject, how can a word have almost diametrically opposed meanings. Can anyone think of other such examples in Dominican Spanish?

I don't think they are opposite meanings. An executioner is someone who gets a difficult job done. An executioner is impressive, intimidating. The word verdugo is also used in it's normal sense in DR though.

 

[jabejuventus]

I don't think they are opposite meanings. An executioner is someone who gets a difficult job done. An executioner is impressive, intimidating. The word verdugo is also used in it's normal sense in DR though.

Normal = ???????????

 

[jstarebel]

I asked my wife about verdugo, and she replied that it means executioner. I asked if there were any other uses of the word outside of its meaning and she responded no.

Nuevo palabra para mi.. Thanks!!

 

[Mauricio]

Normal = ???????????

Executioner

 

[suarezn]

As already mentioned in The DR the most likely use is you're awesome, you're a bad@$$ (At whatever it is). Someone may just say that to you to get your attention "Oye verdugo". Montro (slang for monstruo - as in monster) is also used in that same sense. Dominicans also love the use of animals in these situations (Leon, tigre, caballo)...

 

[texan]

i just asked my spouse. she gave the example that if the television was broke and i fixed it she could say i am verdugo. just one example.

 

[jabejuventus]

i just asked my spouse. she gave the example that if the television was broke and i fixed it she could say i am verdugo. just one example.

I think your example expresses the exact connotation.

Also pronunciation = ver-doo-go (hard g)

 

[Lucifer]

Something tells me that Dominicans married to foreigners always tell their spouses what they want to hear:

"Mi esposo/a dice que eso significa..." So, they have to be right, for I'm married to him/her.

 

[jabejuventus]

Something tells me that Dominicans married to foreigners always tell their spouses what they want to hear:

"Mi esposo/a dice que eso significa..." So, they have to be right, for I'm married to him/her.

What's your sense of the phrase?

 

[Matilda]

Husband says the same as dv8's husband - and Chivirico (7 year old foster son) says it means tiguere. My husband uses it in the same way as barriga verde.

Matilda

 

[dv8]

Something tells me that Dominicans married to foreigners always tell their spouses what they want to hear: "Mi esposo/a dice que eso significa..." So, they have to be right, for I'm married to him/her.

well, in my case miesposo is a dominican i live with and see all the time. it is natural to ask him. however, he is truly useless with any barrio slang so he may not know bacano meaning of some of the words...

 

[bob saunders]

Something tells me that Dominicans married to foreigners always tell their spouses what they want to hear:

"Mi esposo/a dice que eso significa..." So, they have to be right, for I'm married to him/her.

LOL, when I asked my wife, she replied " a very mean person"

 

[Aguaita29]

IF someone is really good with computers, people will refer to him as a "verdugo con las computadoras".