¡Ay, caramba!
Encyclopedia
¡Ay, caramba! (ˈai kaˈɾamba) comes from the Spanish interjection ¡ay! (denoting surprise or pain) and caramba (a minced oath
, a euphemism
for carajo, a vulgar word meaning "fuck"),; which is an exclamation used in the Spanish
of Spain to denote surprise (usually positive). The term caramba is also used in Portuguese (Ai, Caramba!), where it used to be a minced oath for caralho
, the Portuguese equivalent of the Spanish carajo.
, in the 1780s in Madrid. Her head-dress of brightly coloured ribbons became known as a caramba too.
In Chapter XLIII of Herman Melville
's "Moby-Dick
", Cabaco, a sailor
, uses the exclamation as a curse word.
The phrase is regularly used by stereotyped Mexicans in (especially Wild West) fiction, for example the adventures of Zagor
, Tex Willer
or Lucky Luke
and select Warner Brothers cartoons, such as the bull Daffy Duck
encounters in the 1947 cartoon Mexican Joyride
.
Also often used in frustration by the character General Alcazar in The Adventures of Tintin
comic books by Hergé
.
Ay Caramba! was the name of a 1998–2006 Spanish-language television series featuring funny home videos. It was broadcast on Mexico's TV Azteca
network.
The fictional character Bart Simpson
from the American animated sitcom The Simpsons
further popularized the phrase in modern pop culture. It became one of his most notable catchphrases, and something he would say when he was positively surprised by something or in connection with women. Bart said the line not always in positive surprise, but in negative/general surprise as well. For example, in the episode Selma's Choice
, Bart, Lisa, and their Aunt Selma approach a very popular ride at Duff Gardens. Once seeing the exceptionally long line for said ride, Bart exclaims, "Ay, Caramba!", obviously not conveying any positive sentiment.
On ChalkZone
in the episode "Bullsnap" Rudy said it with a red scarf with a bull running over him.
On the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, whenever Craig curses on air, his mouth is usually censored with a Spanish flag and the phrase "¡Ay, caramba!" has been dubbed over the curse word. This has become the most common method of censoring on the Late Late Show after Craig announced he wished to broadcast the final show of 2010 in Spanish. Previously, Craig's mouth had been censored over with the French flag and the phrase "Ooh la la!"
Minced oath
A minced oath is an expression based on a profanity or a taboo term that has been altered to reduce the objectionable characteristics.Many languages have such expressions...
, a euphemism
Euphemism
A euphemism is the substitution of a mild, inoffensive, relatively uncontroversial phrase for another more frank expression that might offend or otherwise suggest something unpleasant to the audience...
for carajo, a vulgar word meaning "fuck"),; which is an exclamation used in the Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
of Spain to denote surprise (usually positive). The term caramba is also used in Portuguese (Ai, Caramba!), where it used to be a minced oath for caralho
Portuguese profanity
Portuguese profanity is an assortment of words and phrases considered vulgar, blasphemous, inflammatory or offensive in the Portuguese language.-Overview:...
, the Portuguese equivalent of the Spanish carajo.
In literature and the arts
The exclamation was the signature nickname of the flamenco dancer and singer, La CarambaLa Caramba
Maria Antonia Fernandez was a flamenco singer and dancer. She was known as La Caramba after the exclamation caramba! which concluded a tonadilla which she performed soon after her arrival in Madrid. Her costume featured a topknot of brightly coloured ribbons which became known as a caramba too...
, in the 1780s in Madrid. Her head-dress of brightly coloured ribbons became known as a caramba too.
In Chapter XLIII of Herman Melville
Herman Melville
Herman Melville was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick and the posthumous novella Billy Budd....
's "Moby-Dick
Moby-Dick
Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, was written by American author Herman Melville and first published in 1851. It is considered by some to be a Great American Novel and a treasure of world literature. The story tells the adventures of wandering sailor Ishmael, and his voyage on the whaleship Pequod,...
", Cabaco, a sailor
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
, uses the exclamation as a curse word.
The phrase is regularly used by stereotyped Mexicans in (especially Wild West) fiction, for example the adventures of Zagor
Zagor
Zagor is an Italian comic book created by editor and writer Sergio Bonelli and artist Gallieno Ferri. Zagor was first published In Italy by Sergio Bonelli Editore in 1961.-Character:...
, Tex Willer
Tex Willer
Tex Willer is the main fictional character of the Italian comics series Tex, created by writer Gian Luigi Bonelli and illustrator Aurelio Galleppini, and first published in Italy on 30 September 1948. It is among the most popular characters of Italian comics, with translations to numerous ...
or Lucky Luke
Lucky Luke
Lucky Luke is a Belgian comics series created by Belgian cartoonist, Maurice De Bevere better known as Morris, the original artist, and was for one period written by René Goscinny...
and select Warner Brothers cartoons, such as the bull Daffy Duck
Daffy Duck
Daffy Duck is an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons, often running the gamut between being the best friend and sometimes arch-rival of Bugs Bunny...
encounters in the 1947 cartoon Mexican Joyride
Mexican Joyride
Mexican Joyride is a Looney Tunes cartoon starring Daffy Duck. It was directed by Arthur Davis. It was only one of three non-Bugs Bunny cartoons from 1947 not to be reissued...
.
Also often used in frustration by the character General Alcazar in The Adventures of Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin is a series of classic comic books created by Belgian artist , who wrote under the pen name of Hergé...
comic books by Hergé
Hergé
Georges Prosper Remi , better known by the pen name Hergé, was a Belgian comics writer and artist. His best known and most substantial work is the 23 completed comic books in The Adventures of Tintin series, which he wrote and illustrated from 1929 until his death in 1983, although he was also...
.
Ay Caramba! was the name of a 1998–2006 Spanish-language television series featuring funny home videos. It was broadcast on Mexico's TV Azteca
TV Azteca
Azteca, is the second largest Mexican television entertainment. It was established in 1983 as the state-owned Instituto Mexicano de la Televisión , a holding of the national TV networks channel 13 and 7 and was privatized under its current name in 1993 and now is part of Grupo Salinas...
network.
The fictional character Bart Simpson
Bart Simpson
Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the Simpson family. He is voiced by actress Nancy Cartwright and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
from the American animated sitcom The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
further popularized the phrase in modern pop culture. It became one of his most notable catchphrases, and something he would say when he was positively surprised by something or in connection with women. Bart said the line not always in positive surprise, but in negative/general surprise as well. For example, in the episode Selma's Choice
Selma's Choice
"Selma's Choice" is the thirteenth episode of The Simpsons fourth season and originally aired on the Fox network on January 21, 1993. In the episode, Selma decides to have a baby, inspired by her late aunt's wish that she would not spend her life alone. She experiences a life with children by...
, Bart, Lisa, and their Aunt Selma approach a very popular ride at Duff Gardens. Once seeing the exceptionally long line for said ride, Bart exclaims, "Ay, Caramba!", obviously not conveying any positive sentiment.
On ChalkZone
ChalkZone
ChalkZone is an American animated television series that aired on Nickelodeon. It was created by Bill Burnett and Larry Huber, and produced by Frederator Studios for the Nickelodeon TV channel...
in the episode "Bullsnap" Rudy said it with a red scarf with a bull running over him.
On the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, whenever Craig curses on air, his mouth is usually censored with a Spanish flag and the phrase "¡Ay, caramba!" has been dubbed over the curse word. This has become the most common method of censoring on the Late Late Show after Craig announced he wished to broadcast the final show of 2010 in Spanish. Previously, Craig's mouth had been censored over with the French flag and the phrase "Ooh la la!"
See also
- D'oh!D'oh!"D'oh!" is a catchphrase used by the fictional character Homer Simpson, from the long-running American animated sitcom The Simpsons . It is typically used when Homer injures himself, realizes that he has done something stupid, or when something bad has happened or is about to happen to him...
- FacepalmFacepalmA facepalm is the physical gesture of placing one's hand flat across one's face or lowering one's face into one's hand or hands. The gesture is found in many cultures as a display of frustration, embarrassment, shock, or surprise.The gesture itself is not of recent origin, and although common, is...
- GrimaceFacial expressionA facial expression one or more motions or positions of the muscles in the skin. These movements convey the emotional state of the individual to observers. Facial expressions are a form of nonverbal communication. They are a primary means of conveying social information among humans, but also occur...
- A sharp contortion of the face expressive of pain, contempt, or disgust. - SacrebleuSacrebleuSacrebleu is an old French profanity, meant as a cry of surprise or anger.- Usage :The expression today is infrequently used in the major French-speaking countries France, Belgium or Switzerland, but in the English-speaking world, it is well known from Agatha Christie's books about the fictional...
- An old French profanity expressive of a cry of anger or surprise.