In some regions of Latin America, “No Manches!” is a common expression that can convey a variety of meanings. But what does it mean, exactly? Keep reading to learn everything about this phrase, from its curse-y origins to its mainstream success.
What Does “No Manches!” Mean?
“No manches” (literally “don’t stain”) is the polite alternative to “no mames” (“stop sucking it”), which is considered a profanity. So in polite company or in front of family, people say “no manches” instead of “no mames” to communicate emotions as dissimilar as:
- Disbelief
- Indignation
- Elation
- Rage
- Joy
- Surprise
As you can see, “no manches can express” a lot of things and all of them are intense.
Want to see by yourself how strong a “No Manches” emotion can be? Watch this clip of a girl reacting to the Mexican National Team scoring a historic goal against Germany in 2018 (she’s actually screaming the non-polite version of the expression). No manches, that’s intense!
How To Say “No Manches” in English?
There’s no phrase in English that can serve exactly the same purposes as “no manches.” Depending on what emotion you want to convey, you can use some of the following alternatives:
- Disbelief or surprise: get out of here, what the hell?, are you serious?
- Indignation: C’mon!
- Elation: Wow! Holy smokes!
Now, if you want to surprise your Spanish-speaking friends, here’s how to pronounce “no manches”: Noh mahn – chehs
Is “No Manches” a Bad Word?
No, no manches is the acceptable version of a bad word, so you can say it anywhere. However, remember that this is an informal expression, so you don’t want to say “no manches” during a business meeting or when delivering a speech!
And even if “no manches” is the toned-down version of a coarse expression, it’s still strong, fun, and you can say it in front of your grandparents. Maybe that’s why the phrase has been gaining traction consistently over the last 10 or 15 years!
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