2025.09.20 – The Expressions “Coñovale” in Venezuelan Spanish and “Caralho” in Portuguese

Key Findings

“Coñovale” is a colloquial Venezuelan Spanish expression derived from “coño, vale,” which in some contexts means idleness or doing nothing. It is informal and not standard in dictionaries. “Caralho” is a well-documented Portuguese vulgar word meaning “penis” literally but widely used as an interjection equivalent to “carajo” in Spanish. Both terms serve as emphatic elements in their respective languages, though their forms and origins are distinct.

Confirmed Facts

1. In Venezuelan Spanish, “coño, vale” combines “coño” (a vulgar expletive comparable to “carajo”) and “vale” (a colloquial filler akin to “man” or “friend”). When merged into “coñovale,” the phrase can shift meaning and in informal speech describe a state of doing nothing, as in “estar de coñovale.” This form is not part of standard Spanish grammar but reflects Venezuelan slang.
2. The expression “coñovale” is not recorded as a Portuguese word. Reports of Portuguese speakers using it originate from contexts of contact with Venezuelans, particularly in Colombia, where migration has spread Venezuelan colloquial language. Bogotá, Colombia, lies about 1,000 km from Caracas, Venezuela, and is connected by flights of about two hours, facilitating cross-cultural exchange.
3. Portuguese equivalents in meaning, though not in form, include “estar à toa” (Portugal and Brazil), “estar de bobeira” (Brazil, meaning idling or fooling around), and “na boa” (Brazil, meaning relaxed or without urgency). None of these replicate the phonetic pattern of “coñovale.”
4. “Caralho” is a standard Portuguese vulgar term. Literally, it means “penis,” but in everyday use it is widely employed as an interjection expressing surprise, anger, or emphasis, comparable to Spanish “carajo.” In northern Portugal, a softened regional form “carago” exists. Lisbon, Portugal, is located about 313 km south of Porto, and this northern region is where such softened forms are most common.
5. In Brazilian Portuguese, “caralho” is broadly used across the country in colloquial speech, though its strength varies by region. Softer alternatives such as “caramba” or “poxa” are also common in Brazil. São Paulo, Brazil, is located roughly 7,600 km from Porto, Portugal, with flights lasting around ten hours, illustrating the geographic breadth across which “caralho” is understood.