ño

Pronounced neeyo (One syllable). A versatile Spanish slang word commonly used across the Caribbean (especially Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Venezuela) that can express surprise, frustration, anger, admiration, or emphasis — depending on tone and context. It literally traces back to a crude reference to female anatomy, but in modern colloquial use it often loses its literal meaning and functions more like an expletive similar to “damn,” “wow,” or “holy crap.” Examples: Note: Although widely used, coño can still sound rude or vulgar in formal settings. Tone and audience matter — among friends it’s casual; at work, probably not.