Chispiajos

[Glen]

Friends from central Mexico use this word as a general expression of surprise, etc. much like the English Wow! Not finding it in the DRAE, I just wondered how commonly-used it might be among other speakers of Spanish. Also, I'm interested in any other possible equivalent expressions for Wow!

[Rusty]

In Mexico, you'll hear ¡Wow! (alternately spelled ¡Guau!). ¡Vaya! or ¡Caray! also work. There are many others.

[JPablo]

¡Ah!, ¡anda!, ¡atiza!, ¡canario[s]!, ¡canastos!, ¡caracoles!, ¡carajo!, ¡carape!, ¡caray!, ¡cáscaras!, ¡cáspita!, ¡córcholis!, ¡demonio!, ¡demontre!, ¡diablo!, ¡diantre!, ¡Dios!, ¡gua!, ¡oh!, ¡la órdiga!, ¡recórcholis!, ¡sopla!, ¡to!, ¡zapatetas!

The ones I would use personally are the bold faced ones... but the usage can be more or less a subjective choice, depending on the contexts and the emotional state of mind...

[aleCcowaN]

"Chispiajos", first time I notice. Surely it's a regionalism.

"Guau" and "¡a la pucha!" are to be used in Argentina. But the fact is that American English "Wow!" doesn't translate as a unique expression and it varies not only with the region but according to context: For instance "anda" or "andá" and "no me digas" are to be used when there's a hint of doubt about the amazing item or it is so extraordinary that reason can't accept it at once.

[pjt33]

The Diccionario breve de mexicanismos doesn't list ¡chispiajos!, but it does have

chispa: ¡ah, chispas! (Eufemismo por ¡ah chingao!) exclam. de sorpresa o de protesta.

Given that chingao is very Mexican, this initially seemed like an indication that ¡chispas! would also be restricted to Mexico. But curiously the DRAE lists chispas as

interj. U. para ponderar lo extraordinario de algo.

without any geographic restriction. (In my paper copy of the 22nd edition it lists it directly; in the online version it links to that definition via fuego).

The net result is that not much light is cast, but by posting this I may at least save someone else the time that would otherwise be spent following a similar train of thought.

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by pjt33

without any geographic restriction. (In my paper copy of the 22nd edition it lists it directly; in the online version it links to that definition via fuego).

What 30% of times means it's an españolismo. Not chispas, which is a common term in cartoons and comic books during at least 60 years.

To make it clear:

if a term is exclusively used in Spain, no regional information is provided...
if a term is exclusively used in Spain and the Southern Cone, no regional information is provided...
if a term is exclusively used in Spain, Mexico and Central America, no regional information is provided
if a term is used everywhere but 60% of Spain, regional information is indeed provided, for instance

giro2, ra.
(De or. inc.).
1. adj. And., Can., Mur. y Am. Dicho de un gallo: De color oscuro, con las plumas del cuello y de las alas amarillas o, a veces, plateadas.

Mind the regional information -and it's order!- "Andalucía, Canarias, Murcia," and finally "América".

DRAE is not a neutral and objective instrument. Beware of that.

[Don José]

No "chispiajos" here.

[JPablo]

¡Ay, chispiajo!
Ahora que lo he visto (sin "s") me da la impresión de que esto es argot mexicano del bueno...

Pero la etimología y el origen, no parecen encontrarse con facilidad...
A ver si Angélica sabe algo más...

Órale, a ver si nos hacemos "tetralingües"...

[Glen]

Wow(!), what a lot of helpful replies. Not sure if anyone mentioned either of two other terms I have heard: Híjole - which may be a euphemism - or Huy. Do they fit in well for expressing surprise, or just annoyance?

[JPablo]

¡Uy, uy, uy!
I think "Híjole" is more common... (at least I heard that before many times.)
(The "chispiajo" expression is as new to me as it is for Don José...)
But there you have it...

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

"¡Ah chispiajos!"/"Ah chis, ah chis" and the like are Mexican ways to express disbelief, suspicion, surprise... It's an a euphemism for a bad word that also starts with "chi". Getting a bit archaic though, I don't hear it that often anymore.

"Híjole" is also an euphemism, but from another rude expression, and it can have a wide range of meanings: awe, surprise, disbelief, reproach, regret, being sorry for something...
There is also "újule", which might be a variation, but this one is more used as some sort of regret, complain.

"Huy"/"uy" is usually a regret; sometimes an announcement that something is not the way one expected.

[JPablo]

¡Huy, qué bien!