mazacote y armatoste

[poli]

It means an ugly object. It also means something poorly cooked, like a clump of overcooked rice.

I saw this word in a Spanish text, and would like to know if it is used in Latin America.

Thanks

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

My family uses it.

"Mazacote" is a shapeless lump, both literally and figuratively, for example, a guy in the radio used to talk about people with bad habits as "mazacotes" as well, meaning unproductive, useless people.

- Deberías de dejar al mazacote que tienes de marido. -> You should dump that useless husband of yours.
- No me gustan esas galletas que parecen mazacotes. -> I don't like those shapeless cookies.
- Quise hacer un jarrón de alfarería y me salió un mazacote muy feo. -> I wanted to make a pottery jar, and all I got was a shapeless lump of clay.

[poli]

Thanks for confirming my suspicion. A related term armatoste, which has no one-word translation in English, is a word I have new heard spoken. Is it used in Mexico?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Yes, "armatoste" is a useless bulky item. I have never heard it used for people, although it might be said as an insult.

- Mi esposo tiene una computadora vieja en la casa. Ya quiero que se deshaga de ese armatoste. -> I want my husband to get rid of an old computer he keeps at home.
- El refrigerador en la casa de mi abuelo ya es un armatoste que no sirve para nada. -> The fridge at my grandfather's house is a huge useless piece of junk.
- Oye, ¿y este armatoste todavía sirve? -> Hey, does this battered thing still work?