Bedeutung
To become very annoyed or infuriated about something.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Spain, 'pillar un cabreo' is a staple of daily conversation. It reflects a culture that values emotional honesty and doesn't shy away from expressing frustration in social settings. While understood, Mexicans prefer 'hacer un coraje' or the stronger 'encabronarse'. 'Cabreo' sounds very 'Spanish' (from Spain) to Mexican ears. Argentines might use 'calentarse' (to get hot/angry) or 'agarrarse una rabieta'. 'Pillar' is rarely used in Argentina; they prefer 'agarrar'. In Colombia, 'ponerse de mal genio' is a very common, slightly more polite way to express this, though 'berrinche' is used for outbursts.
Use Intensifiers
To sound like a native, always add an adjective like 'monumental', 'tremendo', or 'de los buenos'.
Regional Awareness
If you are in Mexico, use 'encabronarse' or 'hacer un coraje' to sound more local.
Bedeutung
To become very annoyed or infuriated about something.
Use Intensifiers
To sound like a native, always add an adjective like 'monumental', 'tremendo', or 'de los buenos'.
Regional Awareness
If you are in Mexico, use 'encabronarse' or 'hacer un coraje' to sound more local.
The 'Me' factor
Adding 'me' (Me pillé un cabreo) makes you sound more involved in the story.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'pillar' in the past tense (Indefinido).
Ayer mi hermano ____ un cabreo porque perdió sus llaves.
We use the Indefinido 'pilló' because it refers to a specific completed action in the past.
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly in an informal context?
Choose the most natural sentence:
This is a natural, informal use of the imperative to calm someone down.
Complete the dialogue with the most appropriate phrase.
A: ¿Por qué está Juan tan serio? B: Es que ____ con el tráfico y todavía no se le ha pasado.
'Ha pillado un cabreo' correctly describes the action that caused his current state.
Match the intensity of the anger with the correct adjective.
If someone is extremely, historically angry, you would say they pillaron un cabreo...
'Monumental' is the standard intensifier for 'cabreo' in Spanish.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Anger Levels in Spanish
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenAyer mi hermano ____ un cabreo porque perdió sus llaves.
We use the Indefinido 'pilló' because it refers to a specific completed action in the past.
Choose the most natural sentence:
This is a natural, informal use of the imperative to calm someone down.
A: ¿Por qué está Juan tan serio? B: Es que ____ con el tráfico y todavía no se le ha pasado.
'Ha pillado un cabreo' correctly describes the action that caused his current state.
If someone is extremely, historically angry, you would say they pillaron un cabreo...
'Monumental' is the standard intensifier for 'cabreo' in Spanish.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, it's informal but not a swear word. You can use it with friends and family without being offensive.
Only if you have a very casual relationship. In a formal setting, it's better to use 'enfadarse'.
In Spain, they are interchangeable. 'Pillar' sounds slightly more modern/slangy than 'coger'.
It is understood because of Spanish media, but it's not the natural way to say it in most LatAm countries.
Yes, 'con' is the correct preposition to use to indicate who you are angry with.
Yes, they share the same root (cabra), but 'cabrón' is a much stronger insult.
You can say 'Me estoy pillando un cabreo' or 'Me estoy empezando a cabrear'.
It's a very common collocation meaning an extremely large or significant anger.
Yes, it's often used hyperbolically for small daily frustrations.
No, 'cabreo' is always masculine, regardless of who is angry.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Estar cabreado
similarTo be angry (state)
Pillar un rebote
synonymTo get in a huff
Mosquearse
similarTo get annoyed/suspicious
Encabronarse
specialized formTo get really pissed off
Hacer un coraje
similarTo have a fit of anger
