Spanish

Marica

Its translation into the English language would be a fag. Marica is one of the most commonly used terms for insulting the gay man, with its variations maricón and mariquita. Has its origins in the name of a woman, María, being its pet or family version. It is related to male homosexuality by twofold.

The first comes from the 15th century in which Marica was slang of easy or libidinous woman, this is tart, floozy or prostitute. The relationship established between male homosexuality and prostitution also occurs in other languages, such as English, in which many terms like “gay” or “faggot” before used to insult gay men were used to insult women or refer prostitutes.

The second comes from the 17th century when is used to insult the effeminate man because calling him as a woman, his little masculinity highlights.

Later, it will be used to insult the gay man, and more specifically to bottoms or with the passive role in anal intercourse, equating to women for sharing the same sexual role. Is interesting to note the existing misogyny behind that word, because it highlights the negativity involved femininity, both women, considered submissive and passive, as for gay men who are considered as women. Behind homophobia is hiding machismo.

Marica is also the name given to a type of magpie, Urraca in the Spanish language, being Urraca also a name of the woman. The term Marica today is also widely used in the LGBT scene replacing the word gay.

T-shirt with the Marica drawing. You can purchase it in our online stores.

Variations: Mariquita, Maricón, Marieta, Mariquitilla, Mariíca, Mariconada, Mariconazo, Maricona, Mariconcete, Marimarica, Maruso, Marusa, Marico (Venezuela), Maricona dramática (Colombia, Miami, Honduras, Mexico, Puerto Rico), Mariquilla (Bolivia), Mariquito (Miami, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Perú, Puerto Rico, Venezuela).

Read more: Marica. Gay Dictionary (Spain).