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Pijije

[ guatemalan slang ] noun
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Definition

A whistling duck native to Central American wetlands; in Western Guatemala it is also used colloquially as a mild, almost affectionate term for a naive or foolish person.

Examples

  • "You're such a pijije, why did you let the chicken go?"
  • "Don't be a pijije, that's how you do it."
  • "Pijije, you forgot to pay the electricity bill."

Synonyms

fool naive dummy

More information

Definition

The «pijije» is a whistling duck (family Anatidae) common in Guatemalan and Central American wetlands. In Western Guatemala, the word is also used colloquially as a mild insult for someone who acts foolishly or naively.

Unlike harsher insults, calling someone «pijije» has a gentler, almost affectionate tone and is often used among friends or family to gently correct or tease someone.

Usage

Used in informal contexts to point out that someone made a careless mistake or lacked judgment. Commonly heard in departments like Quetzaltenango, Totonicapán, San Marcos, and Huehuetenango. The tone can range from playful among friends to a more serious scolding.

More examples

  • «That guy is such a pijije, he always forgets everything.»
  • «Don’t be a pijije, kid, you need to be careful.»
  • «Pijije, you forgot to pay the electricity bill.»