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Penisville to Elbows: 21 very strange place names in Spain

Would you be tempted to visit Poo beach or eat in a restaurant in Malcocinado? The Local takes a look at some of the more bizarre names of towns and villages found across Spain.

Published: 27 November 2020 16:01 CET
Updated: 18 February 2024 07:51 CET
Penisville to Elbows: 21 very strange place names in Spain
Despite its name, you may struggle to buy a new pair of jeans in the Spanish village named 'Trousers Stall'. Photo: Veinticuatro de Jahén/Wikipedia

Castrillo Matajudíos

Let’s start in Burgos province with the controversially named Castrillo Matajudíos, or ‘Jew Killer Town’ which after many years of discussion did finally rid itself of its dark past by changing its name to the less offensive as Castrillo Mota de Judíos,  ‘Hill of Jews’.

The town changed its name in 2015 after seeking approval from the 56 villagers who call it home.

Matagorda

This village in Almería seems, in name alone at least, to have something against those considered to be carrying an extra few pounds. It translates in English as ‘Kill Fat Lady’.

Villapene

This Galician village whose name translates to ‘Penisville’ has 200 inhabitants and became famous when its road sign was stolen and photographed at a wedding. Its full official name is Santa María de Vilapene, which is only marginally better. Or perhaps not.

Venta de Pantalones

This tiny village near Jaén in south-central Spain is presumably the perfect destination for travellers who are a little short in the pants department because its name translates as ‘Selling Trousers’ or ‘Trousers Stall’.

Malcocinado

You might want to think twice before stopping here for a meal as the name translates as ‘Poorly cooked’. This municipality of 500-odd residents in Badajoz, Extremadura, also shares its name with a word meaning offal unsuitable for human consumption. 

Poo

Well no translation needed for this one, the name of this small coastal town in Asturias is really only amusing to English speakers.  Anyone up for spending the day on Poo Beach? (It really is much lovelier than the name sounds).

Cabezas Rubias

Fewer than 900 people live in this village in Huelva, southern Spain, the name of which translates as “Blonde Heads” but the census makes no mention of their hair colour, unfortunately.

El Purgatorio

The name suggests that a visit to this town in Murcia and you’ll find yourself in ‘Purgatory’, but travel some 30 km north and you’ll reach Los Infiernos (translating as hells), which is surely a worse place to end up.

Guarromán

You could be forgiven for thinking that people who live in this town of 2,724 people in Jaén do not care much for personal hygiene for “Guarro” translates as ‘Filthy’. Therefore, Guarromán sounds like a superhero whose special power is soiling things. 

In fact, the origin of the name comes from the Arabic Wadi-r-rumman, named after a river that runs through it.

Melón

This municipality named after a ‘melon’ is in the northwestern Galician province of Ourense is by no means famous for its fruit production. 

Cenicero

If you’re wine tasting through La Rioja and fancy a cheeky smoke break, this municipality named ‘Ashtray’ could be a suitable pitstop.

La Ampolla

Pop by ‘The Blister’ in Tarragona, a quaint coastal town that doesn’t merit its pain-evoking name.

Codos

Not far from Zaragoza is a village named after arguably one of the most underrated parts of the body: the ‘elbows’. 

El Cubo de la Tierra del Vino

Sounding a bit like the name of a Terrence Malik film is ‘The Bucket of the Wine’s Soil’ in Zamora. 

Villalibre de la Jurisdicción

If ever there was a truly lawless town in Spain, it’s this one in León province, as it’s name is ‘Town Free of Authority’.

Uña

You may cringe at the sight of the road signs when you drive through Uña in Cuenca province, named after a fingernail, or a toenail for that matter. 

Alquerías Del Niño Perdido

Could it be that ‘Workhouse of the Lost Boy’ in Castellón province was named after Dickens’ Oliver Twist? Either way, quite an eerie name. 

Consuegra

Just as capable of making your hair stand on end is ‘With Mother-In-Law’ in Toledo, by far the most famous weirdly named place on this list as its windmills-lined landscapes are exceptional.

Peligros 

Beware of taking a wrong turn into Peligros in Granada. The clue is in the name: Dangers!

Adiós

A warm welcome for strangers is not guaranteed at this 183-inhabitant village in Navarre, northern Spain, if its name is anything to go by.

Buenas Noches

In a similar vein but all the way down in the southern province of Málaga is the village of ‘Good Night’, with only 50 inhabitants. Certainly sounds like a sleepy little place.

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LEARNING SPANISH

La lengua: Eight everyday Spanish expressions with the word tongue

What on earth does it mean when someone says in Spanish that they ‘don’t have hair on their tongue’? Here are some of the most widely used idioms in Spanish to do with the word 'lengua'.

Published: 20 May 2024 12:27 CEST
La lengua: Eight everyday Spanish expressions with the word tongue

The Spanish word lengua can mean both tongue (the part of the mouth) and language (communication system). 

La lengua is arguably one of the most used words in the Spanish language and one that you’ll learn early on. You may also be familiar with trabalenguas (tongue-twister), lengua de signos (sign language) or lengua materna (mother tongue). 

But there are lots of idioms with lengua that are used all the time but you won’t necessarily pick up that easily unless someone explains them to you. 

Here are some of the best Spanish expressions with the word lengua:

No tener pelos en la lengua: to talk straight and not hesitate to say what’s on one’s mind, even though its literal translation means ‘to not have hair on the tongue’. No morderse la lengua (not bite one’s tongue) is another way of conveying the same meaning.

Example:

Ese político no tiene pelos en la lengua, por eso lo apoya la derecha.

That politician is a straight talker, hence why the right supports him.

Tener la lengua muy larga: When someone says you have ‘a very long tongue’, they most likely mean that you’re no good at keeping secrets, that you’re a blabbermouth.

Example:

Tienes la lengua muy larga, eso te lo he contado en privado.

You’re a blabbermouth, I told you that in private.

Lo dicen las malas lenguas: ‘The bad tongues say it’, meaning ‘it’s rumoured that’ or ‘rumour has it’. 

Example:

Dicen las malas lenguas que se ha ido con otro.

Rumour has it that she’s run off with someone else.

Se ha comido la lengua el gato: Pretty much the same as when someone says in English ‘Has the cat got your tongue?’, as a way of expressing that a person isn’t speaking and should be. 

Example: 

¿Te ha comido la lengua el gato, Jaime? ¿Por qué no hablas?

Has the cat got your tongue, Jaime? Why aren’t you speaking?

Tirar de la lengua: And if you manage to get the person to speak, you say tirar de la lengua. 

Example:

Voy a tirarle de la lengua, seguro que me dice quien lo ha roto.

I’m going to make her talk, I’m sure she’ll tell me who has broken it. 

Irse de la lengua: A bit like saying ‘to let one’s tongue run off’, in the sense that you’ve spoken too much or let the cat out of the bag or shot your mouth off about something. 

Example:

Te has ido un poco la lengua con lo del viaje, ¿no?

You shot your mouth off about the trip, right? 

Buscar la lengua a alguien: If someone is ‘trying to find your tongue’ in Spanish, they’re trying to pick a fight with you. 

Example:

Este tío te está buscando la lengua, no piques. 

That guy is looking for a fight with you, don’t fall for it. 

Tener algo en la punta de la lengua: Another expression that’s the same as in English, to have something on the tip of your tongue.

Example:

Lo tengo en la punta de la lengua. ¿Como era?

I’ve got it on the tip of my tongue. What was it again?

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