4

In Spanish slang, particularly in the west, the expressions "que hueva" or "me da hueva" are used, respectively, to convey that you are lazy about doing something. The context might be as follows:

A: "Do you want to play soccer?" B: "Que hueva" [meaning something like "noo, feeling too lazy right now for that"]

In the latter case ("me da hueva") literally translates to "it gives me hueva" and is like saying that something (perhaps a homework assignment or menial task) "gives you" that lethargic feeling.  

Are there possible equivalents in English or expressions/constructs similar to the above?

4
  • 3
    Actually, that’s Mexican slang, not Spanish slang.
    – tchrist
    Commented Sep 24, 2012 at 19:45
  • qué hueva - This one is from Mexico - expression denoting a lack of interest or fatigue Source: speakinglatino.com/word/que-hueva/#ixzz27QJasver huevear: This one is from Chile - 1) screw around, mess around, in a positive sense 2) to bother, annoy Source: speakinglatino.com/the-most-important-word-in-chile/…
    – user26489
    Commented Sep 24, 2012 at 21:06
  • I could comment on this, but, 'frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn". :-). Akin to GBorreson's "can't be bothered". See here Commented Sep 25, 2012 at 8:40
  • Is "hueva" derived from "egg" or "roe", as in huevos rancheros? Literally, then, How's an egg ?
    – rajah9
    Commented Nov 10, 2020 at 12:34

8 Answers 8

9

"Can't be bothered" is an indication of laziness, but if you're feeling lazy and want to save on words, sometimes a simple "meh" will suffice.

2
  • good point on the "meh" Commented Sep 24, 2012 at 22:47
  • 1
    @tchrist ...nor the pronunciation.
    – Kris
    Commented Sep 27, 2012 at 12:42
10

One that has gained currency in recent years, at least in the UK, is Can't be arsed.

1
  • Also, can't be fucked.
    – Samthere
    Commented Sep 27, 2012 at 14:10
2

"I don't feel like it" often means that I am too lazy to do it. Though that can also mean that you don't like doing this thing at all, and not just that you are too lazy/tired/whatever to do it at this paritcular moment.

1
  • 1
    Or similarly, "I'm not feeling it," meaning (approximately) "I don't feel inspired to do it."
    – Sven Yargs
    Commented May 1, 2022 at 17:57
0

A phrase used in the US is I wanna chill or I wanna chill out.

0

Sometimes this is called getting the blahs, or feeling the blahs.

A quick search on Google indicates the term is in fairly widespread use. One blogger wrote:

Did you know that the word “blah” is actually listed in the dictionary? Webster defines it as “a feeling of dullness, boredom, lethargy, likened to a winter's day.”

Not only that, you can even find lots of tips for beating the blahs, too!

0

How about: That's the last thing I feel like doing right now.

0
0

The closest phrase that I can think of for "Que hueva" would be "What a drag".

A: "Do you want to play soccer?" B: "What a drag"

For "me da hueva" I would use "bums me out"

"Just thinking about homework bums me out"

It isn't literal but it does express the feeling of not wanting to do something.

0

Also, good to know that the literal translation of the ‘hueva’ in this phrase is ‘balls’ as in ‘lazy, the way balls hang’. So you may want to consider this before using in a formal situation.

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .