That Andalusian is a speech rich in nuances and expressions is something that (almost) everyone knows despite the fact that 10% of our vocabulary is imported from another language. However, there are terms that have become so popular that they have ended up becoming established in a large part of the country: this is the case of the Sevillian word parguela.
Although this concept, which was born in Seville, was in disuse, a few years ago it was gradually incorporated into the jargon of the younger generations.
Parguela: different definitions
Explaining the meaning of “parguela” to a Sevillian at this point is like teaching a cook how to prepare a proper fried egg. In any case, this clarification is intended for those who have been reluctant to incorporate it into their slang. Parguela is a synonym for bobo or fool.
Institutions and dictionaries, however, do not agree and their definitions and meanings are not close to the meaning that has been conferred to the term in southern Spain.
Far from its application in reality, the meaning that the Urban Dictionary supports is that of a person who has done nothing with his life. In this regard (and against all odds), the Real Academia de la Lengua Española defines parguela as an adjective to designate someone “similar to a woman in person and manners”.
Although for practical purposes it is an insult to negatively qualify a certain person, it can soon become an “affectionate” appellative among friends. It can also be used to refer to someone as a loser or a “pagafantas”.