What does "singao" mean?
The word singao is an insult used in Cuba to describe a wicked, vile, or infamous person. It comes from the intransitive verb "singar," which has two meanings in the Spanish language.
The first refers to the action of rowing with a paddle at the stern of a boat, generating forward movement; the second and more well-known refers to engaging in sexual intercourse.
In the Dictionary of Americanisms (a lexical inventory intended to gather all the words specific to the Spanish of America), "singao" is referred to as "singado" and has two meanings: "intercourse, taboo" or "person of low moral standing."
Why do they call the Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel "singao"?
The term singao has been associated for some time with a phrase directed at the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel and originates from a Cuban rap song that, according to its author, emerged during a concert in Colombia.
"When I say Díaz-Canel, you say singao. ¡Díaz-Canel! ¡Singao! ¡Díaz-Canel! ¡Singao!" is the refrain from Diazca, by the musicians Aldo el Aldeano and Silvito el Libre.
The Cuban community popularized the musical piece and spread it around the world as a clear expression of rejection towards the island's leader.
RAE responds to questions about the phrase "Díaz-Canel singao"
Some Cubans expressed doubts on social media about the correct way to write the phrase "Díaz-Canel singao" and the proper way to spell the insult. The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) answered some questions.
On Twitter, the user Mr. Maz asked the RAE if "¿Díaz-Canel Singao should be capitalized or not?" The response was clear: "It is recommended to use a capital letter only for the last name."
Another Cuban who inquired about the word was the lawyer Jovann Silva. His question was focused on the correct way to write it. "Should the nickname that the people of Cuba use to refer to Miguel Díaz-Canel be singao or singado with a d?"
According to the RAE, "the form 'singao' reflects the loss of the '-d-' intervocalic of 'singado', characteristic of the relaxed articulation in the colloquial speech of certain areas, such as Cuba."
The American Urban Dictionary also references Díaz-Canel when providing an example of the correct usage of the term singao in a sentence.
"Singao: To imply that someone is a 'motherfucker,' 'asshole,' or a 'bastard.' It is the noun form of the Cuban verb 'singar,' which means to fuck. Vulgar. Example: ¡Miguel Díaz-Canel is a terrible Singao!", says the text.
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