# Diego

/diˈeɪɡoʊ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/diego
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a name

noun · CEFR A1

a common Spanish name for a man.

For teachers: a common Spanish male given name, equivalent to the English name James.

- Diego is a very popular name in many Spanish-speaking countries.
- The artist Diego Rivera is famous for his large murals that helped establish the Mexican mural movement in international art.

### 2. offensive slur

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar

a very rude and offensive word for a person who speaks Spanish.

For teachers: a derogatory ethnic slur directed at Spanish speakers, especially those of Latin American origin.

- The character in the old movie used a cruel slur when he called the man a diego.
- The use of ethnic epithets like 'diego' in historical literature reflects the deep-seated prejudices of that specific era.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly offensive and considered a slur; learners should never use it and should be aware of its derogatory nature if encountered in older texts.

## Examples

- He mentioned meeting a Diego while traveling through Madrid.
- The term Diego is frequently encountered in older British naval slang to refer to Spanish sailors.
- While some use the name Diego as a harmless generic label, it often carries a dismissive or xenophobic undertone depending on the speaker's intent and the social environment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.