palta
Short answer
In Lima, "palta" means embarrassment — literally, an avocado. The register is coloquial — fine among friends, out of place in a job interview or anything written to an institution. The standard Spanish equivalent is "vergüenza". In use: ¡Qué palta con el profesor!
| Part of speech | sustantivo |
|---|---|
| Register | coloquial |
| Standard Spanish | vergüenza |
| In use | ¡Qué palta con el profesor! How embarrassing in front of the teacher! |
Draft entry — needs a native-speaker check before publishing.
In Peru palta is the everyday word for avocado, and qué palta is the everyday word for a cringe. Context separates them instantly; nobody is confused at the market.