Spanish Word of the Day: Agüero (omen)

As a child, I was never allowed to put my bag on the floor or open an umbrella inside the house, and I never questioned it before. That got me thinking about all the agüeros in the Hispanic culture and I would like to share them with you today. The word agüero traces its origins back to Latin, specifically from the word augurium, which means omen or sign.

The Latin root is connected to the practice of augury, an ancient Roman ritual where priests, known as augurs, interpreted the will of the gods by studying the behaviour of birds or other natural phenomena. The term augurium itself is derived from augur, the name for the priest, which comes from avis (bird) and garrīre (to talk or chatter).

Over time, as Latin evolved into the Romance languages, augurium transformed into agüero in Spanish. The evolution of this word mirrors the shift from the formal practice of augury to a more general belief in signs and omens in everyday life. Agüero is a masculine noun and takes the following definite and indefinite articles:

• el agüero = the omen
• los agüeros = the omens
• un agüero = an omen
• unos agüeros = some omens

Agüeros can describe both positive and negative foretellings. To understand whether it’s a buen agüero (a good omen) or a mal agüero (a bad omen), you’ll need to pay attention to the context. A buen agüero might refer to something believed to predict a positive outcome, such as seeing a rainbow on the day of an important event. On the other hand, a mal agüero could refer to something foreseen as a sign of misfortune, like breaking a mirror.

The dots on top of the u in agüero are called a diéresis (diaeresis). This diacritical mark indicates that the u in the sequence gue or gui should be pronounced separately from the preceding g, rather than forming a combined sound. Without the diaeresis, the u would be silent, and the word would be pronounced as if it were spelled aguero.

Although Hispanic culture is deeply religious, agüeros have played a significant role in decision-making, especially in matters of agriculture, marriage, and even health. This is particularly true in rural areas where folklore and superstition are more prevalent. For example, in many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is still common to avoid certain actions or events on specific days believed to carry mal agüero, such as Martes 13 (Tuesday the 13th), which is considered an unlucky day.

In Spanish literature, agüeros are often portrayed as important elements of cultural significance. A notable example is Gabriel García Márquez’s Cien años de soledad (One Hundred Years of Solitude), where omens play a crucial role in the unfolding of the Buendía family’s fate. The blending of reality with the supernatural, characteristic of magical realism, often hinges on the interpretation of agüeros.

Here are some examples of agüeros from different Hispanic countries, each reflecting unique cultural beliefs and traditions:

• Mexico = Hearing or seeing a búho (owl) at night is considered a bad agüero, often thought to be a harbinger of death or bad luck. 
• Spain and Latin America = Opening an umbrella indoors is considered a bad agüero, thought to bring bad luck or misfortune into the home.
• Spain = Placing a loaf of bread upside down on the table is believed to bring bad luck, particularly because bread is seen as a sacred food.
• Colombia = An itching palm is a good agüero indicating that money is coming your way. If your right palm itches, it means you’ll receive money; if it’s the left palm, you might lose money.
• Colombia = Sweeping the house at night is a bad agüero, as it is believed to sweep away the good luck or wealth from the household. Additionally, when sweeping, you should start from the deepest part of the house and sweep toward the door to ensure that all bad luck or negative energy is expelled.
• Venezuela and Colombia = Tying a red string around a newborn baby’s wrist is a good agüero believed to ward off the mal de ojo (evil eye) and protect the baby from harm.
• Venezuela and Colombia = If someone sweeps your feet, it’s considered a bad agüero, believed to bring misfortune or prevent you from getting married.
• Argentina = Dropping a pair of scissors is considered a bad agüero, particularly if they fall point down, which is thought to bring misfortune.
• Peru = whistling indoors is considered a bad agüero, believed to attract evil spirits or bad luck.

Idiomatic expressions using ‘agüero’