The curious expression from Asturias that baffles the rest of Spain: if you come to the north, you're sure to hear it.

Some Asturian expressions manage to accurately capture what happens on a daily basis in the north , and one of them is repeated tirelessly as soon as the clouds part. "Estás que…" (You're que…) and here comes a word that few people outside of Asturias understand.

It's part of colloquial speech , but its graphic meaning is undeniable. Those who hear it for the first time are often taken aback, even though in this region it's part of everyday language. It's one of those phrases born from the perpetual humidity that characterizes the region , and which has ended up becoming a hallmark, especially when it's pouring with rain .

A very graphic expression with a double meaning

The phrase in question is " estar pingando" (to be pinging) , and it has a meaning that is as literal as it is effective: to be completely soaked, soaked to the bone . It's often used when someone arrives after a downpour without an umbrella . In other words, no one can escape hearing it if they visit Asturias on rainy days . The word "pingar" is included in the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) and in one of its meanings is defined as "said of something soaked in some liquid: to drip."

But this expression has more nuances. " Pingar" can also be used in a more figurative sense: "poner pingando" (to put pingando) means to criticize someone without any filter, to tear them down with words . This variant is often heard in informal conversations, laced with irony or sarcasm, and directed at people who inspire animosity: bosses, brothers-in-law, exes, etc.

A reflection of Asturian identity

The linguistic richness of Asturias goes far beyond the term "pingando." Asturian or Bable , although not a co-official language, is considered a minority language and forms an essential part of the community's cultural heritage. Terms like "guaje," "preserver," "fartucar, " and "caleya" coexist alongside Spanish in the daily lives of its speakers.

This blend of Spanish and Asturian enriches communication in the Principality and gives rise to unique expressions, difficult to translate but full of meaning . "Estar pingando" (Being pinging) is just one more example of how rain, geography, and language combine to form a way of speaking as authentic as the landscape that inspires it.