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/Sounds like "pah" (as in "park") + "peh" (as in "pet") + "LOHN" (as in "loan")/

Meaning

A public embarrassment big enough for everyone to witness and remember. Making a papelón means you messed up in front of an audience: forgot your speech, fell down the stairs at work, or said something completely wrong in a meeting. The shame has witnesses.

Examples

He made a complete fool of himself when he forgot his speech in front of everyone.

She fell down the stairs at work during lunch, total embarrassment.

Regional synonyms

A simple, unpretentious, easygoing person who makes everyone feel welcome. A campechano is the opposite of a snob, accessible, warm, and the kind of person you can talk to about anything without feeling judged.