An albur (plural: albures) is a word play in Mexican Spanish that involves a double entendre.
The first meaning in the Spanish language of albur refers to contingency or chance to which the result is trusted. Like in: "Leave nothing to the albur" or "it was worth the risk of an albur". The term originally referred to the hidden cards in the Spanish Monte betting card game.[1] The word albur is also synonym to uncertainty or random luck "Es un albur".
It is very common among groups of male friends in Mexico, especially urban youth, construction workers, factory workers, mechanics and other blue collar-derivative male groups; and is considered rude otherwise, especially when in the presence of women, given the sexual innuendo in the jokes. Its usage is similar to the English expressions: "If you know what I mean" and "that's what she said". Albur is also a form of comedy and many stand-up artists and comedians, including Alberto Rojas "El Caballo", Polo Polo, Franco Escamilla and others are renowned for their skills at performing albures on drunk bullies and hecklers attending to their shows (alburear). Brozo has been known for performing albures on several prominent political figures in Mexican television such as Mexico's former president, Felipe Calderón.
The game of albures is usually a subtle, verbal competition in which the players try to show superiority by using albures attempting to leave the opponent without a comeback. Most albures have to do with sex,[2] but they also can be just generally degrading, as with comparing the target's stupidity to that of a donkey, ox, or mule.
Specific purposes of the albur can include:
Most albures have to do with sex. "[It's a] way of talking about sex without talking about it," said Dr Lucille Herrasti, professor of linguistics at the Autonomous University of Morelos.