The most common guess I've heard is 'knockers', which makes sense since it explains why he was able to come up with 'knuckles' so quickly (still quite an achievement to improvise it on the fly, mind).
Plus, Google says that the use of that word in writing peaked around the time Héctor died, so it's a term he would have been familiar with (if he spoke English, anyway). '
Tits', which was suggested by another commenter, existed in the 1920s but only really started to get popular around the 2000s.
(And it's only one syllable.
So it wouldn't really fit anyway).
scifi.stackexchange.com/users/95619/Cheeseanonioncrisps
Are you talking about the fictional origins of these lyrics?
Because these ARE the original lyrics; "Everyone knows Juanita" is an original song written by Adrian Molina and Germaine Franco for the 2017 Pixar movie, Coco.
https://acadianasthriftymom.com/2017/11/29/the-meaning-and-love-behind-the-music-of-disneypixar-coco/ (the writing of Juanita is discussed 2/3 of the way down)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073LZD7PH/
(see back of CD cover, left lower corner for writing credits)
I too started researching the lyrics to the original Mexican song, but then it occurred to me...
what if it SOUNDS like an old Mexican song
but it's an original song written for the movie?
Turns out they did a VERY convincing job of making it sound like an old Mexican ranchera.
I do agree with the theory that the authors probably implied "knockers" with the euphemistic "knuckles."
scifi.stackexchange.com/users/97651/David A
I assumed it was implied to be "tatas" - Spanish slang for "large breasts".
"Knockers" would work, but it is distinctly English in origin, and I think he was just looking for something that could "drag on the floor" to replace the word with.
scifi.stackexchange.com/users/98797/Amias
The word is not nor would have been tits or knockers.
Those are English language derived words.
The song is Spanish in origin.
The word would be of Spanish origin, therefore, probably chiches or tetas.
Someone earlier suggested "her lemons" which would translate as limoncitos or small breast.
I don't think that would fit the context of the song though.
Small breast dragging the floor and all....
scifi.stackexchange.com/users/97099/Xouijit
I assumed the "original" word that Hector replaced was nipples , as the song doesn't use slang for any other body parts it describes.
scifi.stackexchange.com/users/98229/Gringito
In the Pixar film  Coco , when Héctor performs " Everyone Knows Juanita " for his friend Chicharrón, he changes one of the lines to be more family friendly.   Héctor:   Well, everyone knows Juanita   Her eyes each a different color   Her teeth stick out and her chin goes in   And her...knuckles, they drag on the floor  Chicharrón:  Those aren't the words!  Héctor:  There are children present   What was the actual line that made Héctor censor himself?
What were the original lyrics to "Everyone Knows Juanita"?
scifi.stackexchange.com
<coco>
scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/177711
scifi.stackexchange.com/users/79413/Stevoisiak
There is no clear correct answer to this question, although there are several possible suggestions. The original word, instead of "knuckles", could have been "knockers" - a slang term for breasts, "tatas" - a Spanish slang term for large breasts, or nipples. Views vary, with one possibility being 'tits' or 'knockers' although these words may be too English for the Spanish context, which would make a word like 'tatas' meaning 'large breasts' more likely.
The best guess is 'knockers' as it was current at the time - unlike 'tits', but there was no original song, it's just that this song is written to sound like a version of an olf Mexican song. The word that is replaced is most likely 'tatas' meaning 'large breasts' in Spanish, as words like 'tits' and 'knockers' are too English. The 'original' word must be 'nipples' because slang terms are not used for any of the other body parts mentioned.