Spanish/Slang
< Spanish Spanish slang is more localized than English slang and sometimes people from one Spanish-speaking country get confused talking to people from other Spanish-speaking countries.
Modismos (Slang)
Argentina
| Slang |
Meaning |
Literal Translation |
|---|
| ¿Qué onda? |
What´s up |
What is the vibe? |
| ¿Como va? |
What´s up |
How's it going? |
| ¡No hinches las bolas |
Don´t bother me! |
Don´t swell up the [my] balls! |
| ¡No me rompas las pelotas! |
Don´t bother me! |
Don´t break my balls! |
| Piola adj. |
Cool people |
|
| pelotudo/topo. |
idiot/asshole |
big balled |
| boludo/a |
stupid |
big balled |
| escrachado/escrachar (verbo) |
ashamed |
|
| te quiero mucho |
I love you |
I want you a lot |
| Pibe n. |
Boy |
Boy |
| Chabón |
Guy/dude |
|
| Mina |
woman |
Mine |
| Nabo |
Stupid, Penis (Spain) |
turnip |
| Gil adj. |
Stupid |
|
| Tacho n. |
Taxi |
Trash bin |
| Bondi n. |
City bus |
|
| Pilcha n. |
Clothes |
|
| Garca adj. |
Cheater/dishonest |
(inverse of cagar: to shit/to screw up) |
| Langa adj. |
Cool person |
|
| ¡Che! |
Idiomatic |
|
| Morfar v. |
To eat |
|
| Charlar v. |
To have a conversation, to chat |
|
| ¡Ojo! |
Be careful! Look out! |
Eye! |
| Dar bola v. |
To pay attention |
To give ball |
| Rajar v. |
To go away/to escape |
To crack |
| ¡Rajá! |
Go away! |
Crack! |
| Pirárselas v. |
To go away |
|
| Pirado adj. |
Crazy |
gone away |
| Verso n. |
a lie |
a verse |
| Falopa n. |
Drugs/marijuana |
|
| Botón n. |
Squealer/tattle-tale |
Button |
| la Cana n. |
The Police |
the white hair |
| Estar en cana |
To be imprisoned |
|
| Trolo adj./n. |
Homosexual (male) |
|
| Re...(prefix) |
Very |
|
| Torrar v. |
To sleep |
|
| Guita n. |
money |
|
| Guacho adj./n. |
Son of a bitch |
Orphan |
| Guarango adj. |
Obscene |
|
| 1 Mango n. |
1 Peso (currency unit) |
|
| Baranda n. |
Bad smell |
|
| Concha n |
Vagina |
Shell, Clam |
| Y la puta que te re parió |
(like) Go to hell! |
And the slut/bitch that gave birth to you |
| pajero |
masturbator, es mentiroso o exajerado en Honduran (watch out for the accent ) |
|
| puto |
fag |
homosexual/can be offensive |
| el colectivo n |
the bus |
|
| el subte |
the subway |
|
| una pavada |
something stupid or easy |
|
| una gata / un gato |
prostitute/slut |
a cat |
| un piropo |
a flirty comment |
|
| afanar v |
to steal/rob |
|
| una fiaca |
a laziness / lack of desire to do something |
|
| una luca |
1000 pesos |
|
| laburo |
a job |
|
| chorro |
a thief |
|
| un quilombo |
a mess |
|
| ¿Qué contás? |
What's up? |
|
| trucho/a |
fake |
|
| ¡Qué ojete! |
How Lucky! |
What ass! |
Chile
| Slang |
Meaning |
Literal translation |
|---|
| Al tiro |
Quickly/Right away |
At the shot |
| ¿Cachai? |
Do you understand?/Do you follow me? |
|
| Mino/a |
Cute guy/girl |
Mine |
| Pololo/a |
Boyfriend/girlfriend |
|
| ¿Qué onda? |
What´s up? |
What is shaking? |
| Ya pu/"Ya pues" |
alright then or let's go |
|
Colombia
| Slang |
Meaning |
Literal Translation |
|---|
| ¿Qué más? |
What´s up? |
What else? |
| ¿Qué hubo? (Quiubo) |
What´s up? |
What was there? |
| ¡No me joda! |
Don´t bother me! |
Don´t fuck me! |
| ¡No joda! |
Nuh-uh!/Get outta here! |
Don´t fuck |
| ¡Ojo! |
Be careful! Watch out! |
Eye! |
| ¡Pilas! |
Be careful! |
Batteries! |
| ¡Qué mamera! |
That´s boring! |
What a bunch of sucking! |
| ¡Qué boleta! |
How embarrassing! |
What a ticket! |
| Poner los cachos |
To cheat (relationships) |
Set the horns on |
| Ala |
"Jeez" |
Wing |
| Almacén |
Shop |
Warehouse |
| Andén |
Pavement, sidewalk |
Platform |
| Atorarse |
To choke |
To get stuck |
| Avión |
A clever person |
Airplane |
| Bacano |
Cool |
|
| Balaca |
Headband |
|
| Bareta |
Blunt, Joint, Weed etc. |
|
| Barra |
Peso (currency unit)
A cheerleading squad |
Bar |
| Baúl |
Boot, trunk (of an automobile) |
Chest (furniture) |
| Birra |
Beer |
Italian for "beer" |
| Bomba |
Balloon; also fuel pump |
Bomb |
| Buzo |
Turtleneck sweater |
Diver |
| Café |
Brown (colour) |
Coffee |
| Camello |
Job, (heavy) work |
Camel |
| Cana |
Gaol, jail |
White hair |
| Caneca |
Trash basket |
|
| Cantaleta |
Repetitive scolding |
|
| Caña |
Bluff, bragging; also rum |
Fishing rod |
| Capar |
To play truant |
To castrate |
| Carpeta |
Doily |
Folder |
| Catorce |
Favour |
Fourteen |
| Chino |
Kid, boy |
Chinese |
| Chupa |
Police officer |
Sucker |
| Colorete |
Rouge |
Lipstick |
| Cotejo |
Soccer match |
Comparison |
| Culebra |
Debt |
Snake |
| Duro |
Skilful |
Hard |
| Embarrarla |
To make a grave mistake |
To cover with mud |
| Esfero |
Pen |
Sphere (masculine form) |
| Filo |
Hunger |
Edge |
| Gonorrea |
Vile/ Disgusting person or thing |
Gonorrhea |
| Guayabo |
Hangover |
Guava tree |
| Güevón |
Dude, bro, Lazy |
Mispronunciation of "huevón" |
| Hacerse el gringo |
To feign ignorance |
To play the Yank |
| Hueco |
Pothole; also gaol, jail, also a derogatory word for homosexual |
Hole (in general) |
| Huevón |
Dude, bro |
Sluggish or idiot |
| Jurgo |
Plethora, lot |
|
| Levantar |
To seduce / To beat, thrash |
To raise |
| Listo |
All right |
Ready |
| Llave |
Friend |
Key |
| Lobo |
Bad taste |
Wolf |
| Luca |
A thousand Colombian pesos |
|
| Mamar |
To bore |
To suck |
| Man |
Guy |
Man (English loanword) |
| Mano |
Bro (Brother) |
Hand |
| Mañé |
Ridiculous, un-cool |
|
| Marica |
Dude, bro |
Queer |
| Marimba |
Marijuana |
Marimba |
| Mijo/Mija |
buddy, pal |
short for Mi Hijo/Hija, my son/ my daughter |
| Mono |
Blond(e), fair-haired |
Monkey |
| Mosca (estar mosca) |
Be clever for a while; also annoyed |
fly (as an adjective, "be fly") |
| Olla |
Place where drugs are sold |
Cooking pot |
| Estar en la olla |
to be in a bad situation |
to be in the pot |
| Paja |
Lie, falsehood; also masturbation |
Hay |
| Parar bolas |
To pay attention |
To stand balls |
| Parche |
Band |
Patch |
| Pata |
Marijuana roach |
Leg |
| Pedo |
Big problem |
Fart |
| Piedra |
Anger |
Stone |
| Pilo |
Smart |
Battery (masculine form) |
| Poner bolas |
To pay attention |
To put balls |
| Poner los cachos |
To cheat (relationships) |
Set the horns |
| emputar |
to get enraged |
be prostituted |
| Rascado |
Drunk |
Scratched |
| Sapo |
Meddler |
Toad |
| Storbar |
To disturb |
To handle, touch |
| Tinto |
Black coffee |
Red wine |
| Tomba |
The police |
|
| Tombo |
Police officer |
|
| Vaina |
Thing |
Scabbard |
Cuba/Puerto Rico
| Slang |
Meaning |
Literal Translation |
|---|
| ¿Qué es la que hay? |
How are you doing? |
What is happening!! |
| ¡Coño! |
Fuck! |
Cunt! |
| mate |
Insanely in love/ with someone / or an act of desperation / |
|
| mono |
cute/pretty |
monkey |
| bicho |
penis |
|
| chavos |
cents / dollar / money |
|
| Puñeta |
Fuck! Expression usually use when one get hurts / masturbation |
|
Guatemala
| Slang |
Meaning |
Literal Translation |
|---|
| ¿Qué onda! (Quionda) |
What´s up |
What vibe? |
| ¡No jodás |
Don´t bother! |
Don´t screw! |
| ¡No me jodás! |
Don´t bother me! |
Don´t screw me! |
| Calidá |
Cool |
Quality (Calidad) |
| Cerote/Pizado |
Dude/Idiot |
Big Cero/Stepped-Squished |
| Mula |
Dum |
Mule |
| Chiveado |
Blushed |
"To Goat"/"Goated" |
| Te quiero mucho |
I love you lots |
I want you a lot |
| Wirito/Güirito |
Boy |
|
| Chavo |
Guy |
Guy |
| Chava |
Teen Girl |
Adolescent Girl |
| Verga |
Shit/Cock |
|
| Que chilero! |
Cool! |
|
México
| Slang |
Meaning |
Literal Translation |
|---|
| ¿Qué onda? |
What's up? |
What's the wave? |
| ¿Qué huele? |
What's up? |
What smells? |
| ¡No manches! |
Get outta here! |
Don´t stain! |
| ¡No mames! |
Get outta here! |
Don't suck! |
| Fresa |
Preppy, snobby |
Strawberry |
| naco |
tacky, unrefined |
bad taste |
| O sea |
As if / you wish. |
That is. |
| Nada que ver |
irrelevant, topics not related |
Nothing to see |
| Equis |
Used to describe something boring or uninteresting. |
Letter X |
| Prima/ Primo |
Buddy |
Cousin |
| Comprate una vida |
Get a life |
Buy a life. |
| ¿Qué pedo? |
What's up? |
What farts? |
| Mariposo |
Homosexual |
Butterfly |
| Sangrón |
Stuck up person |
A lot of blood |
| Aguas |
Watch out! |
Waters |
| Órale |
All right |
All right |
| Ándale |
Come on |
Walk/move it (imperative) |
| Chido |
Cool |
|
| Qué padre |
That's tight |
How father |
| Güey |
dude (sometimes used as an insult) |
Ox |
| Sale |
Alright or go (used at the end of a thought) |
Go (imperative) |
| ¡Nombre! |
No way! |
contraction of "¡No, hombre!" (no, man!) |
| Mande |
What did you say? / Pardon me |
What is your command? |
| ¡Vete al infierno! |
Go to hell! |
|
| ¡carajo! |
jerk! Or damn (as an expression) |
|
| ¡Vete a chingar! |
Go fuck yourself! |
|
| ¡Chale! |
Give me a break! |
|
| Maricón |
Crybaby, Wuss, Homosexual |
Crybaby, whiny, coward. |
España
| Slang |
Meaning |
Literal Translation |
|---|
| ¡No me toques los cojones! |
Don´t bother me! |
Don´t touch my balls! |
| ¿Qué pasa? |
What´s up! |
What´s going on? |
| ¡Que te den! |
Fuck you! |
May they give it to you! |
| Ojete |
Anus |
|
| ¡Ni de coña! |
No way! |
Not even if you're joking |
| Molar |
To be cool |
|
| ¡Comemierdas! |
Asshole! |
Shit-eater! |
| ¡Que te calles! |
Shut up! |
May you shut up! |
| ¡Que te pires! |
Fuck off! |
Fire up yourself! |
| ¡Coño! |
Shit! |
Cunt! |
| ¡Gilipollas! |
Asshole! |
Asshole! (Gili = idiot, Polla = Penis vulg.) |
| ¡Mierda! |
Shit! |
Shit! |
| ¡Cabrón! |
Bastard! |
Billy goat! |
| Polla |
Dick/cock (penis) |
Female chick |
| Zorra |
Bitch |
Female fox |
| Hasta los cojones |
Fed up |
Up to the balls |
| Soplapollas |
Idiot |
Dick-blower |
| Perra |
Bitch |
Female dog |
| Guarra |
Bitch |
Female pig |
| ¡Me cago en la puta! |
Dammit! |
I shit on the bitch! |
| De puta madre |
Really cool |
Of fucking mother |
| Mamón/Mamonazo |
Bastard |
Sucker/Big sucker |
| (algo) de tres pares de cojones |
(something) really big/important |
(something) of three pairs of balls |
| Poner los cojones encima de la mesa |
To show serious initiative |
To put the balls on the table |
| (algo) que te cagas |
(something) really important/heavy |
(something) that you shit all down |
| Acojonante |
Impressive, gorgeous |
That puts pressure on your balls |
| Acojonado |
Scared |
With your balls under pressure |
| Cojonudo |
Really good |
With big balls |
| Pichabrava |
Stud, womanizer |
Brave-dick |
| Pichafloja |
Weak, shy |
Slack-dick |
| Cierva |
Nice girl |
Doe (Female deer) |
| Guiri |
Tourist from North Europe |
|
| Camello |
Drug trader |
Camel |
| Tocapelotas |
Person that bothers others |
Balls-toucher |
| Berzas |
Boobs |
Cabbage(s) |
| Bufas |
Boobs |
You snort |
| Peras |
Boobs |
Pears |
| Brevas |
Boobs |
Early figs |
| Quinqui/Kinki |
Delinquent, pretty thief |
|
| Pedo |
Drunkenness |
Fart |
| Tío / Tía |
Dude |
Uncle / Aunt |
Perú
| Slang |
Meaning |
Literal Translation |
|---|
| asu! |
damn (when in a state of amazement) |
|
| la firme |
true |
the solid |
| achorado |
defiant |
|
| los vidrios |
see you |
we vidriate us |
| buitrear |
to vomit |
|
| chamba |
work |
|
| Pata |
bro, dude |
paw |
| asado(a) |
fed up, angry |
|
| florear |
to lie, weave tales |
to flower |
| roche |
embarrassed, or shame, same as "vergüenza" |
|
| chompa |
jacket |
|
| jerga |
slang |
syringe |
| chape |
kiss on the mouth |
catching |
| paso |
verbal text |
a pass |
| plagia |
copy |
|
| amiguero |
friendly |
friender |
| huachafo |
bad taste |
|
| conchudo |
brazenly bold, as in gall |
shelled |
| atorrante |
someone who does wrong things intentionally, see huachafo |
|
| chaufa |
bye (from chau, itself from the Italian ciao) |
chaufa Sino-Peruvian fried rice dish, |
| choro |
thief, robber, crook |
|
| chévere |
cool |
|
| bácan |
cool |
|
| choy |
cool |
|
| bicicleta |
diarrhea |
bicycle |
| supitero |
someone who farts a lot |
|
| causa |
friend |
reason/cause |
| que weno |
great, awesome, how good (que bueno) |
|
| figureti |
show off |
|
| resaca |
hungover |
undertow |
| ¿Qué cuentas? |
what's up? |
what do you say? |
| ¿Manyas? |
get it? |
|
| bravazo |
awesome |
really wild |
| meter la pata |
to mess something up |
put in the foot |
| churro(a) |
handsome guy/ pretty girl |
type of food |
| viejo(a) |
father/ mother |
old man/ old woman |
| Vaina |
thing |
|
| Parar bolas |
To pay attention |
|
| Cantaleta |
scolding |
|
|
Venezuela
| Slang |
Meaning |
Literal translation |
|---|
| ¡Arrecochínense! |
squeeze/group together! |
pig-pen yourselves! |
| ¡Avíspate! |
Alt-Right |
Heil trump |
| Caucho |
fat belly |
Rubber Tire |
| Bala fría |
Junk food/quick lunch |
Cold Bullet |
| Candela |
Awesome |
Fire |
| Chamo |
dude, guy |
el joey es mooday |
joey es mooday |
| Chévere |
Cool, nice |
Vete a la mierda |
Fuck off! |
| Cuaima |
Jealous/ill-tempered woman |
Viper |
| Perico |
Country's traditional method of scrambled egg |
Green parakeet |
| Ratón |
Hangover |
Mouse |
| Echar los perros |
To court someone |
Throw the dogs |
| Lata |
French kiss |
Tin Can |
| Zancudo |
mosquito |
Stiltwalker |