Spanish Slang | 90 Words & Examples

Knowing some Spanish slang can help you understand the locals and help you sound more natural in conversation. Slang words shape how we communicate, regardless of the language, adding personality, cultural flavor, and nuance to everyday speech.

To translate Spanish slang to English or another language, try QuillBot Translate.

General slang in Spanish

Spanish slang isn’t appropriate in all contexts. While acceptable in informal situations, you should avoid slang words in formal contexts, like academic writing or resumes.

Some Spanish slang also has different meanings in different countries. Always consider your target audience and medium, and only use slang when appropriate.

Cool in Spanish slang

One of the most basic elements of Spanish slang is how to say “cool” in different ways.

It’s one of the most common slang expressions used to show interest, agreement, or admiration.

Spanish slang words by country

Bear in mind that Spanish is a highly regionalized language, meaning Spanish slang can vary significantly depending on where you find yourself in the world. Below you can find Spanish slang words that are specific to certain countries.

Spanish slang in Spain

Spanish slang in Spain often stands apart, with unique expressions and phrases that differ from those used in Latin America.

1. Chaval

The noun chaval (chah-vahl) means “kid,” although Spaniards generally use it to refer to teenagers or young adults. The feminine form is chavala.

Example: Ese chaval es el hijo de Sonia. [That kid is Sonia’s son.]

2. Cutre

Cutre (kooh-treh), as an adjective, means “stingy,” “shabby,” or “seedy.” As a noun, it means “a cheapskate.”

Example: Este bar es muy cutre. [This bar is so seedy.]

3. Flipar

Flipar (flee-pahr) is a verb that means “to be crazy about,” “to flip out,” or “to be crazy.” Its reflexive form, fliparse, also means “to be or get high.”

Example: Me flipa su música. [I’m crazy about her music.]

4. ¡Hostia!

¡Hostia! (ohs-tee-ah) is an interjection used to express surprise, anger, or frustration, similar to “Damn it!” (or “Bloody hell!” in British English). Hostia can also mean a “blow” or “hit.” Literally, it means “holy host” or “communion wafer,” so this word may be offensive to some.

Example: ¡Hostia! ¡Qué sorpresa! [Wow! What a surprise!]

5. La leche

La leche (lah leh-cheh) literally means “the milk,” but this is a multifaceted word in Spanish slang and idioms. “Saber la leche” means “to know a lot,” and you can also be “la leche de listo,” meaning “really smart.” “Ser la leche” means both “to be the best” and “to really be something” in a sarcastic sense.

Example: ¡Paco es la leche! Nos ha conseguido entradas gratis. [Paco’s the best! He’s gotten us free tickets.]

6. Majo

Majo (mah-hoh) is an adjective that can mean “nice,” “pleasant,” “attractive,” or “hot.” Historically, a majo was a type of dandy living in Madrid. The feminine form is maja.

Example: Es un chico muy majo. [He’s a really nice guy.]

7. Puente

Puente (pwehn-teh) literally means “bridge,” but colloquially it means “a long weekend.” In Spain, weekends are often extended when public holidays fall during the week. For example, if a holiday falls on a Thursday, many people will get Friday off too, “bridging” the holiday into the weekend.

Example: Vamos a aprovechar el puente para viajar. [We’re going to take advantage of the long weekend to travel.]

8. Tío/a

Tío (tee-oh) and tía (tee-ah) literally translate as “uncle” and “aunt,” respectively. But in Spanish slang, these words mean “dude,” “buddy,” “pal,” or “chick,” depending on the gender.

Example: ¿Qué pasa, tío? [What’s up, dude?]

9. Vale

Vale (vah-lay) is an informal version of the phrase “de acuerdo” and means “okay” or “alright.” It’s extremely common in Spain and can be used in almost any situation.

Example: ¿Quedamos a la una? [Shall we meet at one?] — ¡Vale! [Okay!]

10. ¡Venga!

¡Venga! (behn-gah) is a very common interjection in Spain that most commonly means “Come on!” or “Let’s go!” It can be used both to rush or cheer someone on. It can also mean “Come on!” to express disbelief, and it’s often used in Spain in place of “de nada” (you’re welcome in Spanish) or “adios” (goodbye in Spanish).

Example: ¡Venga, vamos a llegar tarde! [Come on, we’re going to be late!]

Mexican slang

These are some Mexican slang terms you can embrace if you want to sound more like a local.

1. Bronca

A bronca (brohn-kah) in Mexican slang is a “problem” or “fuss,” used to describe a difficult or uncomfortable situation.

Example: Tenemos una bronca con el proyecto. [We’ve got a problem with the project.]

2. Carnal

If you look up carnal (cahr-nahl) in the dictionary, it means “carnal” or “earthly.” But in Mexican slang, it means “brother,” “sister,” “buddy,” or “mate” and is used to refer to a close friend or family member.

Example: Nos vemos, carnal. [See you, brother.]

3. Chamba

Chamba (chahm-bah) is a slang way to say “job,” “work,” or “gig” in Mexico.

Example: Conseguí una nueva chamba en una oficina. [I got a new job in an office.]

4. Chela

A chela (cheh-lah) is a beer in Mexico, although the literal Spanish word for “beer” is cerveza. Chela is more similar to how in English we might call a beer a “brew” or a “cold one.”

Example: Vamos por unas chelas. [Let’s go for some beers.]

5. Chingón

Chingón (cheen-gohn) is an adjective that means “awesome,” “fantastic,” or “top-notch.” The feminine adjective is chingona (cheen-gohn-ah). Chingón can also be used as a noun to describe a person who’s confident, cool, and bold, like calling someone a “badass” in English.

Example: Ese carro está chingón. [That car is awesome.]

6. Fresa

Fresa (freh-sah) literally means “strawberry,” but in Mexican slang it means “preppy,” “posh,” or “snob.” It can be used as both an adjective and a noun and most often carries a negative connotation.

Fresas are typically wealthy, educated, upper-class people. The fresa subculture in Mexico is similar to the preppy or yuppie subcultures in the United States.

Example: Mia es súper fresa, siempre compra ropa muy cara. [Mia is so preppy; she always buys expensive clothes.]

7. Güey

Güey (gwey or wey) means “dude,” “bro,” “buddy,” or “mate” in Mexico. You can also use it to replace your friend’s name when speaking to them.

Example: ¿Qué onda, güey? [What’s up, dude?]

8. Neta

Neta (neh-tah) means “truth” or “true” and can be used in various ways in Mexican slang. It can mean “Really?” or “For real?” when expressing surprise at something someone told you. It also means “really” or “honestly” to emphasize a statement.

Example: La neta es que no me gusta tu gato. [Honestly, I don’t like your cat.]

9. No manches

¡No manches! (noh mahn-ches) literally translates as “don’t get dirty.” But in Mexican Spanish slang, it means “No way! or “You’re kidding!”

Example: ¡No manches! ¡Qué increíble! [No way! That’s amazing!]

10. ¿Qué onda?

The question ¿Qué onda? (keh ohn-dah) is very common in Mexican slang. It means “What’s up?” and is a great way to ask a friend how they’re doing.

Example: ¿Qué onda, cómo estás? [What’s up? How are you?]

Colombian slang

Here’s some Colombian slang you’ll be sure to hear if you visit the country or hang out with Colombians.

1. Berraco/a

Berraco (beh-rah-koh)—or berraca (beh-rah-kah)—can be a noun meaning a brave, strong, or impressive person. It can also be an adjective meaning “brave,” “bold,” or “gutsy.”

Example: Mi abuela es una berraca, ha superado muchas cosas. [My grandmother is a really brave person; she’s overcome a lot.]

2. Dar papaya

Dar papaya (dahr pah-pai-ah) literally translates as “to give papaya.” However, in Colombian slang, it means “to make oneself vulnerable.”

Example: No des papaya con tu celular en la calle. [Don’t make yourself vulnerable with your phone on the street.]

3. Guayabo

In standard Spanish, a guayabo (gwah-yah-boh) is a guava tree, but in Colombian slang it means “hangover.”

Example: Tengo un guayabo que me mata. [I have a hangover that’s killing me.]

4. ¡Nanay cucas!

¡Nanay cucas! (nah-nai kooh-kahs) is an interjection that means “No way!” or “Not a chance!”

Example: ¿Me das un poco de tu postre? [Can I have some of your dessert?] – ¡Nanay cucas! – [No way!]

5. Paila

Paila (pai-lah) means “too bad” or “unfortunate.” It can also mean that something is “screwed” or “past the point of no return” or that a person is “broke.” In standard Spanish, a paila is a type of frying pan or pot.

Example: ¡Qué paila que se cancelara el evento! [It’s unfortunate that the event got canceled.]

6. Parcero/a

Parcero (pahr-sehr-oh) is a common way to refer to a friend or companion. It means something like “buddy,” “pal,” or “mate.” Variants are the feminine form parcera (pahr-sehr-ah) or the shortened form parce (pahr-seh).

Example: Gracias por todo, parcero. [Thanks for everything, buddy.]

7. Parche

The word parche (pahr-cheh) means “friend group” in Colombian slang.

Example: Fui ayer con mi parche al cine. [Yesterday, I went with my friends to the movies.]

8. Rumba

Rumba (room-bah) may be better known as a style of music and dance, but in Colombia it means “party.” “Irse de rumba” means “to go out partying.”

Example: Nos vamos de rumba esta noche. [We’re going to party tonight.]

9. Tusa

In Colombian slang, tusa (tooh-sah) means “heartbreak,” referring to the emotional turmoil specifically after a breakup.

Example: Está pasando por una tusa muy fuerte. [She’s going through a tough heartbreak.]

10. Vaina

A vaina (bai-nah) is literally a pod, like the outside covering of peas, or a scabbard. In Colombia, it’s a useful, multifaceted slang word that you can use the same as the English words “thing” or “stuff.”

Example: ¿Qué es esa vaina? [What is that thing?]

Dominican slang

Here are ten essential slang terms from the Dominican Republic that will help you sound more like a local.

1. Concho

Concho (kohn-choh) is the Dominican slang way to say “taxi.”

Example: Tomamos un concho para llegar al centro. [We took a taxi to get downtown.]

2. Coro

In standard Spanish, a coro (koh-roh) is a “choir,” but in Dominican slang, it means “party.”

Example: El sábado tenemos un coro, y no te lo puedes perder. [On Saturday we have a party, and you can’t miss it.]

3. Corito sano

Corito sano (koh-ree-toh sah-no) refers to a “chill hangout” or “informal gathering” (“sano” means “healthy” in Spanish). While a coro is a party, a corito sano is something smaller and more relaxed, often between close friends.

Example: Fue un corito sano entre amigos. [It was a chill hangout with friends.]

4. Dímelo cantando

Dímelo cantando (dee-meh-lo kahn-tahn-doh) is a phrase that means “speak up,” “don’t be shy,” or “tell me everything.” Directly translated, the phrase means “tell it to me singing.”

Example: ¿Qué opinas? Dímelo cantando. [What do you think? Speak up.]

5. Dique

In Dominican slang, dique (dee-keh) is an adverb that means “supposedly” or “allegedly.” In standard Spanish it means “dike” or “dock.”

Example: Ella dique habla inglés. [She supposedly speaks English.]

6. En olla

En olla (ehn oh-yah) is a prepositional phrase that literally translates as “in a pot.” However, in Dominican slang, it means “broke” or “out of money.”

Example: Estoy en olla hasta la quincena. [I’m broke until payday.]

7. Jevi

Jevi (heh-bee) is an adjective meaning “awesome.”

Example: Esa música está jevi. [That music is awesome.]

8. Pana

Pana (pah-nah) means “close friend.”

Example: Estudiamos juntos en la universidad, somos panas. [We studied together at university and are close friends.]

9. ¿Qué lo qué?

The question ¿Qué lo qué? (keh loh keh) is the Dominican way to ask, “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?”

Example: ¿Qué lo qué, mi hermano? [What’s up, my brother?]

10. Tiguere

A tiguere (tee-geh-reh) is a hustler or a person with a lot of street smarts, and it can mean “guy” with that connotation.

Example: Ese tiguere siempre consigue lo que quiere. [That guy always gets what he wants.]

Cuban slang

Find some common Cuban slang terms, plus their meanings and pronunciations, below.

1. Asere/acere

Asere (ah-seh-reh)—which can also be spelled acere—means “friend” or “buddy.”

Example: ¡Asere, vamos a la playa! [Buddy, let’s go to the beach!]

2. Bola

Bola (boh-lah) is the Cuban way to say “gossip” or “rumor.”

Example: Habla con María, ella se sabe toda la bola. [Talk with Maria; she knows all the gossip.]

3. Dale

Dale (dah-leh) means “let’s go,” “hurry up,” “okay,” or something else depending on the context. It’s a jack-of-all-trades kind of word that’s very common in Cuban slang.

Example: ¡Dale, vamos a llegar tarde! [Hurry up! We’re going to get there late!]

4. Fosforera

Fosforera (fohs-foh-reh-rah) is the Cuban slang way to say “lighter.”

Example: ¿Tienes una fosforera? [Do you have a lighter?]

5. Frutabomba

Frutabomba (froo-tah-bohm-bah) is how Cubans say “papaya,” the tropical fruit. It’s important to know that in Cuba, “papaya” is slang for female genitals.

Example: Prefiero jugo de frutabomba. [I prefer papaya juice.]

6. Fula

Fula (foo-lah) has several meanings in Cuban slang. First, it can mean “dollar,” referring to the American dollar. It can also work as a noun meaning  “a shady person” or “a bad situation,” or work as an adjective meaning “messed up.” Finally, it can be used to express disgust, like in the expression ¡Qué fula!

Example: Eso está fula. [That’s messed up.]

7. Guagua

A guagua (gwah-gwah) is a “bus” in Cuban slang.

Example: La guagua pasa cada 15 minutos. [The bus comes every 15 minutes.]

8. Jamar

Jamar (hah-mahr) is a verb that means “to eat” or “to stuff yourself” in Cuban slang.

Example: Voy a jamar antes de salir. [I’m going to eat before going out.]

9. ¿Qué bolá?

The question ¿Qué bolá? (keh boh-lah) is the Cuban slang way to ask “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?”

Example: ¿Qué bolá contigo? [What’s up with you?]

10. Yuma

Yuma (yoo-mah) is a noun that means “foreigner,” particularly one from the United States. It’s similar to the Mexican word gringo or the Spanish word guiri.

Example: El centro de Havana está lleno de yumas. [Downtown Havana is full of foreigners.]

Peruvian slang

Peruvian slang is commonly called “jerga,” and these are some of the most common words.

1. Al toque

Al toque (al toh-keh) is an adverb that means “right away” or “pronto.” When translated literally, it means “at the touch.”

Example: Llego al toque. [I’ll be there right away.]

2. Causa

Causa (kow-sah) is the standard Spanish word for “cause” or “reason,” but in Peruvian slang, it means “friend,” “mate,” or “buddy.”

Example: Jorge es mi causa, nos conocemos desde la infancia. [Jorge is my friend; we’ve known each other since childhood.]

3. Figureti

A figureti (fee-goo-reh-tee) is a “show-off” or “poser.” It refers to someone who likes attention and carries a negative connotation.

Example: Ese chico es un figureti total. [That guy is a total show-off.]

4. Grifo

Grifo (gree-foh) means “faucet” in most parts of the Spanish-speaking world, but in Peru, it also means “gas station.”

Example: Voy al grifo a llenar el tanque. [I’m going to the gas station to fill up the tank.]

5. Jato

Jato (hah-toh) means “house” or “home” in Peruvian slang.

Example: Vamos a mi jato después del trabajo. [Let’s go to my house after work.]

6. Latear

Latear (lah-teh-ahr) means “to stroll” or “to wander,” referring to the act of walking around without a clear purpose or destination.

Example: Vamos a latear por el centro. [Let’s wander around downtown.]

7. Pata

Pata (pah-tah) is another way to say “friend,” “mate,” or “buddy” in Peruvian slang.

Example: Mi pata y yo vamos a cenar. [My buddy and I are going to have dinner.]

8. Pituco

Pituco (pee-too-koh) can be a noun or an adjective. As a noun, it means “rich person.” As an adjective, it can mean “rich,” “upper-class,” “posh,” or “snobby.” This word often has a negative connotation.

Example: Ese chico es muy pituco para mí. [That guy is too snobby for me.]

9. Soroche

Soroche (soh-roh-cheh) means “altitude sickness.” Peru is a mountainous country with a high average altitude, so it’s no surprise they have a word for this sensation.

Example: Tengo soroche después de llegar a Cusco. [I have altitude sickness after arriving in Cusco.]

10. Tono

In Peruvian slang, a tono (toh-noh) is a “party.” The verb “to party” is tonear.

Example: Hay un tono en casa de Luis. [There’s a party at Luis’s house.]

Argentinian slang

If you want to impress an Argentinian friend, try using these common Argentinian slang words.

1. Boludo

Boludo (boh-loo-doh) means “dude” or “idiot,” depending on the context.

Example: No seas boludo, vení para acá. [Don’t be an idiot, come here.]

2. Cachaciento

Cachachiento (kah-chah-syehn-toh) is one way to say lazy in Spanish, especially in Argentinian slang. It means “lazy” in the sense of being “slow” or “sluggish.”

Example: Ese tipo es re cachaciento. [That guy is so sluggish.]

3. Che

Che (cheh) means “hey” in Argentinian slang. If you go to Argentina, you’ll most likely hear this word various times a day.

Example: Che, ¿cómo estás? [Hey, how are you?]

4. Estar al pedo

Estar al pedo (ehs-tahr ahl peh-doh) is an infinitive phrase that means “to do nothing” or “to have a lazy day.”

Example: Hoy estoy al pedo. [Today I’m doing nothing.]

5. Estar en pedo

Estar en pedo (ehs-tahr ehn peh-doh) means “to be drunk.” Don’t mix it up with estar al pedo, as they have very different meanings.

Example: Anoche Laura estuvo en pedo. [Last night Laura was drunk.]

6. Laburo

Laburo (lah-boo-roh) means “work” or “job” in Argentinian slang.

Example: Tengo mucho laburo esta semana. [I have a lot of work this week.]

7. Medio pelo

Medio pelo (meh-dyoh peh-loh) literally translates as “half hair,” but in Argentinian slang it means “mediocre” or “second-rate.”

Example: Ese restaurante es medio pelo. [That restaurant is mediocre.]

8. Mina

Mina (mee-nah) is Argentinian slang for “woman” or “girl.”

Example: Esa mina es re simpática. [That girl is super nice.]

9. Pibe/a

Pibe (pee-beh) and piba (pee-bah)—the masculine and feminine forms, respectively—both mean “kid” or “young person.”

Example: El pibe juega al fútbol. [The kid plays soccer.]

10. Quilombo

Quilombo (kee-lohm-boh) means “mess” in Argentinian slang. It can also mean “brothel,” so be careful how you use this word.

Example: ¡Qué quilombo de tráfico! [This traffic is a mess!]

Chilean slang

1. Al tiro

Al tiro (al tee-roh) is a phrase that means “right away” or “immediately.” Literally, it translates as “at the shot.”

Example: Mi jefe me ha pedido hacer esto al tiro. [My boss has asked me to do this immediately.]

2. ¿Cachai?

¿Cachai? (kah-chai) is a question that translates as “Got it?”, “Understood?”, or “You know?”

Example: Me gusta disfrutar la vida, ¿cachai? [I like to enjoy life, you know?]

3. Caña

In Chile, caña means “hangover,” although in standard Spanish it translates as “cane” or “reed.”

Example: Tengo una caña terrible. [I have a terrible hangover.]

4. Carrete

In Chilean slang, carrete (kah-reh-teh) means “party.”

Example: Vamos al carrete en casa de Pedro esta noche. [Let’s go to the party at Pedro’s tonight.]

5. Fome

Fome (foh-meh) means “boring” in Chilean slang.

Example: La película estuvo fome. [The movie was boring.]

6. Guagua

While guagua means “bus” in Cuban slang, in Chilean slang it means something completely different: “baby.”

Example: La guagua está durmiendo. [The baby is sleeping.]

7. Po

Po (poh) means “obviously” or “of course.” It’s used for emphasis or as a filler word, and it’s derived from the standard Spanish word pues, which can mean “well,” “so,” “of course,” or other things depending on context.

Example: ¿Vienes a la cena? [Are you coming to dinner?] — Sí, po. [Yes, of course.]

8. Pololo/a

Pololo (poh-loh-loh) means “boyfriend,” and polola (pol-loh-lah) means “girlfriend.” Archaically, pololo referred to a type of pants or undergarment.

Example: Ella es mi polola. [She is my girlfriend.]

9. Taco

A taco (tah-koh) in Chile isn’t a food. Instead, taco means “traffic jam.” The word comes from shortening the Spanish word tráfico, meaning “traffic.”

Example: Me quedé atrapado en un taco. [I got stuck in a traffic jam.]

10. Yapa

A yapa (yah-pah) is a “free gift” or a “little extra” that a shopkeeper gives you as a thank you for your purchase.

Example: La vendedora me dio una yapa. [The seller gave me a little extra.]

Frequently asked questions about Spanish slang

How do you say butt in Spanish slang?

Some ways to say “butt” in Spanish slang are:

• Culo (“butt” or “ass”)
• Trasero (“butt” or “backside”)
• Nalgas (“buttocks” or “backside”)
• Pompis (“bottom” or “behind”)
• Glúteos (“gluteus”)
• Pandero (“butt,” literally “tambourine”)

For more ways to say butt in Spanish slang, ask QuillBot’s AI Chat.

How do you say I’m sorry in Spanish slang?

To say “I’m sorry” in Spanish slang, you could say “lo siento tío/a” or “lo siento amigo/a.”

Make sure to change the ending of “tío/a” and “amigo/a” based on the gender of the person you’re talking to. Note that “tío” translates literally to “uncle,” but in slang, it means “dude.”

These options overlap with normal ways to say sorry in Spanish.

QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you communicate your intended meaning in English, Spanish, and more.

How do you say money in Spanish slang?

Some ways to say “money” in Spanish slang are:

• Pasta (“dough”)
• Pavos (“bucks,” literally “turkeys”)
• Metálico (“cash,” literally “metallic”)
• Efectivo (“cash”)
• Baro (“dough”)
• Plata (“money,” literally “silver”)

There are different ways to say “money” in Spanish slang depending on the country, so try asking QuillBot’s AI Chat for slang words for a specific country.

What does gringo mean in Spanish slang?

In Spanish slang, “gringo” refers to a foreigner, usually someone from the United States. It’s like calling someone “Yankee.”

It’s believed “gringo” derives from the Spanish word “griego” (“Greek”), as in Spanish slang, “griego” can also refer to an incomprehensible language.

“Gringo” is mostly used in Latin America. Spaniards often call tourists “guiris.”

To learn more about “gringo” or other Spanish words, ask QuillBot’s AI Chat.

How do you say baby in Spanish slang?

Some ways to say “baby” in Spanish slang are:

• Bebé
• Nene/a
• Gordito/Gordita
• Cariño
• Amor
• Amorcito
• Corazón

Bear in mind that Spanish nouns change their ending depending on their gender. For the words listed with two forms, use the “o” endings for males and the “a” endings for females.

To correct any errors in your Spanish writing, use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker.