To the Slang (slangs, in Spanish)they are characteristic words of a certain sociocultural group, either in general use or as a way of highlighting a particularity. They can be used specifically by certain groups or generally in a society, becoming commonplace. Therefore, we can talk about slang specific to certain regions, countries and also small groups that identify themselves in some way — whether by age or cultural affinity.
In all languages there are slang words, and Spanish is no different. In this article, you'll learn some slang words from Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and others that are more widely used in Hispanic Latin America. ¡Continue reading!
Read too: the alphabet — the alphabet in spanish
Topics of this article
- 1 - What are slang?
- 2 - List with Spanish slang
- 3 - List of Mexican slang words
- 4 - List of Argentinian slang words
- 5 - List of Chilean slang
- 6 - List with Latin American slang
What are slangs?
slang is language expressions that identify a group. They can be born in certain groups and be characteristic of them, but they can also be incorporated into the vocabulary of a population if the usage becomes common and current. Due to this fact, slang terms come and go very easily. In the following lists, we try to cover the most current slang; however, keep in mind that, as the language is alive, many are lost in time and become outdated.
Spanish slang list
Below are some of the main slangs from Spain:
Español de España |
Portuguese |
Guay |
Cool |
How strong! |
Expression of surprise, either negatively or positively |
Pimp |
handsome, nice |
Cutter |
Of poor quality (people, places and objects) |
Currar |
To work |
Botellón |
Group of teenagers drinking in public spaces |
flip |
travel, hallucinate |
be flipping in colors |
Being under strong emotion or amazement at what you see/hear |
Allah with him/her |
It's his/her problem |
Joder! |
Expression that expresses annoyance, annoyance or that something is very good. It can be equivalent to “Wow!”, “Wow!”, “No kidding!” |
Uncle |
man, girl |
Examples:
This month Manu Chao comes to play in my city, I'm flipping in colors.
(This month Manu Chao comes to play in my city, I'm hallucinating.)
Why did they finally grant you the gown? What's up!
(Did they finally give you the bag? Cool!)
Do not stop now... There's more after the publicity ;)
Now let's pay special attention to a word that appears in many Spanish expressions: milk (milk).
Español de España |
Portuguese |
I shit myself in milk |
What the hell! |
be la milk |
be something very good |
mala leche |
Bad mood |
Estar con la milk en los labios |
Being too young and inexperienced. The famous "Didn't even get out of diapers" |
Ask for milk a las cabrillas |
ask for something impossible |
List of Mexican Slangs
Below are some of the main slangs from Mexico:
Spanish from Mexico |
Portuguese |
priest/chevere/chido |
Cool |
Guey/wey/we |
Dude, so-and-so |
chingón/a |
Something very good or person very skilled at something |
Chafa |
Something of poor quality. In relation to a person, it means that he does nothing right |
No manches/mames |
Damn! / Do not play! / Serious? / Lie! It is a slang that depends a lot on the context. The form “No manches” is considered less vulgar, so it is used in contexts where profanity would not be accepted. |
apapacho / apapachar |
hug / embrace |
cuate |
friend |
Send? |
Used when not listening well to the other person |
Menso |
silly, silly |
it's worth me mother |
I do not care |
lying mothers |
swear |
Bear in mind that… |
This expression is used to introduce something you want to tell. In Portuguese, it would be equivalent to “Imagine que…” |
milling cutter |
Messy person, patricinha/preppy |
Examples:
Güey, what are we going to the party for?
(Dude, are we going to party or nah?)
Did Camila go away? No manches, si ni siquiera le hablé.
(Did Camila leave already? No kidding, I haven't even talked to her.)
List of Argentinian Slangs
Below are some of the main slangs from Argentina:
Argentine Spanish |
Portuguese |
boludo |
This word became popular in Brazil due to the large number of young Brazilians and Argentines who interact in online games. It can mean “idiot” or “imbecile”, but it is also used between people who are very close. |
Thick |
Someone who has done something great or very good |
Che |
Face |
pipe |
boy/girl, tomboy/tomboy |
tomatoes |
Go away |
Chamuyar / Chamuyo |
flirt/flirt |
Twine |
Money |
a luca |
One thousand pesos (Argentine currency) |
torturous |
Shameless, Messy, Mischievous |
break the balls |
To disturb |
Yuta |
Police |
joya |
Cool cool |
Cheto |
Messy person, patricinha/preppy |
coso |
Thing, unspecified object |
Examples:
You helped me a lot, just a gross!
(You helped me a lot, you are wonderful!)
Break me up with the balls that make me strong.
(I hate / It bothers me when people yell at me.)
Chilean slang list
Below are some of the main slangs from Chile:
Chilean Spanish |
Portuguese |
Bacán |
Very good cool |
al shot |
Right now |
¿Cachay? |
Did you understand? |
reel |
Party |
pellet |
Pay attention |
Hunger |
boring, bland |
guagua |
Baby |
polo |
Boyfriend |
the once |
Afternoon snack |
walk duck |
Not having money |
remove the crest |
hit someone, hit someone |
Tata |
Grandmother |
Examples:
I don't like this skin, I'm very hungry.
(I don't like this movie, it's too dull.)
Andrés, come take it once.
(Andrés, come and have lunch.)
See too: Usual expressions — the most common expressions in the Spanish language
Latin American slang list
Below you will find slang that can be found in more than one Hispanic country From Latin America. As far as possible, we will indicate, in parentheses, the acronym of the country where the slang is used.
Spanish |
Portuguese |
Cool (CO, CU, DO, CL) |
Very good cool |
Hi |
Listen here |
hey bro |
Hey bro/dude/bro |
Mine (AR, CL, UY) |
Girl (we also use this word in Portuguese) |
Yapa (BO, CL) |
Gift that comes with a purchase |
be a can |
be boring, boring |
Chocho/a (AR, UY) |
happy, happy |
Believed |
Messy person, who thinks he is |
pendant |
Idiot, stupid. In Argentina it means teenager |
Chimba (CO) |
Cool |
Mi chino/a (VE, CO) |
Expression used to name someone, most of the time, in an affectionate way. Equivalent to "my love", for example. |
Please |
Please |
find |
Weekend |
vaina |
Thing, unspecified object |
good wave |
Cool |
Dale |
OK |
Too bad (CO, VE) |
What a shame / I'm sorry |
Toad (CL, HN) |
gossip |
Just like the word milk in Spain the word ask — that's right, fart — deserves special attention.
Spanish |
Portuguese |
ask |
binge drinking |
What do I ask? |
How are you?, How are you? |
Al pedo (MX) |
be attentive |
Ni en pedo |
No way |
On foot (AR) |
Fortunately |
be al pedo |
Being around, doing nothing |
go on feet |
go very fast |
Ven a mi casa, estoy al pedo.
(Come to my house, I'm for nothing.)
This bus goes a los pedos.
(This bus is going very fast.)
Sources
CANDELARIO, M. The 30 most used words and expressions of the popular Spanish slang of Spain. pepply, 2021. Available in: https://preply.com/es/blog/jerga-espanola/.
JUAREZ, C. 80 Argentinian expressions (and their meaning). Psychology and mind, 2022. Available in: https://psicologiaymente.com/reflexiones/expresiones-argentinas.
LOPEZ, I. MEXpresiones; 125 Mexican expressions to pass unnoticed in Mexico. Backpackers TV, c2023. Available in: https://mochilerostv.com/mexpresiones-vol-2-52-palabras-mas-para-pasar-inadvertido-en-mexico/.
BRAND CHILE. Chilean fads… from A to Z. Brand Chile, 2017. Available in: https://marcachile.cl/vida-cultura/modismos-chilenos-de-la-a-a-la-z/.
By Renata Martins Gornattes
Spanish teacher
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
GORNATTES, Renata Martins. "Slang in Spanish"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/espanhol/girias-em-espanhol.htm. Accessed on June 18, 2023.
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Cringe
The slang adapted from English is used to designate someone who is seen as tacky, shameful, outdated and out of fashion.
