Spanish Slang & Phrases You Should Know: A Complete Guide

Scott Ingram
WRITTEN BY
Scott Ingram

¡Hola amigos! Ready to explore the vibrant world of Spanish slang? Whether you’re just starting out or looking to enhance your conversational skills, understanding common Spanish slang is key to sounding more like a native speaker.

From casual greetings to everyday expressions, this guide will introduce you to essential slang terms that will enrich your Spanish vocabulary and help you connect more authentically with Spanish-speaking communities.

The Spanish Language Around the World

Spanish is the fourth most spoken language in the world after English, Mandarin, and Hindi. Spanish spoken worldwide showcases incredible linguistic diversity, with each region developing its own unique expressions, slang terms, and colloquial phrases.

Spanish Language Immersion in Costa Rica with Rustic Pathways

    Spanish Speaking Countries

    The Spanish language is the official language in numerous countries and territories:

    • Spain
    • Mexico
    • Argentina
    • Chile
    • Costa Rica
    • Dominican Republic
    • Ecuador
    • Guatemala
    • Peru
    • Puerto Rico
    • Equatorial Guinea
    • Nicaragua
    • Colombia
    • Venezuela
    • Uruguay
    • Panama
    • Honduras
    • El Salvador
    • Bolivia
    • Paraguay
    • Cuba

    Other Spanish speaking countries and regions with significant Spanish-speaking populations include the United States, Belize, Andorra, Gibraltar, and the Philippines, where Spanish words have influenced local languages even as primary language use has declined.

    Basic Spanish Phrases for Travelers

    Before diving into slang, it’s helpful to master these standard Spanish expressions that are understood in most Spanish speaking countries.

    Greetings

    • Hello – Hola
    • How are you? – ¿Cómo estás?
    • Good morning – Buenos días
    • Good afternoon – Buenas tardes
    • Good night – Buenas noches
    • Welcome – Bienvenido
    • Goodbye – Adiós

    Etiquette

    • Please – Por favor
    • Thank you – Gracias
    • Excuse me – Perdón
    • Sorry – Lo siento

    Useful Questions & Sentences

    • Where is the bathroom? – ¿Dónde está el baño?
    • Could you repeat that please? – Repite por favor.
    • How do you say ___ in Spanish? – ¿Cómo se dice ___ en español?
    • I don’t understand – No entiendo.
    • I want to go to ___. – Yo quiero ir a ___.
    • Where is ___? – ¿Dónde está ___?
    • I would like ___. – Yo quisiera ___.
    • How much is it? – ¿Cuánto vale ___?

    Casual Conversations

    • What is your name? – ¿Cómo te llamas?
    • My name is ___. – Me llamo ___.
    • Where are you from? – ¿De dónde eres?
    • I am from ___. – Yo soy de ___.
    • How old are you? – ¿Cuántos años tienes?
    • I am ___ years old. – Tengo ___ años.
    • Do you speak English? – ¿Hablas inglés?
    • I speak a little Spanish. – Hablo un poco de español.
    • I am hungry – Tengo hambre
    • I am thirsty – Tengo sed
    • I am cold – Tengo frío
    • I am hot – Tengo calor

    Rustic Pathways Students on a Spanish Language Immersion in Costa Rica

    Slang words and phrases vary significantly across Spanish speaking countries, showcasing the rich linguistic diversity of the language. Common words in one region might have completely different meanings in others, making slang an exciting aspect of language learning.

    Puerto Rican Slang Words

    Puerto Rican Spanish stands out for its unique expressions, code switching with English, and distinctive slang terms. Puerto Ricans living on and off the island use these expressions to maintain cultural connections with close friends and family.

    • Boricua – A Puerto Rican slang term of pride referring to Puerto Ricans, derived from the indigenous Taíno name for the island (Borinquen)
    • Janguiar – “To hang out” (from the English word “hang”)
    • Chavos – Money (also used in the Dominican Republic)
    • Gufear – “To act goofy” or “joke around”
    • ¡Mano! – “Hey bro!” (short version of “hermano,” used to address close friends)
    • Al garete – Originally referred to a ship without direction, now means “out of control” or “adrift”
    • Ay bendito – A multipurpose colloquial term to express frustration, sympathy, or surprise
    • Bregar – “To deal with” or “handle” a situation
    • Chacho – Shortened version of “muchacho” (young man), used as an exclamation
    • Tapón – Literally “plug,” but used to describe a traffic jam
    • Brutal – Used to describe something excellent (not something violent)
    • Tiraera – A verbal feud, especially in reggaeton songs
    • Pal’ carajo – An expression of frustration (somewhat vulgar)
    • Un palo – Literally “a stick,” but as a slang term it describes something exceptional
    • Kiosko – Small open-air food vendor, a popular spot for Puerto Rican friends to gather
    • Jugar sucio – Literally “play dirty,” this Spanish word combination means to be unfair
    • Padrino – Literally “godfather,” but can stand in for “buddy” in casual conversation
    • Bellaco – A slang term describing someone who is too focused on romantic encounters

    Puerto Rican wrestler Chicky Starr and his slang word catchphrases have influenced certain slang expressions that have become part of the cultural lexicon. English influence is also evident in Puerto Rican slang, with many English expressions adapted and incorporated through code switching. When a native speaker uses these terms, the word means more than just its literal translation – it carries cultural significance.

    Group performing traditional dance with Puerto Rican flag on a sunny day

    Mexican Slang Words

    • ¿Qué onda? – “What’s up?”
    • Buena onda – “Cool” or “good vibes” (common in other Latin American countries too)
    • Güey – “Dude” or “guy” (sometimes spelled “wey”)
    • Híjole – “Wow” or “geez” (used to express surprise or shock)
    • No manches – “No way” or “you’re kidding” (literally means “don’t stain yourself”)
    • Chido – “Cool” or “nice”
    • Padre – Literally “father,” but used to mean “cool” or “awesome”
    • ¿Mande? – “Excuse me?” or “Pardon?” (polite way to ask someone to repeat)
    • Órale – Multipurpose expression of excitement or agreement
    • Chamba – “Job” or “work”

    Costa Rican Slang

    • Pura vida – “Pure life” – This refers to the Costa Rican way of life and is often used as a response to ¿Cómo estás?
    • Mae – “Dude” – Can be used to refer to any man or woman
    • Por Dicha – “Thank goodness”
    • Tuanis – “Cool”
    • Pulperia – A small corner store
    • Ride – A ride or lift (English influence)
    • Chunche – “Thing” or “stuff” when you can’t remember the name
    • Tico/Tica – Nickname for Costa Ricans
    Teens on a Spanish language immersion summer camp in Costa Rica.

    Students have some fun over dinner on Spanish Language Immersion in Costa Rica with a local host family.

    Peruvian Slang

    • Bacán – “Cool” (also used in Ecuador)
    • Chévere – “Great”
    • Soroche – Altitude sickness
    • Al toque – “Right now” (used when someone is in a hurry)
    • Jama and jamear – Food and to go eat
    • Luca – Refers to money, specifically 1 Peruvian Sol
    • Pata – “Friend” or “buddy”
    • Chamba – “Work” or “job”
    • Mosca – Literally “fly,” but used to mean “alert” or “pay attention”

    Dominican Slang Words

    • Bacano – Something cool or someone who is really good at something difficult
    • Nítido – Another word for great or cool
    • Chercha – A party or good time
    • Chillaxing – American expression adopted to mean relaxing or chilling
    • Colmado – Small corner store
    • Hevi nais – “Very nice” (English influence)
    • ¿Dime a ver? – “What’s up?”
    • Vaina – Thing or stuff (often used negatively)
    • Chin – A little bit
    • Tiguere – “Dude” or “guy” (can also mean “street-smart person”)

    Ecuadorian Slang Words

    • Achachay – Feeling cold
    • ¿Cachas? – “Do you understand?” or “Did you ‘catch’ something?”
    • Pana – “Buddy”
    • ¡De una! – “Absolutely!”
    • ¡Mentira! – Used to express excitement or astonishment
    • ¿Qué fue? – “What’s up?”
    • Chuchaqui – Hangover
    • Ñaño/Ñaña – Brother/Sister (from Quichua)
    • Chévere – “Cool” or “great”

    The Impact of Reggaeton Music on Spanish Slang

    Reggaeton songs have popularized many slang words across Spanish speaking countries. Artists from Puerto Rico and other Spanish speaking countries have created a unique vocabulary that transcends borders, especially among younger native speakers.

    Famous reggaeton song lyrics often introduce new slang terms that quickly spread through Latin America and beyond. Puerto Rican artists in particular have been influential in creating slang words that are now used by Spanish speakers worldwide. Some expressions that originated in reggaeton music include:

    • Perreo – A dance style associated with reggaeton
    • Dembow – Both a rhythm and a way to describe the reggaeton style
    • Fuego – Literally “fire,” but used to describe something excellent
    • A lo loco – “Crazy style” or doing something without restraint
    • Flow – An English word adopted to describe someone’s style or rhythm

    These terms show how music serves as a vehicle for linguistic exchange between different Spanish-speaking regions and even incorporates English expressions into everyday Spanish vocabulary.

    Tips for Using Slang

    In formal settings or if it’s your first time visiting a Spanish-speaking country, we recommend using standard Spanish. However, if you are feeling confident and want to connect with native Spanish speakers on a deeper level, try out these Spanish slang expressions.

    Remember that each country has its own unique set of slang words – Puerto Rican slang differs from Costa Rican slang, which differs from Mexican Spanish, and so on. These regional variations showcase the beautiful linguistic diversity of the Spanish language!

    When meeting Spanish speakers from other countries, slang terms can be a fun way to learn about cultural differences. Just be careful, as a word that’s innocent in one country might have an entirely different meaning in another!

    For English speakers learning Spanish, embracing slang is a great way to sound more natural and build stronger connections with your Spanish-speaking friends.

    About the Author
    Scott Ingram

    Scott is the Director of Admissions at Rustic Pathways. He has spent the last 15 years in the student travel and experiential education world. Before helping families find the perfect Rustic Pathways program, he led gap year programs that took students around the world and spent three years teaching English in Japan.