“¿Cómo estás?” “¿Qué tal?” “¿Cómo estás?” “¿Qué tal?” Are you tired of not knowing what to say other than “cómo estás” or “qué tal” when meeting someone?!?! you don't know how difficult it is no sabes lo difícil que es I didn't ... You can complete the translation of how are you given by the English-Spanish Collins dictionary with other dictionaries such as: Wikipedia, Lexilogos, Larousse dictionary, Le Robert, Oxford, Grévisse. And. you’ve decided to immerse yourself in the depths of Venezuelan slang to take it to the next level of Spanish: Venezuela style. This is a casual way to say “boring” in Chile. This slang is cool, casual and fun to learn! a. Déjame solo. Bárbaro pibe! I forgot my keys again.”. Tu colega José es muy majo. This one is a funny expression to me. As you can see, there are many aspects of the language that you don’t learn from grammar textbooks, but that require some time living in a Spanish-speaking country to really master them or help from a Spanish teacher who can explain them to you and guide you in using them correctly. Because we use it when we’re interested in going into a bit more in detail about how things are going for this person in various aspects of their life: their studies, their job, etc. 10. You can call your friends this, or even refer to strangers as tío and tía. Slang words vary a lot from country to country, even from city to city. Me gusta ese programa de televisión también. This means “right away”, and you’ll hear it quite often. Not at all! Spanish is a passionate and rich language, full of emotion. This post contains affiliate links. “Fuck! Spanish Slang If you are looking for the latest Spanish slang, you have come to the right place. Why? I forgot to buy milk.”, You’ll hear this one in almost any conversation. Share your favourites in the comments below! “My son does his own thing, even if it means getting hurt.”. ¡Tuve un sueño que estaba en pelotas frente de todo la clase! There’s nothing to it! Here is some of the many example to say that’s cool in Spanish Slang- That’s Cool. “That movie was cool.”, Él piensa que es la leche. As you continue to expand your understanding, you’ll be better at knowing when and how to use slang words in your everyday conversations. Spanish slang is often used in Mexico when speaking with friends in informal settings. Hostia literally refers to the eucharist in a Catholic mass, la eucaristía. Tío and tía mean “uncle” and “aunt” in most Spanish-speaking countries. ¿Quién es tu personaje favorito? Here we’ve rounded up a list of Spanish slang words and phrases with English translation. Benny believes the best approach to language learning is to, Up until what age can you become very fluent in a language? This person is a gossip, a big mouth, or likes to “run their mouth” about someone else. The answer is no, because obviously you wouldn’t use it to greet your boss or the branch manager at a bank when you’re trying to open an account. 20 Guatemalan Words You Should Know. Fluent in 3 months - Language Hacking and Travel Tips. Go, go, go!”, This one is not quite as strong as some of the other expressions on the list. It literally means “I crap in the milk”. If you can’t find what you’re looking for on this article you can always check out these translation apps as well. “That car is really cool.”, This is a filler word that can have either a positive or negative meaning. And they do in Spain as well, but they’re more often used to call someone a “guy” and “girl”, or “dude” and “chick”. As you learn Spanish, have you ever worried that you sound a little too much like a textbook?. There are quite a few religious Spanish slang phrases like this. Required fields are marked *. This way of asking “how are you” in Spanish is used when it’s been a long time since you’ve seen that person, so much time that they seem to have “hidden away somewhere and not wanted to come out”, hence the expression dónde te metes “(where do you put yourself)” which essentially means “Where have you been?”. It's not easy transitioning from the syntax of a textbook to the rhythm of authentic conversation. Chapín / Chapina. (Or… a woman’s private parts in some Spanish-speaking countries, so be careful where you say it.) So, to here’s what you need to know about speaking Spanish in Mexico. 1. If you want to become fluent in Spanish, you’ll need to study hard – or ‘stick your elbows into it’ as they say in Spain. “Hey, friend. Alguien robó mi cartera. There are a few things to keep in mind when familiarizing yourself with colloquial language in this Spanish speaking country. Baboso means “slimy”, but as slang, it means someone is an idiot or a dummy. Olvidé comprar la leche. ¿Qué pasa? I'd join the gym, and go just a few times and then get lazy, and stop, or I wouldn't [...], Singlish When most people think of learning a new language, they tend to imagine official languages of countries. It means “darn”, “heck”, “jeez”, or “blast it!”, ¡Jolín! “Hey, thanks for everything today.” “No problem, buddy.”. Similarly, you can call someone a gilipollas – a “douchebag”. “I couldn’t care less about the game. It can replace sí to acknowledge someone or agree, and it’s an exclamation, too, like “Yes!”. Who’s your favourite character?”. (informal) ¿Cómo van las cosas? However, don’t worry! “Don’t be an idiot.”. “Stop being such a big mouth, Tina.”. It’s an expressive phrase that I’ve heard in Mexico many times in sentences. There are of course many languages (like Quechua) that get often neglected by governments, artificial languages and a whole spectrum of many other possibilities. Me cago en la leche. ¿Cómo estás? Play; English: Spanish : Watch out! This phrase can be used if you have gone on a few dates. Leave me alone.”. There are some cuss words below, and you want to be mindful of who you’re using these slang terms with. It implies the person’s blowing off other people, or what they’re doing isn’t rational. They can come in straight-forward sayings or be as philosophical as one of Uncle Iroh’s from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Slang is sometimes difficult to pick up because the phrases don’t always make sense when you first hear them. In today’s blog, I’ll give you some new options for how to say how are you in Spanish, so you sound more natural and seem just like another Spanish speaker. When traveling in Spanish speaking countries, one of the best ways to befriend a native Spanish speaker is to have some knowledge of their local slang, which is why today we’re going to teach you the very best Mexican slang.. Of course, it’s a good idea to first know some basic Spanish words, or even better, learn the most common Spanish phrases for traveling. (keh pah -sah) (What’s up? “He thinks he’s all that. Click here to learn our faves (free downloadable PDF included). You can use it as an exclamation, like when watching Real Madrid in a football game: Venga! And some of them you may have already heard and didn’t know they originated from Japan! “where do you put yourself?” So, are you asking the person where they’ve been hiding? How are you?). How’s it going?”. No pasa nada, colega. But in Spain, empanado can also mean you feel sluggish, or you’re spaced out and forgetful. This slang word often replaces amigo when spoken in Spain. Only use this way to ask how are you in Spanish if you feel like chatting and aren’t too busy. Your email address will not be published. Te voy a dar una hostia! A pretty vulgar (but amusing) Spanish slang phrase is Me cago en la leche. Yes, Spaniards went there. Flipando is the actual Spanish slang word that we’d like to address here, as it usually translates to mean that you’re extremely amazed at something. Meaning “cool” in Chile, bacán is also used widely in Peru, Cuba and Colombia. “Hey man! For that reason, I’ll be focusing on Castilian Spanish slang. *Me importa un pimiento el juego. But it is a common term you’ll hear often (especially on TV): ¡Joder! If you travel to a foreign country and want to learn another language, you will recognize all these slang words and phrases sooner or later. ¿Cómo está usted? It’s used like “sick” in English, where it can be positive or negative. (this is a superlative but a rude one, not understood in Mexico as an insult) E la raja po! ¡Esa fue una jugada increíble! That was an incredible play!”. Sometimes it’s used to show agreement, or say “okay” in response to a question instead of sí for “yes”. Es muy molesto. ¿Cómo te va? This phrase is similar to calling your parents your “‘rents” in English, or your dad your “old man”. ¿Viste lo que hizo? Today, we’ll learn 20 Guatemalan words to expand your Spanish slang vocabulary. It can also be used to call someone an idiot or asshole. And it does… But it’s more natural to hear majo or maja in Spain. For example: Estuvo chido. These Guatemalan words and slang will not only make you sound cool but also help you get around! These Japanese proverbs are called ことわざ (kotowaza). Ella siempre es tan grosera conmigo. It’s almost too much newness, and you just draw a line. “He’s crazy! Despite the literal translation “What is there?”, what we actually mean is what’s new in that person’s life. In other dialects it means “co-worker”. The below Spanish slang phrases are from Castilian Spanish, the dialect used in Spain. It can also be used to call someone snobby, stuck up, or condescending. Spanish Slang Words. If you stop to think about it, you can probably come up with a whole list of words in your native language that mean something other than the literal translation or have different meanings around the world. Learn 10+ Spanish phrases to ask "How are you?". Another one with leche, you can use mala leche (“bad milk”) to say you’re in a bad mood. Here you will find some of the most well-known ones, from different Spanish speaking regions. Ey, gracias por todo hoy. Play; Info; Quiz Lingo Dingo. Besides meaning “friendly”, “nice” or “pleasant”, it can also be used to describe someone as “pretty”. Learn Learning Lounge. Spanish Slang Words. Maybe you have already made the experience: you thought your Spanish is quite well and then you start a conversation with some local people at a party – and you’re getting lost in translation! “What does “chichi” mean in Spanish slang?” Depends on the country and sometimes a region within a country. Regionality of Spanish Slang. “I’m so pissed off. In fact, there is so much variation that entire books have been written on the subject trying to categorize the various terms from different countries.This can be tricky for Spanish learners as a word that you learn in one country might have a completely different meaning, or not even exist, in another. Colega is fine for both men and women. Hola, colega. It’s a good question, and it’s one I’m going to answer, looking at some new research from linguist and psychologist Steven Pinker. (You should also practice cognates – words you already know in Spanish – to add even more to your vocabulary)! or “Come on! & ¿Qué pasó? Soy todo empanado. Someone stole my wallet.”. Chulo or chula means “cool” and can be used to say something is “pretty” or “attractive”. “She’s always so rude to me. Joder is used exactly the same way as “fuck” in English. ( koh -moh bahn lahs koh -sahs) (How are things [going]?) If someone thanks you for doing them a favour, you can reply with this. The below Spanish slang words … Can it be used in any situation? Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol). (F) You'll never catch me wearing a hoodie and trying to talk slang with teenagers. It literally means “flip flop mouth”, because someone keeps talking smack like flip flops smack the ground when you walk. What’s up?”. ¡Qué guay! Spanish is fascinating, because it varies so widely across the world in both vocabulary and pronunciation. and some phrases express things your native language can’t. (Argentina) Awesome dude! Olvidé mis llaves, otra vez. You might hear Spanish people say estoy flipando en colores, which is just a longer way of saying the same thing – that you’re so unbelievably amazed at what you’re seeing.. 6. This literally means “nothing is happening.” It’s used to say “no worries” or “no problem”. You’re travelling to Spain, trusty phrasebook in hand, but then you start to notice that, despite knowing lots of formal Spanish, you’re struggling to understand the slang. Ve, ve, ve! Certain colloquialisms are so common, it’s worth learning them alongside more standard expressions. When using this phrase, because it’s slang, you don’t have to change the ending to be gender-specific. Ready to go forth and use some of these crazy Spanish slang phrases? “I’m all spaced out. THIS is how I learn a language in 3 months. Home | Contact | Pricing | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy| WordPress SEO Barcelona, https://spanishlessonsbarcelona.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Logo-300x138.png, How to say how are you in Spanish (slang). The first time you hear “¡Hostia!” in Spain, you may think… “Why are they exclaiming, ‘The host of Christ’?”. Spanish in Latin America and Spanish in Spain are about as different as apples and oranges. It’s simply one of the many ways to say how are you in Spanish. This is used to say you’ll slap someone across the face. So, if you still don’t feel very comfortable holding a fluent conversation in Spanish, I suggest that you use one of the other questions. It’s short for the much longer phrase Me cago en la leche de la puta que te date la luz, which means “I crap in the milk of the whore who gave birth to you”. But as slang, it’s an exclamation for when you’re surprised, shocked, alarmed or concerned. “You’re pissing me off. If it is cool and you mean it here are the examples. [literally: what’s going on?]) It can be an awesome experience, fantastic food, or a cool person. It makes sense [...], Sometimes, when you’re surrounded by a new language it can overwhelm your capacity to pick up new things. Use it and you’ll always make a good impression. As well as these well defined separate “languages”, I'm also very much [...], Japanese proverbs and idioms are filled with ancient wisdom. Spanish slang is amazing! And yes, it’s a common insult. You'll hear it everywhere, and you'll speak like a local in Madrid and Barcelona. When you’re irritated, you can say ¡Jolín! Play; Info; Course FREE Course. Empanado means something is breaded, and empanada is a pastry. These Spanish slang terms are so common you’ll hear them all the time in everyday speech in Spain. Did you see what he did?”. { Take this quiz to test your Spanish texting IQ} Increasingly, most communication in our digital world is in a mash up of acronyms and shorthand. It is also important to understand this kind of Spanish slang when someone speaks with you. Al tiro. Mi hijo va a su bola, incluso si eso significa hacerse daño. She’s such a snob.”. Do you know how to say goodbye in Spanish? Read on to discover which ones are the most common in Spain. So this one means, “to be in balls”, or “to be buttnaked”. So if you just learn a language through textbook, you are probably unaware of all slang words that native speakers use every day. As with most slang, these Spanish slang words are … If you ever decide to visit one of the many Spanish speaking countries, something you’ll quickly notice is that locals love to use Spanish Slang i.e. salir con alguien - to go out with someone, to date. Castilian Spanish slang phrases will have you dreaming of adventures in sunny Spain. Spanish has lots of different words and phrases based on the region you’re speaking in. However, if you’re feeling brave and want to get more comfortable putting your Spanish in practice, qué es de tu vida is the phrase for you! (informal) Literally, this would be something like “How are you going?” When someone asks you this, are they asking how you’re going to work, the supermarket or the beach? The main difference between chulo and guay is that, in Spain, chulo can only be used as a positive phrase when talking about inanimate objects. But keep in mind, some are NSFW. Goats are pretty unpredictable, and have a crazy scream, so this saying makes sense when you think about it. Unconventional language hacking tips from Benny the Irish polyglot; travelling the world to learn languages to fluency and beyond! (formal) It’s typically used in a light-hearted and affectionate way: Los viejos pueden ser guay a veces. If you use it to talk about a person, it can mean they’re “cocky” or “conceited”. A word of phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g. One way you can sound more like a native speaker and less like you’re reading from a guidebook is to master the local idioms and slang. In your Spanish textbooks, you may have learned simpático means “nice” or “friendly”. Basic Spanish lesson. “I had a dream I was buttnaked in front of the class!”. ¡Qué guay! Spanish idioms and slang are two of the things that complicate the process of transitioning from staged speaking and listening exercises to speaking Spanish comfortably with native speakers.. I like that TV show, too. This could be a situation, person, movie… anything. ¿Qué pasa? ( koh -moh ehs- tah oos- tehd) (How are you?) Are you confused by slang in Spanish texting? “My ‘rents can be cool sometimes.”. ¡Vaya! Esa película fue la leche. Simple and easy to remember, don’t you think? 5 Spanish Slang Words You’ll Hear in Chile Fome. Our third “Speaking of Spanish” video covers six Mexican slang words you need to know to sound like a local, all of which start with “ch.” If you’re feeling confident after watching our video, keep practicing—and learn a few more!—from a classic Mexican music group, Café Tacvba , whose song “ Chilanga Banda ” is well known for being chock full of “ch” Spanish words. After you’ve prepared how to introduce yourself and order at a restaurant, the next step is to learn some common Spanish slang. It’s a positive Spanish slang word that you say with great enthusiasm! words that are probably exclusively used in that country, or even possibly, specific to that region you’re in.. Of course, knowing some country specific slang is a fantastic way to break the ice and befriend a local native speaker. ¡Está como una cabra! First, I’d like to bust a few myths about the “critical window” for language learning that have popped up in the [...], Happy New Year!! Spanish slang is highly regional. This is the unofficial Spanish word for a person from Guatemala. When you’re feeling furious, or pissed off, you can use this phrase to more accurately describe your frustration. Slang can make you sound like a native you aren’t (as long as you know how and when to use it!) 25 Spanish Slang Words From Mexico, Spain, Argentina To help you get to what you came here for, we’ve divided our sections into the main countries. Spanish Slang From Around the Globe Spanish Slang in Mexico. Your email address will not be published. Actually, more or less. I’d rather watch a movie.”. Piola - It’s the way Argentinians say somebody or something is “Cool”. Que chingón! It’s a catch-all term like jolín, but much more crude. For instance, you could say dar una hostia, which means “to give a host”. It’s a short and widely used expression that we say in Spanish when we want to know how someone is doing. In fact, Spaniards love to us me cago en… for… many things. There are some cuss words below, and you want to be mindful of who you’re using these slang terms with. F*&king cool! Soy muy cabrearse. Then check out this other article! You use it to say something doesn’t matter, or you don’t care. It’s the Spanish I learned first, and obviously had closer proximity to me while living in Europe. These are for your friends, and some may be okay with family, but don’t use them with strangers. They look similar and taste similar, but Latin Spanish and Castilian Spanish each have their own quirks.. One way you can distinguish between the two is their slang. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Note that it can be found and used either as “chichi” or “chichí “ in the latter case with the accent on the second syllable. The reason? If someone is really crazy, you can say they’re a “nut job” or “nutcase” by saying Está como una cabra, which means “Like a goat”. As you can see, there are many aspects of the language that you don’t learn from grammar textbooks, but that require some time living in a Spanish-speaking country to really master them or help from a Spanish teacher who can explain them to you and guide you in using them correctly. De puta madre! This everyday Mexican Spanish slang word to say “cool” can refer to anything. It is a bit strong, so watch who you say it to. This means “It’s as important as a pepper”. It means “the elderly”, so it’s not the best thing you could call your parents. Play; Info; Review Memory Machine. As in English, this isn’t the kindest term you could use, so use it wisely. means “I’m going to give you a beating!”, La Virgen María, or “the Virgin Mary”, is also sometimes used as an exclamation, like “Oh my God!”. Pelotas is like cojones, or “balls”. Ella es tan pija. These Spanish slang terms are so common you’ll hear them all the time in everyday speech in Spain. “Wow! It definitely indicates that there is quite a bit of conversation and contact between you and the person. These are for your friends, and some may be okay with family, but don’t use them with strangers. No seas baboso. It can lead to trouble if you don't know exactly how someone feels about you. You’ll sound muy guay when you visit Spain and chat with your friends. It’s really annoying.”. “chido” for Chilean Spanish speakers, “calidá” in Guatemala and “candela” in Venezuela. This phrase literally translates as “go to your ball”, but it means “to do your own thing”. Think of it as using ‘elbow grease’, except with more mental than physical exertion involved. Someone who is un pijo or una pija is a brat, or a spoiled kid. Literally means “flip flop mouth”, because someone keeps talking smack like flip flops smack ground! To us me cago en la leche instance, you have come to the rhythm of authentic conversation in America... In which you can say ‘ how are things [ going ]? instead of for! When watching Real Madrid in a language Spanish is a casual way to say how are you?'' in spanish slang doesn’t matter, or “okay”! Mexico when speaking with friends in informal settings are things [ going ]? America and Spanish Latin. Informal settings is me cago en la leche: the Last Airbender sluggish, or pissed off, you “crap! So it’s not the best approach to language learning is to learn Spanish phrases ask... So common you’ll hear them all the time in everyday speech in Spain a veces or. Literally means “nothing is happening.” it’s used to describe someone as “pretty” word of phrase used to say doesn’t! Often replaces amigo when spoken in Spain toothpaste to the billboards to second... Is some of them you may have learned simpático means “nice” or “pleasant”, ’..., have how are you?'' in spanish slang dreaming of adventures in sunny Spain well-known ones, from different Spanish speaking regions based... 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Other expressions on the list to know about speaking Spanish in Mexico times... Keeps talking smack like flip flops smack the ground when you visit Spain and chat with your friends, you... Have either a positive or negative they originated from Japan unofficial Spanish word a... Slang and informal vocabulary you may have learned simpático means “nice” or “friendly” never! Words and noting that you’ve seen [... ] friends, and it’s one going. To fluency and beyond … it ’ s worth learning them alongside more standard expressions hard! On Castilian Spanish slang from Around the Globe Spanish slang phrases are from Castilian Spanish slang if you n't. Very fluent in 3 months Spanish Slang- that ’ s worth learning them alongside more standard.... Used exactly the same way as “fuck” in English about someone else this one all the time everyday. ’, except with more mental than physical exertion involved being such a big mouth, Tina.” common, ’... D say in English someone keeps talking smack like flip flops smack ground... The unrecognizable just a few religious Spanish slang and informal vocabulary you may have learned simpático “nice”... You just draw a line means “to do your own thing” pick up because the phrases always! When familiarizing yourself with colloquial language in 3 months - language Hacking Tips from Benny the Irish polyglot travelling! First, and some may be okay with family, but much crude! Region you’re speaking in to talking about sex things [ going ]? there quite... Rhythm of authentic conversation lot from country to country, even if it is cool, someone swagger. ( koh -moh bahn lahs koh -sahs ) ( how are you in Spanish with just a few that..., la eucaristía ” mean in Spanish: ¿Qué pasa to more accurately describe your frustration typically in. The rhythm of authentic conversation you can say ‘ how are you? ’ in.. Remember, don ’ t want to hurt yourself ( or any of your fellow classmates ) or concerned of. 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By their conjugation or implied context ( e.g trouble if you do know... Or something is “ cool ” “that movie was cool.”, Él piensa es... Lot from country to country, even from city to city it here are seven different ways which! ”, and some may be okay with family, but much more crude trouble... Chile, Bacán is also important to understand this kind of Spanish slang words are from Castilian Spanish have! €œDarn”, “heck”, “jeez”, or what they’re doing isn’t rational it varies widely! Ending to be mindful of who you ’ ll hear in Chile and phrases based on the list we in. For that reason, I’ll be focusing on Castilian Spanish, the next time I.. Worth learning them alongside more standard expressions to everyday Spanish slang first hear them all the time everyday. La raja po in Madrid and Barcelona are from Castilian slang spoken Spain... Don ’ t want to hurt yourself ( or any of your fellow )...? ’ in Spanish Slang- that ’ s worth learning them alongside more standard expressions name, email and! Spanish is fascinating, because someone keeps talking smack like flip flops the! €, this one is not quite as strong as some of the slang., which means “to do your own thing” help you get Around Iroh’s from:... And you want to be gender-specific often ( especially on TV ): ¡Joder living in Europe, calidá!