10 Mexican Spanish Slang Expressions to Sound Like a Local - Justlearn (2023)

FAQs

10 Mexican Spanish Slang Expressions to Sound Like a Local - Justlearn? ›

You'll hear common phrases such as “que padre!” (“How cool!”) or 'más padre' ('very cool'). Just like “chido”, it can be used when talking about people, things or situations.

You'll hear common phrases such as “que padre!” (“How cool!”) or 'más padre' ('very cool'). Just like “chido”, it can be used when talking about people, things or situations.

Güey (also spelled “wey”)

Güey translates roughly to “dude” or “man” in Mexico.

The common verbal greeting is “Buenos dias” (Good day), “Buenas tardes” (Good afternoon) or “Buenas noches” (Good evening/night) depending on the time of day. A more casual greeting is “Hola” (Hello), “¿Qué tal?” (What's up?) or “¿Cómo estás?” (How are you?).

hot girl {noun}

ricura {f} [LAm.]

¡A huevo!

While the word 'huevo' in Spanish means 'egg', the phrase '¡A huevo! ' has nothing to do with food. It actually means 'hell yeah!

Cuate, Compa, Cabrón & Carnal

Cuate is slang for 'friend', as is compa, carnal and cabrón. They tend to be used to varying degrees depending which part of Mexico you're in, and cabrón can also be used as an insult at times.

noun, plural chu·los [choo-laws; English choo-lohz]. Spanish. a dandified or effeminate man. pimp.

Niño or niña, muchacho or muchacha, and chico or chica are the most common words used in Spanish to refer to children.

What is a Chingana? ›

feminine noun. Andes, Southern Cone) dive (informal) ⧫ tavern.

Chupar (literally to lick or to suck) and pistear are both slang for “to drink.” El chupe and el pisto are the nouns, so they refer to “the drinks.” Chupar and chupe are used in the center and south of Mexico, while pistear and pisto are more common in the north.

Its origin is in Peninsular Spain, as a derogatory synonym of "French". In Spain the term keeps the initial meaning, and it is used as a pejorative reference to someone or something specifically French, with no application to any other nationality.

Instead of using muchacho or muchacha or niño or niña, try out the Mexican slang term for “boy” or “girl,” which is chango or changa.

Carnal. Literally means “brother,” but as with “bro” in English, it's used to refer to good friends, too. María, te presento a mi carnal. María, this is my bro.

The word güera is, in Chicano and Mexican-Spanish slang, a term for a white girl.

Mi amor and cariño are still the most common pet names used by Spanish couples. For the lovebirds who are on a high, mi cielo or just cielo is an endearing pet name to use.

How to Say Money in Spanish. If you want to say the word for “money” in Spanish, you would generally say “dinero” or “el dinero.” However, a fairly common slang term for money is “plata.” And you can easily find a few dozen other terms across the Spanish-speaking world.

Is Que Onda rude? ›

Que onda in Spanish is a way friends and family welcome each other in an informal situation. Remember, if you're using que onda as a greeting, it should be with someone you already know or in a casual scenario. Que onda is not acceptable in formal or elegant situations.

2. Vale. This is the informal version of “de acuerdo” (all right/ok), and it's extremely common Spanish slang. This is probably the first Spanish slang expression you'll hear repeatedly and you can use it in many situations.

The Spanish Verb for “to Flirt”: Coquetear

There are several verbs to say “to flirt” in Spanish, but the most common one is coquetear.

taimado {adj.}

Aburrido means boring, tedious, half-hearted and a drag.

Papi Chulo

This directly translates to “handsome daddy” but is used by partners to refer to their boyfriends as an attractive man. It is a way to call your boyfriend handsome and to let him know you find him very attractive.

But generally, calling someone papi chulo is in reference to their appearance and their confidence, either with a negative (Rico Suave) or positive connotation (a hunk). Attitudes toward the term papi chulo are mixed among Latinx Americans, given chulo's history as a derogatory, racialized term in American English.

Papi chulo ("cute daddy" in Caribbean Spanish) is a Spanish term of endearment for males.

Papá means “dad,” while padre means “father.” Papi translates to “daddy,” and can be used to address a father or romantic partner. Jefe, tata, apá, viejo, and papaíto are all common slang words for “dad.”

What is half Mexican slang? ›

Pocho (feminine: pocha) is slang in Spanish used in Mexico to refer to Mexican Americans and Mexican emigrants. It is often used pejoratively to describe a Mexican expatriate or a person of Mexican ancestry who lacks fluency or the ability to speak in Spanish and knowledge of Mexican culture.

Throughout Latin America and in many Latinx communities in the United States, the word chingona has always had negative connotations attached to it. The word has historically been used to describe women who are “too aggressive,” while the masculine version of the word “chingon” is used as a way to compliment men.

to bless, to consecrate; to praise, to extol. vocabulary!

Moctezuma's revenge is a colloquial term for travelers' diarrhea contracted in Mexico.

Chingar is probably the most frequently used verb in Mexican slang with many different meanings and a long history of usage. Chingar is derived from cingarár—”to fight” in Caló, the language of Spanish Gypsies that had a deep influence on Mexican-American slang.

n. fart, stink; adj. drunk. peda.

Hermoso has a similar relationship with hermosura, which means “beauty”. You can also say una hermosura to mean “a beautiful woman”.

Claim your inner "chingona", a Spanish term for "badass woman"

Terms Of Endearment In The Spanish Language

The following Spanish love words are essential for your better half, a very dear and close friend, or a family member. Cariño (Darling) Bebé (Baby) Mi Amor (My love) Mi vida (My life)

What is Mexican slang for sister? ›

Sister = Hermana

Mjja is a colloquial contraction of the Spanish words mi (“my”) and hija (“daughter”). The male counterpart to this is “mijo”.

Güey, pronounced “whey,” is Mexican slang for “dumbass” or “idiot,” although it is can also be used more as a slang term for “man” or “dude.”

A woman who's the companion or conspirator to a gangster can be called a moll. One of the most famous molls was Bonnie Parker, of the criminal duo Bonnie and Clyde.

12 is a slang term for police or any law enforcement officials of uncertain origin.

clink (slang) glasshouse (military, informal) gaol. penitentiary (US) slammer (slang)

The Grito de Dolores ("Cry of/from Dolores") was the battle cry of the Mexican War of Independence, uttered on September 16, 1810, by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Roman Catholic priest from the small town of Dolores, near Guanajuato, Mexico.

1. Agua que no has de beber, déjala correr – Anonymous. Literal translation: Water that you must not drink, let it run. This Mexican proverb warns us not to get involved in something that we won't be able to face later.

• Güey. This is the most ubiquitous word in everyday Mexican conversation. If you're going to learn just one piece of Mexican Spanish slang, let güey be the one. Most closely translated to 'mate', you'll mainly see it written as wey (which is incidentally how it's pronounced) rather than güey.

The official language of Mexico is Spanish, which is spoken by 90 percent of the people. Indian languages of the Aztecs, Mayans, and other tribes are still spoken throughout the country. Originally there may have been more than 200 roots of native languages.

The grito is sometimes used as part of the official remembrance of the Shout of Dolores, during the celebration of Mexican Independence Day. The grito mexicano has patriotic connotations.

What was Mexico's first language? ›

The most widely spoken indigenous language of Mexico is Nahuatl. This language stems from the Uto-Aztecan language family, which researchers believe originated in the southwestern region of the United States. Speakers of the language migrated to Central Mexico around 500 AD.

Grito de Dolores, (English: “Cry of Dolores”) battle cry of the Mexican War of Independence from Spain, first uttered by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, parish priest of Dolores (now Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato state), on September 16, 1810.

Chido (Nice, cool)

This word is simply a fun way to say “nice” or “cool” in Mexican Spanish.

Estoy feliz — I'm happy

Although contento and feliz have similar meanings, feliz implies more enthusiastic or joyful happiness and is less commonly used.

¡Venga ya! (or sometimes simply ¡Venga!) is a way of expressing surprise or disbelief. Just like “no way,” “come on!” or “come off it!” in English, it's used when you are shocked.

How do you say "bitch" in Spanish? - It could be "perra", "cabrona", or "zorra."¿Cómo se dice "bitch" en español? - Podría ser "perra", "cabrona" o "zorra".

Pocho (feminine: pocha) is slang in Spanish used in Mexico to refer to Mexican Americans and Mexican emigrants. It is often used pejoratively to describe a Mexican expatriate or a person of Mexican ancestry who lacks fluency or the ability to speak in Spanish and knowledge of Mexican culture.

Some of the most widely spoken languages in Mexico, aside from Spanish, are Nahuatl, which has more than 1.7 million speakers, Maya, spoken by around 850,000 people, and Mixtec, with more than half a million speakers.