In Colombia the linguistic landscape is marked by a diversity of colloquial slang and expressions. This linguistic richness is a reflection of the nation's complex history, blending indigenous roots with Spanish colonial influence and the rhythms of Afro - Caribbean heritage. From the urban bustle of Bogotá to the coastal vibes of Cartagena, Colombia's linguistic traditions are as dynamic as the geographical and cultural variations across its regions.
40 Colombian Slang Expressions to Speak Like a Local
1. Chévere
Meaning: Cool, great, fantastic.
Pronunciation: Che veh re
Example: ¡Esa fiesta estuvo chévere! (That party was cool!)
2. Parcero/Parcera
Meaning: Friend, buddy.
Pronunciation: Par ce ro/Par ce ra
Example: ¿Qué más, parcero? (What's up, buddy?)
3. Achicharrado
Meaning: Sunburned.
Pronunciation: A chi char ra do
Example: Después de la playa, quedé achicharrado. (After the beach, I got sunburned.)
4. Guayabo
Meaning: Hangover.
Pronunciation: Gua ya bo
Example: Tengo un guayabo terrible. (I have a terrible hangover.)
5. Chimba
Meaning: Awesome, amazing.(Could be taken as rude for some regions)
Pronunciation: Chim ba
Example: ¡Ese concierto estuvo chimba! (That concert was awesome!)
6. Jarto/Jartarse
Meaning: Fed up, tired.
Pronunciation: Jar to/Jar tar se
Example: Estoy jarto de estudiar. (I'm fed up with studying.)
7. Mono/Mona
Meaning: Blondie
Pronunciation: Mo no/Mo na
Example: ¡Qué mono ese perro! (That dog is so blond!)
8. Paila
Meaning: Unfortunate, bad luck.
Pronunciation: Pai la
Example: ¡Qué paila que se cancelara el evento! (It's unfortunate that the event got canceled.)
9. Bacano/Bacana
Meaning: Nice, cool.
Pronunciation: Ba ca no/Ba ca na
Example: Ese lugar es muy bacano. (That place is really cool.)
10. Farra
Meaning: Party, celebration.
Pronunciation: Far ra
Example: Vamos de farra este sábado. (Let's go partying this Saturday.)
11. Chismoso/Chismosa
Meaning: Gossiper.
Pronunciation: Chis mo so/Chis mo sa
Example: No seas tan chismoso, no es asunto tuyo. (Don't be so gossipy, it's none of your business.)
12. Pelado/Pelada
Meaning: Boyfriend/girlfriend.
Pronunciation: Pe la do/Pe la da
Example: Mi pelado me regaló flores. (My boyfriend gave me flowers.)
13. Guaro
Meaning: Cheap liquor, usually aguardiente.
Pronunciation: Gua ro
Example: Vamos a tomar un poco de guaro. (Let's have some cheap liquor.)
14. Despeluque
Meaning: Chaos or disorder.
Pronunciation: Des pe lu que
Example: Después de la fiesta, la casa estaba en despeluque. (After the party, the house was in chaos.)
15. Rumbear
Meaning: To party or go out to have a good time.
Pronunciation: Rum bear
Example: Este viernes vamos a rumbear. (This Friday, we're going out to party.)
16. Rayar
Meaning: To annoy, bother.
Pronunciation: Ra yar
Example: Deja de rayar con lo mismo. (Stop bothering with the same thing.)
17. Tinto
Meaning: Black coffee.
Pronunciation: Tin to
Example: Me tomo un tinto antes de salir. (I'll have a black coffee before leaving.)
18. Rebusque
Meaning: Odd job or temporary work.
Pronunciation: Re bus que
Example: Estoy buscando un rebusque para ganar algo de dinero. (I'm looking for odd jobs to earn some money.)
19. Gomelo/Gomela
Meaning: Snob, pretentious person.
Pronunciation: Go me lo/Go me la
Example: Ese tipo es muy gomelo, no quiere hablar con nadie. (That guy is so snobbish, he doesn't want to talk to anyone.)
20. Chino/China
Meaning: Kid.
Pronunciation: Chi no/Chi na
Example: Ese chino me hizo reir (That boy made me laugh)
21. Parche
Meaning: Group of friends or a gathering.
Pronunciation: Par che
Example: Nos encontramos todo el parche de la plaza. (We'll meet at the square.)
22. Sobrado/Sobrada
Meaning: Arrogant, conceited.
Pronunciation: So bra do/So bra da
Example: No seas tan sobrado, nadie te va a seguir el juego. (Don't be so conceited; nobody will play along.)
23. Aguanta
Meaning: Hold on, wait a moment.
Pronunciation: A guan ta
Example: Aguanta un segundo, ya vuelvo. (Hold on a second, I'll be right back.)
24. Desparchado/Desparchada
Meaning: Unemployed or without plans.
Pronunciation: Des par cha do/Des par cha da
Example: Estoy desparchado, no tengo nada que hacer. (I'm unemployed; I have nothing to do.)
25. Mamón/Mamona
Meaning: Someone seeking attention.
Pronunciation: Ma món/Ma mo na
Example: No seas mamón, no necesitas presumir. (Don't be a suck up; you don't need to show off.)
26. Pegarse la rodadita
Meaning: To take a short trip or stroll.
Pronunciation: Pe gar se la ro da di ta
Example: Vamos a pegarnos la rodadita al centro. (Let's take a short trip to the downtown.)
27. Pilas
Meaning: Be careful, pay attention.
Pronunciation: Pi las
Example: Pilas con lo que dices, podría malinterpretarse. (Be careful with what you say; it could be misinterpreted.)
28. Embarrar
Meaning: To mess up or make a mistake.
Pronunciation: Em ba rrar
Example: No quiero embarrarla en la presentación. (I don't want to mess up the presentation.)
29. Traga
Meaning: Someone who eats a lot or is always hungry.
Pronunciation: Tra ga
Example: Juan es un traga; siempre tiene hambre. (Juan is always hungry; he's a traga.)
30. Echar los perros
Meaning: To flirt or hit on someone.
Pronunciation: E char los per ros
Example: Estaba echándome los perros toda la noche. (He/she was flirting with me all night.)
31. Pilo/Pila
Meaning: Smart, clever.
Pronunciation: Pi lo/Pi la
Example: Ese niño es muy pilo, saca buenas notas. (That kid is very smart; he gets good grades.)
32. Chupar
Meaning: To drink alcohol, especially excessively. (Might be seen as rude in some regions).
Pronunciation: Chu par
Example: Vamos a chupar este fin de semana. (Let's drink this weekend.)
33. Echar rulo
Meaning: To chat or have a conversation.
Pronunciation: Che char
Example: Nos sentamos a echar rulor un rato. (Let's sit down and chat for a while.)
34. Chiqui / Chiquitín
Meaning: Child or kid.
Pronunciation: Güi la/Güi lo
Example: Los chiquis juegan en el parque. (The kids are playing in the park.)
35. Cachaco/Cachaca
Meaning: Person from Bogotá (capital city of Colombia).
Pronunciation: Ca cha co/Ca cha ca
Example: Los cachacos tienen un acento diferente. (People from Bogotá have a different accent.)
36. Berraquera
Meaning: Courage, determination.
Pronunciation: Ber ra que ra
Example: Necesitas mucha berraquera para enfrentar esa situación. (You need a lot of courage to face that situation.)
37. Vaina
Meaning: Thing, stuff, or situation.
Pronunciation: Vai na
Example: ¿Qué es esa vaina que tienes en la mano? (What's that thing you have in your hand?)
38. Atravesao
Meaning: Stubborn or difficult person.
Pronunciation: A tra ve sa o
Example: Mi hermano es muy atravesao, no le gusta seguir reglas. (My brother is very stubborn; he doesn't like to follow rules.)
39. Chiviado/Chiviada
Meaning: Annoyed or upset.
Pronunciation: Chi via do/Chi via da
Example: Estoy chiviado con esa situación. (I'm upset about that situation.)
40. Fresco/Fresca
Meaning: Relaxed, easy-going.
Pronunciation: Fres-co/Fres-ca
Example: No te preocupes, todo está fresco. (Don't worry, everything is relaxed.)
Colombian Slang: Conclusion
Now that you've learned Colombian slang terms, you are ready to sound like a local and enjoy the country's rich cultural diversity. You will be part of Colombian humor and will be able to share great experiences with local people in a country where magic realism is not just a story but is part of real life. Welcome to Colombia! Bienvenido a Colombia!
FAQ
Why does Colombia have so many slang words?
Colombia's diverse geography and cultural influences have led to a melting pot of languages and expressions. The abundance of slang expressions in Colombia is a testament to the country's historical, regional, and social intricacies, allowing for a colorful and dynamic linguistic landscape.
Do all Colombians use the same slang, or do they vary by region?
Slang terms in Colombia can vary significantly by region. Each area, whether it's Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, or the Caribbean coast, has its own unique expressions and colloquialisms. This regional diversity adds depth to the language and reflects the cultural richness found throughout the country.
Are slang terms used in formal situations, or are they reserved for casual conversations?
While formal situations typically call for more standard language, Colombians often incorporate slang into everyday conversations, even in semi-formal settings. However, it's essential to gauge the context and relationship dynamics, as some slang may be deemed inappropriate in more formal environments.
How do foreigners navigate Colombian slang when learning Spanish?
Learning Colombian slang can be a fun and enriching part of mastering Spanish. Language learners often benefit from immersing themselves in local culture, interacting with native speakers, and staying open to new expressions. Local language schools and language exchange programs can also provide valuable insights into colloquial language use.
Are there slang terms unique to certain age groups or demographics in Colombia?
Yes, certain slang may be more prevalent among specific age groups, social classes, or subcultures. Younger generations often contribute to the evolution of language with new expressions, while older individuals may use more traditional or region-specific terms.
Paula is an accomplished content strategist, communicator, and journalist with over 7 years of experience creating materials for language learners.
Having worked on language curriculums and learning platforms in Colombia, Spain, and Australia, Paula offers an international perspective on second language acquisition.
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