Learning common Spanish slang words and phrases is crucial if you want to speak Spanish like a native. Book smarts will only get you so far - to truly sound como una cabra (like a native), you need to pick up on the slang.
That's where our guide to the 40 most common Spanish slang terms from Spain and Latin America comes in. From Mexican slang gems like "chamba" to popular Spanish slang words used across the Spanish-speaking world, you'll learn slang vocabulary that will take your Spanish language skills to the next level.
Imagine dropping a casual "venga" (let's go) when your friends are talking longer when expected. Or calling your bestie "mi amor" without it sounding weird. With these slang words, you'll go from sounding like a textbook to hablando como un nativo (speaking like a local) in no time.
Ready to add some seria onda (serious coolness) to your Spanish conversations? This guide to 40 essential slang words and expressions from Latin America and Spain has you covered. ¡Vámonos!
20 common Spanish slang words from Spain
Focusing on slang used by Spanish speakers in Spain, here are 20 common and popular Spanish words used by the locals along with their English equivalents and example sentences.
Guay - Cool
Something that is good, interesting, or attractive
Example: Esa película es muy guay. (That movie is really cool.)
Tío/Tía - Guy/Girl
Used to refer to a man or woman, similar to 'dude' or 'girl' in English
Example: Tío, ¿qué tal?" (Dude, how's it going?)
Vale - Okay
Used to express agreement or acknowledgment
Example:Vale, nos vemos a las ocho. (Okay, see you at eight.)
Venga - Come on/Let's go/Okay
Used to encourage someone, express agreement, or to hurry someone up
Example:Venga, que llegamos tarde! (Come on, we're going to be late!)
Chaval - Kid/Youngster
Refers to a young person, often a teenager
Example: Ese chaval es muy rápido corriendo. (That kid is really fast at running.)
Currar - To work
Slang for working, often used informally
Example: Tengo que currar hasta tarde hoy. (I have to work late today.)
Pasta - Money
Used informally to refer to money
Example: No puedo ir, no tengo pasta. (I can't go, I don't have money.)
Cotilla - Gossip
Someone who loves gossiping, or the act of gossiping
Example: No seas cotilla y déjame en paz. (Don't be a gossip and leave me alone.)
Marcha - Party/Nightlife
Refers to partying or nightlife
En esta ciudad siempre hay marcha. (In this city, there's always nightlife.)
Chungo - Bad/Tough
Something that is difficult, bad quality, or in bad condition
Example: Ese barrio es un poco chungo. (That neighborhood is a bit rough.)
Pijo - Preppy/Snobbish
Refers to someone who is posh, preppy, or snobbish
Example: Esa tienda es para pijos. (That store is for preppy people.)
Caña - Beer
A glass of beer, especially a small one
Example: Vamos a tomar una caña. (Let's have a beer.)
Flipar - To be amazed
To be shocked or amazed by something.
Example: Vas a flipar con la sorpresa. (You're going to be amazed by the surprise.)
Fiesta - Party
Though it's a standard word, it's used extensively in slang for parties
Example: Esta noche hay fiesta en mi casa. (There's a party at my house tonight.)
Cutre - Tacky/Cheesy
Something of poor quality, tacky, or uncool
Ese papel pintado es muy cutre. (That wallpaper is really tacky.)
Sobremesa - After-dinner conversation
The time spent talking around the table after eating, a cherished cultural practice
Example: Me encantan las sobremesas con amigos. (I love after-dinner conversations with friends.)
Chiringuito - Beach bar
A small, often open-air bar or café, typically found on beaches in Spain
Example: Vamos a tomar algo en el chiringuito de la playa. (Let's have something at the beach bar.)
Botellón - Outdoor drinking gathering
A large gathering of people drinking in public places
Example: Este viernes hay un botellón en el parque. (There's an outdoor drinking gathering in the park this Friday.)
Ligar - To flirt/To hook up
To flirt or to have a romantic encounter
Example: Anoche ligué en la fiesta. (I hooked up at the party last night.)
20 Spanish slang terms used in Latin America
Here are 20 common slang terms from different Spanish speaking countries in Latin America. Use these if you want to sound like a local in one of the 20 countries where Spanish is the official language - from Venezuela to Colombia and beyond.
Chévere - Cool/Awesome
Used in countries like Venezuela and Colombia to describe something or someone cool or awesome
Example: Esa fiesta estuvo chévere. (That party was awesome.)
Mae - Dude/Guy
Common in Costa Rica, used to refer to a friend or person in an informal way
Popular in Mexico, used to describe something that's cool or awesome
Example: Ese coche está bien chido. (That car is really cool.)
Bacán/Bacano - Cool/Awesome
Used in Colombia and other parts of South America to describe something cool
Example: Ese plan suena bacano. (That plan sounds cool.)
Pibe - Kid/Boy
Commonly used in Argentina and Uruguay to refer to a young boy or a young man
Example: Ese pibe juega al fútbol muy bien. (That kid plays soccer really well.)
Pana - Friend/Buddy
Used in Venezuela and Ecuador to refer to a friend or mate
Example: Mi pana y yo vamos al cine. (My buddy and I are going to the movies.)
Parcero - Friend
In Colombia, it's a way to call someone your friend
Example: ¿Qué más, parcero?" (What's up, friend?)
Chamba - Job/Work
Used in Peru and Mexico, referring to work or a job
Example: Estoy buscando chamba. (I'm looking for a job.)
Cuate - Friend
In Mexico, it's another way to refer to a friend
Example: Mis cuates vienen a casa. (My friends are coming over.)
Joda - Party/Fun
Common in Argentina and other parts of South America, used to refer to a party or a good time
Example: La joda de anoche estuvo increíble. (Last night's party was incredible.)
Guagua - Bus
In countries like Chile and Ecuador, this word is used for bus, distinct from the standard 'autobús'.
Example: Tomamos la guagua para llegar aquí. (We took the bus to get here.)
Ñaño/Ñaña - Brother/Sister
Used in Ecuador to refer to siblings or very close friends.
Example: Mi ñaño y yo vamos al parque. (My brother and I are going to the park.)
Güey - Dude
Widely used in Mexico to refer to a person, similar to 'dude' in English
Example: ¿Qué onda, güey? (What's up, dude?)
Boludo - Fool/Dude
In Argentina, it can mean fool or be used among friends similarly to 'dude'
Example: ¡Che, boludo! Vení para acá. (Hey, dude! Come here.)
Cancha - Skill/Expertise
In Bolivia and other parts of South America, it refers to someone's skill or expertise in a certain area
Example: Ese jugador tiene mucha cancha. (That player has a lot of skill.)
Al tiro - Right away/Immediately
Common in Chile and Ecuador, used to express doing something immediately
Example: Lo hago al tiro. (I'll do it right away.)
Mande - What?/Pardon?
In Mexico, a polite way to ask someone to repeat themselves or to say 'yes?'
Example: ¿Mande? No escuché lo que dijiste. (What? I didn't hear what you said.)
Cachai - You know?/Do you understand?
Used in Chile, often at the end of sentences to ensure the listener understands
Example: Es fácil, cachai? (It's easy, you know?)
Chamba - Luck
In some Central American countries, it's used to talk about luck or chance
Example: Tuve chamba y gané el juego. (I had luck and won the game.)
Tuanis - Cool/Nice
A term from Costa Rica meaning something is cool or nice
Example: Ese lugar es tuanis. (That place is cool.)
Guide to Spanish slang phrases: final thoughts
And there you have it - the top 40 most common Spanish slang words and phrases from Spain and Latin America.
Of course, this list only scratches the surface. The Spanish-speaking world, spanning numerous countries across the globe, is absolutely brimming with creative slang. The beautiful thing about slang is that new words and expressions are constantly emerging to perfectly capture the current vibe and culture.
As you continue learning and expanding your Spanish vocabulary, keep an ear out for fresh slang. Ask native speakers about cool new slang terms you hear. Look up any unfamiliar words or phrases. Before you know it, you'll be the one schooling others on the latest and greatest Spanish slang expressions.
Most importantly, don't be afraid to use what you've learned! Make mistakes, get clumsy - that's all part of the process of truly understanding slang and speaking like a native. The more you use it, the more natural and fluent you'll become.
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.
Her background in journalism and brand messaging allows her to develop content that informs and engages language learners across diverse platforms and learning styles.
