how do you spell essay mexican slang

How do you spell the Spanish slang - "essay" - meaning person?

used like, "what did you say essay?"

Hi and welcome to the forum.

It's " ese " and it means something like homeboy.

Ese is also like a thug. I wouldn't use it unless you knew the person really well.

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90+ Mexican Slang Words and Expressions (with Audio and Examples)

Looking to have a huge head start when you travel to Mexico?

You’ve gotta learn the slang.

In this post, I’m going to give you a brief introduction to the country’s unique version of Spanish—and by the time we’re done, you’ll be better prepared to navigate a slang-filled conversation with Mexicans!

The Most Common Mexican Slang Words and Expressions

1. ¡qué padre — cool, 2. me vale madre — i don’t care, 3. poca madre — really cool, 4. fresa — preppy.

• 5. ¡Aguas! — Watch out!

6. En el bote — In jail

7. estar crudo — to be hungover, 8. ¡a huevo — **** yeah, 9. chilango — someone from mexico city, 10. te crees muy muy — you think you’re something special, 11. ese — dude, 12. metiche — busybody, 13. pocho / pocha — a mexican who’s left mexico, 14. naco — tacky, 15. cholo — mexican gangster, 16. güey — dude, 17. carnal  — close friend, 18. ¿neta — really.

• 19. Eso que ni que — I agree

20. Ahorita — Right now

21. ni modo — whatever, 22. no hay tos — no problem, 23. sale — okay, sure, 24. coda / codo — someone who’s cheap, 25. tener feria — to have money/change, 26. buena onda — good vibes, 27. ¿qué onda — what’s up, 28. ¡viva méxico — long live mexico.

• 29. Pendejo — Jerk
• 30. Cabrón — Mean, not very smart, awesome
• 31. Pedo — Drunk, problem
• 32. Pinche — Ugly, cheap

33. Verga — Male genitalia

34. chingar — to f***, 35. ¡no manches / ¡no mames — no way, don’t mess with me, 36. está cañón — difficult, 37. chido — nice, cool, 38. chulo / chula — good-looking person, 39. ¿a poco — really, 40. ¡órale — right on, 41. chela — beer, 42. la tira — the cops, 43. ¿mande — what, 44. suave — cool, 45. gacho — mean, 46. ándale — hurry up, 47. chale — give me a break, 48. chamba / chambear — work, 49. bronca — problem, 50. paro — favor, 51. chido / chida — cool, 52. padre — awesome, 53. chingón — badass, 54. chamba — job, 55. vato — guy, 56. morro — kid, 57. jefa / jefe — mom/dad, 58. vieja / viejo — girlfriend, wife/boyfriend, husband, 59. carnalito — little brother, 60. chiquitín — little one, 61. chavito / chavita — young guy/young girl, 62. camión — bus, 63. chulear — to show off, 64. chingar — to bother, 65. estrenar — to wear or use something for the first time, 66. guacala — yuck, 67. huevón — lazy person, 68. jato — car, 69. mamacita — attractive woman, 70. pisto — money, 71. ¿que pex — what’s up, 72. rola — song, 73. ¿sapbe — what’s up , 74. valedor — friend, 75. vato loco — crazy guy, 76. wacha — look / watch, 77. ¡ya nos cargó el payaso — we’re in trouble, 78. cuate — buddy, 79. jeta — face, 80. madrazo — a strong hit, 81. nalga — buttocks, 82. ñero — dark-skinned person, 83. pacheco — drunk, 84. pirata — fake, 85. relajo — mess, 86. riata — belt, 87. sobres — okay, got it, 88. tapado — conceited, 89. troca — truck, 90. zarape — blanket or shawl, what you need to know about mexican spanish, resources for learning more mexican slang, quick guide to mexican slang, na’atik language and culture institute, why you should learn mexican slang, mexican slang quiz: test yourself, and one more thing….

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Mexican slang could be a language of its own. 

Just a word of warning: some terms on this list may be considered rude and should be used with caution.

This phrase’s literal translation, “How father!”, doesn’t make much sense at all, but it can be understood to mean “cool!” or “awesome!”  

¡Conseguí entradas para Daddy Yankee! (I got tickets for Daddy Yankee!)

¡ Qué padre , güey! (Awesome, dude!)

This phrase is used to say “I don’t care.”  It’s not quite a curse, but it can be considered offensive in more formal situations.

If used with the word que  (that), remember you need to use the subjunctive . 

Me vale madre lo que haga con su vida. (I don’t care what he does with his life).

Literally translated as “little mother,” this phrase is used to describe something really cool.

Once again, this phrase can be considered offensive (and is mostly used among groups of young men).

Esta canción está poca madre . (This song is really cool).

Literally a “strawberry,” a fresa is not something you want to be.

Somewhat similar to the word “preppy” in the United States , a fresa is a young person from a wealthy family who’s self-centered, superficial and materialistic.

Ella es una fresa. (She’s preppy/rich/stuck up).

5. ¡Aguas! —  Watch out!

This phrase is used throughout Mexico to mean “be careful!” or “look out!”

Literally meaning “waters,” it’s possible that this usage evolved from housewives throwing buckets of water to clean the sidewalks in front of their homes.

¡Aguas!  El piso está mojado. (Be careful! The floor’s wet).

The word  bote  means “can” (as in a can of soda).

However, when a Mexican says someone is  “en el bote,”  they mean someone is  “in the slammer,” “in jail.”

Adrián no puede venir, ¡está en el bote ! (Adrian can’t come, he’s in jail!)

Estar crudo  means “to be raw,” as in food that hasn’t been cooked.

However, if someone in Mexico tells you they’re crudo, it means they’re hungover because they’ve drunk too much alcohol. 

Estoy muy crudo hoy. (I’m really hungover today).

Huevos (eggs) are often used to denote a specific part of the male anatomy —you can probably guess which—and they’re also used in a wide variety of slang phrases.

¡A huevo! is a  vulgar way to show excitement or approval. Think “eff yeah!” without the self-censorship.

¡Ganamos el partido! (We won the game!)

¡A huevo! Me alegra. (**** yeah! I’m glad)

This slang term means something, usually a person, who comes from Mexico City.

Calling someone a chilango is saying that they’re representative of the culture of the city.

¿Eres chilango ? (Are you from Mexico City?)

This literally means “you think you’re very very” but the slang meaning is more of “you think you’re something special,”  or “you think you’re all that.”

Often, this is used to power down someone who’s boastful or thinks they’re better than anyone else.

Te crees muy muy desde que conseguiste ese trabajo. (You think you’re all that since you got that job).

Supposedly, in the 1960s members of a Mexican gang called the Sureños  (“Southerners”) used to call each other “ese” (after the first letter of the gang’s name). 

However, in the ’80s, the word ese  started to be used to refer to men in general, meaning something like “dude” or “dawg”.

It’s also possible  ese  originated from expressions like  ese vato (“that guy”), and from that, the word  ese started to be used to refer to a man.

“¿Qué pedo, ese ?” “What up, dawg?”

Metiche is a slang word for someone who loves to get the scoop on everyone’s everything. 

Some people would refer to this sort of person as a busybody!

¿De qué hablaste con tu amiga? (What did you talk about with your friend?)

Nada, ¡no seas tan metiche ! (Nothing, don’t be such a busybody!)

This Mexican slang term refers to a Mexican who’s left Mexico or someone who’s perhaps forgotten their Mexican roots or heritage.

It can be used as just an observatory expression, but also as a derogatory slang word used to point out that someone’s at fault for not remembering their heritage.

Mis primos pochos vienen a visitar este fin de semana. (My  pocho cousins are coming to visit this weekend).

Naco is a word used to describe  someone or something poorly educated and bad-mannered.

The closest American equivalent would be “tacky” or “ghetto.”

The word has its origins in insulting indigenous and poor people, so be careful with this word!

Me parece un poco naco . (It seems a bit tacky).

Although the word  cholo  can have several meanings, it often refers to Mexican gangsters, especially Mexican American teens and youngsters who are in a street gang.

Vi unos cholos en la esquina. (I saw some gang members on the corner).

This one is pronounced like the English word “way” and it’s one of the most quintessential Mexican slang words.

Originally used to mean “a stupid person,” the word eventually morphed into a term of endearment similar to the English “dude.”

¡Apúrate, güey ! (Hurry up, dude!)

Carnal  comes from Spanish  carne  (meat).

It’s perhaps for this reason that carnal  is used to describe a close friend who’s like a sibling to you, carne de tu carne  or flesh of your flesh. 

Allí está mi carnala Laura . (There’s my close friend Laura).

“Truth?” or “really?” is what someone’s saying when they use this little word.

This popular conversational interjection is used to fill a lull in the chatter or to give someone the opportunity to come clean on an exaggeration.

Oftentimes, though, it’s just said to express agreement with the last comment in a conversation  or to clarify something. 

¿ Neta ? Pero ¿qué pasó? (Really? But what happened?)

19. Eso que ni que —  I agree

Don’t try to translate this literally—just know that this convenient phrase means that you’re in agreement with whatever’s being discussed. 

Es muy bueno para bailar. (He’s really good at dancing).

Sí, baila mejor que todos, eso que ni que . (Yes, he dances better than everyone, no doubt about it).

This translates as “little now” but the small word means right now, or at this very moment.

¡Tenemos que irnos ahorita ! (We have to leave right now!)

Ni modo , which can be literally translated as “not way” or “either way,” is possibly one of the most popular Mexican expressions. 

It’s generally used to say “eh, whatever” or “it is what it is.”

Ni modo  can also be used with  que  (that) and a present subjunctive to say you can’t do something at the moment or there’s no way you’d do it.

It’s like saying “there’s no way” or “are you nuts?” in English.

Ni modo , hay mejores chicas/chicos en el mundo. (Oh well, there are better girls/guys in the world)

Ni modo que conteste, güey. (There’s no way I’m answering, man).

No hay tos  literally means “there’s no cough,” but it’s used to say “no problem” or “don’t worry about it.”

Lo siento, me olvidé mi billetera. ¿Tienes plata? (Sorry, I forgot my wallet. Do you have cash?)

No, pero no hay tos , comamos en la casa. (No, but no problem, let’s eat at home).

Sale  means “okay,” “sure,” “yeah” or “let’s do it,”  so it’s normally used in situations when someone suggests doing something and you agree.

It can also be used as a question tag when you want someone’s opinion or to see if they’re on the same page as you.

¿Vamos al concierto? (Shall we go to the concert?)

Sale , pero tendrás que prestarme lana. (Sure, but you’ll have to lend me some money.)

Codo literally means “elbow” in English but Mexican slang has turned it into a term used to describe someone who’s cheap.

It can be applied to either gender, so pay attention to the -a or -o ending of this descriptive noun.

¡Ese codo ni pagó la cena! (That cheapskate didn’t even pay for dinner!)

Feria means “fair” so the literal translation of this expression is “to have or be fair.”

However, feria also refers to coins when it’s used in Mexico. So, the phrase basically means “to have money” or “to have pocket change.”

¿Tienes feria ? (Do you have money?).

Buena onda literally translates to “good wave” but it’s used to indicate that there are good vibes or a good energy present.

Tienes buena onda . (You give off good vibes). 

This slangy Mexican expression translates to “what wave?” but is a cool way to ask “what’s up?”

It’s another feel-good, casual conversational expression that really adds a lot of good feelings to any chat.

¿ Qué onda ? ¿Cómo has estado? (What’s up? How have you been?)

¡Viva México! literally means “long live Mexico!”

It’s the unifying phrase that says the country should grow, prosper and see happy times for its citizens and visitors.

It’s often shortened to “¡viva!” which means the same as the full phrase .

¡Ganamos el mundial! ¡ Viva México ! (We won the world cup! Long live Mexico!)

29. P endejo — Jerk

Pendejo is one of those magical words that appear in almost every Spanish variety but have a different meaning depending on where you are.

In Mexico, it has a rather rude meaning: “unpleasant or stupid person,” “jerk.”

No me hables, pendejo . (Don’t talk to me, jerk).

30. C abrón — Mean, not very smart, awesome

While technically cabrón means “big [male] goat,” it has plenty of other meanings.

Used as a rude word its meaning is quite similar to pendejo, but cabrón  is higher in the rudeness scale: meaning unpleasant, mean or not very bright.

But change the tone a bit and you might, instead, be saying someone is  awesome!

The word can even be used in place of the f-bomb, very often following bien— very, to mean you’re really awesome at doing something.

Soy bien cabrón jugando a Minecraft. (I’m friggin’ awesome at playing Minecraft).

31. P edo — Drunk, problem

A  pedo  is a fart, literally. 

This word has lots of different meanings, depending on how you say it and the situation:

• Estar pedo — to be drunk
• Peda — drinking session
• Ser buen pedo — to give off good vibes
• Ser mal pedo — to be unfriendly or hostile
• ¿Qué pedo? — what’s up?
• Pedo  — problem or argument
• Ponerse al pedo — to want a fight, or to have an attitude of defiance
• ¿Qué pedo contigo, cabrón? (What’s your problem, man?)

Here’s Mexican actress Salma Hayek explaining qué pedo  and other Mexican slang:

32. P inche — Ugly, cheap

The word  pinche  may sound quite unproblematic for many Spanish speakers because it literally means “kitchen helper.”

However, when in Mexico, this word goes rogue and acquires a couple of interesting meanings.

It can mean “ugly,” “substandard,” “poor” or “cheap,” but it can also be used as an a ll-purpose enhancer, much like the meaner cousin of “hecking” is used in English.

Eres un pinche loco . (You’re effing crazy).

Originally, the  verga  was the horizontal beam from which a ship’s sails were hung, but this word has come to mean a man’s schlong in Spanish nowadays.

You can also use this word as a standalone exclamation with the meaning of the f-bomb. 

Here are a few more uses of the word:

• Creerse verga — to think you’re all that
• Valer verga — to be worthless
• Irse a la verga — a “lovely” way of telling someone to eff off
• Tus palabras me valen verga . (Your words mean nothing to me).

Chingar  means “to do the deed.” It’s Mexico’s version of the f-word. Simple. 

Chingar is a word that’s prevalent in Mexican culture in its various forms and meanings. 

¡Deja de chingar ! (Stop f***ing around!)

These two phrases are essentially one and the same, hence why they’re grouped together.

Literally meaning “don’t stain!” and “don’t suck,” these are used to say  “no way! You’re kidding me!” or  “don’t mess with me!”

No manches is totally benign, but no mames is considered vulgar and can potentially be offensive.

¡No manches!   ¿Pensé que habían terminado? (No way! I thought they had broken up?)

Here are actors Eva Longoria and Michael Peña explaining  no manches  and other Mexican slang words:

When you say that something is está cañón  (literally, “it’s cannon”), you’re saying “it’s hard/difficult.”

Some believe that the phrase arose as a more polite euphemism for está cabrón.

As a Spaniard, I find this meaning quite funny, because  estar cañón  means “to be very attractive” in Castilian Spanish.

El examen estuvo bien cañón . (The exam was very difficult).

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

Despite its status as slang, it’s not vulgar or offensive in the least—so have fun with it!

It can be used as both a standalone exclamation (¡qué chido! — cool!) or as an adjective.

Tienes un carro bien chido. (You have a really cool car). 

When it comes to Mexico, chulo  is used as an adjective to refer to people you find hot, good-looking or pretty.

You can also use it to refer to things with the meaning of “cute,” however if you travel to Spain, don’t use this word to refer to people—since a chulo  is “a pimp.” 

¿Viste ese chulo en la panadería? (Did you see that hot guy in the bakery?)

There’s no way to translate this one literally, it just comes back as nonsense. Mexicans, however, use it to say “really?” when they’re feeling incredulous.

Ale dijo que ganó la lotería! (Alex said that he won the lottery!)

¿ A poco ? ¿Lo crees? (Really? Do you believe him?)

This exclamation basically means “right on!” or in some situations is used as a message of approval like “let’s do it!”

Órale is another Mexican slang word that’s considered inoffensive and is appropriate for almost any social situation. 

It can be said quickly and excitedly or offered up with a long, drawn-out “o” sound.

Creo que te puedo ganar. (I think I can beat you). 

¡Órale! A ver. (Bring it on! Let’s see).

Simple enough, chela is a Mexican slang word for  beer.

In other parts of Latin America, chela is a woman who’s blond (usually with fair skin and blue eyes).

No one is quite sure if there’s a link between the two, and it seems unclear how the word came to mean “beer” in the first place.

¿Quieres tomar unas chelas ? (Do you want to have a few beers?)

A tira  is a “strip,” but when you use it as a Mexican slang word, you mean  the cops.

¡Aguas! ¡Ahí viene la tira ! (Watch out! The fuzz are coming!)

This is used in Mexico in place of ¿qué? or ¿cómo? to respond when someone says your name.

Luis, ¿estás allí? (Luis, are you there?)

¿ Mande ? ¿Me llamaste? (What? Did you call me?)

Technically, suave  translates to “soft,” but  suave  is a way to say “cool.”

¡Ese mural es suave ! (That mural is cool!)

This literally means “slouch,” but it’s used to say something is mean or ugly . 

Enrique es gacho . (Enrique is mean.)

Andar  means “to walk,” so  ándale  is a shortened version of the verb combined with the suffix “- le ,” a sort of grammatical placeholder that adds no meaning to the word.

Use this to tell someone to hurry up . 

¡ Ándale ! Necesitamos estar ahi a las 8. (Hurry up! We need to be there at 8.)

Chale  doesn’t really have a clear literal translation, but it’s most often used to show your annoyance. 

It’s similar to the English “give me a break.”

Su coche tardará dos semanas en arreglarse. (Your car will take two weeks to fix.)

¡Chale!   (Give me a break!)

Chamba and chambear mean “work”  and “to work,” respectively.

No me gusta mi chamba. (I don’t like my job.)

The word bronca means “problem,” and it’s used in expressions like no hay bronca (“no problem”) and tengo broncotas (“I’m in big trouble”).

Mi familia tiene broncas con mi hermano. (My family has problems with my brother.)

Though the official word for “favor” in Spanish is the cognate favor, paro is another way of referring to a favor in Mexico.

Hazme el paro means “do me a favor.”

Puedes hacerme el  paro ? (Can you do me a favor?)

Though “cool” in Spanish is commonly expressed as genial , chido is a colloquial way of describing something as cool or awesome in Mexican slang.

Esa película estuvo bien chida . (That movie was really cool!)

Similar to chido , padre is another slang term used to convey that something is awesome or great.

¡La fiesta estuvo bien padre ! (The party was really awesome!)

Chingón is an informal term used to describe something or someone as extraordinary, impressive, or badass.

¡Ese tatuaje está bien chingón ! (That tattoo is really badass!)

Chamba is a slang term used to refer to work or a job.

Tengo mucha chamba esta semana . (I have a lot of work this week.)

Vato is a slang term for a guy or dude.

Ese vato es muy amable . (That guy is very friendly.)

Morro is an informal term for a young boy.

Mi hermanito es un buen morro . (My little brother is a good kid.)

Jefa and jefo, which both mean “boss” are just informal terms for “mom” and “dad.”

Mi jefa siempre cocina delicioso . (My mom always cooks deliciously.)

Vieja and viejo , which technically mean “old,” are similar to the English saying of “old man,” referring to a boyfriend, or “old lady,” referring to one’s girlfriend or wife.

Salí con mi vieja al cine . (I went to the movies with my girlfriend.)

Carnalito is a diminutive form of carnal , referring to a younger brother.

Mi carnalito siempre quiere jugar . (My little brother always wants to play.)

Chiquitín is an affectionate term for someone small or younger.

¡Hola, chiquitín ! ¿Cómo estás? (Hi, little one! How are you?)

These are affectionate slang terms for a young man or young woman.

Ese chavito es muy talentoso . (That young guy is very talented.)

Camión which literally means “truck,” is a colloquial term for a bus.

Voy a tomar el camión a la escuela . (I’m going to take the bus to school.)

Chulear  literally means “to pimp,” but in Mexico, it’s a verb used to describe showing off or flaunting something.

Deja de chulear tu nuevo auto . (Stop showing off your new car.)

Here’s a great explanation of  chulear  (in Spanish):

Chingar is a versatile verb with various meanings, but it can be used to express annoyance or bother.

No me chingues , estoy ocupado . (Don’t bother me; I’m busy.)

Estrenar is a verb used when someone wears or uses something for the first time.

Voy a estrenar mis zapatos nuevos hoy .

This expression is an informal way to express disgust or dislike, similar to saying “yuck” in English.

¡ Guacala ! Esta comida no tiene buen sabor . (Yuck! This food doesn’t taste good.)

Used to describe someone who is lazy, this term is derived from the word huevo, meaning “egg,” which is associated with laziness.

Mi amigo es muy huevón , siempre está descansando . (My friend is very lazy, he’s always resting.)

While the standard term for “car” is coche , jato is a slang word used in Mexico to refer to a car or automobile.

Vamos en mi jato al cine esta noche . (Let’s go to the movies in my car tonight.)

Used as a term of endearment, mamacita refers to an attractive or beautiful woman.

¡Ay, mamacita , estás muy guapa hoy! (Oh, beautiful, you look very pretty today!)

This slang term is used to refer to money, similar to saying “cash” in English.

Necesito un poco de pisto para el transporte . (I need some cash for transportation.)

An informal and colloquial way of asking “what’s up?” or “what’s going on?”

¿ Qué pex, cómo estás? (What’s up, how are you?)

Used to refer to a song or piece of music, rola is a common slang term in Mexican Spanish.

Esta rola es mi favorita. (This song is my favorite.)

An alternative and informal way of asking “what’s up?”

Sapbe , nos vemos en el centro . (What’s up, see you downtown.)

Literally meaning “brave,” this slang term simply means “good friend.”

Mi valedor siempre está allí para ayudarme . (My friend is always there to help me.)

Describes someone as a crazy or wild guy, often used in a lighthearted or affectionate manner.

Mi amigo es un vato loco , siempre hace cosas divertidas . (My friend is a crazy guy, always doing funny things.)

Wacha , which is taken from the English “watch,” is an informal and colloquial way of saying “look” or “watch.”

Wacha esa película, está buenísima . (Look at that movie, it’s really good.)

This expression is used to convey that a difficult or troublesome situation has arisen. It literally means “the clown has already killed us.”

Se nos olvidaron las entradas, ya nos cargó el payaso . (We forgot the tickets, we’re in trouble.)

An informal term used to refer to a friend or buddy, indicating camaraderie.

Ese cuate siempre me ayuda cuando lo necesito . (That buddy always helps me when I need it.)

Used to refer to someone’s face, especially when expressing a negative emotion. It’s just like the English “mug.”

No me gusta su jeta , siempre está enojado . (I don’t like his face, he’s always angry.)

This slang term is used to describe a strong hit or punch.

Le di un madrazo al balón y entró en la portería . (I gave the ball a strong hit and it went into the goal.)

This slang term, literally “cheek,” is used informally to refer to this part of the body.

Le dieron un golpe en la nalga . (They gave him a hit on the buttocks.)

Although “dark-skinned person” is a direct translation, ñero is a colloquial term used in some regions to describe someone with a dark complexion. Be careful not to offend with this one.

No importa si eres ñero o güero, todos somos iguales . (It doesn’t matter if you’re dark-skinned or fair-skinned, we are all equal.)

Pacheco is often used in Mexico to describe someone who is intoxicated or inebriated.

No puedo hablar con él cuando está pacheco . (I can’t talk to him when he’s drunk.)

Go deeper into  pacheco  here:

Literally meaning “pirate,” this term is often used in Mexican slang to describe counterfeit or knockoff items.

No compres ese reloj, es pirata . (Don’t buy that watch, it’s fake.)

This literally means “relax,” but in Mexican slang, it means a mess, or a chaotic or disorderly situation.

No quiero más relajo en casa . (I don’t want more mess in the house.)

This slang term for a belt is often used in casual or regional contexts.

Me apreté la riata para que no se me cayera el pantalón . (I tightened the belt so my pants wouldn’t fall.)

Literally meaning “envelopes,” this term means “I got it,” a casual way of expressing understanding or acknowledgment.

—¿Vamos al cine mañana? —¡ Sobres ! (Are we going to the movies tomorrow? – Okay, got it!)

While “covered” is the direct translation, tapado is a slang term used in some regions to describe someone who is arrogant or full of themselves.

No me gusta hablar con él, está muy tapado . (I don’t like talking to him, he’s very conceited.)

Instead of the standard camión , troca is commonly used in Mexico to refer to a pickup truck or a large vehicle.

Vamos a cargar la troca con las cosas para la mudanza . (Let’s load the truck with the things for the move.)

Zarape specifically refers to a colorful Mexican blanket or shawl often used for warmth or decoration.

Me envolví en el zarape porque hacía frío . (I wrapped myself in the blanket because it was cold.)

Check out this video to hear some of these Mexican slang words in context:

Here’s some good things to know about Mexican Spanish:

• In Mexican Spanish, the pronoun t ú is used for the second-person familiar form.  Mexicans don’t use v os . 
• The pronoun vosotros isn’t used in Mexican Spanish. Mexicans use ustedes even in informal settings.
• Mexican Spanish features more loanwords from English than other national dialects.  You will hear a lot more English words in Mexican Spanish than other dialects.

This is a compact volume filled with definitions, example sentences, online links and lots of relevant information about Mexican Spanish.

There are more than 500 words and phrases included in this book. 

“Mexislang” is the end result of a blog that was intended to teach readers about Mexican slang. 

It offers insight into the history of slang expressions  and tips for how to use each word or phrase.

The option to stay with Mexican families to immerse in the language is a great way to learn about culture—including slang!

But if you’re not up for traveling, courses are also available in online one-on-one or small group format.

Online classes focus on grammar and conversational skills, so you’re sure to pick up plenty of slang along the way.

Also, they have a fantastic blog that’s both informative and entertaining.

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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Like with English, Spanish is spoken differently depending on the country—in fact, you could argue that Spanish differs even more than English!

In order to understand and be understood in Mexican Spanish, it’s pretty essential that you learn some common Mexican slang. 

If you’re not convinced, here are some reasons you might want to learn the lingo:

• To avoid awkward situations.  Don’t count on every Spanish word being transferable from place to place—something that is perfectly polite in Spanish from Spain could be considered rude in Mexican Spanish.
• If you’re learning Spanish in the United States. Considering that the States has such a huge Mexican population, chances are that you’ll encounter lots of Mexican Spanish speakers!
• For travel in Mexico.  For both safety reasons and to ensure smooth travels, it’s a good idea to brush up on your slang.
• To sound more fluent.  Of course, learning slang words is one of the surest ways of making your Spanish sound more natural and fluent!

Slang is perfect for instantly turning “program” Spanish into street Spanish.

More importantly, they offer insight into some cultural nuances that language learners don’t always get to see.

Use slangy terms to power up conversations and go from basic to vivid in a heartbeat!

If you've made it this far that means you probably enjoy learning Spanish with engaging material and will then love FluentU .

Other sites use scripted content. FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the Spanish language and culture over time. You’ll learn Spanish as it’s actually spoken by real people.

FluentU has a wide variety of videos, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive transcripts. You can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used. If you see an interesting word you don’t know, you can add it to a vocab list.

Review a complete interactive transcript under the Dialogue tab, and find words and phrases listed under Vocab .

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU’s robust learning engine. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you’re on.

The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you’re learning, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. Every learner has a truly personalized experience, even if they’re learning with the same video.

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Translations dictionary

or esse [ es -ey] or [ ey -sey]

What does ese mean?

Ese , amigo , hombre . Or, in English slang, dude ,  bro , homey . Ese is a Mexican-Spanish slang term of address for a fellow man.

Related words

Where does ese come from.

Ese originates in Mexican Spanish. Ese literally means “that” or “that one,” and likely extended to “fellow man” as shortened from expressions like ese vato , “that guy.”

There are some more elaborate (though less probable) theories behind ese . One goes that a notorious Mexican gang, the  Sureños  (“Southerners”), made their way from Mexico City to Southern California in the 1960s.  Ese is the Spanish name for letter S , which is how the gang members referred to each other. Or so the story goes.

Ese is recorded in English for a “fellow Hispanic man” in the 1960s. It became more a general term of address by the 1980s, though  ese remains closely associated (and even stereotyped) with Chicano culture in the US.

Ese is notably found in the Chicano poetry of José Antonio Burciaga and Cheech & Chong comedy routines (Cheech Marin is Mexican-American.)

White confusion over ese was memorably parodied in a 2007 episode of the TV show South Park . On it, the boys think they can get some Mexican men to write their essays , but them men write letters home to their eses .

Examples of ese

Who uses ese?

For Mexican and Mexican-American Spanish speakers,  ese has the force of “dude,” “brother,” or “man,” i.e., a close and trusted friend or compatriot .

I needa kick it wit my ese's its been a minute — al (@a1anxs) February 1, 2019

It’s often used as friendly and familiar term of address…

Always a good time with my ese. 😎 pic.twitter.com/xxM4YroWDV — | Y | G | (@yg_monroe) January 12, 2019

…but it can also be more aggressively and forcefully.

Cypress Hill 2018: Who you tryin' ta mess with, ese? Don't you know I'm seeking professional help for my deep rooted emotional problemsssssss?!? — JAY. (@GoonLeDouche) June 30, 2018

“You’d have to be crazy to swipe left.” Who you tryna get crazy with, ese? Don’t you know I’m loco? Sorry, always wanted to say that. Anyway, swipe left. Might actually be crazy. — Why I Swiped Left (@LeftyMcSwiper) December 17, 2018

Ese is associated with Mexican and Chicano American culture, where it can refer to and be used by both men and women. The term is also specifically associated with Mexican-American gang culture.

What's up ese? pic.twitter.com/0vAQxZZ6SO — AlesiAkiraKitsune© (@AlesiAkira) January 21, 2019

It is often considered appropriative for people outside those cultures to use ese , especially since some non-Mexican people may use  ese in ways that mock Mexicans and Mexican-American culture.

This is not meant to be a formal definition of ese like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of ese that will help our users expand their word mastery.

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Speaking Latino

Teach and Learn Real World Spanish

Mexican Spanish Slang Resources & Essentials

Learn mexican spanish slang.

Step into the colorful world of Mexican Spanish with our dynamic slang guide. Designed to bridge the gap between formal language and the vibrant streets of Mexico, this resource is a must-have for anyone looking to dive deep into the heart of Mexican culture. From witty expressions to everyday colloquialisms, our guide illuminates the nuances that make Mexican Spanish unique. Whether you're planning a trip, studying the language, or simply curious about Mexico's rich linguistic heritage, our guide offers an authentic snapshot of life in Mexico. Embark on a linguistic journey that promises to enrich your understanding and love for Mexican Spanish.

Mexican Spanish Slang Articles

101 spanish word meanings i learned watching el chavo del 8: mexican spanish vs puerto rican spanish.

You wouldn’t think that a Spanish-speaking girl, watching a television program in Spanish would learn more Spanish. At the time I didn’t realize that watching El Chavo del 8 would expand my Spanish vocabulary and make me understand that there was regional or country differences within the same language. In this case I am talking

VIDEO: 6 Common Mexican Gestures

Common Mexican gestures shared by natives Spanish speakers from Guadalajara. Includes a full video and 6 images.

INFOGRAPHIC: 10 Best Mexican Spanish Swear Words and Insults

A list of Mexican Spanish swear words and phrases with English translations. Learn how Mexicans curse and share the infographic.

Survival Spanish Guide to Mexican Street Food

What makes things complicated is that the names of many of the food either have another meaning, or sound like a word in English that really has nothing to do with them (false cognates). This guide is to help novice Mexican street foodies navigate through a market and order the food they want.

FREE List of 75 Mexican Spanish Phrases and Expressions

Get a compilation of 75 common Mexican Spanish slang phrases and expressions. It provides definitions and explanations for each expression, offering insights into the colorful and dynamic language used in Mexico.

List of Mexican Spanish Words and Phrases

We are starting 2014 by completing work long overdue. Those pending projects included the update of the Speaking Latino Spanish slang words database. After two and half years, we ended up having more material that we wanted to share with you. Diana and I are pleased to announce that our list of Mexican Spanish words

Mexican Spanish Slang Vocabulary

ya valió queso

Discover the Colorful World of Spanish Slang

Select a country, dive into its unique slang, and start speaking Spanish with the authenticity and nuance of a local. Your journey to mastering the art of Spanish slang begins here!

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Spanish Slang & Colloquial Spanish Books

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Mexican Slang 101: Master Spanish Slang Used in Mexico

Mexican slang, often called "Mexican Spanish slang" or "Mexican colloquial language," is rich and diverse. It's important to note that slang can vary across different regions of Mexico, and some expressions may not be universally understood. 

In this article, we'll explore the meanings behind phrases like "cholo" and "no mames," providing you with real-life examples that you're sure to encounter. Mexican slang adds a unique flair to conversations, reflecting the country's rich cultural culture (and sometimes funny).

However, it's essential to approach it with care, as some expressions can be perceived as impolite or offensive in specific contexts. This guide, featuring three examples for each term, aims to equip you with the knowledge to navigate Mexico with a better understanding of its colorful and diverse linguistic landscape. ¡Vámonos! 

Mexican Slang that expresses emotions, reactions, or feelings

• Neta: Truth, really.

¿Neta no sabías? (You really didn't know?)

Neta que yo si te amo (For real that I love you)  

¿Es neta? (Is it true?)

• Padre: Cool, great.

Esa fiesta estuvo bien padre. (That party was really cool.)

Que padre es tu ropa de hoy (Your outfit today is great)

¡Que padre estuvo el viaje! (The trip whas really cool!)

• Chido or Chida: Cool, awesome.

Esa película estuvo bien chida (That movie was really cool.)

El lugar está chido (The place is awesome)

Oye y qué tal el concierto, ¿Chido? (Hey and how was the concert, Cool?)

• ¡Aguas!: Watch out, be careful.

Aguas con ese perro. (Watch out for that dog.)

¡Aguas, se aproxima una tormenta! (Alert, a storm is approaching!)

¡Aguas! Me gané la lotería. (No way! I won the lottery.)

• Mande: What, or excuse me, you can use it when you didn't hear what someone said.

¿Mande? (What?) 

Mande, no te escuché. (What? I didn't hear you.)

Mande, ¿Podrías repetir por favor? (Excuse me, Could you repeat please?)

• No Mames: Literally, it means "Don't suck" or "Don't suck it." However, it can express disbelief, surprise, or frustration, like saying "No way!" or "Are you kidding me?". 

Remember that "mames" is derived from a vulgar expression, so while "no mames" itself is not vulgar, it is a colloquial phrase and may not be appropriate in all settings.

¡No Mames Guey! (No kidding, bro!)

¡No mames! ¿En serio ganamos el partido? (No way! Did we really win the game?)

No mames, ¿crees que voy a caer en esa trampa? (Come on, do you really think I'll fall for that trick?)

• Chale: this is an expression of disappointment or disapproval.

Chale, no tengo dinero. (Darn, I don't have money.)

Chale, no deberías haber hecho eso. (Dude, you shouldn't have done that.)

Chale, olvidé mi celular en casa. (Ugh, I forgot my phone at home.)

• Machín: Very, a lot, or intensely.

Está machín caliente hoy. (It's very hot today.)

¡Esa película estuvo machín buena! (That movie was extremely good!)

Ese coche es machín caro. (That car is extremely expensive.)

• Chingón or Chingona: Awesome, excellent, or cool. 

¡Esa película estuvo bien chingona! (That movie was really awesome!)

¿Fuiste al museo? Está chingón (Did you went to the museum?, is excellent ) 

Tu nuevo celular es muy chingón (Your new cellphone is really cool)

• Está cañón: It's tough or difficult.

Hacer ejercicio todos los días está cañón. (Exercising every day is tough.)

Los tiquetes están muy caros, está cañon viajar así (The tickets arevery expensive, is really difficult to travel like that) 

Estudiar para el examen final está cañón. (Studying for the final exam is tough.)

Mexican Slang that describes people

• Cuate: Friend, buddy.

Voy a salir con mis cuates. (I'm going out with my buddies.)

Este cuate está bien elegante (This buddy is very elegant) 

Estoy muy orgulloso de mi cuate (I’m very proud of my friend) 

• Chismoso o Chismosa: Gossipy, someone who likes to gossip.

No seas chismoso. (Don't be so gossipy.)

La señora de la esquina es bien chismosa (The lady at the corner is really gossipy) 

A veces, me gusta ser chismoso (Sometimes I like to be gossipy)

• Güey: Dude, guy. Depending on context, it can be used affectionately or as an insult.

¡Ay güey, qué onda! (Hey dude, what's up!)

¡No mames, güey, me asustaste! (Dude, seriously, you scared me!)

Vamos al cine, güey. (Let's go to the movies, buddy.)

• Naco or naca: Used to describe someone as low-class or lacking sophistication. However, it can be offensive, so use it with caution.

No seas naco. (Don't be tacky/low-class.)

Viste con ropa muy naca. (You dress in very tacky clothes.)

No seas naco, comportate mejor. (Don't be tacky, behave better.)

• Jefa or Jefe: Mom,Dad or boss.

Mi jefa no me dejó salir ayer. (My mom didn't let me go out yesterday.)

Vamos a salir, ¿te apuntas, jefe? (We're going out, are you coming, buddy?)

Tú eres el jefe aquí. (You're the boss here.)

• Cholo: it often refers to someone associated with a particular subculture characterized by a distinctive style, including baggy clothing, tattoos, and a certain attitude. 

Mira a ese cholo con los tatuajes. (Look at that guy with the tattoos, he looks like a cholo.)

El barrio está lleno de cholos. (The neighborhood is full of cholos.)

¿Qué onda, cholo? ¿Cómo estás? (What's up, dude? How are you?)

• Cafre: Someone rough, rude, or uncouth.

Ese tipo es un cafre. (That guy is rude.)

Es tan cafre, siempre interrumpiendo a los demás. (He's so rude, always interrupting others.)

¡Deja de ser tan cafre, no puedes hablar así! (Stop being so rough, you can't speak like that!)

• Cuateco: Describe someone or something as elegant, stylish, or sophisticated. 

Hoy quiero vestirme bien cuateco para la reunión. (Today, I want to dress stylishly for the meeting.)

Siempre ha tenido un estilo cuateco, incluso en la universidad. (He/she has always had a sophisticated style, even in college.)

A ella le encanta lucir un look cuateco en eventos importantes. (She loves showcasing a stylish look at important events.)

Mexican Slang that are actions or situations

• Chamba: Job or work.

Estoy buscando chamba. (I'm looking for a job.)

Esta es mi primera chamba. (This is my first job) 

Mañana tengo mucha chamba en la oficina. (Tomorrow, I have a lot of work at the office.)

• Bronca: Problem or trouble.

Tuve una bronca en el trabajo. (I had a problem at work.)

Hubo una bronca en el bar anoche. (There was a problem at the bar last night.)

Tuve una bronca con el coche esta mañana. (I had a problem with the car this morning.)

• Pedo: Having a problem, trouble, or situation - Or being really drunk. 

No hay pedo. (No problem.)

Tuve un pedo en el trabajo. (I had a problem at work.)

Estaba muy pedo anoche. (I was very drunk last night.)

• Cotorreo: Hanging out or having a good time.

Vamos a echar cotorreo. (Let's go have some fun.)

La fiesta estuvo llena de cotorreo. (The party was full of fun.)

Siempre hay buen cotorreo en ese bar. (There's always a good time at that bar.)

• Chingar: This word can have various meanings depending on the context, including to bother, annoy, or work hard.

No me chingues, estoy ocupado. (Don't bother me, I'm busy.)

Hay que chingarle para tener éxito. (You have to work hard to be successful.)

Está lloviendo a chingar. (It's raining like crazy.)

• Aguantar vara: To endure or tolerate a difficult situation.

Hay que aguantar vara en el trabajo. (We have to endure a lot at work.)

En el ejército, aprendí a aguantar vara. (In the army, I learned to endure hardships.)

Esta semana ha sido difícil, pero hay que aguantar vara. (This week has been tough, but we have to endure it.

• Peda: Party or getting drunk.

Vamos a echar la peda este sábado. (Let's party this Saturday.)

La peda estuvo increíble. (The party was amazing.)

¿Te unes a la peda esta noche? (Do you want to join the party tonight?)

Mexican Slang to describe things 

• Chela: Beer.

Voy por unas chelas. (I'm going for some beers.)

Esta noche vamos a comprar chelas. (Tonight, we're going to buy some beers.)

¿Quieres una chela? (Do you want a beer?)

• Varo: Money or cash.

No tengo varo para salir hoy. (I don't have money to go out today.)

Vamos a echar varo entre todos para la cena. (Let's all pitch in money for dinner.)

Me costó una flor de varo arreglar el coche. (It cost me a lot of money to fix the car.)

• Chacharita: Trinket or small item, often used to describe something cute.

Compré unas chacharitas en el mercado. (I bought some cute trinkets at the market.)

Siempre me gusta comprar chacharitas cuando voy de vacaciones. (I always like to buy trinkets when I go on vacation.)

Le regalé unas chacharitas que encontré en la feria. (I gave her some charming trinkets I found at the fair.)

• Chirris: Small, insignificant things or items.

No olvides recoger tus chirris antes de irte. (Don't forget to pick up your small things before leaving.)

Voy a ordenar los chirris en mi escritorio. (I will tidy up the small items on my desk.)

Antes de salir, recoge los chirris que dejaste en la sala. (Before leaving, pick up the small things you left in the living room.)

• Chunche: Thingamajig, gadget, or any unspecified object.

¿Dónde dejé el chunche ese? (Where did I leave that thing?)

Estoy buscando el chunche que necesito para arreglar la lámpara. (I'm looking for the thingamajig I need to fix the lamp.)

Vamos a guardar todos los chunches en la caja. (Let's put away all the miscellaneous items in the box.)

Mexican Slang emerges as a valuable tool for those seeking a deeper connection with the vibrant culture of Mexico. With expressions tailored to every emotion, description of people, daily actions, and things, learning Mexican Slang becomes essential to understanding conversations and situations.

For travelers, it serves as a linguistic compass, offering insights into Mexican communication and facilitating a more immersive experience. Knowing these expressions is not just about mastering words; it's about understanding the heartbeat of the culture, connecting with locals on a personal level, and enriching the overall experience.

As part of learning Spanish, for example, exploring Mexican Slang is not merely an academic exercise; it's an invitation to delve into the dynamic and practical side of the language. It's about embracing the diversity of expressions that mirror real-life scenarios and foster a genuine connection with the people and places encountered during the learning process. 

So, whether you're a language enthusiast, a traveler, or someone on a quest for cultural understanding, delving into Mexican Slang is a practical and enriching step toward mastering the art of communication in Spanish. ¡Hasta luego! (Until next time!)

What makes Mexican Slang unique?

Mexican Slang is a vibrant and dynamic language aspect that reflects Mexico's rich cultural tapestry. It incorporates regional influences, historical context, and a blend of indigenous and Spanish elements, making it a unique and colorful form of expression.

How do Mexicans use slang to express emotions?

Mexican Slang offers a nuanced way to express emotions, from joy and excitement to frustration and disbelief. Phrases like "¡No mames!" convey strong reactions, while "¡Qué chido!" expresses enthusiasm and approval in a distinctly Mexican way.

Are there regional variations in Mexican Slang?

Yes, Mexican Slang can vary regionally, with different areas adopting their own unique expressions and idioms. Local influences, historical factors, and cultural diversity contribute to Mexico's rich tapestry of slang.

Is it appropriate to use Mexican Slang in formal settings?

While Mexican Slang adds flair to casual conversations, using it with caution in formal settings is essential. In professional or formal contexts, sticking to standard Spanish is advisable to ensure clarity and respect.

How can non-Spanish speakers learn and understand Mexican Slang?

Learning Mexican Slang involves immersing oneself in the language, culture, and daily interactions. Conversing with native speakers, watching Mexican movies or TV shows, and exploring regional expressions can help non-Spanish speakers grasp the nuances of Mexican Slang.

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How to Say “Essay” in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you looking to expand your Spanish vocabulary and express yourself more fluently? Learning how to say “essay” in Spanish is a vital step in becoming a proficient Spanish speaker and writer. In this guide, we will explore both formal and informal ways to express this term, while also providing you with useful tips, examples, and regional variations. Let’s dive in!

Formal Ways to Say “Essay” in Spanish

When it comes to a formal context, such as educational or professional settings, you can use the following terms:

The most common and widely accepted translation for “essay” in Spanish is “ensayo.” This term applies to both academic essays and literary compositions and is commonly used across Spanish-speaking regions. For example:

El profesor nos pidió que escribiéramos un ensayo sobre la importancia de la educación. (The professor asked us to write an essay about the importance of education.)

Another formal term that can be used interchangeably with “ensayo” is “trabajo.” This translation is more commonly used in academic contexts, particularly when referring to written assignments. For instance:

El estudiante está trabajando en su último trabajo de historia. (The student is working on his/her final essay for history.)

Informal Ways to Say “Essay” in Spanish

When speaking with friends or in more casual contexts, you may prefer to use the following alternatives:

1. Redacción

“Redacción” is a common term used to refer to essays in a more informal setting. It is often used when discussing written compositions without the strict academic connotations. Here’s an example:

Ayer tuve que hacer una redacción sobre mis vacaciones de verano. (Yesterday, I had to write an essay about my summer vacation.)

2. Ensayito

For a diminutive and more affectionate term, you can use “ensayito.” This variation is akin to saying “little essay” in English, adding a touch of informality and endearment to your speech. Here’s an example:

Juanita siempre escribe unos ensayitos muy interesantes. (Juanita always writes very interesting little essays.)

Regional Variations

While the terms mentioned above are widely understood across Spanish-speaking regions, it’s worth noting that variations may exist. Here are a few examples of regional alternatives:

1. Composición (Latin America)

In Latin America, especially in countries like Mexico and Colombia, “composición” is commonly used instead of “ensayo” or “trabajo” when referring to essays. For example:

Hoy tengo que entregar una composición sobre la historia del arte. (Today, I have to submit an essay about art history.)

2. Tarea (Spain)

In Spain, “tarea” is frequently used to refer to written assignments, including essays. Keep in mind that “tarea” has a broader meaning and can also encompass other types of homework or tasks. Here’s an example:

La profesora nos asignó una tarea sobre el cambio climático. (The teacher assigned us an essay on climate change.)

Tips for Writing an Essay in Spanish

Whether you are a Spanish learner or a native speaker looking to improve your writing skills, these tips will help you craft a compelling essay:

1. Use a Variety of Vocabulary

Avoid repetitive language by incorporating different synonyms, idiomatic expressions, and specialized terms relevant to the topic. This will showcase your command of the language and make your essay more engaging to read.

2. Structure Your Essay Properly

An essay should have a clear introduction, body paragraphs with supporting evidence or arguments, and a conclusion. Make sure to organize your thoughts and ideas coherently to ensure a logical flow throughout your essay.

3. Proofread and Edit

Take the time to proofread your essay for grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes. Consider asking a native Spanish speaker or a trusted language professional to review your work and provide feedback.

4. Read Essays by Native Spanish Writers

Reading essays written by native Spanish speakers can expose you to a range of writing styles, vocabulary, and grammatical structures. This exposure will help you develop a better understanding of what makes a well-written essay in Spanish.

Congratulations! You now have a comprehensive understanding of how to say “essay” in Spanish. Remember to consider the context and formality of the situation to choose the most appropriate term. Use the formal terms “ensayo” or “trabajo” when in professional or academic environments, and opt for “redacción” or “ensayito” in informal conversations with friends. Don’t forget to keep practicing your writing skills and explore different vocabulary to create compelling essays. ¡Buena suerte!

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Oh what a useful explanation, thank you so much. Now I know to say "אתמול הייתי רופא עדשים".

The South Indian phrase - “ninnade kaNugalu tuppuko.” is wrong. “tuppuko” is not a word in kannada. Informally, we’d say…

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Essay Spanish Slang

1. In Spanish slang, “essay” is commonly used to refer to a friend or acquaintance. 2. The correct Spanish translation for “essay” is “ese.” 3. It is also important to note that “ese” can have negative connotations depending on the context in which it is used.

Introduction

Slang is an essential part of any language, including Spanish. It adds color, personality, and informality to conversations, making them more engaging and expressive. In this article, we will explore some popular Spanish slang words and phrases commonly used in everyday conversations and informal writing. By familiarizing yourself with these slang terms, you can enhance your understanding of Spanish and connect with native speakers on a more casual level.

Common Spanish Slang Words

“Chido/a” is a versatile slang word used primarily in Mexico. It is an adjective that means “cool” or “awesome.” Whether describing a person, an experience, or an object, “chido/a” is a positive expression of admiration or excitement.

In Spain, the word “majo/a” is often used to describe someone who is attractive, stylish, or charming. It is similar to the English slang term “cool” when used to refer to a person’s appearance or demeanor. Calling someone “majo/a” is a compliment that acknowledges their good looks or appealing personality.

Phrases and Expressions

“¡Qué guay!” is a popular phrase used in Spain to express enthusiasm or excitement. It translates to “How cool!” or “That’s awesome!” It is often used in response to something positive or exciting happening.

Estar en las nubes

The expression “estar en las nubes,” which literally means “to be in the clouds,” is used to describe someone who is daydreaming or not paying attention. It can also be used metaphorically to describe someone who is absent-minded or not fully present.

Internet and Texting Slang

In Spanish, “jaja” is the equivalent of “haha” in English. It is a common way to represent laughter in text messages and online conversations. The repetition of the letter “a” emphasizes the sound of laughter.

“XD” is an emoticon widely used in Spanish-speaking countries to express laughter or amusement. It represents a face with tightly closed eyes and a wide-open mouth, symbolizing intense laughter.

Using Slang Responsibly

While slang can be fun and useful in informal contexts, it’s important to use it appropriately and consider the audience and setting. Slang may vary across different regions and age groups, so it’s essential to be aware of local variations and cultural nuances. It’s best to use slang among friends and peers rather than in formal or professional situations.

Spanish slang adds a vibrant and informal touch to the language, allowing for more dynamic and expressive conversations. By incorporating popular slang words and phrases like “chido/a,” “majo/a,” “¡qué guay!” and “jaja” into your vocabulary, you can connect with native Spanish speakers on a more casual and relatable level. Remember to use slang appropriately, considering the context and your audience, to fully enjoy the richness and diversity of the Spanish language. Spanish Wedding Favours Spanish Riding Boots Sale Will You Be My Girlfriend in Spanish | Translation – SpanishtoGo

Note: “Essay Spanish Slang” is a very popular phrase in the Spanish language, and you can find its meaning on this page. Knowing the translation of: “Essay Spanish Slang” you will know how to apply it in any conversation. Remember to apply the translation to the text, as well as know how to use it in context at different Spanish tenses and situations. The grammar in the Spanish language has a series of rules, therefore the phrase or word: “Essay Spanish Slang” must be used correctly. Refresh in Spanish

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Learn How to Speak Like a Local with Mexican Slang

Discover the world of Mexican slang with our comprehensive guide. Learn the most common words and phrases, their meanings, and how to use them in everyday conversations. Enhance your language skills and gain a better understanding of Mexican culture.

If you are planning to travel to Mexico or are simply interested in learning about Mexican culture, it is important to understand Mexican slang. Slang is an informal language that is commonly used by native speakers and is an essential part of the country's culture. In this article, we will explore the most common Mexican slang words and phrases, their meanings, and how they are used in everyday conversations.

What is Mexican Slang?

Mexican slang is an informal language used by Mexicans in their everyday conversations. It is a mix of Spanish and indigenous languages , and it changes depending on the region, age, and social status of the speaker. Mexican slang can be difficult to understand for non-native speakers because it often involves words and expressions that are not taught in traditional Spanish classes.

Common Mexican Slang Words and Phrases

• Chido/a – This word means “cool” or “awesome” and is commonly used to describe something or someone impressive or attractive. For example, “Esa fiesta estuvo muy chida” (That party was cool).
• Mande – This word is used as a polite way of asking someone to repeat what they said. It is equivalent to saying “pardon?” or “excuse me?” For example, “Mande, no te entendí” (Pardon me, I didn't understand you).
• Neta – This word means “truth” or “reality” and is used to confirm that something is true. For example, “¿Es verdad que vas a venir mañana?” (Is it true that you're coming tomorrow?) “¡Neta!” (For real!)
• Padre – This word means “cool” or “great” and is commonly used to describe something enjoyable or exciting. For example, “La película estuvo bien padre” (The movie was really cool).
• Qué onda – This is a common greeting among friends and means “what's up?” or “how's it going?” For example, “¿Qué onda, cómo estás?” (What's up, how are you?)
• Tocayo/a – This word is used to refer to someone who has the same name as you. For example, “¡Hola tocayo, qué tal estás!” (Hello namesake, how are you?)
• Chamba – This word means “job” or “work” and is commonly used to refer to one's occupation. For example, “Mi chamba es en una oficina” (My job is in an office).
• Güey – This word is similar to the English word “dude” and is used to refer to friends or acquaintances. It is commonly used among young people and can be seen as disrespectful in certain contexts. For example, “Oye güey, ¿vamos al cine?” (Hey dude, do you want to go to the movies?)
• Chisme – This word means “gossip” and is commonly used to refer to rumors or stories about other people. For example, “No me gusta el chisme” (I don't like gossip).
• Fresa – This word means “snobby” or “pretentious” and is commonly used to describe someone overly concerned with their appearance or social status. For example, “Esa chica es muy fresa, no habla con nadie que no sea de su nivel” (That girl is very snobby, she doesn't talk to anyone who isn't on her level).

How to Use Mexican Slang in Conversations

Mexican slang can be difficult to understand and use correctly, especially if you are not a native speaker. Here are some tips for how to use Mexican slang in conversations:

• Listen carefully : One of the best ways to learn Mexican slang is by listening to native speakers. Pay attention to the words and phrases they use and try to incorporate them into your conversations.
• Practice : Practice using Mexican slang with native speakers. They can correct you if you make mistakes and help you learn the correct pronunciation and context of each word or phrase.
• Know your audience : Be mindful of who you are speaking to and the context of the conversation. Some Mexican slang words and phrases may be considered disrespectful or offensive in certain situations.
• Use it sparingly : Don't overuse Mexican slang in conversations, as it may come across as trying too hard or being insincere. Use it appropriately and in moderation.

The Importance of Mexican Slang

Mexican slang is an essential part of Mexican culture and reflects the country's history, language, and social norms. It is often used to express humor, sarcasm, or irony, and helps to create a sense of community among Mexicans.

Understanding Mexican slang can also help non-native speakers to connect with Mexicans on a deeper level and gain a better understanding of their culture. It can also enhance your language skills and make you a more fluent Spanish speaker.

In conclusion, Mexican slang is an important and integral part of the Mexican culture . It is a unique and colorful language that reflects the history, language, and social norms of Mexico. By understanding Mexican slang, you can connect with Mexicans on a deeper level and gain a better understanding of their culture. Practice using Mexican slang with native speakers, and remember to use it appropriately and in moderation.

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Mexican Slangs: The Guide for Understanding the Most Common Expressions

If you’re planning to travel to Mexico or just want to learn more about Mexican Spanish and culture, it’s important to understand the local slang and how people use it. Mexican slang is a unique blend of words and expressions that are not typically taught in textbooks or traditional Spanish language classes due their nature. Learning Mexican slang can not only help you communicate more effectively with locals, but it can also give you a deeper appreciation for Mexico.

Table of Contents

Mexican slang is heavily influenced by the country’s history where civilizations were mixed, geography, and diverse population. Some of the most common Mexican slang words and phrases are used to express emotion s, describe everyday situations, and even insult others. For example, the word “güey” (pronounced “whey”) is one of the most popular Mexican slang words and is used to refer to friends or acquaintances. However, it can also be used sarcastically to refer to strangers or to insult someone in a playful way. So, be careful when you use it.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common Mexican slang words and phrases that you should know if you’re planning to travel to Mexico or just want to expand your Mexican Spanish vocabulary. From “qué padre” to “chingón,” we’ll cover a range of expressions that will help you communicate more effectively with locals and gain confidence and a deeper understanding of Mexican culture. So, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced Spanish speaker, read on to learn more about Mexican slang and how to use it like a pro.

Understanding Mexican Slang

If you’re planning to visit Mexico or communicate with Mexican Spanish speakers, it’s essential to understand Mexican slang. Mexican slang is a unique and colorful language that’s different from formal Spanish of the textbooks. It’s a reflection of Mexican culture, history, and society and is widely used in everyday conversations among Spanish speakers in Mexico.

Mexican slang is a blend of Spanish and indigenous languages, and it’s constantly evolving. It can be challenging to learn, but it’s worth the effort if you want to sound like a local and connect with the locals. Here are a few tips to help you understand Mexican slang:

Learn the Basics

Start by learning the most common Mexican slang words and phrases. Some of the most popular ones include “wey”, “güey” (dude), “chido” (cool), “chingón” (awesome), “naco” (tacky), and “pedo” (problem). You can find many online resources that list Mexican slang words and their meanings.

Understand the Context

Mexican slang is highly contextual, and the same word can have different meanings depending on the situation. For example, “chingón” can mean awesome or arrogant, depending on the context. It’s crucial to understand the context in which the word is used to avoid misunderstandings.

Be Careful with Offensive Words

Some Mexican slang words can be offensive, so it’s essential to use them with caution. For example, “cabrón” (bastard) can be used playfully among friends, but it can also be a severe insult. It’s best to avoid using offensive words unless you’re sure of their meaning and context.

Embrace the Culture

Mexican slang is a reflection of Mexican culture, history, and society, so is important that you know you´re learning also culture when you´re learning a language, so don’t try to change it. Learning Mexican slang is not just about understanding the words; it’s also about embracing the culture and connecting with the locals. By learning Mexican slang, you show that you’re interested in Mexican culture and that you respect the locals.

In summary, understanding Mexican slang is essential if you want to communicate effectively with Spanish speakers in Mexico. Learn the basics, understand the context, be careful with offensive words, and embrace the culture. With these tips, you’ll be able to navigate the colorful world of Mexican slang like a pro.

Common Mexican Slang Words

If you’re planning to visit Mexico or just want to learn some Mexican slang words, you’re in the right place. Mexican slang is a rich and colorful language that reflects the country’s culture and history. Here are some of the most common Mexican slang words and phrases you should know:

• Ese/Güey : These words are used to refer to a friend or acquaintance. They are similar to the English word “dude” or “bro.” For example, “¿Qué onda, güey?” means “What’s up, dude?”
• Neta : This word means “truth” or “for real.” For example, “¿Es neta?” means “Is it true?”
• No manches : This phrase is used to express disbelief or surprise. It can be translated as “no way” or “you’re kidding.” For example, “No manches, ¿ganaste la lotería?” means “No way, did you win the lottery?”
• Chido : This word means “cool” or “awesome.” For example, “¡Qué chido!” means “How cool!”
• Aguas : This phrase is used to warn someone to be careful or watch out. It can be translated as “heads up” or “be careful.” For example, “¡Aguas, hay un hoyo!” means “Watch out, there’s a hole!”
• Compa/Carnal : These words are used to refer to a close friend or brother. They are similar to the English word “buddy” or “mate.” For example, “¿Qué pasa, compa?” means “What’s up, buddy?”
• Wey : This word is similar to “ese” or “güey” and is used to refer to a friend or acquaintance. It can also be used to express surprise or annoyance. For example, “¿Qué onda, wey?” means “What’s up, dude?”
• Órale : This word is used to express agreement or encouragement. It can be translated as “okay” or “let’s go.” For example, “¡Órale, vamos!” means “Okay, let’s go!”
• Buena onda : This phrase is used to describe someone who is friendly and easy-going. It can be translated as “good vibes” or “cool person.” For example, “Ese tipo es buena onda” means “That guy is a cool person.”
• Chamba : This word means “job” or “work.” For example, “Tengo mucha chamba hoy” means “I have a lot of work today.”
• Pedo : This word is used to describe a problem or difficulty. It can be translated as “trouble” or “mess.” For example, “Estoy en un pedo” means “I’m in a mess.”
• Naco : This word is used to describe someone who is uncultured or unsophisticated. It can be translated as “tacky” or “low-class.” For example, “Esa ropa es muy naca” means “That clothing is very tacky.”
• La neta : This phrase is used to express honesty or sincerity. It can be translated as “the truth” or “for real.” For example, “La neta, no me gusta esa comida” means “The truth is, I don’t like that food.”

Mexican slang words and phrases are an essential part of the language and culture. By using them, you can connect with locals and show your appreciation for their unique language and way of life.

Offensive and Vulgar Mexican Slang

If you’re planning to visit Mexico or learn Spanish in Mexico , it’s important to know that Mexican slang can be quite offensive and vulgar. Here are some of the most commonly used offensive and vulgar Mexican slang words and phrases:

• Chingar: This is a very versatile word that can mean anything from “to fuck” to “to bother” or “to mess with.” It’s often used in a vulgar way, so be careful when using it.
• Pinche: This word is often used to describe something as “fucking” or “damn.” For example, “pinche carro” means “fucking car.”
• Puto: This is a homophobic slur that’s often used to insult someone’s masculinity. It’s important not to use this word, as it’s highly offensive.
• Cabrón: This word means “bastard” or “asshole” and is often used to insult someone.
• Culo: This is a vulgar term for “ass” and is often used in a sexual context.
• Mamón: This word means “sucker” or “suck-up” and is often used to insult someone who’s trying too hard to please others.
• Pendejo: This is a common insult that means “idiot” or “stupid.” It’s often used in a playful way among friends, but can be offensive if used in the wrong context.

It’s important to note that these words and phrases are highly offensive and should be avoided in most situations. If you’re unsure about the appropriateness of a particular word or phrase, it’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid using it altogether.

Mexican Slang in Different Regions

Mexican slang is not only diverse but also varies from region to region. Each region has its own unique slang that is influenced by the local dialect, culture, and history. Here are some examples of Mexican slang in different regions:

Mexico City

Mexico City is the capital of Mexico and is known for its rich history and vibrant culture. The slang used in Mexico City is often referred to as “Chilango” slang. Chilango is a term used to describe someone from Mexico City. Here are some examples of Chilango slang:

• Chido: cool
• Naco: someone who is not sophisticated
• Chamba: work
• Fresa: someone who is snobbish or pretentious
• Chilango: someone from Mexico City

Latin America

Mexican slang is also widely used in other Latin American countries, due to the influence of Mexican culture. Here are some examples of Mexican slang that are commonly used in Latin America:

• Güey: dude or friend
• Pedo: problem or trouble
• Carnal: brother or close friend

It is important to note that while Mexican slang is widely used in Latin America, each country has its own unique slang that is influenced by the local dialect and culture.

In conclusion, Mexican slang is an important part of the Mexican culture and varies from region to region. Whether you are in Mexico City or another Latin American country, it is important to understand the local slang to communicate effectively with the locals.

Mexican Slang in Context

If you’re planning to visit Mexico or hang out with Mexican friends, it’s important to know some common Mexican slang words and phrases. Using slang can help you connect with locals and show that you’re familiar with the culture. However, it’s important to use slang in the right context, as some words can be considered rude or offensive.

Here are some common Mexican slang words and phrases that you might hear in different contexts:

• Cool: In Mexico, you can use the word “padre” or “chido” to mean “cool”. For example, if someone shows you a new car, you could say “¡Qué padre!” or “¡Qué chido!” to express your admiration.
• Watch out: If you want to warn someone about a potential danger, you can say “¡Ojo!” which means “watch out”. For example, if you see someone about to step on a banana peel, you could shout “¡Ojo!” to prevent them from slipping.
• Care/careful: To tell someone to be careful, you can say “cuidado”. For example, if you see someone walking on a slippery surface, you could say “¡Cuidado!” to warn them.
• Good vibes: To express positive energy or good vibes, you can use the word “buena onda”. For example, if you’re having a great time at a party, you could say “¡Qué buena onda!” to show your appreciation.
• Drunk/hungover: If you want to say that you’re drunk, you can use the word “pedo”. For example, you could say “Estoy pedo” to indicate that you’ve had too much to drink. If you’re hungover, you could say “Estoy crudo” which means “I’m raw”.
• Be careful: If you want to tell someone to be careful, you can say “ten cuidado”. For example, if you see someone about to cross a busy street, you could say “¡Ten cuidado!” to warn them.
• Fucking: In Mexico, the word “chingar” is a curse word that’s often used to express frustration or anger. It’s important to use this word in the right context, as it can be considered offensive.
• Jail: If you want to say that someone is in jail, you can use the word “cana”. For example, you could say “Está en la cana” to indicate that someone is behind bars.

Remember, slang is often used in casual situations and it’s important to use it appropriately. If you’re not sure how to use a certain word or phrase, it’s better to ask a local or avoid using it altogether.

Mexican Slang in Social Circles

When it comes to socializing with Mexicans, knowing some slang words can make you sound more natural and relaxed. Here are some Mexican slang words that are commonly used in social circles:

• Fresa : This word is used to describe someone who is snobbish or pretentious. If someone is acting like they are better than everyone else, you might say “qué fresa” to describe them.
• Gang : This word is used to refer to a group of friends who hang out together. If you are part of a group of friends, you might say “mi gang” to refer to your crew.
• Partners : This word is used to refer to your friends or acquaintances. If you are talking about a group of people you know, you might say “mis partners” to refer to them.

Mexican slang is often used in a casual setting, so don’t be afraid to use it when you are socializing with Mexicans. It can help you connect with people and make them feel more comfortable around you. However, be careful not to use slang words that are offensive or inappropriate, as this can cause misunderstandings and hurt feelings.

Here are a few more Mexican slang words that you might hear in social circles:

• Chamba : This word is used to refer to a job or work. If someone asks you what you do for a living, you might say “tengo una chamba” to describe your job.
• Chido : This word is used to describe something that is cool or awesome. If you see something that you like, you might say “qué chido” to express your admiration.
• Cuate : This word is used to refer to a close friend or buddy. If you are talking about one of your friends, you might say “mi cuate” to refer to them.

Knowing these Mexican slang words can help you communicate more effectively with Mexicans in social settings. Just remember to use them appropriately and in the right context.

Mexican Slang Phrases

If you’re planning to travel to Mexico or just want to learn some casual Spanish slang phrases, then you’re in the right place. Mexican slang is a unique and colorful language that is widely spoken throughout Mexico. Here are some of the most common Mexican slang phrases that you should know:

• Güey : Pronounced like “whey” in English, this word is at the forefront of Mexican slang. Similar to “dude” in English, “güey” is commonly used for friends or acquaintances, and in some unpleasant situations, refers to strangers in a sarcastic way. For example, “Mira güey, ¿salimos hoy o que?” means “Hey dude, are we going out today or what?”
• Chido : This is a slang word that means “cool” or “awesome”. It is commonly used among young people and is a great way to express excitement or approval. For example, “¡Qué chido está el concierto!” means “This concert is so cool!”
• No manches : This phrase is used to express disbelief or surprise. It is similar to the English phrase “No way!” For example, “¡No manches! ¿De verdad ganaste la lotería?” means “No way! Did you really win the lottery?”
• Qué padre : This phrase means “cool” or “awesome” and is similar to “chido”. It is a more formal way of expressing approval. For example, “¡Qué padre está tu nuevo carro!” means “Your new car is so cool!”
• Órale : This is an expression that can mean many things depending on the context. It can be used to express surprise, agreement, or encouragement. For example, “¡Órale, vamos a la fiesta!” means “Let’s go to the party!”
• Me vale madre : This phrase is used to say “I don’t care”. It is a more vulgar way of expressing indifference. For example, “Me vale madre lo que piensen los demás” means “I don’t care what others think”.
• Chamba : This word means “job” or “work”. It is commonly used by young people when discussing their careers. For example, “Estoy buscando chamba en una empresa grande” means “I’m looking for a job in a big company”.
• Cuate : This word means “friend” or “buddy”. It is commonly used among men to refer to their male friends. For example, “Voy a salir con mis cuates esta noche” means “I’m going out with my buddies tonight”.

Mexican slang phrases are a great way to connect with locals and immerse yourself in the culture. Just remember to use them appropriately and in the right context, also consider taking Spanish classes for knowing more about the context of the words you might listen from the locals or new friends in Mexico.

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60 Mexican Slang Words to Improve Your Conversational Spanish

Ok, but what is mexican slang, improve your spanish language skills, 5 reasons why it is important to learn mexican slang, slang mexican words and phrases with context and examples, ¡no manches, ¿mande (or “ ¿mande usted ” when talking to older people), ¡eso que ni qué, te crees muy muy, no hay bronca, ¡qué padre, sale y vale, estoy crudo, ¿quién la cagó, no hay pedo, ando bien pedo, me vale madres, ¡puta madre, hijo de puta / hijo de perra, ¿qué estás haciendo, güey, ¡a la verga, what was your favorite mexican slang phrase, learn a new language faster, get more from lingvist.

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Mexican Slang

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BY Bryan Shelmon

October 13, 2022

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Mexican Spanish is one of the most exciting forms of the language. Travel to Mexico, and you'll soon discover the abundance of Mexican slang used in daily conversation. Literal translations of Mexican slang may be confusing on paper, but understood correctly by the locals when used in the right context.

If you want to talk Spanish like a Mexican, here are some of the Mexican slang words and phrases you should know.

When to use Mexican slang

You may already be familiar with formal vs. informal word use when speaking Spanish. Consider Mexican slang as the most casual way to speak Spanish locally.

Many of the words and phrases are widespread and frequently used in conversation. It's best, however, to only use them when talking with peers and close friends.

Be sure to understand the appropriate context when speaking Mexican slang so that the other person understands and receives the phrase correctly. Phrases with double meanings are easily misunderstood if misused.

To truly consider yourself fluent in Mexican Spanish, start to use some slang in your conversations and surprise the locals!

There are lots of Mexican slang phrases for greetings.

The most common way to greet someone is merely saying " Buenos ," as opposed to the full " Buenos dias ." Also, for "good night," you'll hear many of the locals shortening it to "buen noche," as opposed to saying the entire "buenas noches."

Mexicans shorten the phrases since they're so frequently used. These words are okay to use in any situation and when talking to anyone.

Some of the more informal ways to greet friends are with phrases including:

The literal meaning of the phrases does not make sense in any language; therefore, the context is essential when using them. 

They are popular for street talk and talking with close friends or family. Try to avoid using these phrases when talking to people more senior than you or strangers. While they will understand you, the expressions are very informal.

Mexican slang in conversation

If you're using Mexican slang to greet friends, chances are the conversation will be filled with a lot of other slang words and phrases. Someone who studies Spanish without visiting Mexico may seem like an expert until arriving – a lot of meaning gets lost in translation unless you understand the context and the local slang.

Exclamation phrases

Exclamatory phrases when using Mexican slang have multiple meanings and are useful in a variety of scenarios. Many of the words are also interchangeable with one another.

A popular word that has unlimited meanings is " órdale! "

In times of extreme emotion, whether good or bad, when words don't do it justice, color your vocabulary with " órdale! " and most likely, it will have an appropriate meaning!

In English, we say "cool," or "that's cool" often.  Mexicans have two phrases to say the same:

You may hear people saying " padre " more than expected, but be aware that they aren't talking about their fathers. Mexicans use the words for father, and sometimes mother, for exclamatory phrases.

You can say " que padre " for "that's cool" when talking about something or an event. You can also use " esta padre " for "it's cool," or simply " padre " for "cool," in the right context. 

Some Mexicans use the phrase " poca madre " to interchange between "that's cool," or "that's bad."

One of the exclamatory slang words with a bit of history is " aguas ," which doesn't mean "waters," as the literal translation suggests.

When you hear " Aguas! " in Mexico, someone is alerting you to "be careful," or "watch out."

The phrase derives from the old days in Mexico before proper drainage systems. After washing clothes or dishes, people tossed the dirty water out the window, hence the water reference in the slang.

When you're in shock or hear surprising news, one way to react is by saying, " no manches! "

The Spanish word manches translates into stain or blemish, but when used in the above context, the phrase has several meanings:

Mexican slang phrases

Understanding some of the popular phrases that Mexicans use for slang is tricky. Translating word for word will confuse anyone, but understanding the entire phrase within the context makes perfect sense.

A few examples are:

All of these examples showcase phrases that have slang meanings that vary significantly from their literal translations.

The phrase " eso que ni que " can be used when you agree with someone. The words translate literally to "that what nor what."

The phrase " el mal del puerco " translates into "the curse of the pig." In English, the best word for translation is “food coma,” or a combined feeling of being full and sleepy after overeating.

The word pedo is a common slang word, as you've seen in the phrase " que pedo " to say "what's up." The word alone means "fart," but you can use the phrase " ando bien pedo " to say that you're very drunk.

The phrase " esta cañón, " is most understandable for Mexican slang. The literal translation is "this canyon," while the slang used to describe situations that are rough or difficult (gives a visualization of a canyon).

Learning Mexican slang is essential for traveling to Mexico and understanding the local Spanish. Slang is a part of their daily conversations, and learning some of it will help you understand when someone uses it with you.

See below for a complete list of Mexican slang words and phrases – we've even included a few bonus words!

Which of these slang words have you heard in Mexico?

About the author 

Bryan Shelmon

Bryan Shelmon is a travel writer, living the digital nomad lifestyle as of the past few years to immerse himself into the travel industry. Bryan has traveled to regions including the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, and Southeast Asia. While traveling, he enjoys attending local cultural events and working on creative projects. Bryan continues to grow as a writer, achieving a #1 Best Selling travel culture guide on Amazon and exploring new regions of the world.

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29 Mexican Slang Words & Phrases To Sound Like A Native In No Time!

Mexico. The most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world and one of the most influential in terms of Spanish language film and literature.

If you're going to learn the common Spanish expressions of any country, Mexico is a great one to start with.

Secondly, there are some unique Mexican expressions that were probably not included in your Spanish textbook or course.

You’ll encounter Mexican insults, slang, and idioms frequently in movies, tv, and pop culture, as well as in your conversations with Mexicans you meet!

In this post, I’m going to help by sharing 29 of the most common Mexican Spanish slang words and expressions you’re likely to hear.

But first… let’s talk about why learning Mexican slang terms, phrases, and idioms are important if you want to become a confident Spanish speaker .

By the way, if you want to learn to speak like a Mexican and participate effortlessly in local conversation, why not check out my popular Mexican Spanish book?

101 Conversations in Mexican Spanish

Real Mexicans don’t speak like your textbook… so it’s no wonder you struggle with the slang and expressions of spoken Mexican Spanish! This book fixes that. For the first time, you’ll learn to move beyond beginner level, and speak Spanish in the real world! With 101 authentic conversations in intermediate Mexican Spanish, and a brand-new story in this edition, you’ll become confident in the words, phrases and expressions you need to communicate like a local.

(Available in Paperback and on Kindle)

If you prefer a comprehensive course that will teach you all aspects of Spanish in detail my top recommendation is Spanish Uncovered, which teaches you through StoryLearning®.  Click here  to find out more and try out the method for free.

Why Learn Mexican Slang Phrases & Idioms?

Spanish idioms and slang are two of the things that complicate the process of transitioning from staged speaking and listening exercises to chatting comfortably with a native Spanish speaker.

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.

For example, with English words:

• An “apartment” in the United States is a “flat” in the UK or Australia.
• A “car park” in Britain would be a “parking lot” in the US and Canada.
• A “barbie” in Australia means a barbeque, whereas, in other English speaking countries, you'd probably think of a Barbie doll!

So it’s always a good idea to learn slang and common expressions when you are planning to travel to a new place.

Learning Mexican slang will help you understand what is being said and help you sound more like a native speaker yourself.

It will help you fit in so you sound less like a foreigner.

Imagine the surprise on your new friends’ faces when you use common Mexican slang words with ease!

So as you can see – learning some Spanish slang is pretty useful! For talking to people and if you want to watch and understand any famous Mexican film.

Now because a lot of dictionaries, movie translations, and study guides come out of Spain, many Spanish learners pick up on Peninsular Spanish expressions when learning Spanish slang before they learn Latin American slang.

That can lead to confusion when you travel to Latin America and keep you from learning colloquial expressions and terms.

So instead of focusing on slang from Spain, in this post, we’ll look at essential slang from one of Latin America’s biggest and most influential countries: Mexico .

Key Features Of Mexican Spanish: Vocabulary & Grammar

Before I get to the list of Mexican slang phases, there are two key things you should know about Spanish in Mexico as opposed to Spain or other Spanish-speaking countries :

• Mexicans do not use the vosotros or vos conjugations for informal speech . The ustedes form is the only conjugation you’ll need for groups (whether you’re friends or not) and tú is used for all informal second-person situations.
• Mexico has more words based on English than other Spanish-speaking countries , probably because of its proximity to the United States. For example, here are some Mexican words you may not hear anywhere else:
• hobby (hobby)
• marqueta (market)

Ok, we’re ready to get started!

Without further ado… here are 29 Mexican slang words and phrases that will have you sounding like a native in no time!

If you prefer to learn by watching videos, check out the video lesson from the StoryLearning® Spanish YouTube channel below. That way you can hear how these words are pronounced.

Or for the full list of 29 Mexican slang words and phrases, scroll down and keep reading! And for a shorter version, check this video:

29 Mexican Slang Words And Phrases Every Spanish Learner Needs To Know

This slang word is used to ask someone to repeat something if you didn’t hear or understand what was said the first time.

This is extremely helpful to know if you are travelling to Mexico as a Spanish learner, as you may often need people to repeat themselves.

It is considered more polite than ¿Qué? or ¿Cómo? in Mexico, but rarely used elsewhere.

Technically, pedo translates to “fart,” but it is used in quite a few phrases in Mexico, some of the most common of which are:

• ¿Qué pedo?  – What’s up?
• No hay pedo  – It’s no problem
• Andar bien pedo/a  – to be very drunk
• ¿Dónde es la peda?  – Where is the party?

Pedo is considered quite crude in some parts of the Spanish-speaking world, so I suggest you pay attention to what the people you are speaking with are saying before trying these phrases yourself, especially if not all of your speaking companions are from Mexico.

3. ¿Qué onda?

This one is nice and simple! It’s another casual way to ask a close friend, “What’s up?” and you’ll hear Mexicans use it all the time.

4. Güey (also spelled “wey”)

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

In Spain, this Spanish word may be used to ask a friend, ¿Qué pasa, tío? , you’d be much more likely to say, ¿Qué onda, güey? – “hey dude, what's up” in Mexico.

Codo/a literally translates to “elbow,” but it is also used in Mexico to describe someone overly frugal or tightfisted with his or her money.

• Juan nunca gasta en cosas innecesarias. Es muy codo.  – Juan never spends money on unnecessary things. He’s very frugal.

6. Estar crudo/a

Put simply, estar crudo/a means to have a hangover.

Literally, it would be translated as “to be raw”, which is probably not a bad metaphor for feeling hungover!

• Estoy bien crudo hoy.  – I’m very hungover today.

7. ¿Qué tal?

I bet you’re surprised to see this phrase make the list.

After all, ¿Qué tal? is not specific to Mexico. You will hear Spanish speakers around the world using it.

However, it does have a different meaning in Mexico than in Spain and some other Spanish-speaking countries .

In Mexico, ¿Qué tal? means “What’s happening?” or “What’s up?” as opposed to “How are you?” or “How are things going?” as you may have learned in your Spanish textbook or class.

So, it’s much more casual than the same phrase would be in other dialects of Spanish.

8. Tener feria

This one means “to have money”, as in:

• ¿Tienes feria para salir este fin de semana? – Do you have money to go out this weekend?

In some parts of Mexico, feria can also refer to pocket change.

9. ¡No manches!

You will use this expression most often when listening to a story or anecdote as it’s used to express shock or surprise.

In English, it would translate roughly to “No way!” or “You’re kidding me!”

10. La neta

La neta in Mexican Spanish means the truth.

It can be used either as a way to agree with someone;

• Sí, es la neta – Yes it’s the truth

… or to express doubt in what they’re saying:

• ¿Es la neta? – Is it the truth?

If you refer to a person as neto/a , you are describing someone who can be trusted or that you can always count on – eres la neta!

11. Ni modo

There is no literal translation of ni modo in English, but it falls somewhere between “no big deal” and “it is what it is.”

You can use ni modo to say you have no preference or also to express disappointment at something you have no control over.

12. ¡Aguas!

¡Aguas! means… Watch out!

The story goes that this expression dates back to the days when the contents of chamber pots and other wastewater were tossed out the window and into the street each morning.

These days, ¡Aguas! isn’t related to water or waste at all. Instead, it’s an expression similar to “Heads up!” still used in Mexico and some parts of the United States.

13. Estar cañón

This literally means to be difficult or hard, as in:

• El examen estuvo cañón – The exam was really hard.

You can also use cañón to add intensity to an expression, such as:

• Te extraño cañón – I miss you so much.

14. Eso que ni qué

This handy Mexican phrase means “definitely” or “without a doubt”.

Use eso que ni qu é to express total agreement with what someone else is saying.

• – Chichen Itza es uno de los lugares más conocidos de México  – Chichen Itza is one of the most well-known places in Mexico.
• – Eso que ni qu é – Without a doubt!

You probably already know that the noun  fresa literally means “strawberry”.

In Mexico, though, native speakers use it as an adjective to describe someone as stuck up or snooty.

Vato means “guy” or “man”, and has a measure of respect or being impressed about it.

However, in some situations, it also has a gang connotation and can be the Mexican slang for gangster.

There’s some debate about whether vato is a variant of bato (fool), chivato (informant or snitch), or other indigenous words from the region.

Wherever it comes from, it is used today in Northern Mexico between friends.

It’s also been included in a number of Spanglish expressions and songs, such as in the Texas Tornados song, “Hey Baby, ¿Qué Paso?”:

17. Chido/a

Chido/a is used as an adjective meaning “awesome” or “cool”.

The Mexican version is used the same way you would use guay in Spain. For example:

• Es un vato chido – He’s a cool guy!

Of course, padre generally means ‘father’ in Spanish, but in Mexico, it’s also another way to say, “Awesome!” or “Great!”, for example:

• ¡Qué padre! – How awesome/great!

19. Chicano/a

This term is an interesting one and you may well hear it used among latinos in the US as well as in Mexico.

It’s a Mexican slang word that refers to people of Mexican origin living in the United States.

20. ¡Órale!

There’s no literal translation for the slang word órale in English.

Instead, it can mean one of a few different expressions, such as:

• “Well done”

I know it sounds tricky but don’t worry! The context will always make it pretty clear what is being expressed.

21. Ser bien gacho/a

To be gacho can be used to describe people as “lame” or “uncool”.

When directed at a situation, it is another way to say mala onda or “bad vibes” which is the opposite to buena onda, “good vibes”!

• No me gusta esta fiesta. Está bien gacha. – I don’t like this party. It has bad vibes.

Carnal can be used to describe “brother”, either literally or as an expression or term of endearment between close friends.

• Oye, carnal, ¿cómo te va? – Hey brother, what’s up?

23. Te crees muy muy

This one is the slang term for “You think you are such a big deal” and is used in the same way its translation would be in English.

It may seem simple, but it is commonly used and can go a long way to helping you sound more natural in your conversations with Spanish speakers in Mexico!

24. Chavo/a

A word used to informally refer to children, like “kids” in English.

Other words in Mexico with similar meanings include chamaco/a and morro/a .

• Los chavos están jugando al fútbol – The kids are playing football.

25. Sin broncas

The Mexican slang word Bronca roughly translates to “fight” or “row.”

So, to say something or someone is sin broncas , you are saying there’s no problem (e.g. they’re “without fight/disagreement”).

26. ¡Qué huevos!

This phrase is used to express admiration or amazement at something daring or brave.

It's also sometimes used to express dismay or disgust. And when it is, you’ll be able to tell easily from the context.

¡A huevo! is a similar expression that means “Absolutely!” or “Let’s do it!”

However, it’s a really good idea to use the word huevos with care, as it’s also a common Spanish slang term for “testicles”!

As you might imagine, it basically means there are many vulgar innuendos and Mexican slang insults that include the word huevos , so much so that some foreigners fear even using the word when ordering eggs at a restaurant!

You don’t need to worry about saying Mexican curse words when ordering huevos directly. But do be careful to avoid any unfortunate hand signs or overly specific descriptions that could lead to a round of laughter at your expense!

27. Huevón/a

Huevón literally means a “large egg” but is used as a slangy Mexican interjection or an insult to talk about an extremely lazy person. For example:

• Mario nunca hace nada. ¡Qué huevón! – Mario never does anything. What a lazy guy!

Just as Spaniards say vale to mean “Let’s go!” or “Okay, cool,” and Argentineans use dale , Mexicans express the same thing with the word sale .

• ¿Vamos al cine a la tarde? – Sale – Shall we go to the cinema in the afternoon? Ok, cool.

29. No hay de queso, nomás de papas

This classic Mexican slang phrase is used in place of “you’re welcome,” and it’s actually a play on words made famous by a popular Mexican television show!

It is a variant of the common expression no hay de qué, which means “no problem.”

It’s Time To Start Using Your Mexican Slang!

There you have it!

29 Mexican slang words and expressions to impress your friends while travelling in Central America and sound fluent in Spanish in no time!

By learning these common Mexican phrases, when studying Spanish, you’ll not only learn to keep up in conversation with your Mexican friends but also be able to watch a range of fantastic Mexican movies and TV shows that use colloquial slang.

You’ll be able to speak the Mexican lingo with greater confidence without the fear of being laughed at for using “textbook phrases” or formal Spanish.

So what are you waiting for? Learn the phrases that are most relevant to you, then get out there and practice using them!  ¡Suerte!

By the way, if you want to immerse yourself in the different Spanish dialects of Spain and Latin America while pushing past the dreaded intermediate plateau, then check out the  Fluent Spanish Academy .

It's an entire library of Spanish learning material with audio and transcripts, and much more to get you fluent in the language fast.

Click here to find out more about Fluent Spanish Academy and how it can help you.

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51 Mexican Slang Words To Sound Like a True Mexican

A while ago, some of my best students had the hardest time understanding what some Mexicans were saying. Does this sound familiar to you? When struggling to understand locals, it’s highly-likely you need to improve your slang vocabulary. So, if want to take your Mexican Spanish to the next level, you must learn some Mexican slang words

Slang terms can make a huge difference when learning Spanish . For that reason, in this article, you’ll learn 51 common Mexican slang words and phrases we Mexicans use on a daily basis. I’ll include definitions and examples of how to use these terms. By the end of it, you’ll be able to understand and apply these words like a true Mexican speaker. 

1. Güey 

Güey or wey is a Mexican slang word for friend. However, it can also be used to say that someone is dumb, to express surprise or annoyance. So, depending on the context, it means ‘ dude’, ‘mate’ , ‘ pal ’ , ‘buddy’ , ‘guy’, ‘silly’, ‘dumb’ or ‘damn ’. 

Güey , ¿ya vienes? Dude , are you on your way?

¡Qué wey estás! You’re so silly!

2. Pedo 

Pedo is one of the most robust Mexican slang words. Its meaning depends on the phrase you use:

• Echarse un pedo – To fart
• Estar pedo – To be drunk
• Ponerse pedo – To get drunk
• No hay pedo – No biggie / No problem
• Ni pedo – It is what it is / Oh well
• ¡Qué pedo! – Jeez! / What’s up
• Buen pedo – Nice
• Mal pedo – That’s too bad / Mean
• Traer un pedo – Have an issue
• Hacerla de pedo – Make a fuss / Look for trouble
• Ser otro pedo – Be something else 
• Bajarle a tu pedo – Chill out 
• Agarrar el pedo – To understand

Take Note: Pedo is a very common slang word among Mexicans. However, for some people, it’s close to a curse word. Pex is the less coarse version of ‘pedo’. So, if you want to be more cautious, you can replace ‘pedo’ with this word. 

Chido is the Mexican slang word for ‘ cool ’ and ‘awesome’ . Mexican speakers use this word to describe things and people or as an informal way to agree with something or say ‘thank you’ .  

¡Qué chido ! Me da gusto por ti. Awesome! I’m happy for you.

Tu mamá es super chida . Your mom is super cool . 

Tip: When men use chido to describe a girl , they can refer to her personality or her physical appearance. ‘Estar chida’ is a very informal way to say that a girl is hot. 

Neta or la neta is an informal synonym of ‘truth’ or ‘to be honest’ . However, we can also use it as an expression to show surprise when someone is saying something to us. In this context, it’s close to ‘really?’.

La neta no sé. The truth is that I don’t know. 

¿Neta terminaron? Did you guys really break up? 

If you need to tell someone to wait, you can use the Mexican slang word aguanta. You can also use this word to show disbelief. Aguanta means ‘wait a minute’ , ‘hold on’ or ‘no way’ .

¡Aguanta , ya casi acabo! Wait , I’m almost done!

¿Es neta? ¡ Aguanta ! Really? Hold on!  

6. No Manches

One of the most popular Mexican slang phrases is no manches , which you’ll use to express surprise, anger, or astonishment. No manches is close in meaning to ‘no way’, ‘damn’, ‘come on’, ‘holy cow’ or ‘you are kidding’.

¡ No manches! Te dije que tenía que llegar temprano. Come on! I told you that I had to arrive early. 

No manches , Axel me invitó a salir. Holy cow , Axel asked me out. 

7. Buena Onda / Mala Onda

Buena onda and mala onda describe people or situations. ‘Buena onda’ means something or someone is ‘nice ’ or ‘cool ’. On the other hand, mala onda means ‘uncool ’, ‘ disagreeable’ ‘mean ’ or ‘ bad’ . You can use these expressions with the verb ser or the interjection ‘qué’. 

¡Qué buena onda que ganaras! It’s so nice that you won!

Tu novio es super mala onda . Your boyfriend is so disagreeable .

Take Note: Buena onda and mala onda are popular informal expressions to describe someone’s personality in Mexican Spanish.

8. ¡Qué onda!

When greeting their friends, Mexican speakers will likely say ¡qué onda! instead of ‘hola’. On top of being an informal greeting, you can also use ‘¡qué onda!’ to show surprise or disbelief. This Mexican slang phrase can be translated as “what’s up”, ‘how are things?’, ‘how is it going?’ or ‘what is up with…?’ . 

¿ Qué onda con tu amiga? What’s up with your friend?

¿Ana? ¡Qué onda! ¿Cómo estás? Ana? What’s up! How are you?

9. Morro / Morra

Morro and morra are informal words for ‘kid’, ‘lad’, ‘boy’ or ‘girl’ . In informal settings, parents can use these words to refer to their kids. Additionally, morro and morra are also Mexican slang words for ‘girlfriend’ and ‘boyfriend’ .  

Ya duérmanse, morros . Go to sleep, kids.

Mi morra trabaja aquí. My girlfriend works here.

Tip: You can use the diminutive form morrito or morrita to show affection or express that the other person is slightly younger than you.

10. Güero 

In Mexican slang, people use the term güero to refer to white people. Güero, and its feminine form güera , are not derogatory terms but rather an informal adjective or name. These words can be translated as ‘ blonde’ or ‘blondie ’. 

Oye, güero , ¿ya terminaste? Hey, blondie , did you finish?

Mi prima es güerita y de ojos azules. My cousin is blonde and has blue eyes.

To describe bad quality, you can use the informal term chafa. This word can also be used to express disappointment when a situation doesn’t turn out as expected. So, ‘chafa’ is close in meaning to ‘crappy’, ‘lame’, or ‘shoddy’ . 

¿No vas a venir? ¡ Qué chafa ! You’re not coming? That’s lame !

La película estuvo muy chafa . The movie was very crappy .

12. Chavo / Chava

In Mexican slang, chavo and chava are terms used to refer to young people. So, they can be translated as ‘boy’, ‘guy’, ‘girl’ or ‘gal’ . Since these words refer to youth, Mexican speakers also use them to express that a person is naive or immature. 

Esa chava es mi novia. That girl is my girlfriend.

La neta estás chavo . You’re a kid , to be honest.

Tip: ‘Chavo’ and ‘chava’ are also Mexican slang words for boyfriend and girlfriend. 

Chela is the Mexican slang term for ‘beer’ . It may also be used as a nickname for certain given names. 

Se me antojan unas chelas . I feel like having some beers .

In standard Spanish fresa means ‘strawberry’. However, in Mexican slang, fresa is close in meaning to ‘posh’ or ‘preppy’ , and it describes people, behaviors or places. 

¡Qué fresa eres! You’re so preppy !

Hablas muy fresa . You speak very posh .

Padre is a variation of ‘chido’. As a result, it’s another Mexican slang word for ‘cool’ , ‘ awesome’ , and ‘ great’ . Padre is only used to describe situations or things. 

Tu casa está muy padre . Your house is very cool .

Que padre . How cool .

Tip: Padrísimo and padrísima are the superlative forms of ‘padre’. You can use them to emphasize the thing you’re describing. For example, tu casa está padrísima – ‘your house is super cool’ or ‘your house is the coolest’. 

In Mexican Spanish, peda means ‘to get drunk ’, but it also refers to partying or going on a binge . 

Vámonos de peda . Let’s go on a binge .

Luis y yo nos pusimos una buena peda . Luis and I got very drunk .

Achis is an informal Mexican word that you can use to express surprise or admiration. It’s close in meaning to ‘oh gosh’ , ‘blimey’ , and ‘holy moly’. 

¡Achis! ¿Dónde dejé mis llaves? Oh, gosh ! Where did I leave my keys?

Tip: ‘Achis, achis’, ‘achis piachis’, and ‘achis, achis los mariachis’ are popular variations you can use. 

18. ¡Ándale!

In Mexican slang, ándale is used to tell people to hurry up . Native speakers also use this word to show surprise or agreement. Ándale is close in meaning to ‘ hurry up’, ‘ come on ’, ‘okay ’, or ‘jeez ’. 

¡Ándale! Se nos va a hacer tarde. Come on! We’re going to be late.

Ah, ándale , a esa hora está bien. Okay , that time sounds good.

In Mexico, the slang word hueva refers to laziness. You can use this term to express that: 

• You feel lazy – Tener hueva. 
• Something is so boring that it makes you lazy – Dar hueva / Estar de hueva.
• You were being lazy – Tirar la hueva

Take Note: Huevón is an adjective that you can use to describe lazy people. 

Gacho is a negative adjective in Mexican Spanish. It expresses that a situation or person is ‘awful’ , ‘nasty’ , or ‘crappy’. 

¡Qué gacha eres! You’re awful !

Cámara is a Mexican slang word that you can use to show agreement. It means ‘okay’ , ‘good’ or ‘right’ . 

Cámara , nos vemos el lunes. Okay , I’ll see you on Monday. 

Like ‘cámara’, arre is a common informal term that Mexican speakers use to express agreement. It’s closer in meaning to ‘okay ’. 

Arre , entonces, yo te marco. Okay, I’ll call you then. 

Mande is a polite and informal way to say ‘ what? ’, ‘ yes ?’ or ‘ come again? ’ in Mexican Spanish. 

Chamba is the Mexican slang word for ‘work’ or ‘ job ’. 

Tengo mucha chamba . I have a lot of work . 

Tip: Chambear is the equivalent of the verb ‘to work’, and chambeador is the slang adjective you can use to describe a hard-working person. 

25. Gandalla

In Mexican slang, gandalla is a negative word that describes an abusive (not necessarily aggressive) person that takes advantage of a situation or others. It’s close to ‘abusive’, ‘underhanded’ , ‘sketchy’ , or ‘shifty ’. 

Ese güey es muy gandalla . That guy is very shifty .

26. Bato / Vato

Bato or vato is a Mexican slang word for ‘ guy ’. People also use this term to say ‘boyfriend ’. 

¿Quién es ese bato ? Who is that guy ?

In Mexico, poner paros means ‘ to give excuses ’. However, you can also use the slang phrase hacer el paro if you want to ask someone for help or to give you a hand . 

Oye, ¿me haces un paro ? Hey, can you give me a hand ?

No pongas paros, ya sé que no vas a venir. Don’t give me excuses . I know you’re not coming.

Take Note: Do not confuse the slang phrase ‘poner paros’ with the standard idiom ‘ poner peros ’, which we use to express that someone is making objections to something. 

28. Bañársela / Volársela

Bañársela or volársela are informal Mexican words that express that someone crossed the line or went too far . Although these translations may refer to bad behaviors, bañársela and volársela are frequently used when someone says or does something too funny. 

No manches, morra, te la bañaste . Holy cow, girl, you went too far .

‘ Pasarse de lanza ’ is a popular variation that you can also use. 

Híjole is a Mexican term for ‘jeez’, ‘goodness’, or ‘gosh’ . This slang word is used to express surprise. 

Híjole, el súper estaba llenísimo. Jeez, the supermarket was very crowded.

Tip: You may also hear its variation jíjole or jíjos . 

30. Sacarle 

Sacarle is an informal verb that Mexicans use to say ‘to back out ’ or ‘to bail ’. 

¡No le saques! Dijiste que íbamos a ir. Don’t back out ! You said we were going.

Notice that sacar is a stem-changing verb in Spanish .

Tip: Sacatón and sacatona are slang adjectives that you can use to express that someone is a coward. 

In Mexico, pichar is when you offer to pay for your friends’ drinks or food. This informal term is close in meaning to ‘to be on me’ , ‘to treat to’ or ‘to be [my/your/their] treat’. 

¿Se te antojan unos tacos? Yo te los picho . Do you feel like having tacos? It’s my treat .

Mijo and mija are informal terms of endearment in Mexico. People use these words to call kids or as affectionate terms to call their partners or friends. ‘Mijo’ and ‘mija’ mean ‘boy’, ‘lad’, ‘girl’, ‘son’, ‘daughter’, ‘kid’, ‘honey’, ‘dude’ , or ‘pal’ . 

Mijo , dale esto a tu abuela. Son , give this to your grandma.

Qué onda, mijo , ¿se va a armar la peda? What’s up, dude , are we going to party?

33. Cargar el payaso

If a Mexican uses cargar el payaso, they mean that something went wrong for them. ‘Cargar el payaso’ is closely related to ‘ to be screwed ’. 

No manches, ¡las llaves! Ya me cargó el payaso . Damn! The keys! I am screwed.

34. A darle que es mole de olla

This Mexican phrase expresses that a task must be done quickly and keenly. It can also be used to say that you must take advantage of a rising opportunity. Although it doesn’t do it justice, ‘get cracking’ or “let’s hustle” . 

El proyecto es para mañana, a darle que es mole de olla . The project is due tomorrow, get cracking people.

35. Carrilla

The Mexican slang word carilla is related to ‘make fun of someone ’. You can use ser carilla to describe people who like to make fun of someone . On the other hand, echar carrilla means to say something to make fun of others. 

Mi morra es bien carrilla . My girlfriend likes to make fun of other people .

Tip: Mexican speakers can use the word carreta as a synonym of ‘carrilla’. 

36. Aguïtarse

When something is disappointing or makes us sad, we Mexicans use the verb agüitarse to express these feelings. This slang verb means ‘to be down in the dumps ’ , ‘to be saddened ’ or ‘to be upset ’. 

Linda se aguïto conmigo. Linda is upset with me.

Tip: Andar agüitado is a variation you can use to express that you’re currently feeling sad. 

37. Estar cañón

When Mexicans use the slang phrase estar cañón they either mean that something is challenging , or that something or someone is really good at something . 

El examen estuvo cañón . The test was very hard .

Matt está cañón en matemáticas. Matt is very good at math .

38. Pistear

In Mexican Spanish, pistear is a slang word that means ‘to drink ’. 

Caéle, estamos pisteando . Come over, we’re drinking .

Tip: El pisto is another Mexican slang word to say ‘drinks’. 

Órale is an informal term that you can use to show agreement or surprise and to ask someone to hurry up. So, depending on the context, ‘órale’ can be translated as ‘wow’ , ‘ oh my God’ , ‘ okay ’, or ‘come on ’. 

¡ Órale , ya me quiere dormir! Come on, I want to sleep!

Órale, entonces, ahí te veo. Okay, I’ll see you there, then.

40. Armarse

In Mexican slang, armarse is a word we use to ask or affirm that an activity is going to be done . 

¿ Se va a armar la peda? Are we going to party?

41. Chale 

Chale is a popular expression that people use to show surprise, disappointment, or annoyance. It’s close to ‘Jesus’ , ‘oh my God’ or ‘holy moly’ .

Chale , se me olvidó la cartera. Oh my God , I forgot my wallet.

Compa is a Mexican slang word for ‘friend’ , ‘homie’ , ‘pal’, ‘mate’ , or ‘buddy’ . As a result, it’s more popular among men. 

Deja le pregunto a mi compa . Let me ask my buddy .

Take Note: ‘Compa’ is the shortened form of ‘compadre’, a term Mexicans use to call their children’s godfather. 

Chin is another slang word you can use in Mexico to express surprise or annoyance. It’s close in meaning to ‘ damn ’, ‘ jeez ’, or ‘ oh my Good ’.

¡ Chin ! Se me olvidó pagar el internet. Damn! I forgot to pay for the internet.

44. ¡Aguas! 

Aguas is a slang term that people use to warn others about a potential danger, mistake, or consequence. It means ‘watch out’ or ‘be careful’ . 

¡Aguas! Te vas a lastimar. Be careful! You’re going to hurt yourself.

45. A huevo 

The Mexican slang phrase a huevo is used to celebrate good news, to express that something is mandatory, and as an informal way to say ‘yes’. So, ‘a huevo’ means ‘heck, yes’, ‘for sure’, ‘of course’, ‘by force’ or ‘mandatorily’ . 

¡A huevo , ahí te veo! For sure , I’ll see you there!

Mi mamá a huevo quiere que vaya. My mom wants me to go mandatorily .

46. Rifársela 

When someone does something cool or funny, or they do great, Mexicans use the verb rifársela to describe those actions. So, this verb can be translated as ‘to be cool’ , ‘to be amazing’ , or ‘to do great’ . 

Se la rifaron , morros, chido. You were amazing , boys. Thanks.

As a slang word, sobres means “let’s do this” or ‘okay’ . 

Sobres, ahí te marco. Okay , I’ll call you.

Carnal is a common Mexican slang word for ‘brother’ , ‘buddy’ , or ‘pal’ .

Ese morrito de allá es mi carnal . That kid over there is my brother.

Simón is a common way to say ‘yes’ in Mexican slang. You can also use this word to show disbelief. In this case, it would be close in meaning to ‘yeah, right’ .

Simón, yo le digo. Yes, I’ll let her know.

Ay, simón , no creo. Yeah, right , I don’t believe that.

In Mexico, feria is one of the most common ways to say ‘money’ . With this meaning you can also use the variation ‘ lana ’. 

La neta no tengo feria , güey. The truth is that I don’t have money , dude.

51. Caer el chahuistle 

Caer el chahuistle is used in Mexican slang to express displeasure because an unexpected or unwelcome person shows up unexpectedly. This phrase can also imply that something will be ruined because this person shows up. 

For example, if you’re having a nice family gathering and a disagreeable relative arrives, you can say “ya nos cayó el chahuistle”. In other words, things are ruined because this person showed up.

This expression doesn’t have a translation. 

Wrapping Up

Mexican slang language is its own thing. So, if you want to be able to understand and communicate with Mexican speakers, you need to learn some of their most popular terms. In this article, we covered some of the most common Mexican slang words, and you’ve learned their different meanings and variations. 

You probably noticed that many of the examples included for each slang word or expression used other terms from this list. So, the more slang you learn, the more you can combine the terms in your sentences.

Cheat sheet: If you need help memorizing these terms, you can download it below.

Daniela Sanchez

¡Hola! Soy Daniela Sanchez, I've been studying Spanish professionally as well as teaching it in Mexico and online for over 10 years. I’ve taught Spanish to a wide array of foreigners from many backgrounds. Over the years, I've made it my mission to work hard on refining many challenging to understand grammar topics to make my students' learning experiences easier, faster and more enjoyable. Read More About Me

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Home » Articles » Mexican Slang: 30+ Mexican Words and Phrases to Master Casual Conversations in Spanish

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written by Benny Lewis

Language: Spanish

Reading time: 8 minutes

Published: Mar 30, 2020

Updated: Sep 17, 2021

Mexican Slang: 30+ Mexican Words and Phrases to Master Casual Conversations in Spanish

Hola, compa. ¿Qué onda?

Have you learned these Mexican slang words yet? Or are you used to Hola, amigo. ¿Qué tal?

Learning Spanish slang terms helps you sound like a more natural Spanish speaker. But one of the difficult aspects of any language is learning the regional differences, especially when it comes to slang. This is particularly true with Spanish, where there are many different dialects.

I started by learning Castilian Spanish , the Spanish dialect that’s native to Spain. But since then, I’ve picked up regional dialects and vocabulary from my travels around the Spanish-speaking world . And not least of all, I’ve learned some Mexican slang terms along the way.

If you live in North America, you’re probably most familiar with Mexican Spanish and Mexican slang thanks to the proximity to Mexico. And English has influenced Mexican Spanish in return. Out of all the regional dialects, Mexican Spanish has the most English terms.

If you’re a beginner Spanish learner, you’ll want to use these Mexican slang words with care. Some of them are not appropriate to use with strangers or even with your family. While it’s fun to learn slang, if you’re brand new to Spanish, I recommend that you start with essential words and phrases to start speaking Spanish now .

Let’s get right to it.

Mexican Slang to Master for Casual Conversations

Some of these terms and phrases below are NSFW.

Wey – “Dude”

Let’s start with the most common Mexican slang term. Wey means “dude” when talking to friends. It can also be used to call someone a “bro”, or, in general, refer to a guy. Sometimes you’ll see it spelt güey , but it’s pronounced the same and means the same thing.

It’s natural to greet a friend in Mexico with ¿Qué onda, wey?

It can also be used as conversational filler or an exclamation, like Wey, ¿viste eso? which means, “Bro, did you see that?”

Or another example:

Estaba estudiando español, y wey esta frase fue muy difícil … “I was studying Spanish, and like, this phrase was really difficult…”

You may also hear vato in Mexican slang, but it’s not as common as wey . It’s more cholo , or gangster.

¿Qué onda? – “What’s Up?”

Like ¿Qué tal? or ¿Qué pasa? in Spain, this means “What’s up?” in Spanish. ¿Qué onda? literally means “What wave?” like, “What wave you riding, dude?” or “How’s it hangin’?”

More crudely, you can use ¿Qué pedo? , which also means “What’s up?” But pedo means “fart”, so the actual translation is “What fart?”

No Manches – “No Way” or “For Real”

This is an exclamation, typically used when someone’s telling you a story. Wherever you might say things like “No way!”, “For real?” or “Are you serious?” in English, you’d use no manches in Mexican Spanish.

No Mames – “No Way!”

Similarly, no mames is also used as an exclamation, but it’s more intense. It’s closer to “No fucking way!” Be careful with this one since it has a strong connotation.

The literal meaning is “don’t suck”.

Pinche – “Fucking” or “The Worst”

Pinche can be used to describe something as “the worst”, “ugly”, “awful”. Or it can be an intensifying cuss word, like “fucking” in English. Besides wey , this word’s a dead giveaway someone is from Mexico.

Mijo and Mija – “My Son” and “My Daughter”

This one is simple. Many words in Spanish get smushed together for convenience. One example is mijo and mija , which is mi hijo and mi hija (“my son” and “my daughter”) smushed together.

You can do this with many words, but this one is especially common to hear. If you’re learning Spanish slang, keep an eye out for these casual “smushed” words that combine two words together.

La Neta – “The Truth”

La neta means “the truth”, but when used as slang, it has several different meanings. It can be an interjection, meaning “For real?” or “No way!” when used like ¿Es neta?*

If someone does you a favour, you can say eres la neta , which roughly translates as “you’re trustworthy” or “you’re amazing.”

Fresa – “Snobby”

Fresa usually means “strawberry”. But when you call someone fresa , it means they’re snobby or from a rich family.

Pendejo – “Dumbass”

This one has a couple of literal translations, including “asshole” and “pubic hair”. But when calling someone this, joking or otherwise, it means “you’re stupid”, “dumbass”, or “idiot”.

¿Cuándo vas a dejar de actuar estúpido? Nunca, pendejo. “When are you going to stop acting stupid?” “Never, dumbass.”

Carnal – “Buddy”

This word is used between close guy friends, or “bros”, to call each other “buddy” or “pal”. It’s a bit threatening and gangster when using it to a stranger. Saying it to a stranger is a bit like calling someone out and making sure they know you see through them and what they’re up to.

Chamaco / Chamaca – “The Kid”

This is a slang term to refer to a kid, usually one who’s a bit of a punk or pain to deal with. Here’s an example:

Ese chamaca necesita calmarse. Me estoy irritando. “That kid needs to calm down. I’m getting irritated.”

Gacho – “Uncool”

Gacho or gacha is used to describe someone or something totally uncool, or even sloppy. For example:

El cine era muy gacho. No lo recomiendo. “That movie was so lame. I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Culero – “Asshole”

Exactly as it sounds. If someone’s being an asshole, this is what you’d call them.

Aguas – “Watch Out!”

This translates as “waters”, but when used as an exclamation, it’s a slang term for “Watch out!” or “Be careful!” You can use this in place of ayuda .

It may seem strange, but it comes from when people used to dump their sewage out the window onto the street. They’d say aguas to let others know they were about to empty el bacín (their “chamber pot” from back in the day).

Chancla – The Mom Beating

This one isn’t necessarily a slang term, but more a cultural reference. Chancla means “flip flop” but it’s become a meme in Mexican culture as the preferred weapon for every madre .

For example: ¡Aguas! Chanclas de mamá! Watch out! Mom’s flip flops!

Jaina – “Chick”

This means “chick” or “chica”. You could say:

¿Qué tal, jaina? “What’s up, chick?”

Compa – “Friend”

This is the Mexican slang for “friend”. It’s short for compañero or compañera . But it doesn’t need gender changes like the whole word. So you wouldn’t use it as compro for a guy. Everyone is compa .

Mexican Slang Phrases

Here are some essential Mexican slang phrases you’ll want to know. You’ll hear these often on Mexican TV shows, for instance.

Me Vale Madres – “I Don’t Care”

This literally means “I don’t care mothers”, but a better translation would be “I don’t give a fuck” or “I don’t care, motherfucker”.

A Huevo – “Hell Yeah”

This one means “of course”, “hell yeah” or “fuck yeah”, so you use this one for enthusiastic agreement. The actual meaning is “to egg”.

In English, how we refer to “testicles” as “balls”, in Spanish, they’re huevos . So, there are lots of other dirty or not nice phrases with huevo . Like Qué huevos , which more or less means “What balls!” to say someone did something that took guts.

Eso que ni qué – “No Doubt About It”

This one literally means “That what or what.” or “That what nor what”. As a slang phrase, it’s used to mean “No doubt about it”.

Ando bien pedo – “I’m Drunk”

This is another phrase that uses pedo , or “fart” and means more or less “I’m very fart”. You say this when you’re smashed from a hard night of partying.

Estoy Crudo – “I’m Hungover”

Crudo means “raw” and the next day after feeling ando bien pedo , your stomach may feel pretty raw. So this one makes sense as “I’m hungover”.

No Pos Wow – “Not Good, Wow”

This one stems from a meme like this one:

In Spanish, guau (which sounds like “wow”) is the onomatopoeia for a dog barking. So it’s a play on that, using improper spelling like an American meme would. ( Pos is meant to be pues ).

It’s used like “Oh, wow” or “Oh, no good”. Sometimes it’s used sincerely, but it’s mainly used in a sarcastic way, like “You don’t say. eye roll ”

Vales Verga – “Worthless”

If you really want to insult someone, use this phrase. Translated word-by-word, it means “worth penis” or even “cheap penis”. When you say it, you’re calling someone “worthless”.

A La Verga – “Aw, Shit”

Another slang using verga , this time it’s an exclamation. When something goes wrong, you can say ¡A la verga! The actual meaning is “to cock”, so it basically means the same as “it went to shit” or “shit hit the fan” in English.

Tu es Chismosa – “You’re a Gossip”

This one stems from chisme , which means “gossip”. But if you want to call someone a gossip, you would say tu es chismosa or tu es chismoso .

Start Using Mexican Slang Words!

This article just grazes the surface of the interesting Spanish slang you’ll stumble upon in Mexico. But it’s a good start to Mexican slang you’ll hear in the movies, telenovelas , and shows. The more you immerse yourself in Spanish and practice these phrases, the more natural your conversations will sound. And, you’ll have an easier time picking up other slang terms, too.

Benny Lewis

Founder, Fluent in 3 Months

Fun-loving Irish guy, full-time globe trotter and international bestselling author. Benny believes the best approach to language learning is to speak from day one .

Speaks: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Esperanto, Mandarin Chinese, American Sign Language, Dutch, Irish

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Mexican Slang Words: The Ultimate Guide to Not Embarrass Yourself in Mexico

Quit thinking about not being capable of understanding jokes or expressions in Spanish that would kill it in conversations. Translating from one language to the other is never the right answer.

Some would tell you using slang from a different culture doesn’t feel natural and they may be right when it’s down to swearing. However, you have no idea how limited English is in this matter!

By the way, remember most of these Spanish slang words should be used always in an informal context. Let’s start with, by far, the three most important terms when learning Mexican slang. Let’s go!

The most popular Mexican slang words and phrases

La chingada.

One of the most popular Mexican slang terms. Most Spanish-speaking countries are very familiar with it and in the United States, it has become very popular thanks to the influence of the Latino community.

However, if you’re going to start using it, you’ll have to be careful not to convey the wrong message because depending on the context, it will convey different meanings. 

In Mexican slang, chingada can refer to something in a deplorable place, state, or condition:

• ¡Vete a la chingada!: go to hell!
• ¡Me lleva la chingada!: I’m screwed!
• Esto está de la chingada: This is not good.

Chingar as a verb in Spanish can also refer to several situations such as being irritating, having heavy work, or having many different things to do.

• ¡Deja de chingar!: Stop bothering!
• Estuve chingándole todo el día: I’ve been working the whole day.
• Tengo un chingo de cosas por hacer: I have a lot to do.

On the other hand, we have chingón, which is used to describe something or someone good or cool.

• Carlos es un chingón en física: Carlos is very good at physics.
• La comida está bien chingona: The food is very good.

Even though the translation “fart” works for some scenarios in Spanish, it’s mostly a way to say “drunk”.

• Estoy bien pedo: I’m drunk.

Drink big time? Call it la peda.

• Te vi en la peda de anoche: I saw you at the party last night.

Use it when you need to know  if there is a problem or not:

• ¿Cuál es tu pedo?: what’s your problem?

Lastly, you can use the question ¿Qué pedo? In a friendly way for “What’s up?” Or, with an aggressive tone for “What the hell?” It is mostly used as an adjective for an object or someone. It is pretty much used in the same way the word “fucking” is in English.

• Mi pinche coche se dañó otra vez: My fucking car broke again.
• Ese pinche perro me hace reír: That fucking dog makes me laugh.

These Mexican slang words have become so popular that they’re being adopted by other countries in Latin America into their everyday language. If you want to sound like a local , pinche is the most Mexican you can get.

Everyday Expressions in Mexican Spanish

Mexico City is known for its movie dubbing for the Latin American market. Some of those are done with standard Spanish but some others are not. Therefore, many of the terms in Mexican Spanish slang are understood in other Spanish-speaking countries . However, the following phrases are not used as much as they are used in Mexico.

Use it on the phone only in Mexico to let the other person know you’re listening to them. It’s like giving them a “talk to me”. On the other hand, it is frequently used in regular conversations when you need to know what someone said but you didn’t understand. You’d be asking “What?”.

Another slang term for which the literal translation won’t work. In this case, we have “waters”. ¡Aguas! is a warning like “careful” or “watch out”. You’ll most likely hear this expression when danger is near. 

• ¡Aguas! Ahí viene mi mamá: Careful! Mom’s coming.

The one who’s watching out to warn the rest is echando aguas .

Ever wondered how to say “what’s up” in Mexican slang? Here are some examples:

• ¿Qué tal? 
• ¿Qué pasó? 
• ¿Qué onda? 

Each of the above works perfectly to ask someone about the current situation or state. The first three are for people you don’t know well. The last expression should be used with close friends.

Buenas Ondas

There are two words for wave in Spanish. The ones in the ocean are “olas” and the rest are “ondas” . Teenagers will use “olas” on the Internet to say “hello” instead of “hola” because it is cooler.

Use it to describe someone cool! So, a nice person is buena onda .

We can also label a situation as good or bad. Let’s say you found money on the street, you can say ¡Qué buena onda! in Mexican Spanish. On the contrary, if the situation is not favorable, you can say ¡Qué mala onda!

Think about good vibes or bad vibes when using this word and you’ll master this slang term.

Chido/Padre

Pretty common in Mexican Spanish and it’s used to describe something cool. It could vary depending on gender and number but it means “cool”. Don’t use chido to describe someone, locals prefer to use buena/mala onda for that.

• ¡Que chidos tus juegos!: You have cool games!
• ¡Esas sillas están muy chidas!: Those chairs look really nice!

Even when we learn that “father” is “padre” in Spanish. Mexican slang uses it as a synonym for chido, too. The only difference is that it doesn’t change depending on the gender:

• ¡Qué padre está tu coche!: What a nice car you have!
• Está muy padre tu casa, tengo que venir más: Your house is nice, I gotta come by more.

A Mexican slang word for which The literal translation is “big male goat” but it is nothing like that in Spanish. Depending on the context and the person you’re dealing with, this expression can be rude or friendly. Here are some examples:

• No te quiero ver por aquí cabrón: I don’t want to see you here fucker.
• ¡Ah, cabrón!: Oh, wow!
• Juan es bien cabrón bailando: Juan is fucking good at dancing.

Now,  cabrón is also commonly used to express that a situation is particularly hard with Está cabrón . Then, it could describe something or someone.

You can’t miss this one considering its importance in Spanish. If this list had a specific order, güey would take the first place. People from Latin America know this word very well and, even though they exaggerate when using it, they understand its meaning in Mexico as it looks simple.

Do not confuse it with güero which is blond only in Mexico, too. Güey or wey (as you can also see it written) means “mate”, “dude” or “man”. 

• No sé güey, está cabrón: I don’t know man, it’s hard.
• ¿Qué hay, wey?: What’s up, mate?

Young people have this word as a filler in most cases and it isn’t a curse word unless you’re angry. By the way, it doesn’t change if you talk to a girl!

Another piece of Mexican slang with several interpretations that you’ll love. It means the truth but… Are you talking about how good something is?

• Mi moto es la neta: My bike is the best.

Do you want to be dead serious about a statement?

• L a neta wey, vi un fantasma: I’m dead serious dude, I saw a ghost.

Are you looking for Mexican slang words meaning “really” or “for real”?

• La neta, ¿No le dijiste?: You didn’t tell her? Really?
• ¿Neta wey?: Are you for real?

Widely used among the locals when feeling doubtful about a situation just like “neta” . But, it is equivalent to “shut up” in English when responding to another sentence. 

• ¡Gané la lotería!: I won the lottery!
• ¿A poco?: shut up!

¡No manches! or ¡No mames!

More replies in Spanish for those moments in which you’re surprised. Now, it’d be good to know that, even when these express the same feeling, ¡No manches! is not vulgar but ¡No mames! is. No mames means “don’t suck”.

• ¡No manches cabrón!, ¿otra vez?: No way dude, again?
• Que se dañó mi compu, ¡No mames!: My computer broke, come on!

¡Órale!/¡Híjole!

A pretty fun exclamation in Mexican slang that describes amazing situations or just encourages people to do something.

• ¡Órale! Tú hermana es muy bonita: Wow! Your sister is very pretty.
• Órale, vamos que llegamos tarde: Let’s go, we’re going to be late.

Along with órale for amazement, a Mexican will use híjole, too. However, the second one is used when they don’t want to use a bad word or a religious-related word.

• ¡Híjole! Se cayó mi torta de cumple: Man! My birthday cake fell.
• ¡Híjole! ¡Perdí de nuevo!: Gosh! I lost again!

In Mexico, if there isn’t a bronca then you don’t have to worry. Similar to pedo, it means problem but it isn’t as vulgar or rude. So, don’t mind what others would think. 

• Si llegamos temprano, no hay bronca: If we’re on time, there is no problem.

This particular word has a wide and confusing meaning throughout Latin America because it doesn’t have a fixed time frame (beat that, English!). This Spanish word could mean now, soon, or eventually and mothers don’t like it when children respond to them with this word regarding household chores. In Mexican slang, the word is no different and, even though people can tell you it means “right now”, it isn’t usually true. 

• ¡Deja de jugar y ponte a estudiar!: Stop playing and start studying!
• ¡Ahorita ma!: Soon mom! 

From my personal experience in Latin America, the kid will wait for more menacing instruction.

Luego Luego

Contrary to ahorita, locals do employ this one to talk about the very near future. Luego alone means “later” or “after that” but when you double it, you get immediateness. The expression is also mostly heard in Mexico.

• Luego luego de la farmacia, verás la panadería: right after the pharmacy, you’ll see the bakery.

Luego luego can also be used to confirm information:

• ¿Luego luego no venías conmigo?: Weren’t you coming with me?

It means work or job.

• No vengas que tengo mucha chamba estos días: Don’t come, I have a lot of work these days.
• Tengo que chambear: I have to work.

DID YOU KNOW…? A recent trend sweeping across Spanish-speaking countries , particularly on TikTok and other social media platforms, features a catchy AI-generated song titled “Mi primera Chamba” This viral sensation utilizes the distinctive voice of Eladio Carrión, a renowned artist, adding a unique flair that has captivated millions. The meme’s widespread popularity highlights the growing influence of AI in music and entertainment, and its ability to resonate across diverse audiences.

Mexican Spanish Slang Words for people

Aside from the slang phrases we already have to talk about someone in Spanish, some others are used for a more specific description. The usage of such Mexican slang words will most likely depend on age or intellectual status.

Chavo/Chava

Mexicans in general would use Chavo to talk about kids and teenagers. So, it doesn’t have a bad connotation.

• Ella es la chava que me gusta: She is the girl I like.

Chamaco/Chamaca

Even though it’s also for kids (but not teenagers), it could sound good or bad depending on if they’re either acting well or misbehaving. 

• ¡Oye, chamaco! Ven acá: Hey, kid! Come here.
• ¡Sáquese de aquí, chamaca!: Get out of here, kid!

Morro/Morra

In Mexico, If you want to indicate that a man is your boyfriend , call him mi morro. If it is a girlfriend, call her mi morra. This is no fancy word at all! If you’re over 20 years old, I wouldn’t recommend using it. Instead, call them mi chavo or mi chava. Confusing, huh?

Escuincle/Escuincla

Escuincle is the word in Mexican Spanish commonly used to refer to a spoiled kid when they are being annoying or unbearable to be around.

• ¡Callen a ese escuincle!: silence that brat!

Again, only for Mexico. It’s someone of an advanced age unless you want to undermine a middle-aged person’s capacities. Now, when a Ruco loves dating young girls, they call him rabo verde which translates to green tail.  In this context, rabo refers to girls’ butts and verde (green) as something that is not ripe. Hence, this person is known for pursuing girls that are too young.

In Mexican slang, naco is a pejorative term for those people considered rude. Nacos usually tend to use lots of bad language and slang going around with some sort of “gangster” attitude. Naco can also be employed as an adjective to talk about things or places related to these people. 

• Mira este lugar, ¡Puros sombreros nacos!: Look at this place, the hats are ridiculous!

Even though it means strawberry in English, we’re not talking about fruits here but a slang word for someone who is snobbish or picky. 

• No seas fresa y cómete los vegetales: don’t be picky and eat your vegetables.

Calling someone nosy, someone who meddles in people’s business without being asked, and who runs rumors. These rumors or gossip are called chismes and those telling them are chismosos or metiches.

In Mexican Spanish slang language, your bosses are your parents because they provide for you and thus they make the rules. Out of respect, your mother is your jefa and your father is your jefe.

Vieja/Viejo

It means old lady, yes, but you just cannot refer to an actual old lady in that way. You can call her Viejita or Abuelita instead. That would sound cute and respectful at the same time. On the other hand, it’s a very common slang word to mention your wife or girlfriend around friends and pals but never in front of them!

• Mi vieja me pelea mucho: My woman complains a lot.

The term works the same way for men, who are a bit less sensitive. Your wife can call you her Viejo even among friends and in your presence. And you can call your friends viejos, too. Not only in Mexico but also like in the United States and perhaps other parts of the world, you can refer to your father as mi viejo.

It’s a common Mexican Spanish term of endearment most parents refer to their kids with. It’s the contraction of the words Mi hija/Mi hijo.

On its own, the word means “mother” but we already know that language doesn’t work that way. However, when this slang word is accompanied by phrases, it becomes one of the most common Mexican curse words. 

• ¡Vale madre, wey, vámonos! : Fuck it, man, let’s go!
• Me vale madres el examen: I don’t give a fuck about the test.

Yes, it changes that much depending on the subject who receives the action. The first one is impersonal yet the second one affects you directly.

• Ni madres: no way.
• ¡Qué poca madre! No me ayudaste: What the hell? You didn’t help me.  

It expresses your anger towards a situation or someone’s action.

• ¡Chinga tu madre cabrón!: Fuck off!

It could be a good or a bad thing. 

• El reventón fue un desmadre: The party was crazy.
• El examen fue un desmadre: The test was a mess.

Other Mexican Slang words used to call someone

Used in the north of Mexico to point out a young man.

• Mira a ese vato de la esquina: Look at that guy on the corner.

Cuate  

For close friends; those you call brothers because you’ve gone through many different things together.

• Pedro es mi cuate, no lo olvides: Pedro is my mate, don’t forget that.

Carnal 

Use it to describe a person, a dear friend you consider part of the family.

No voy solo, que mis carnales me acompañan: I’m not going alone, my buddies come with me.

Practice what you learned

You’re now ready to walk around Mexico City as if you own the place. Enjoy using these slang words and phrases with the locals to sound like them and have a good laugh. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes with Spanish slang as long as you are among friends.

If you don’t have anyone to practice with, we invite you to try a free private class or a 7-day free trial of our group classes and see why thousands of students trust SpanishVIP!

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Student Opinion

What Is Your Favorite Word?

What word in any language feels especially beautiful, interesting or meaningful to you?

By Natalie Proulx

Are you someone who loves words? Do you delight in discovering new words or trying to translate them into different languages? Do you enjoy using slang or exploring how language has evolved over time?

Is there one word, in any language, that feels especially beautiful, interesting or meaningful to you? What memories or emotions come to mind when you think it or say it?

In “ Some Words Feel Truer in Spanish ,” Natalia Sylvester writes about words and how they have the power to connect us across continents and cultures:

My earliest relationship with language was defined by rules. As an immigrant who came to this country from Peru at age 4, I spent half of my days in kindergarten occupied with learning the rules of the English language. There was the tricky inconsistency of pronunciation to navigate and, once I learned to speak it, the challenge of translating what I’d learned into reading skills. At home, my mom would often create games to help my sister and me preserve our Spanish and improve our grammar. Driving around our neighborhood in Miami, she’d point at a traffic light, hold up four fingers and say, “Se-ma-fo-ro — on which syllable do you put the accent?” Each language had its defined space: English in school, Spanish at home. But as my parents became more fluent (and my sister and I more dominant) in English, the boundaries became blurred. Being bilingual empowered us to break barriers beyond the rules and definitions attached to words. Some things were simply untranslatable, because they spoke to this new space we were living in — within, between and around language. We were making a new home here, same as so many immigrants who end up shaping language as much as it shapes us. It became evident as the phrase “Cómo se dice?” or “How do you say?” became a constant in my home. Sometimes, it’d be my parents who asked, “How do you say” followed by a word like “sobremesa” or “ganas.” It seemed simple enough in theory, but proved nearly impossible for us to translate without elaborating using full sentences or phrases. After all, to have a word to describe a long conversation that keeps you at the table and extends a meal, you’d have to value the concept enough to name it. Some ideas are so embedded in Latin American and Spanish cultures that they exist implicitly. Of course “ganas” can be something you feel but also give, and be at once more tame yet more powerful than “desire.” (If you know, you know.) Other times, it’d be my sister and I who were curious about a word’s Spanish counterpart. Was there really no differentiating in Spanish between the fingers (dedos) on our hands, and those on our feet we call toes? When we wanted to say we were excited about something, the word “emocionada” seemed to fall short of capturing our specific, well, emotion. Sometimes we would blank on a word. But sometimes, we would find that the perfect word isn’t necessarily in the language we’re speaking.

She explains further, using the Spanish word “maleta,” or “suitcase” in English, as an example:

This year, I was at a writing conference and met up with two Mexican American authors, one of whom brought her suitcase to the venue because she had already checked out of the hotel. We walked the halls and offered to help with her maleta, making several jokes and references to it, but never once using the word “suitcase,” despite speaking mainly in English. This was an entirely natural and unspoken decision. There are some words that simply feel truer in Spanish than they do in English. I call these home words and heart words because I associate them with the place I most grew up using them: at home, among family. Though the words might share a literal definition with their translation, one version carries emotional depth that enriches its meaning. To code switch this way among friends implies we share not only a language, but an intimate understanding of where we come from. A suitcase is for clothes and possessions when someone travels, but to me, a maleta meant family had arrived from Peru, carrying flavors, textures and memories of my birthplace. Language is rooted in context, which is another way of saying that language is driven by memory. In this way, what we do or don’t choose to translate is another way of telling stories about our past.

Students, read the entire article and then tell us:

Do you have a favorite word, or a word that feels especially meaningful to you, in any language? What is it? Why do you love it? Do you have a story, like the one Ms. Sylvester shared about the word “maleta,” that illustrates what your favorite word means to you?

Ms. Sylvester says there are some words that feel “truer” to her in Spanish. Do you speak more than one language? If so, are there words that feel “truer” to you in one language versus another? Why do you think that is? Can you give an example?

Ms. Sylvester writes about “code switching,” or the act of shifting from one language or dialect to another, particularly based on social context. Do you often find yourself using different words, or even different languages, depending on where you are and whom you’re with? In what dialect or language do you most feel a sense of comfort and belonging? Why?

“Words are just sounds and letters until we collectively give them meaning through story,” Ms. Sylvester ends the essay. “When we use language to connect, it’s one of the most beautiful things that make us human.” Do you agree? What power do words and language hold for you?

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.

Natalie Proulx joined The Learning Network as a staff editor in 2017 after working as an English language arts teacher and curriculum writer. More about Natalie Proulx