Bienvenidos and welcome to your ultimate Spanish slang guide!

Today we will break down some of the most useful, common, and interesting slang words and phrases from Spain, United mexican states, and other Latin American countries.

First, we'll expect at how to acquire Spanish slang and why this is such an important aspect of language learning.

And so, we'll list Castilian and Mexican slang words that y'all should definitely add together to your vocabulary.

Finally, we'll address some often asked questions about learning Spanish slang. By the end of this guide, you will exist well-equipped to speak Spanish similar a native!

Encounter also: What is the Best Way to Larn Spanish?

Permit's dive in.

Learning Spanish Slang Words

There are a lot of avenues to go downwardly when you are learning formal Spanish, such as language classes, textbooks, language-learning apps like Duolingo, and online Spanish courses. Still, most of these resources do non include many Spanish slang phrases.

So, if you want to develop this surface area of your noesis and vocabulary, you'll demand to branch out in your learning. A nifty manner to option up slang is by speaking to native people. You can visit Spain if you have the resources, or else practice a language exchange online.

Talking to a native speaker is the best way to betrayal yourself to the linguistic communication as information technology is used naturally in context. Depending on where your exchange partner is from, you will learn different local slang.

It's likewise an first-class idea to watch Spanish Boob tube and movies and listen to Castilian music, radio stations, and podcasts. Visit Lingopie, the online streaming platform for Castilian-language content, if you'd like to learn Castilian slang while watching fun shows and movies.

This is one of the best ways to pick up slang in context and learn how to use it in an appropriate setting. Any exposure to native Castilian speakers using slang is important and very useful.

Why Learning Slang is Then Of import

Now that y'all know how to learn Castilian slang, let's talk about why you should.

For starters, getting to know the local slang is a great way for a Spanish learner to learn more about a country'south culture, community, values, and people. Y'all can proceeds a lot of knowledge well-nigh a customs based on its native language and develop a vocabulary that reflects local Spanish culture and attitudes.

Moreover, information technology's always the ultimate goal of a linguistic communication learner to sound like a native. By incorporating colloquialisms and common Spanish slang into your spoken communication, you volition be able to use the language more naturally.

Understanding common Spanish slang terms is essential for following conversations better and keeping up in social situations. Moreover, you'll go more out of music, radio, podcasts, Television set, and movies.

If you often find that you miss context and jokes go over your caput, learning slang can help to bridge this gap in your comprehension.

So, without farther ado, let'due south jump into our favorite slang words to utilize with your Spanish-speaking friends.

Castilian Slang Words and Phrases: A Rundown

Whether you're looking for useful and interesting Spanish slang phrases from Spain, Mexico, or other Spanish-speaking countries, nosotros've got you.

European Spanish Slang

Tío/tía ¿qué pasa?

Tío and tía are Spanish slang for "dude" and "daughter", while ¿qué pasa? is an informal way to ask "what's upwardly?", and then the phrase is "dude, what's upward? Use this greeting with friends in a casual setting.

Notation that tío and tía really mean "uncle" and "aunt" in Spanish, but in Spain, they are more than often used as a vernacular way to say "guy", "dude", "girl", "chick" and so on.

¿Cómo te va?

This is another way to inquire "what's up?" or "how'due south it going?" colloquially.

Estar como una cabra

This Spanish slang expression literally means "to be similar a goat", merely information technology is used colloquially to mean "to be crazy". Information technology is similar to the English language expression "to exist nuts".

Pijo/a

This slang discussion is used to describe people every bit bossy, stuck upward, or spoiled.

Encounter una fresa in "Mexican Slang Words" for the equivalent Mexican slang term.

Ir a su bola

When someone is minding their own business or doing their own thing, you lot tin can say él va a su bola, or "he's doing his thing".

Es una mierda

You cannot learn Spanish slang without learning at to the lowest degree 1 curse word! Mierda ways sh*t, and this saying can exist translated equally "information technology'south a piece of sh*t", "it's crap" or "it sucks".

A native Spanish speaker might use es una mierda to refer to a state of affairs that is rubbish or an item or food that is of low quality. La comida es una mierda is "food is bad quality/ crap".

¡Qué mala pata!

If something unfortunate happens, you tin say "what a bad paw", meaning "what bad luck". This comes from the Castilian superstition that carrying a rabbit'due south leg, or pata, brings good luck.

Ser la leche

If something es la leche, it is "absurd" or "great". This phrase can as well exist used to say él piensa que es la leche, "he thinks he's all that", which in this context would be a negative aspect.

Me cago en la leche

Unlike ser la leche, when native speakers say "I sh*t in the milk", this is definitely not a proficient thing! This unusual phrase means "f*cking sh*t", "bloody hell" or "motherf*cker". It is used to express extreme thwarting or shock at a negative situation.

La mala leche

This phrase literally translates equally "to have bad milk", merely figuratively, information technology is used in Spain and unlike Latin American countries to hateful various things, depending on where you are and how yous use it.

In Spain, if you say tener mala leche, it means that someone acts in bad religion, while if y'all say estar de mala leche, this means that a person is in a bad mood.

Come across la mala leche in "Other Latin American Slang" for different definitions.

Mexican Slang Words

Mexico is the largest Castilian-speaking country in the world, and so it is only fair to dedicate a department to slang specific to this civilization-rich state.

Mexican Spanish has distinct accents, dialects, and commonly used phrases. Permit's take a look at some of the well-nigh useful Mexican Castilian sayings.

Oye güey

This Mexican Spanish slang greeting means "hey dude". Güey, significant "buddy", "mate" etc., is frequently used every bit a filler word in conversations in Mexico.

¡No manches!/ ¡No mames!

To express stupor or atheism, y'all can use either of these vernacular expressions the aforementioned style. They can both be positive or negative depending on the context and tone of vox.

The literal translation of no manches is "do not stain", however, it is used as "no way" or "holy cow" in colloquial Mexican.

No mames is a little cruder, equally information technology literally means "do non suck". You will hear güey, no mames in Mexico when someone wants to say "dude, don't mess with me".

¡Chale!

This is an interjection used in United mexican states to express surprise and thwarting. Information technology is rather like the English sayings "requite me a break!" or "you lot're kidding!"

Pendejo

If you watch a lot of Mexican Tv set, you might have heard someone be referred to as a pendejo. This is a useful Mexican slang term that literally ways "pubic hair" only is used commonly in Mexico to mean "dickhead".

Una fresa

Referring to someone as "a strawberry" in United mexican states implies that they are bossy, pretentious, and privileged. Still, this kind of person is looked up to past poorer Mexican young people.

La neta

This slang word means "truth". Saying la neta is like asking "really?" or emphasizing something. La neta te amo is "the truth is I love you".

¡Qué padre!

There are a few ways to express delight virtually a situation switch your Mexican friends, and this is ane of them. This Mexican Spanish slang phrase means "how cool!", "that's great!" or "nice!" Its literal translation is "what father", but patently this is not how information technology is used.

¡Qué onda!

This phrase ways "what a wave" when translated literally, but in Mexico, it is a very common way to greet someone and it is used as "what'due south up?" This phrase might accept a Mexican origin, simply you tin also use ¡qué onda! in Argentina and Republic of chile.

Buena onda/ Mala onda

In Mexican slang, onda, which means "wave" is also used to draw someone's personality. If someone is buena onda, they are cool or nice, and on the flip side, if ella es mala onda, "she is non absurd".

Spanish speakers from other Spanish-speaking countries will understand if you utilize onda in this way, but it is not common outside of United mexican states.

¡Qué buena onda!/ ¡Qué mala onda!: Mexicans also utilize "what a good wave/ what a bad wave" to express their feelings near a state of affairs. While qué buena onda is used to express "how cool!" or "so cool!", qué mala onda means "besides bad", "how bad" or "uncool".

Other Latin American Slang

Across other Latin American countries, there is a range of extremely helpful slang. We will briefly touch on some notable examples.

Mae, pura vida

This is slang from Costa Rica that means "mate, how's information technology going?". You tin reply with pura vida to hateful "it'southward going proficient".

Pura vida is a super general term that tin can also be used to express thank you, skilful vibes, and any other positive greeting or bye. This saying is very specific to Costa rica and it can be used all over the land.

Estar asado

In Republic of peru, you lot can express your anger past saying you are "roasted". No me hables, estoy asado means "don't talk to me, I'1000 angry." In other dialects across Latin America, you can say estoy enojado/a, while in Spain, you would say estoy enfadado/a.

Estar prendido

Prendido is a super useful slang word. This phrase means "to be lit" or "to be buzzed". Used in Colombia, Panamá, the Dominican Democracy, and Venezuela, you can say estoy prendido/a if you are drunk, but in a positive style. It implies you are full of energy and good vibes.

La mala leche

We take seen that in Espana, this maxim is used to describe someone with a bad atmosphere or mental attitude. However, in Venezuela and Panamá, it is used to limited mala suerte, or bad luck.

In Chile and Argentine republic, if someone has la mala leche, they have acted maliciously toward another person.

FAQs: Learning Spanish Slang

Which Spanish slang words are the near useful to learn?

If y'all are planning a trip to Kingdom of spain and want to learn some quick and useful slang, start with 2 commonly used words for absurd: guay and chulo. Moreover, me flipa can be used similar me gusta/ me encanta only it is a more colloquial manner to say "I'one thousand crazy about..." These simple words will have you sounding like an enthusiastic local!

Exercise I demand to learn slang to visit a Spanish-Speaking country?

No, y'all do not admittedly need to learn Spanish slang to visit a country that uses Spanish, however, it is recommended. This will help you to sympathise social situations. It will also impress the locals when you use their own slang as it indicates that y'all capeesh their civilisation and language.

What does the slang word joder hateful in Spain?

Joder is a swear give-and-take in Spain that can exist translated as "sh*t" or "f*ck" depending on the context. It is commonly used in Castilian TV shows like La Casa de Papel and Elite. You tin can use joder in a light-hearted way with friends, or in acrimony in a serious situation.

Whether or not you intend to employ Spanish expletive words in day-to-24-hour interval life, you lot will hear them if you visit Spain or Latin America, or watch Spanish TV and movies, so information technology is a practiced idea to understand the words and when to use them.

Summing Up: Spanish Slang and How to Learn It

Hopefully, this ultimate guide to Castilian slang words has inspired y'all to develop your informal Spanish vocabulary. The more you know about a country'southward slang, the better yous know the culture and people.

We have provided a list of useful Spanish and Mexican slang, as well equally some highlights from other countries in Latin America. At present, information technology'due south over to you to go along learning.

Remember, if you want to expose yourself to more European Spanish or Mexican slang words, you tin visit Lingopie to stream Castilian-linguistic communication content. This is a bang-up way to develop your vernacular vocab and learn to speak like a native.

¡Qué buena onda!