Spanish Slang You Won’t Learn from School

When I moved to Spain, I thought I knew Spanish.

Boy was I wrong. Little did I know, my teaching program was sending me to a a rural Spanish village in the deep south of Spain that essentially spoke their own dialect. They neglected to pronounce any and all S and R sounds, and pretty much all consonants for that matterI remember arriving to the village it like it was yesterday:

Maribel, my speed-of-light-talking mentor came to pick me up from my program orientation. Four years worth of high school Spanish classes and over 80 verb conjugations committed memory, I was confident I’d be able to march up to Maribel and have a full fledge philosophical conversation. I mean heck, I even know my irregular verbs.

To say I was wrong? Well, that’s an understatement.

Two hours into the car ride to our village, I caught one word: baño. “Oh, sure, sí, I need the baño!” I realized then and there that no Spanish class could’ve prepared me for the next nine months.

Those fateful nine months turned into a fully immersive Spanish bootcamp. No classes — just las calles. I was the only English speaker in my village. I had no choice.

Isn’t it amazing what necessity does for us?

The good news is, I made it out alive, flourishing, and yes — fluent.

For all you Spain-bound travelers who want to impress the locals with your Spanish and even earn some street cred, this is for you.

Ya estamos listos? Venga, vale, vamos!

Phrases for practical everyday life:

Guiri: Foreigner

Literal translation: a foreigner in Spain, often burnt crispy from the sun, rocking high socks, a Hawaiian button-down, and a camera around the neck.

In context: Me and if you’re reading this, probably you. Even two years later, my Spanish friends still call me “la guiri.” If you are in fact a guiri, it’s extremely important to recognize the word from afar, as they’re probably talking about you.

Vale/ venga/ vamos: Ok, let’s do it!

Literal translation: Okay / Come on / Let’s Go

In context: If you ever want to sound like a local but are at a loss for words, just pick one of these three words (or all three if you’re extra stoked) and you’ll be good to go. Awkward silence vanished, street cred earned. Especially vale — that should always be in your back pocket ready to go.

Que chulo / Que guay / me mola!: So cool!

Literal translation: So cool / how cool / it’s so cool to me!

In context: Your friend shows you his sweet new motorcycle. You respond to him enthusiastically, “Que guay! Me mola mucho!”

Madre mía: Oh my god!

Literal translation: “Mother of mine!”

In context: Whenever you want to say omg, say this instead. Whip this bad boy out any time you encounter a scenario that’s surprising, frustrating, scary or interesting.

Tio/ Tia: Dude

Literal translation: Aunt/ Uncle

In context: No, it has nothing to do with your aunt or uncle. It’s an endearing way to refer to a friend, similar to dude, except used by everyone, both young and old.

Me pones un(a)… : I’ll order the [insert food or drink here]

Literal translation: “Put me a [beer].”

In context: This isn’t slang, but it’s a mistake every guiri makes when ordering food in Spanish. A typical guiri orders food by asking ever so politely, “puedo tener la cerveza?” (translation: can I have a beer?) Stop right there. NO, NO, NO. You will immediately lose respect, and you won’t get served nearly as quickly as the table next to you (yes, that’s proven). The more brusk and demanding you order in a busy tapas bar, the quicker your service will be, the more street cred you’ll get. You tell them what you want. Ex: “Me pones una cerveza!”

Aquí estamos: We’re here chillin’

Literal translation: “We are here.”

In context: When someone asks you “qué tal?” (what’s up?) you respond “aquí estamos.” It means, “we’re hangin’ out, chillin’, doin’ what we do.”

Dar una vuelta: Take a walk around

Literal translation: Give it a turn

In context: At a party and wanna see what hotties are there? Go and “dar una vuelta” to walk around and scope out the scene.

Now, the fun part. Phrases to impress your amigos:

Es la caña/ Es la leche!: That’s the shit!

Literal translation: It’s the small beer/ it’s the milk!

In context: Someone calls you a glass of beer or milk? Say gracias! That must mean they think you’re awesome. Ex: That guiri that just moved here es la leche!

Buen Rollo: Good vibes

Literal translation: Good roll.

In context: Here’s where it gets tricky. The dearly beloved word “rollo” is used in a handful of instances. You’ll often hear “que buen rollo!” which means “such good vibes!” However, if you hear “que rollo…” it means the exact opposite: it’s a vibe killer. It’s all in context of the vibe of course, and the intonation that it’s said with.

De puta madre: This is the shit!

Literal translation: Of the bitches mother.

In context: Something so wonderful, so glorious, so great that you can only describe it as de puta madre. “I can’t believe I just won the lottery! De puta madre!”

Una cabra loca: A crazy person

Literal translation: A crazy goat.

In context: Our teacher is out of her mind, she’s una cabra loca!

No me jodas: Don’t mess with me

Literal translation: Don’t fuck with me.

In context: Think someone’s messing with you? Show ’em you ain’t no dumb guiri. Ex: Someone: “Did you know I’m the world’s most famous flamenco guitarist?” You: “No me jodas, tio.”

Estar en pelotas: To be naked

Literal translation: To be in balls.

In context: You saw a crazy naked man running down the street. “Madre mía, el hombre está en pelotas!”

Un pepino de [bailarina]! : That’s a dope [dancer]!

Literal translation: That’s a cucumber of a dancer!

In context: Yes, another form of flattery. Calling something or someone a cucumber is the utmost highest form of approval. Ex: Un pepino de coche (a dope car), un pepino de guitarra (a dope guitar), etc.

And about those southern accents…

If you’re traveling to southern Spain, Spanish speaker be warned. As mentioned before, they often neglect to pronounce S or D sounds in sentences.

Example:

Formal pronunciation: “Qué has pasado?”

Southern Spain pronunciation: “Qué ha paou?”

Yea. Oof. My advice? Start watching some Spanish movies with characters based in the south to help adjust your ear, like La Leyenda del Tiempo and Nadie Conoce a NadieOne of my personal favorites is Ocho Apellidos Vascos, which features a southern Spanish man and a northern Spanish woman who fall in forbidden love. You can hear the drastic difference in their accents. Longer list of movies here.

Ready to immerse yourself full time as a Digital Nomad based in Spain? I got you! I’m now offering Digital Nomad Coaching, where I’ll personally coach you to tap into your dream career that enables you to work and live from anywhere. Yes, even Spain. Venga! 

What’s your favorite Spanish slang?

15 thoughts on “Spanish Slang You Won’t Learn from School

  1. Qué pasada (It is amazing) 🙂
    Eso es la muerte a pellizcos (that is so much bored, tedious or even complicated and request a huge investment of time and energy)

  2. Hi Casie!

    I’d like to make a little remark on your definition for “guiri”;it could lead to misunderstood:

    We use the word “guiri” for somebody who is visiting Spain for holidays,tourism,or if it’s expected to remain in our country for a short lapse of time.That word is used to note that the person is not familiarized with the language or the local uses.We stop using it as that person integrates.

    Also I would have to say that “guiri” is not used for people of all foreigner countries (e.g. there are other words used for people coming from South America or Muslim countries;I’ll let you to find out them because they are even less polite than “guiri”).There’s a little racial nuance on the meaning.The term often implies that our visitor is coming from North America or some European countries (the ones that are believed to be more developed/powerful than Spain;this idea comes from the 60s when tourism became one of the major business in our economy).For example;it’s rare to call “guiri” to a Portuguese or an Italian because they have culture and customs very similar to ours.

    It was a fairly explanatory post! Thanks for your work

    D.R.

    P.S. I’ll leave you one more slang: “¡La madre que lo parió/La madre que lo trajo!” Used for showing sudden anger with someone;for example when discovering they’ve cheated you.

    1. jejeje que passssada… es curioso porque en Argentina usan (casi) la misma frase — he escuchao “la madre que te parió” [y ponen “la puta”] na’mas la diferencia es “te” vs. “lo” y “la puta” instead of “la madre.” So, I’m not a native, pero, entiendo que it’s “The ‘effin’ mother that gave birth to you” or “Eff the mother who bore you” {who pushed you outta’ her birth canal} jejeje. This is bruuuu – tal to the English Amr. ear.

      re: Guiri
      Also, una amiga mia… que es Catalana — me dijo que algo puede ser “guiri” for example… bueno…
      puede ser [saca una foto en frente al toro negro on the side of the highway de Madrid] she would say, “wow, esto es guiri” [hablando de la actividad, sabesloquetedigo]

    2. jejeje que passssada… es curioso porque en Argentina usan (casi) la misma frase — he escuchao “la madre que te parió” [y ponen “la puta”] na’mas la diferencia es “te” vs. “lo” y “la puta” instead of “la madre.” So, I’m not a native, pero, entiendo que it’s “The ‘effin’ mother that gave birth to you” or “Eff the mother who bore you” {who pushed you outta’ her birth canal} jejeje. This is bruuuu – tal.

      re: Guiri
      Also, una amiga mia… que es Catalana — me dijo que algo puede ser “guiri” for example… bueno…
      puede ser [saca una foto en frente al toro negro on the side of the highway de Madrid] she would say, “wow, esto es guiri” [hablando de la actividad, sabesloquetedigo]

  3. Hi Casie!

    Please, advice people to avoid use “tu puta madre” instead of “de puta madre”. Believe me, I think that is like a kind of Pro phrase and always always said with a big smile in your face, just in case you use the wrong phrase in the wrong situation. For sure you are better than me explaining the problem.

    Anyway, using these phrases, anyone show for sure that you are “un Guiri mu’profesional” 😉

    Nice blog!!!

    Fran

    1. Hi Fran! Hahah that’s a really good point, and I’m sure soooo many guiris make that mistake. In fact, I’m sure I probably did when I was first learning! Thanks for the advice, and happy to have you following along! Cheers, Casie 🙂

  4. Hi, Casie. I’m from Madrid and my mother is from Extremadura, so I really enjoy reading your remarks. I’d add the whole range of expressions of “parir” (literally “giving birth”): “La madre que ME parió” (similar to OMG, when something bad or inconvenient happens to you), “La madre que TE/LO/LA/OS/NOS/LOS/LAS parió” (very difficult to translate; you could use as an expression of anger or suprise when someone has done something awkward or bad, even if it doesn’t affect you personally); and also “poner a parir a (alguien)” means to criticize or even insult (someone). And I agree with Pimlico404 about the use of the word “guiri”. Anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughtful view about my country.

  5. Hey, some additions:
    “[that] es la caña/es la leche” –> means that whatever you are referring to is something superb/cool/very good…

    “[something] es un pepino” –> related usually with computers, computer components or cars or motorbikes or…, it means it is very powerful (and often expensive but really it have not to be).

    “Una cabra loca” is for females. “Un cabra loca” for male ones.

    “Dar una vuelta” as you described it is not a common use. Really it means to go for a walk o go ride a vehicle to somewhere outside of your current position. If you use it to scope for hotties… it is right, but not the usual meaning, haha.

    Es la caña/ Es la leche! –> can mean “It rocks/rules!” as well 😀

    “Qué pasó” –> something like “Hi!”

  6. It is amazing what you have managed to deepen your command of the Spanish language.
    I’ve been learning English for a while but mainly the posh English of the BBC. I wonder if you could make a U turn and give us a handful of English street slang sentences. It’s because almost I know is that everything and everybody is fucked up.
    Thanks a lot.

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