Have conversations faster, understand people when they speak fast, and other tested tips to learn faster. More infoWhen traveling in Spanish speaking countries, one of the best ways to befriend a native Spanish speaker is to have some knowledge of their local slang, which is why today we’re going to teach you the very best Mexican slang. Of course, it’s a good idea to first know some basic Spanish words, or even better, learn the most common Spanish phrases for traveling. Once you cover these, you’ll want to make local friends and what better way to do so than to speak the local lingo. Since our post on Colombia slang proved to be so popular, we figured that it was time to dedicate a post on teaching the most commonly used Mexican slang. (Some of the following language is a little “colorful”, and so we advise the easily offended to stop reading right now) What are Mexican slang words you need to know?1. Güey 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. Pronounced like “whey” in English.
2. Neta This is another one of those words that you will hear in movies, tv shows, or from some Mexican friends. It usually means “the truth”, but when used interrogatively, it’s understood as: You can also refer to someone great by saying:
3. No manches When a friend tells you about some amazing event, or something that you don’t know if it’s real or not, you would say No manches! (Really? or Are you kidding?). You can also use ¡No mames! which means the same thing, but is a little more colourful (similar to damn!). 4. ¡Órale! This word has many different purposes: amazement, approval, enthusiasm and even to complement orders.
5. ¡Aguas! As odd as this expression may seem, it has no relation to water. This expression refers to being alert or aware of your surroundings. 6. Pinche Typically used as an adjective to label something as ugly, terrible or of bad quality. Can also be used as a curse word to enhance an insult and its characteristics (the same way “fucking” in English is used.
Download the exact curriculum that thousands of BaseLang students have used to become fluent in Spanish. Download Guide Now!7. Chido Mexicans love to use “chido” to describe something cool, or with good vibes. It can be used with people, objects or situations.
8. No Hay Bronca Let’s start with “bronca”, commonly used to refer to a problem or discomfort. So as you can imagine “no hay bronca”, means that there is no problem – everything is fine.
9. Chavo or Chava The most commonly used words to describe children, adolescents and young people in general. Similar to “kid” in English.
10. Naco Mexican slang for someone with a tacky, or poor attitude, and is considered less sophisticated than your regular member of society. Most of the time, a naco acts unpleasantly, is not well-educated and uses certain colorful slang. Close equivalent to “ghetto” in English.
11. Fresa You probably recognize this word as “strawberry”, but in Mexican slang, “fresa” is used to describe a person who is a snob, stuck-up and basically, thinks that they are better than everyone else. They’ll likely speak with a distinct accent – which may or may not be fake.
12. Chicano Natives use this word to describe people of Mexican origin born in the United States, or people who were born in Mexico but emigrated to the US at an early age.
13. Cholo Commonly heard in the southwest of the United States, “cholo” is a somewhat loosely defined term, but it generally refers to Mexican gangsters, with a very specific look – big white shirts, black baggy shorts, shaved heads, religious black ink tattoos, black shades, etc.
14. Metiche That person who always has his/her nose in other people’s business. Not guaranteed to spread rumors, but still likes to keep tabs on everyone’s business.
15. Tocayo Nickname given to anyone who shares your first name.
16. Prieto While this may seem a little racist to an English speaker, in Mexico this word is seen as non-offensive slang to describe someone with darker skin.
17. Vieja Although this directly translates to “old lady”, in Spanish and particularly Mexican slang, this word is used as an affectionate word for your mom.
18. Padre Similarly, this literally translates as “father”, but in Mexican slang means cool. You’ll hear common phrases such as “que padre!” (“How cool!”) or ‘más padre’ (‘very cool’). Just like “chido”, it can be used when talking about people, things or situations.
19. Chela Chelas, or cheves are beers, and the word comes from a beer cocktail (michelada) that mixes beer with lime, chili and tomato juice.
20. Pomo A rather short name for a bottle of any liquor that you might find, from vodka to some fine tequila.
21. Malacopa The lightweight person who gets drunk extremely easy or extremely fast – we all know someone like that.
22. Crudo The imminent future of a “malacopa” is to have a hangover.
23. Cantina Sounds similar to a canteen, and they serve a similar purpose, since this term means “bar” for Mexican folk. (A naco will probably describe a nightclub as “antros”)
24. Pedo This word has 3 uses a) a fart b) being buzzed/drunk c) being a problem.
25. Chamba A difficult and demanding job, or an unpleasant situation i.e. something you don’t want to get stuck in for too long.
26. Changarro The name given to small, wholesome family businesses – like the bodega (mom and pop store) on the corner of the street.
27. Chafa Something that is of very low quality, disappointing or prone to causing frustration and have you screaming “¡Que chafa!” which means “what crap!”.
28. Varos Slang word for money, capable of replacing the word “pesos” since it can hold a numerical value, like “bucks”.
29. Refresco Commonly used slang term for sodas of any kind.
30. Paro This simply means favor, and will replace the word in most occasions.
Recommended: How to Learn Spanish Fast in 2022 31. Gacho This is a substitute for “feo” (ugly), though both words are used in a much wider sense than for physical ugliness i.e. just general badness.
32. Jalada A word for something that is completely unbelievable or overdone, like “The Fast and Furious” movie franchise.
33. Chorro When you have a stream of something, meaning you have large quantities of it (like “The Fast and Furious” boxset collection).
34. Ratero In Mexico, “ratero” is used instead of “ladrón”. Both words mean “thief”.
25. Vocho Nickname for the old Volkswagen Beetle, a car you will see a lot in Mexico.
36. Chamarra In Mexico, this word is slang for jacket or coat, and acts as a replacement for “chaqueta” which is used in every other Spanish speaking country. That’s because in some parts of Mexico, “chaqueta” is a slang term for masturbation or touching yourself. So if you want to avoid an awkward (and possibly funny moment, the next time you go to buy a “jacket” in Mexico, it’s best to use the slang term.
37. Chanclas A word for sandals and flip-flops, a common sight everywhere in the country.
38. Camión A slang word for both formal and informal route buses, even though it means “truck” in the rest of Latin America.
________________________ By learning these Mexican slang terms, you’ll have a better chance of endearing yourself to the locals – or at the very least make a Spanish speaker laugh. For some slightly more NSFW words, make sure to read our ultimate guide to Spanish curse words here. |