If you’re learning Latin American Spanish, whether it’s to advance your career, to connect with your Latino heritage, or just because you love languages, colorful slang is one of the first things you’ll stumble upon. And boy do we have a lot of those! Slang is a unique part of every language in the world and it’s deeply tied to culture, so it’s one of the ultimate expressions of it. If you want to tap into that rich heritage and also have a few giggles, here are a few slang expressions you should learn:
Echando la hueva = Throwing the egg
Photo by Domino Studio on UnsplashThis phrase is most common in Mexico and it’s a way of telling someone they’re being particularly lazy. “Hey man, I see you echando la hueva, stop procrastinating!” Just make sure you don’t say any of this stuff to people like, say, your boss or your parents. This is reserved for mates and informal situations only. Who knew the word egg could be used in such a creative way?
Hazme un fa = Do me a favor
Photo by Alex Shute on UnsplashIn Colombia, they use “Hazme un fa” all the time and it’s just a shortened version of “Hazme un favor,” which translates to “Do me a favor.” The same is done with “Por favor” (please), which is shortened to “Porfa” all around Latin America, especially if you want to be sweet about it. “Ay porfaaa” or “Porfitas” is like saying “Pretty please,” which is much more effective than a dry “Please,” wouldn’t you say?
Guácala = Ew
Photo by OSPAN ALI on UnsplashWe love throwing around the word “guácala” because, let’s face it, it sounds pretty funny. This particular slang word can be found from Mexico to South America and is a great way to express your disgust for something. For example, someone shows you a picture of a cockroach, the only natural response would be “Guácalaaa, porfa get that out of my face.” It’s so much better than saying “Ewwww,” don’t you agree?
Buena onda = Good vibe
Photo by Ashley Whitlatch on UnsplashThis expression can also be found across Latin America and has a particularly 60s vibe to it because it means “good vibes.” Nowadays, it’s all about the vibes, so we figured this would be a good slang phrase to show you because you can use it often and in many different scenarios. Do keep in mind that someone’s or something’s onda can be good (buena) or bad (mala), so adjust accordingly depending on the situation.
Qué padre = How father
Photo by Katya Ross on UnsplashOkay, the literal translation of this one is pretty funny because “How father” just sounds like gibberish. However, “Qué padre” means “How cool” or “How awesome,” as in, “Qué padre que te guste surfear,” which means “How cool that you like to surf.” This is Mexican slang at its best and you’ll hear it from them quite a lot. Literally anything can be “padre,” just remember it doesn’t mean “father.”
Vivir en una nube de pedos = Living on a cloud of farts
Photo by Wolf Zimmermann on UnsplashThis is yet another funny expression and it’s very popular in Argentina. It indicates when someone is out of touch with reality, so it’s the equivalent of having one’s head on the clouds. The reason they added “pedos” or “farts” in there is because Argentinians love to use fart analogies in their slang. For example, another phrase they use a lot is “En pedo” which means “To be drunk.” They also have “Ni en pedo” which means “Not a chance” or “No way in hell.” It’s one of the many things that make Argentinians wonderful people!
Me vale madre = It’s worth a mother to me
Photo by Keira Burton on Pexels
Here we have another terrible literal translation that’s just very funny to read out loud. “It’s worth a mother to me” seems nonsensical, but it makes perfect sense in Spanish. “Me vale madre” is a phrase Mexicans use to say “I don’t care” or “It doesn’t matter to me.” The most accurate translation of this expression is “I don’t give a f***,” but let’s keep it PG.
No manches = Don’t stain
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels
Literal translations are on a roll here! Once again “Don’t stain” makes no sense, but “No manches” is another Mexican expression that means “No way” or “Get out of here” or “Come on.” As you can see, it has many different uses. It’s one of those things that Mexicans see very often and you may hear it in other Latin American countries, but it’s always a Mexican reference.
Comiendo moscas = Eating flies
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Sorry for the disgusting visual, no one wants to think about eating flies. “Comiendo moscas” is not literal, though, thank God! It’s a slang phrase that’s meant to express boredom. If you’ve ever drifted off during a meeting that has run for too long, you’ve eaten flies. Sorry to be the one to break it to you! In all seriousness, it’s a fun slang phrase that you can whip up in all kinds of boring situations.
Más loco que una cabra con pollitos = Crazier than a goat with chicks
Photo by Nandhu Kumar on UnsplashLet’s finish off our list of Latin American slang expressions with a real banger! “Más loco que una cabra con pollitos” is pretty straightforward and it means exactly what it conveys. That friend of yours who always gets the craziest ideas at 2 am when everyone’s had enough to drink and is ready to go home is “crazier than a goat with chicks.” Let them know! It will certainly get a laugh out of them. Do keep in mind this expression is used in good fun, not as a mental health insult.
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