Aguaje is a Peruvian slang term which refers to a person pretending to be something they are not or giving a false impression. It can also refer to a person who likes to show off. Examples Spanish: No seas aguajero, todos sabemos que no tienes ese dinero. English: Don't be a show-off, we all know […]
aguantar paquetes
To tolerate or put up with difficult, annoying, or inconvenient situations or people. Usually used in a context of enduring a burden or unpleasant task. Examples Spanish: No puedo aguantar paquetes en mi trabajo, siempre me dejan las tareas más difíciles. English: I can't stand to carry packages at my job, they always leave me […]
ahorita, horita
A term used in many Spanish-speaking countries, meaning 'right now' or 'in a little while'. The exact time frame it refers to can be ambiguous and is often context-dependent. Examples Spanish: Voy a hacer la tarea ahorita, después de cenar. English: I'm going to do the homework right now, after dinner.
al retortero
A Spanish phrase used to describe a chaotic, disordered or messy situation, or a place full of confusion or disorder. Examples Spanish: Después de la fiesta, la casa quedó al retortero. English: After the party, the house was in complete chaos.
alabao
An expression of surprise, disbelief, or amazement, predominantly used in Cuba. Examples Spanish: 'Alabao', ¡qué calor hace hoy! English: 'Alabao', it's so hot today!
a la bola
An informal phrase used in Argentina, Uruguay and some parts of Chile which means 'without thinking', 'randomly', or 'without a specific order'. Examples Spanish: Hice los ejercicios a la bola, sin seguir las instrucciones. English: I did the exercises randomly, without following the instructions.
a la cubana
It's a phrase commonly used in Spain to refer to something done in the Cuban style, often related to food, music, or dance. Examples Spanish: Hoy vamos a cocinar pollo a la cubana, uno de mis platos favoritos. English: Today we are going to cook chicken 'a la cubana', one of my favorite dishes.
The Most Authentic Word in Cuban Spanish: ASERE
Every country has a flag, food and symbols that identify them. But what about a single word? During the 6th International Congress of the Spanish Language (VI Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española) celebrated in Panama, the blog Papeles Perdidos, created by the newspaper El País, published an atlas of the representative words of Spanish-speaking […]
Decoding a Cuban Menu: 14 Cuban Spanish Food Words And Dishes
Some time ago, Jared and I took a food tour in Little Havana, Miami. The experience was great because we were able to taste the wonderful Cuban food and learn about the history of Little Havana. Since I’m Puerto Rican I knew I was going to find many similar ingredients, such as the plantain, the […]
List of Spanish Slang Expressions Used in Cuba: 10 Common Words and Phrases Infographic
Cuban Spanish is not commonly heard outside Cuba. Sure there are tons of Cubans and Cuban descendants living in the US, Puerto Rico and other countries, but after 30-50 years outside of Cuba, their Spanish should have differences with the Spanish currently used in Cuba. Here is a list of common Spanish slang words still […]
Resources to Learn Cuban Spanish Slang
Articles, websites, mobile apps, newspapers, flashcards and other resources to use as a reference to learn Cuba Spanish and slang. Check out this mega collection of resources to learn basic Spanish and Spanish slang. This extensive collection of resources to learn Spanish and how to speak Spanish save hours and hours of your time on your way to achieving Spanish fluency.
10 Interesting Facts About Cuba: History
Cuban history is riddled with wars, rebellions, revolutions, and governmental disputes. Here are 10 interesting facts about Cuba’s history. 10 Interesting Facts About Cuba: History 1. The US attempted to invade Cuba several times. In 1848, they decided to give up and offered Spain $100 million dollars for Cuba, but the offer was rejected. 2. […]
10 Interesting Facts About Cuba: Politics
Cuba is best known for its politics. Whether that is a good or bad thing is certainly up for debate. Cuba is an Independent Socialist Republic with only one political party, the Cuban Communist Party. Here’s some interesting facts about Cuba’s politics. 1. Fidel Castro was the longest serving head of government, serving from 1976 […]
13 Random Fun Facts About Cuba: Infographic
Cuba is usually known for its complicated and controversial politics, but this country has plenty of other interesting, fun facts that have nothing to do with the Castro family or a tumultuous political past. Let’s discover the most interesting Cuba fun facts! 1. Home to The Cuban Bee Hummingbird The Cuban bee hummingbird is the […]
guanajo
A humorous or derogatory term used in several Spanish-speaking countries, such as Cuba, to refer to a person. It can range from meaning a fool or stupid person to a term of endearment among friends, depending on context. Examples Spanish: No seas guanajo, eso no es verdad. English: Don't be a fool, that's not true.
raspa
In Mexican slang, 'raspa' refers to a snow cone or shaved ice with flavored syrup. It can also refer to a scrape or scratch, depending on the context. Examples Spanish: 1. Cuando hace calor, me encanta comer una raspa de limón. 2. Me caí y me hice una raspa en la rodilla. English: 1. When […]
perilla
In Spanish slang, 'perilla' refers to a goatee or a small beard concentrated around the mouth and chin, not including the cheeks. Examples Spanish: Mi amigo decidió dejarse crecer una perilla para cambiar su apariencia. English: My friend decided to grow a goatee to change his appearance.