A contraction of '¿dónde está?' which means 'where is it?' or 'where are you?' in English. It's commonly used in informal and casual conversations among friends and relatives. Examples Spanish: ¿Onta mi celular? Lo dejé aquí hace un momento. English: Where is my phone? I left it here a moment ago.
¿qué chingados?
A Mexican slang phrase used to express surprise, confusion, anger, or disbelief. Its literal translation is vulgar, but in context, it can be likened to 'What the hell?' or 'What the f***?' in English. Examples Spanish: ¿Qué chingados está pasando aquí? English: What the hell is happening here?
¿qué hongo?
A casual, informal greeting similar to 'What's up?' or 'How's it going?' in English. Used mostly in Mexico and Argentina. Examples Spanish: ¡Hola, amigo! ¿Qué hongo? English: Hello, friend! What's up?
The Meaning of the Mexican Spanish Word PINCHE
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 […]
Collection of Common Mexican Spanish Phrases
Collection of Common Mexican Spanish Phrases Whether you are proud to be Mexican or want to learn more about the country, don’t miss out on staying up to date with the Mexican language, food, culture and heritage. We’ll keep in touch with you by email to share all the fun stuff we find about Mexico […]
Mexican Spanish Slang Dictionary: The 4 Best Options in Spanish
Even if you are a native Spanish speaker or you have achieved Spanish fluency, semantic or vocabulary differences among countries will always be a challenge. Whatever your reasons -maybe you will be soon moving to Mexico, or you are getting involved in a romantic relationship with a Mexican you sometimes struggle to understand, or perhaps […]
8 Mexican Spanish Slang Words for Places and People
Demonym or gentilic is the name given to people living in a village, town, city or country. Usually it is derived from the name of the same town. For example, the demonym of the people from Mexico is Mexican. While reading the books Quick Guide to Mexican Spanish and Quick Guide to More Mexican Spanish […]
Need a Mexican Spanish Slang to English Dictionary? Here Are 3 Bilingual Options
If you are traveling to Mexico to study or live you will need extra help with their local vocabulary even if you are already fluent in Spanish. Spanish vocabulary changes significantly from one country to the next and Mexico is not the exception. Yet, few people learn about this until they are in a country, […]
Quick Guide to Mexican Spanish: A Book for Learning Spanish from Mexico
A book for learning Spanish from Mexico with approximately 500 words translated to English. Learn Mexican Spanish with synonyms, examples & 51 illustrations. Spanish vocabulary changes significantly from one country to the next. Yet, few people learn about this until they are in a country, stumbling through the local Spanish slang.
Quick Guide to More Mexican Spanish: A Book for Learning Spanish from Mexico
A book for learning Spanish from Mexico with 500 words translated to English. Learn Mexican Spanish with synonyms, examples & 46 illustrations. Spanish vocabulary changes significantly from one country to the next. Yet, few people learn about this until they are in a country, stumbling through the local Spanish slang.
13 Cool and Interesting Facts About Mexico Day of the Dead INFOGRAPHIC
The traditional Mexican holiday of Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos has become more prominent in recent times. Why is there a celebration for death? Aren’t we supposed to be sad? Is the Day of the Dead related to Halloween? Why don’t they combine both holidays? What is the relation of the […]
MEZCAL and TEQUILA: What’s the Difference?
Chances are, when you think of Mexican liquor, you think of tequila, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, tequila is not the only liquor made is Mexico – there is also what is considered tequila’s brother- mezcal. Mezcal is made from the maguey plant, which is a form of agave. The reason mezcal is […]
A List of Spanish Slang Expressions Using CHINGAR: 22 Mexican Spanish Examples
There are a lot of books about Mexican Spanish, but there is one exclusively dedicated to the word CHINGAR. The book El Chingonario: Diccionario de uso, reuso y abuso del chingar y sus derivados published by Editorial Otras Inquisiciones includes about 150 sayings with definitions and examples. This book was a recommendation from a Mexican […]
CHINGAR: The Most Important Mexican Spanish Slang Word
The verb chingar is known throughout Latin America, but there is no other country that uses and abuses this word like Mexico. Chingar is the most important word in Mexico. Here is the official dictionary definition by the Royal Spanish Academy versus the Mexican Spanish meaning of chingar. Chingar according to the Royal Spanish Academy […]
ORALE meaning In Spanish? (And How To Respond)
Yes! This is a great question because órale in Spanish is one of those versatile Mexican slang words that can mean a few different things. Generally órale in Mexican Spanish means got it, okay, no problem or something similar. What does ¡Órale! mean? You will see and hear this word everywhere from comedian Gabriel Iglesias […]
The Check List of 10 Mexican Foods You Must Try Before Leaving
If you think Mexican food has anything to do with the Tex-Mex and Mexican-American stuff you are used to- you are in for quite a delicious surprise. Mexico has some incredible, traditional dishes that have no relation to “Mexican” food in the US. Here are 10 foods you can’t leave Mexico without trying. 1. Tamales […]
MICHELADA: The Mexican Bloody Mary
If you’ve ever gone drinking with Mexicans, you’ve probably at least heard the term michelada. What exactly is it? A michelada is a traditional Mexican drink comparable to the Bloody Mary. The recipe changes a bit from region to region and due to person tastes, but the basic ingredients are: beer, tomato juice, lime and […]
Mexican Slang: Spanish Terms of Common Use
If you’re planning a vacation in Mexico, you should definitely know about the Mexican slang spanish terms that many locals use. Not all slang in Mexico is used in a derogatory way; it can also range to compliments. The only reason it’s called slang is because it is not formal language typically taught in schools. […]
guajolote
A Mexican slang term for turkey, often used in a humorous or affectionate way. Examples Spanish: Vamos a cocinar un guajolote para la cena de Navidad. English: We're going to cook a turkey for the Christmas dinner.
zoquete
A derogatory term used in Spain to describe someone who is dull, stupid or not very bright. Examples Spanish: Deja de actuar como un zoquete y empieza a pensar con claridad. English: Stop acting like a blockhead and start thinking clearly.
no manches
An expression of disbelief or surprise, similar to 'No way' or 'You're kidding' in English. Can also be used to express annoyance. Examples Spanish: No manches, no puedo creer que ganaste la lotería. English: No way, I can't believe you won the lottery.
puta
In Spanish, 'puta' is a derogatory term usually used to refer to a prostitute. However, it is also used as a general expletive, similar to 'damn' in English. Examples Spanish: ¡Puta! Me he olvidado de la cartera en casa. English: Damn! I left my wallet at home.
rajarse
To back out or give up on something. It's often used to describe someone who chickens out or doesn't follow through with a plan or a challenge. Examples Spanish: Juan dijo que iba a saltar desde el trampolín, pero al final se rajó. English: Juan said he was going to jump from the diving board, […]
ranazo
A term used primarily in Mexico to refer to an unexpected hit, a sudden shock, or a big surprise. Examples Spanish: Me llevé un ranazo cuando me dijeron que tenía que trabajar el fin de semana. English: I got a shock when they told me I had to work over the weekend.
rollo
A term that can refer to a variety of things, but most commonly used to describe a situation, story, or a problem. It can also refer to a romantic relationship. Examples Spanish: No me cuentes todo el rollo, solo dime qué pasó. English: Don't tell me the whole story, just tell me what happened.
sencillo
In Spanish slang, 'sencillo' is often used to refer to small change or coins. It is also used to describe something simple or easy. Examples Spanish: 1) No tengo sencillo para pagar el autobús. 2) Este examen es muy sencillo. English: 1) I don't have small change to pay for the bus. 2) This exam […]
soplar
In Spanish slang, 'soplar' typically means 'to snitch' or 'to tell on someone'. It is a colloquial term often used among young people and in informal settings. Examples Spanish: No le vayas a soplar a la maestra que no hice la tarea. English: Don't snitch to the teacher that I didn't do the homework.
taco
In colloquial Spanish, apart from referring to the famous Mexican dish, 'taco' is also used to refer to a curse word or a strong language. Examples Spanish: Evita usar tacos cuando estás en una conversación formal. English: Avoid using curse words when you're in a formal conversation.
tetona
A colloquial term used to describe a woman with large breasts. It can be seen as offensive or vulgar depending on the context. Examples Spanish: Esa mujer es muy tetona. English: That woman has very large breasts.
fulano
An unspecified or random person, similar to 'John Doe' or 'so-and-so' in English. Examples Spanish: Fulano me dijo que iba a llover mañana. English: So-and-so told me that it's going to rain tomorrow.