A Spanish slang term primarily used in Spain, 'apencarse' means to feel down, upset or to be in a bad mood. Examples Spanish: No te apences por eso, todo se solucionará pronto. English: Don't feel down about that, everything will be resolved soon.
apendejarse
To act foolishly or lose one's common sense, often due to being in love or being overly emotional. Examples Spanish: Cuando Juan se enamoró de Maria, empezó a apendejarse y olvidó todas sus responsabilidades. English: When Juan fell in love with Maria, he began to act foolishly and forgot all his responsibilities.
a mi me gusta el café claro y el chocolate espeso
This phrase is not exactly slang, but a figurative expression which essentially means that the speaker likes things straightforward, clear, and without complications. 'Café claro' (clear coffee) is a metaphor for transparency and simplicity, while 'chocolate espeso' (thick chocolate) is a metaphor for depth and substance in experiences or people. Examples Spanish: 'A mi me […]
absorbente
In Spanish slang, 'absorbente' refers to a person who is overbearing or excessively controlling, demanding a lot of attention or time. Examples Spanish: No puedo salir con Juan, es muy absorbente y no me deja hacer nada por mi cuenta. English: I can't date Juan, he's very overbearing and won't let me do anything on […]
acabar con la quinta y con los mangos
This phrase is used to describe a situation where everything is consumed or used up, including resources that were not originally intended to be used. It's similar to the English phrase 'using up everything but the kitchen sink.' Examples Spanish: Después de la fiesta, no quedó nada en la casa. Acabaron con la quinta y […]
acabarse como la fiesta del Guatao
This phrase is used to describe something that ends badly or in a disappointing way. It originates from Cuba, referring to a famous party in Guatao that ended in tragedy. Examples Spanish: La relación entre Juan y María se acabó como la fiesta del Guatao. English: The relationship between Juan and Maria ended like the […]
achantado
A term used to describe someone who is calm, relaxed, or laid-back. Examples Spanish: Juan siempre está achantado, nunca se preocupa por nada. English: Juan is always laid-back, he never worries about anything.
aché
A term rooted in Afro-Cuban culture, often used to express good luck, positive energy, or blessings. Examples Spanish: Te deseo mucho aché para tu nuevo negocio. English: I wish you a lot of aché for your new business.
acojonado
A colloquial Spanish term used to express fear, shock, or awe. It's equivalent to 'scared' or 'terrified' in English. Examples Spanish: Estoy acojonado de hacer el salto en paracaídas. English: I'm terrified to do the parachute jump.
acojonante
A Spanish slang term used to describe something that is amazing, astonishing, or intimidating. Examples Spanish: ¡El concierto de anoche fue acojonante! English: The concert last night was astonishing!
acoquinado
A term used to express fear, nervousness or anxiety. It's often used to describe someone who is scared or intimidated. Examples Spanish: No puedo saltar desde aquí, estoy muy acoquinado. English: I can't jump from here, I'm very scared.
acotejar
A Spanish slang term primarily used in Mexico, which means to confirm or verify something. Examples Spanish: Voy a acotejar si Juan tiene la razón sobre el horario del cine. English: I'm going to verify if Juan is right about the movie schedule.
agarrar con las manos en la masa
A phrase used when someone is caught in the act of doing something wrong or illegal Examples Spanish: Roberto intentó robar las galletas, pero su mamá lo agarró con las manos en la masa. English: Roberto tried to steal the cookies, but his mom caught him red-handed.
aguaje
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.
soroche
Slang term used in some parts of Latin America, especially in the Andes region to describe altitude sickness or the discomfort that can be felt at high altitudes. Examples Spanish: Cuando subí al Machu Picchu, me dio soroche de tanta altura. English: When I climbed Machu Picchu, I got soroche from the high altitude.
velay
A colloquial term used primarily in Spain, particularly in Andalucia, as an interjection to express surprise, doubt, or disbelief. It is similar to saying, 'Really?' or 'Is that so?' in English. Examples Spanish: ¿Velay? No me puedo creer que hayas ganado la lotería. English: 'Really? I can't believe you won the lottery.'
quilombo
A term originating from Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, 'quilombo' is used to refer to a mess, chaos, disorder or complicated situation. It can also refer to a problem or a brothel. Examples Spanish: Este lugar es un quilombo, no se puede encontrar nada. English: This place is a mess, you can't find anything.
Las palabras, como las plumas, se las lleva el viento
A proverbial phrase that translates to 'Words, like feathers, are carried away by the wind.' It means that promises and words are easily said but often forgotten or not followed through. Examples Spanish: 'Me prometiste que me ayudarías con mi proyecto, pero ya veo que las palabras, como las plumas, se las lleva el viento.' […]
Las estrellas inclinan, pero no obligan
This phrase translates to 'The stars incline, they do not oblige'. It is a popular saying in Spanish that means while destiny or fate may influence our lives, they don't determine them completely. We still have the power to make our own choices and change our lives. Examples Spanish: Recuerda, las estrellas inclinan, pero no […]
Las doce, la que tenga a mi novio que no lo goce
A playful phrase used often among girls and women which translates to 'At twelve, whoever has my boyfriend should not enjoy it.' It's typically said in a joking manner to express a kind of territorial claim over a boyfriend, particularly at parties or social gatherings where the boyfriend might be present without them. Examples Spanish: […]
Las desgracias no vienen solas
This phrase translates to 'misfortunes never come singly' in English. It implies that bad things tend to happen all at once or one after another, rather than in isolation. Examples Spanish: Perdió su trabajo, su coche se averió y su novia lo dejó. Como dice el dicho, las desgracias no vienen solas. English: He lost […]
Las cosas se toman según de quien vengan
This phrase translates to 'Things are taken depending on who they come from.' It is used to indicate that the way we perceive actions or words can greatly depend on who they come from. For instance, a comment might be taken as a joke if it comes from a friend, but as an offense if […]
Las cosas se caen por su propio peso
This phrase is used to express the idea that the truth always comes out in the end, or that things have a way of settling themselves naturally. It's similar to the English idiom 'the truth will out' or 'what goes around comes around'. Examples Spanish: No te preocupes por demostrar que tienes razón. Las cosas […]
Las apariencias engañan
The phrase 'Las apariencias engañan' is not actually slang, but a common phrase. It translates to 'appearances can be deceiving' in English, suggesting that things may not always be as they seem. Examples Spanish: Parece una persona amable, pero recuerda que las apariencias engañan. English: He seems like a nice person, but remember that appearances […]