Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with anywhere between 7 to 11 different dialects spoken under the Spanish umbrella.
With Spanish so widely spoken around the world, you might be surprised by how many different Spanish slang words you hear.
Catalan, for example, is Andorra’s official language, but Spain’s official language is Castilian Spanish. Both versions of Spanish use different slang words.
There are also various Spanish dialects spoken throughout countries like Costa Rica, Mexico, Argentina, and more.
With all the different dialects, it can get a little confusing remembering what words or phrases are specific to a country or even a region.
That’s why we’ve created a guide with some common Spanish slang words and phrases!
In this guide, we’ll go over some common slang words that are specific to Spain, as well as other Spanish slang expressions you may not be familiar with.
¡Bienvenidos to Our Spanish Slang Words Guide!
If you’ll be working or studying abroad in Spain, you may want to brush up on your Spanish slang phrases before you arrive.
Learning Spanish online or in a classroom is one thing, but learning to speak like a local? No hay color! (There’s no comparison!)
Spanish Slang Words
Let’s start off with a few common Spanish slang words that will help you sound like a local!
For example, cool in Spanish slang can be a few different words like guay or chulo/chula.
Both words mean that something is cool or awesome.
For example, “Estas zapatos están guay” means “These shoes are cool”.
A more common form that might be taught more often in a classroom might be something like muy bien or genial. “Ella es genial” (she is cool!)
Here are a few additional slang words that you might not learn in grammar class:
Vale: Alright or OK
Venga: Alright or come on
Chulo/Chula: Cool
Chorrada: Nonsense
Majo/maja: A friendly person
Cutre: Bad quality or cheap
Tapeo: To go out for tapas
Tío/Tía: Used to address friends
Molar: To be awesome
Pijo: Posh
Mono/mona: Cute
Joder: How good or bad something is
Charlar: To talk or to chat
Rajarse: To back down or chicken out
Confiar: To trust
Colega: Buddy or acquaintance
Ostia: To be surprised
Spanish Slang Sentences
But you don’t just want to learn the words themselves! How do we apply these slang words to natural speech?
Some of these words used in a sentence might look something like:
Chula: “Esa camiseta está chula” or “That shirt is cool.”
Guay: “Estas zapatos están guay” or “These shoes are cool.”
Vale: “¿Me puedes ayudar? Vale.” or “Can you help me? Okay.”
Confiar: “Confía en mí” or “Trust in me.”
Charlar: “Santos quiere charlar conmigo” or “Santos wants to talk with me.”
Pijo: “Llévala a un restaurante pijo” or “Take her to a posh restaurant.”
Spanish Slang Expressions
One way you know you’ve started to learn a new language is to understand new idioms or expressions within the language.
Expressions are so particular to a language because they are embedded in a culture’s history.
If you’re a native English speaker, common expressions like “break a leg!” or “don’t cry over spilled milk” may translate differently in Spanish.
For example, something that’s really great might be described as “The bees knees” in English, but in Spain that phrase might be “¡Es la leche!”
Rarely can we translate certain expressions exactly, but here are a few Spanish slang sayings that will help you feel more at ease when learning to speak like a local!
“No pasa nada” – No worries
“Muy mala pata” – Very bad luck
“Ir cagando leches” – To go fast or in a hurry
“Es pan comido” – It’s a piece of cake
“Darle la vuelta a la tortilla” – The tables have turned
“Me importa un pepino” – Use when you couldn’t care less
“Donde comen dos, comen tres” – There’s always room for one more (or the more the merrier!)
“Está como una cabra” – When someone has a few screws loose
“Ser uña y carne” – To be “nail and meat” or thick as thieves
Some of these phrases have slightly different meaning depending on the context.
For example, if someone asks you “What is happening out there?” You may want to respond “No pasa nada” or “Nothing is happening”.
If you run into someone who’s thanking you for your help, you may want to respond no pasa nada to remind them it’s not a big deal.
The phrase essentially reassures someone that it’s okay.
You could also say todo bien, which means “all good!”
Spanish Slang Translator
You might’ve used Urban Dictionary before in English, but did you know there’s a similar version in Spanish?
AsiHablamos is a sort of Spanish slang translator that provides translations for various colloquial definitions and expressions in Spanish.
This site allows you to browse through various Spanish terminology in relation to different Spanish-speaking regions.
This online dictionary allows you to look at words, definitions, examples, and more.
It even allows you to sort by country, so you can see what words or phrases mean throughout various Spanish speaking countries.
If you’ve searched for ‘Urban Dictionary Spanish’ before or ‘dirty Spanish sayings’, AsiHablamos provides a dynamic, ever-evolving perspective on the Spanish language.
Practice Makes Perfect with Spanish Slang Words
While the above phrases are typically relative to Spain, it’s still a good idea to remember that not all Spanish words translate the same in other Spanish speaking countries.
Some words and phrases truly only translate correctly in Spain, so be careful when trying out new slang words or phrases.
Formal settings, for example, may not be the best time to try out a new word or phrase.
However, practice makes perfect, and getting a feel for how things are expressed can be a fun part of any language learning journey!
¿Te comió la lengua el gato?
Hopefully the cat doesn’t have your tongue after you’ve practiced using a few of these words and phrases!
Understanding how people communicate through slang is an important part of learning any language.
Practicing will help you better understand regional language differences, everyday conversation cadences, and more.
Not to mention, by learning common slang, you’ll deepen your overall connection to the Spanish language.
We hope that you’ll have a deeper understanding of a few Spanish slang words after reading through this guide!
If you’re looking for more ways to learn Spanish quickly, we have a few useful Spanish phrases on our website here.
Alternately, feel free to browse any of the Spanish lessons we have on our website.
Once you become more comfortable speaking Spanish with others, try mixing certain phrases and idioms like the ones above into your everyday conversations.
By doing so, you’ll start to remember more vocabulary, broaden your conversation skills, and gain a deeper understanding of the Spanish language.
What are some common Spanish slang words?
Depending on where you’re speaking Spanish, slang words will vary from region to region. For example, “está guay” is one way to say “it’s cool”. You might describe a friendly person as “majo or maja” and describe an acquaintance as “colega”. There are many variations throughout the Spanish language, but some slang words are particular to Spain.
What does “vale” mean in Spanish?
Vale (pronounced bah-lay) means “alright” or “OK!”
What does it mean when someone says “Tiene mala leche?”
It means someone is grumpy or grouchy. In fact, “leche” is a word often used in various Spanish phrases or sayings. Depending on the context, you should be able to work out whether the saying is positive or negative.
What does it mean when someone says they want to go get “pinchos” next weekend?
Pinchos are a traditional snack traditionally served in Basque country. They are sometimes served on a piece of bread or with a cocktail stick. However, many bars throughout Spain serve “pinchos” or “pintxos”.
