When you are willing to learn any new language, slang is bound to be a significant part of your journey. This is especially so for the Spanish language since Spanish culture is quite warm and talkative. The native Spanish people use slang words often in their daily lives. So, if you want to sound like a local instantly, you may want to start using some slang in Spanish.
When speaking the Spanish language, using some slang words used commonly by locals can make your communication a lot more fluent. Not only does it help to break the ice, but it also helps to better empathize with the native speakers. Also, let’s be honest, nobody wants to sound like an old man. Using slang can instantly make you sound more confident and cooler.
Slangs are one of the most fun and exciting parts of learning the Spanish language. Now that you know why you need to learn some slang when trying to learn the language, you might want to know about some of the most common slang and expressions used in Spain. I have compiled the most popular ones and when you should be using them in the rest of the article.
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When Should You Use Slang in Spanish and When Not?
People tend to use slang words mostly in speech rather than in writing. It is the type of language that consists of words and expressions which we typically consider to be extremely informal. So, you need to keep in mind the appropriate time and place when you are using slang words with native Spanish speakers.
However, in the right context slang in Spanish can be extremely amusing. On the other hand, in a professional setting, it can also cause more problems than not. The appropriate time and place to use slang words are:
In Spanish culture, slang words are appropriate to use during any informal conversations anywhere. When posting on a certain social media, slang makes it super easy for you to fit in the platform.
You can use slang words to interact with relatable people on social media and stay prominent. The most common use of such words can be amidst your friends and even with those you have met for the first time.
Don’t Use Slang Words During/With:
Although slang words may make your conversation warmer and lighter, it’s not appropriate to use them in every setting. During an interview or a presentation, you need to maintain a professional image. Since you need to represent yourself as professionally as possible, it’s best to refrain from using any slang or informal expressions and language.
When you are with your teacher or other adults, slang words can be very inappropriate to use. But if there’s enough trust between the elder person and you, it should not be a problem to use them.
Top 10 Common Slang Words
When you are traveling to any of the Spanish-speaking countries, you might want to learn some commonly used slang words beforehand. Using some slang in Spanish to communicate with a local speaker can help you befriend them with ease. Some of the most commonly used Spanish words and expressions used in Spain are:
1. Chaval
Meaning: Kid, Annoying Teenager, Dude.
In different contexts and situations, you can use the term “Chaval” in an affectionate, endearing, or even insulting way. Typically, the slang describes someone who is slightly wet behind the ears or at surly teenagers. But you can also use it to greet someone or use it as a familiar name.
2. A tope
Meaning: Packed, all out, to the fullest extent
This is another Spanish informal term that you can use in different situations and timings. For example, if you want to refer to someone who is working very hard or living to their fullest, the slang expresses someone pushing their limits.
3. Chulo
Meaning: Attractive, pimp, cool.
Chulo is the slang you can use to refer to someone as good-looking, cute, hot, arrogant, and so on. This is a slang term that Spanish speakers use to refer to almost anything. Regardless of a person’s age, Spanish people use this term almost daily.
You can use it to describe anyone who seems attractive to you and it’s not related to any sexual attraction. Alternatively, the slang can also describe someone cocky and arrogant.
4. Currar
Meaning: To work.
If you have visited Spain, it is most likely that you have heard this term somewhere before. This is a common term among the younger generation who use it to refer to their work or their jobs. Currar is a verb that refers to the action of heading for work.
5. A saco
Meaning: Straight forward, bluntly.
Most native Spanish speakers would use this slang as doing something bluntly or doing it with no care about the damage caused. In some contexts, it is a term you can also express going to do something with a person’s all efforts to achieve it.
6. Colega
Meaning: Colleague, mate, friend.
One of the first Spanish words you may have learned is “Amigo” to refer to your friends or pals. But after living among the Spanish people for a while, you may notice the better use of the term “colega”. Regardless of gender, it is the term you can use to refer to all your friends.
7. Compi
Meaning: Buddy, friend, pal
This is another slang you can use to refer to your friend or your pal. It is an affectionate term that most Spanish speakers reserve exclusively for those who are close to them. It can also be a term you may use to refer to your roommate.
8. Cutre
Meaning: Cheap, shabby, lame
The word “Cutre” can be a bit rude to use in many situations. In definition, the slang word describes someone or something as being lame or shabby. So if you want to address anyone or anything as lame or tacky, cutre might be the word you are looking for.
9. Flipar
Meaning: To go crazy, to flip out.
The slang “Flipar” is a verb you will commonly hear from the locals to express their enthusiasm about something. You can use the term to express your love or enthusiasm about anything. The term can also mean to flip out, freak out or be crazy. If you want to talk about something that flusters you or some news that amazes you, this term can be appropriate to use.
10. Guay
Meaning: Very cool, extraordinary.
You can use this slang to describe anything as amazing, fantastic, cool, or just awesome. If you want to engage in any daily conversations with no problem, guay is a word you can keep in mind. Be it a person, or the city, or your clothes, it can be guay.
Top 10 Common Swear Words
When you are hanging out with your Spanish-speaking friends, the colorful string of profanities they use may have you interested to know the meaning. Learning some of the Spanish swear words can help you join in on the conversation without a hitch. Some of the most commonly used Spanish swear words are:
1. Cabrón
Meaning: Big Male Goat
While the literal translation of Cabrón may mean a “male goat”, it is a swear word that close friends use. These days, almost everyone has started to use “Que Cabrón” or “What a bastard!” to sarcastically swear at their friends. It is a quite mild curse word rather than an offensive one.
2. Capullo
Meaning: Jerk, Idiot
The term “Capullo” is quite common among native speakers and describes idiots. You can use slang to refer to how stupid or silly one can be. It’s another mild curse word that close friends may use among themselves.
3. Cojones
Meaning: Male testicles, bullshit, manly courage.
In casual conversations, you will commonly hear people using the term “Los Cojones” to call out on one’s bluff as bullshit. It’s one of the most versatile Spanish curse words as you can also say “Tienes cojones” which means “You certainly have balls”. This phrase describes someone as being bold or brave.
4. Coñazo
Meaning: C*nt, Female genitalia.
A commonly used curse word is “Coño” and it is thrown around almost excessively in Spain. It may sound quite vulgar to use, but it is a general curse word that most people use to express anger, surprise, or frustration.
The term “Coñazo” is simply the more powerful version of the word which means “Big c*nt”. The term may refer to something as being tedious, boring, or irritating.
5. Gilipollas
Meaning: Stupid, Shithead
One of the most common Spanish phrases you may have heard is “no seas gilipollas”. The direct translation of the phrase is “don’t be a dumbass” or “don’t be an idiot.” The term gilipollas can also refer to jerk, brat, among other words.
6. Hostia
Meaning: Holy Sh*t, the host, holy communion
The meaning of this particular curse word may have thrown you off guard and the meaning might as well. The term “Hostia” originated in the Southern parts of Spain where the word was used to refer to Holy Communion used in the church.
Since the country is largely Catholic, including the holy mother church might be quite offensive especially to a religious person. The term “hostia” can also express “holy shit” or “shit”. Alternatively, you may use the term “hostia puta” to mean “holy f*ck”. Alternatively, you may use the term as “hostia puta” to mean “holy f*ck”.
7. Joder
Meaning: F*ck, P*ss off
While the meaning may have alarmed you with the mention of the F-word, it is not that strong of a curse word. Almost everyone from teenagers to adults uses the word with each other without any problem. In most Spanish cultures, the curse word is well accepted and can be used without very loosely offending one another.
8. Putada
Meaning: Dirty trick, bad luck
The word “Putada” typically describes someone experiencing bad luck or when something unexpected happens. In other situations, this word can describe someone playing a dirty trick or ruining others’ plans.
9. Cagarla
Meaning: To screw up, f*ck up
This is a strong Spanish swear word people use to express a messed-up situation or when everything becomes ruined. If you wish to express your anger or frustration over a situation that went out of control, this is the perfect slang to use.
10. Encabronarse
Meaning: To get riled up, to get pissed off
The term “Encabronarse” is a verb that describes how someone has gotten extremely pissed off or riled up. Although not that commonly used, the swear word can make you sound cool and well-known when you use it. The word can also mean something getting destroyed or breaking down in other contexts.
Top 10 Common Expressions
If you want to impress your Spanish peers, learning some of the common Spanish expressions may just do the trick. You might be taking classes or reading books to teach yourself the ever-amusing Spanish language. But to instantly impress someone, sprinkling the following common expressions into your Spanish language might be the fastest way:
1. Se le fue la olla
Meaning: The pot is leaving you
While the direct translation of the expression may sound ridiculous, it means that a person may have gone crazy. More often than not, the term expresses frustration over the stupidity of a person or their ridiculous behavior.
2. Cagarse en la leche
Meaning: Sh*t, bloody hell
Whenever you want to express your disappointment, irritation, or anger over a situation, this might be an expression you can use. While the meaning may sound slightly vulgar, most Spanish people use it regularly to express their frustration or disappointment. Furthermore, this expression has a very interesting origin.
3. De puta madre
Meaning: Bloody awful, that’s f*cking great
“…puta madre” is one of those special expressions that you can use in a wide variety of situations. Be it when you are happy, excited, scared, or even angry, you may use the expression that can be used in most situations. Specifically, “De puta madre” is a way of expressing something that is awesome in actual sense or sarcastically.
4. Que te cagas
Meaning: As sh*t, as f*ck
The slang “Que te cagas” is a rather vulgar expression used to tell people to go to hell. Without a doubt, this is an expression that you must avoid using in any professional setting. This is a commonly used expression among close friends.
5. Dar por saco
Meaning: To bother, to annoy
The native speakers use the expression “Dar por saco” to describe someone who bothers or annoys another person.
6. Ser la hostia
Meaning: Be f*cking amazing, be sick
If you are looking for an expression to describe how awesome or cool something is, “Ser le hostia” may be the perfect one. However, it can also mean that something is awful. If you are confused about how an expression can have both positive and negative meanings, you can think of it as similar to the English slang “sick”.
7. Dar caña
Meaning: Put the pedal to the metal
The literal translation of the expression may sound a bit complex, but it is a commonly used one that means to hurry up. Spanish locals may use the expression to refer to accelerating a car. In any other context, the expression is used in a metaphorical sense to tell people to step on it or accelerate.
8. Echar la bronca
Meaning: To tell off, to scold
If you feel like someone has scolded or told you off for a simple mistake, you may want to use the expression “Echar la bronca”. The common expression means someone telling another person off or even scolding them.
9. Ser una pasada
Meaning: To be brilliant, is amazing
In everyday Spanish conversation, “Ser una pasada” may be an expression frequently used. It is a strong expression used to describe anything cool or amazing. The expression can be used in a wide variety of situations and depending on the context, it can be used to express both positive and negative emotions.
10. Estar hasta la polla.
Meaning: To be up to one’s cock
The literal meaning of the expression “Estar hasta la polla”, may sound quite vulgar. But you may use it to express someone being extremely fed up or done. When you are fed up or have had enough of a messed-up situation, you may use this expression.
Bonus: 3 Common Sayings
By now I’m sure you understand how colorful Spanish is. But, wait there’s more color for me to share with you. Here are some 3 common sayings you might come across when talking to a Spanish speaker.
1. Como Pedro por su casa
Meaning: Like Pedro in his own house
In a literal sense, “Como Pedro por su casa” may mean “like Pedro in his own house”, but it is used to describe someone acting like they own a place.
2. Quien se fue a Sevilla perdió su silla
Meaning: Who went to Sevilla lost his chair
The common saying “Quien se fue a Sevilla perdió su silla” will be used when someone who leaves a room comes back to find out their seat was taken.
3. De tal palo, tal astilla
Meaning: Like father, like son.
The Spanish idiom “De tal palo, tal astilla” is so common among the native speakers that it can be quite useful to keep an idea of. The idiom is used to refer to the similarity that exists between the people who come from the same family. The similarity can be about appearance, personality, or both.
Some Resources To Learn Spanish
Before traveling to Spain or any other Spanish-speaking country, you may want to get a head start by learning some of the popular slang terms. The best resources that may help you in your language learning journey may be websites and apps.
Best Websites To Learn Spanish
Best Apps To Learn Spanish
You can also check various Spanish podcasts to learn better Spanish. Some might tell you to watch movies and other sorts of professional media content. While they are very useful, I think podcasts use more of what you can consider “Street Language”.
Podcasts are usually a lot more laid back and don’t bother with sophistication as much as TV media. That is why I always prefer them over anything else for learning a language.
Conclusion
No doubt, the Spanish language is extremely passionate, rich, and colorful. Maybe because the language is so full of emotion, it also has some of the most fascinating slang words. For those curious to learn the amazing slang words, I introduced some of the most popular slang in Spanish in this article.
If you want to mix in with the native Spanish speakers without a problem and seem cool and confident, these slang terms should be a problem. I wish you the best of luck and thank you for reading till now.