Spanish Slang: 102 Slang Words and Expressions

Are you planning to visit Spain anytime soon? Does the thought of conversing with Spanish locals make you nervous? They might not have a vocabulary that you are typically used to, but, indeed, a textbook won’t provide you with Spanish slang words that can make you feel at ease during your stay; learn these five words and the importance of Spanish slang, and you’ll be thanking us later!

Why Is Spanish Slang Important?

Spanish slang is a pretty efficient way of communicating with the natives. If you are learning the language, remember to focus on the Spanish slang words too because they are a significant part! Let’s find out why it’s essential to understand Spanish slang.

Spanish Slang is a Fun Way to Learn the Language:

A fun and easy way to adopt a new language is by using slang words. If you’re traveling to Europe this month and you plan to stay in Spain, try focusing on learning a few slang words. Slang is the informal part of any language, and it’s the language used amongst locals, so for you to fit in and not feel like an outsider and effectively communicate with the people around, it’s the perfect opportunity to get used to some Spanish slang words and talk to everyone everywhere.

Learning Slang Words helps you to avoid a Faux Pas:

Knowing Spanish slang words makes it easy to communicate comfortably and freely with people. But it’s also quite helpful in helping one figure what they have to say. If you’re learning, it’s essential to keep up with some terms, do not believe what you see in the movies. A commonly used slang word is ‘estúpido,’ which translates to ‘stupid.’ But in reality, this is a terrible insult and shouldn’t be used quite often if you’re communicating with someone in Spanish. Learning slang will help you understand the extremes too, and give you a way out to avoid offending any locals.

Spanish Slang words will Speed up your Communicating Skills:

That’s right! Are you looking for ways to connect and communicate without sounding like a tourist quickly? Here is a solution: learn Spanish slang words! These words will help you communicate in a straightforward and fun way. For instance, you can use Guay to express your happiness and Echar una mano to help anyone out; how convenient!

And in case you want to impress your friends here are some Spanish slang words with hilarious origins.

Slang Builds a Connection with the Culture:

Language and culture are a huge mix, and slang words allow you to understand a language and the area’s people. Spanish slang helps you know what’s formal language and what’s informal. This way you can easily connect with the people as well as get familiar with the language too. How convenient!

Let’s find out some of the 5 most commonly used Spanish slang to give you a kickstart, keep scrolling!

1. Chaval(a):

This word is popularly known amongst the Spanish people as a youngster. You may see a few people calling youngsters and kids a Chaval. That’s just their way of addressing them. While you’re sipping a cool drink in Spain, you may come across a group of teenagers that’s Chaval(a)s.

2. Guay:

Have you been hanging around with excellent company and you want to gel in? Try using the Spanish slang guay? It means amazing and cool. You can incorporate this into your repertoire if you are in Spain. If you think something is cool, you can say that it’s guay. Not just this, but it’s also used to say okay and express great excitement.

3. Gillipollas:

This is a commonly used Spanish slang word that you’ll see a lot of people using. It’s used for people who are being stupid or to call someone stupid. People can also use it as a sign of expressing annoyance and saying to someone to stop being a Gillipollas.

4. Hostia:

The people of Spain love using slang words religiously, including Hostia. It means ‘the host,’ but you can use it as a slang word when expressing surprise or shock. It’s somewhere close to the word ‘bloody hell’ that’s used in English. So you can use this expression in a fun way and fit in when talking to a few Spanish natives!

5. Dar Caña:

This Spanish slang word dar caña is popularly used amongst the natives to express the meaning ‘hurry up. Imagine yourself in a queue, and someone’s taking so long to move further. Here’s when you can use the word dar caña to express your thoughts. It’s a commonly used word, and you’ll find a lot of natives using this.

Takeaway:

Ready to use some Spanish slang to communicate with a few locals? Start with some of the words above. Spanish culture is an easy-going culture, and its people are pretty warm and talkative. You’ll find yourself noticing quite a few cab drivers and people around you walking by, giving you warm smiles and trying to communicate with you.

So to beat any confusion, it’s best to learn a few ways so you can confidently speak with the locals and end up sounding cool too! Slang is a fun way to break the ice between you and a local, they may end up laughing at your accent, but they sure will enjoy your company.