Spanish Slangs (México)
Híjole! Qué onda? Ándale! Guácala!
Is that Spanish? Si'but you probably won't find those words in a traditional Spanish/English dictionary, and they most likely won't turn up in lessons at a language school because they're Mexican slang. Translated, they mean 'Holy cow! What's happening? Hurry up! That's horrible!? If you can incorporate these and other expressions in your speech down here, you've taken a step towards sounding like a local.
Like English slang, some words can mean different things depending on the situation. ÿrale, for example, means 'sounds great? in a positive sense, but when spoken negatively, it changes to 'what the heck''or something a lot stronger. (Similarly, híjole morphs from 'hey? to that stronger 'what the &'!!!#'.)
Qué padre! And Qué barbara! both mean 'cool!,? while qué poca madre signifies 'not worth a darn.? Although the dictionary says lana is wool, it also means 'money? or ? to use English slang ? 'dough.? If you call someone codo, you're saying he's a cheapskate, even though the dictionary primly says that word means 'elbow.? When you get the hang of this stuff, you may well say sale y vale, which means 'I agree.?
Cuate means fraternal twin in the traditional sense, but use it idiomatically and you're calling someone your buddy. Slang can also take on geographical connotations, illustrated by the word 'sanka,? which in Zihuatanejo signifies a local, but don't expect anyone to catch on four hours away in Acapulco.
Jefe (or jefa when feminized) means 'boss? but translates to 'father? ('mother') in slang. Patas de perro are your dog's paws, but spoken loosely, the expression means 'restless.? So you're starting to catch on? No hay bronca ? that's 'not a problem.? Ese chango means 'that guy? in slang, even though the dictionary says a chango is a monkey. Many north-of-the-border blondes are probably used to being called gueras in Zihua, though Webster's will tell you the word to use is really rubia.
My slang experts informed me the word gringo (gringa for females) originated during the Mexican/American War in the mid-19th century when green-uniformed U.S. soldiers were enthusiastically instructed by finger-pointing Mexicans to 'green-go!? Before anyone out there takes issue with this, there are at least half a dozen other explanations claiming to be the real story. (Quien sabe? That's non-slang for 'who knows'') Anyway, said my sources, the word has pretty much fallen out of favor these days, replaced by gabacho (gabacha), which used to mean only a French foreigner but now designates all non-Mexicans. Even slang words sometimes get abbreviated, so be alert for folks calling you a gabo (gaba) as you meander about town. There's even slang tongue-twisters. Tatacha la gabacha means 'Do you speak English'? If all this stuff is driving you to drink, be careful you don't end up crudo (cruda) ? that's with a hangover. Worse yet would be una cruda espantosa'a scary hangover. And that would be un desmadre, which is to say a mess.
Mexico can be a very classist society, and the country's slang reflects that. So, a naco describes someone who has money but no class or, alternatively, simply someone with no class. On a more egalitarian level, a 'jerk? (or fool or idiot) from any walk of life is often called a pendejo, quite a change from its dictionary definition as a pubic hair. Call someone your taco de ojo (word for word, the 'taco of your eye,') and you're saying that person is awfully easy on the eyes but falls in the 'look but don't touch? category. For the ladies, this 'forbidden fruit? could be some well-toned Chippendales performing on stage; for the men, a tempting table dancer in one of Zihua's night clubs.
There are longer expressions too. 'No hay de queso, no mas de papas? tells someone you're 'broke,? though the literal translation is 'I don't have cheese ? or potatoes either.?
Let's say you've done a small job for someone, and they ask what they owe you. Dame para un refresco ('give me enough for a soda'), you could say, hoping the person you're talking to is clever enough to realize you don't REALLY want a Pepsi but a little lana.
Here's one that might take a while to memorize, but it's worth it: Si montas un camello, no te vallan a salir ampollas en las nalgas. Use this anytime you need to say the equivalent of, 'Does a bear s___| in the woods'? In case you're wondering, the Spanish slang literally means, 'If you're going to ride a camel, you're gonna wind up with blisters on your butt.?
This is just a starter course, amigos, but enough for one lesson. Vámonos de reventón! 'Let's party!?
"Community Mexican Slang 101", By Nancy Seeley
49 Answers
i would love to put the mexican slang up for you all.
who wants to see a list of spanish-mexican slang?
Forget about the expression "No hay de queso, no mas de papas" All the other ones mentioned will be very useful, but "no hay de queso, no mas de papas" it is a slang used 30 years ago and you will never ever hear about it again.. It was used in a very successful "soap opera" and that was it, never been used in a "regular" conversation... so, i highly recommend not even to slightly consider it... most people won't understand what are you talking about, UNLESS you are talking about THAT famous soap opera
Correction: it is spelled "tocayo."
Tocallo supposedly means "someone with the same name as yourself."
"¡Hola, Tocallo! Como estás."
Todo lo dicho es muy cierto y completo. La expresión no hay de queso, nomás de papa además es utilizada para responder no hay de qué cuando alguien te da las gracias por algo.
- Gracias por traerme
-No hay de queso, nomás de papa
*[i]Very good link para mexican slangs!
Las traducciones son mUy buenAs!*[/i]
LINK -- http://www.mexicoguru.com/mexican-slang.php
Thank you
James Santiago said:
Amy Gonsalves said:
Me again, I DID misspell that word, it's "piojo".
I have no idea how piojos could be related to being broke or cheap. If you really want to know, I suggest you open a new thread to ask about this.
>
Amy Gonsalves said:
Me again, I DID misspell that word, it's "piojo".
I have no idea how piojos could be related to being broke or cheap. If you really want to know, I suggest you open a new thread to ask about this.
Me again,
I DID misspell that word, it's "piojo". Strange coincidence; motioning down from the palm of your hand to your elbow also means 'cheap' in American sign language.
But what do you think her "peijos" could mean'
It's a stretch but it looks like "pellejos". I don't know.
LadyDi said:
"...he motioned at his elbow as well." This is a gesture meaning "cheap" as "codo" which technically means "elbow" is also slang for "cheap or cheapskate".
Nice one! I almost said the same thing, since I remember seeing people do that in Mexico, but I wanted to confirm my memory, so I checked several references, but not one listed that meaning for codo. I think I remember hearing people use in as a question, as "¿Te duele el codo'" Do you know how codo came to be associated with cheapness? I understand its connection to drinking, but not cheapness. To cheap to bend your elbow and reach into your pocket?
But what do you think her "peijos" could mean'
"...he motioned at his elbow as well."
This is a gesture meaning "cheap" as "codo" which technically means "elbow" is also slang for "cheap or cheapskate".
He returned with a little sign he made that read, "No Gracias. Soy peijos". I hope that is an idiomatic expression 
We laughed but I wasn't sure if it meant that I was saying I had lice'? The waiter tried to tell me that it meant I had no more money; he motioned at his elbow as well. Some of the vendors had quite a laugh as well.
Lice is piojos (although piejos does seem to be a variation on piojos, peijos is not), and peijo doesn't seem to be a Spanish word. I know a number of ways to say "broke," but none involves the elbow/codo. So I have no idea what your waiter was trying to say, but I'm guessing that you aren't remembering it correctly.
Hi, I was recently in Cabo San Lucas. It was my first visit to Mexico and I was sitting on the beach at a cantina.I attempted to ask the waiter (in my horrible Span-glish) if I could write a sign that would convey to the various vendors on the beach that I wasn't interested in buying anything. I really was getting exhausted trying to be polite and just enjoy the beach. He returned with a little sign he made that read, "No Gracias. Soy peijos". I hope that is an idiomatic expression We laughed but I wasn't sure if it meant that I was saying I had lice'? The waiter tried to tell me that it meant I had no more money; he motioned at his elbow as well. Some of the vendors had quite a laugh as well.
Any help appreciated. Now you know why I am here. I need to learn to speak Spanish properly and understand what is being said to me as well.
