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
For what it's worth, "pedo" is also common in Mexico. A related Mexican slang word which maybe isn't so common across the pond is "chupar" = "to booze, drink (alcohol)" (as well as obviously its normal non-slang meaning). For example: "estuvieron chupando toda la noche" = "they were boozing away all night". If you need to go to the supermarket for some alcofrolic supplies, then instead of going "al super", you could thus go "al chuper". And by extension, a gas-guzzling car would be described as "chupagasolina" (but maybe this expression is also used in Spain')
Heidita said:
samdie said:
Ah, but are they Mexican slang (peculiar to or characteristic of Mexico) or just slang expressions in Spanish?
Hi Sam, this is Mexican slang, many expressions would mean nothing in Spain.
The word pedo used above by Karen for example in Spains simply means: to be drunk
Tiene un pedo no veas...he is sooooo drunk.
MJ has created a very nice vocabulary list on these expressions.
[url=http://my.spanishdict.com/vocabulary/vocabulary/show'id=1710195%3ATermList%3A1127554]Mexican slang[/url]
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samdie said:
Ah, but are they Mexican slang (peculiar to or characteristic of Mexico) or just slang expressions in Spanish?
Hi Sam, this is Mexican slang, many expressions would mean nothing in Spain.
The word pedo used above by Karen for example in Spains simply means: to be drunk
Tiene un pedo no veas...he is sooooo drunk.
MJ has created a very nice vocabulary list on these expressions.
[url=http://my.spanishdict.com/vocabulary/vocabulary/show'id=1710195%3ATermList%3A1127554]Mexican slang[/url]
I know someone who says "chispas" (sparks) in place of that other "chi''''" word under discussion here. 
Same idea.
Chegx said:
MJ yes no manches or no mam.. is like ohhhh come onnnnn we say no manches instead of mam.... cuz is a bad word
you do the same with freaking and f.....
Chegx
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Karen Swaffield said:
Thanks for referring this discussion to me. It is very interesting. However, I am surprised that with all the talk about Mexican slang no one has mentioned the word 'pedo'. From what I understand there are a number of slang expressions in Mexico that use the word 'pedo'. Would anyone like to comment?
Ah, but are they Mexican slang (peculiar to or characteristic of Mexico) or just slang expressions in Spanish'
Hi Chegx,
Thanks for referring this discussion to me. It is very interesting. However, I am surprised that with all the talk about Mexican slang no one has mentioned the word 'pedo'. From what I understand there are a number of slang expressions in Mexico that use the word 'pedo'. Would anyone like to comment'
Este hilo se ha incluído en los FAQ a petición popular
You're a good sport.
Now how does one express that in Spanish? I'm going to bet that there is appropriate slang.
You might lose that bet. In the sense of someone flexibly going along with something, without putting up a fuss, I don't think there is an exact equivalent in Spanish. "Ser un buen perdedor" is used in the sense of knowing how to lose graciously, but that is different from the sense here.
I think in the same situation, a native might just say something like "Eres buena gente" or, in Mexico, "Eres buena onda."
And I agree, Chegx does seem like a good sport, and it's good to have him here.
y besos a ti
You're a good sport.
Now how does one express that in Spanish? I'm going to bet that there is appropriate slang.
Chegx said:
done!!!
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done!!!
Saludos a todoooossss!!
R: Vallar? creo que cometiste un error y quisiste decir Vallan'
No, I meant to write vallar, because what you posted says vallan, and that would have to be from the verb vallar (which does exist), since there is no verb valler or vallir.
R: A veces se usa el NO en esos casos para hacer una advertencia/aviso
"No entres!! no te vaya a morder el perro"
en el caso de tu enunciado:
"Si montas un camello -cuidate- no te vayan a salir... or si montas un camello espero que no te vayan a salir....
OK, thanks, that's helpful.
As for me relaxing, I think I'm pretty relaxed. I just think that people shouldn't quote big chunks of text without telling us that it's a quote, because we will react differently if it is written by the poster and if it is written by someone else. Plus, it's common courtesy to give credit to the original writer. I realize that this is a casual forum, but I still think this applies here. Others may disagree.
Thanks for the reply.
Hey mi estimado James!
Estás en lo correcto, ese artículo ya lo había leído mucho antes de conocer éste sitio y me pareció divertido, simplemente lo copié para compartirlo con mis amigos aquí!!!
Creo que tu y Samdie se tienen que tomar un respiro y relajarse un poco amigos!! ésto es un foro y se es libre de poner lo que se plasca! mientras no infrinja las reglas del sitio claro
El foro No son los archivos del FBI o una investgación interestelar de la NASA, simplemente somos jóvenes tratando de aprender idiomas y divertirnos un poco, relájense hombre
Por lo del olor a pescado creo que puede ser en tu casa!! revisa bien amigo!
Si montas un camello, no te vallan a salir ampollas en las nalgas.
1) Why does this saying appear so infrequently on the Internet, and usually in English sites dealing with Spanish? Makes me think it isn't really used much in Mexico.
R: mmm en realidad no se que quiere decir esa frase ya que es probable que tenga un doble sentido
no es usado en Mex, pero si lo he escuchado alguna vez de gente naca generalmente
2) Why is it montar un camello, instead of montar a camello, as in montar a caballo?
R: Montar a caballo - es más como... la acción en conjunto, por ejm:
"Uno de mis hobbies es montar a caballo, salir con amigos..." no es conveniente decir montar UN caballo (especifico), la gente te preguntaría UN caballo? que tipo de caballo'? o.... Un caballo nada más? no 2 ni 3 ni 4? o tienes UN caballo favorito?
ejemplo con UN
"Me gusta montar un caballo alazán" no puedes decir a caballo alazan
"Ella tiene un caballo negro"
En el caso de tu enunciado "si montas UN camello" se refieren a algún camello que podrías o no montar en el futuro, es como una sugerencia/adevertencia
3) What is the verb? If it is vallar, it makes no sense. If it is supposed to be "vayan," that would be a negative command, which doesn't make sense, either.
R: Vallar? creo que cometiste un error y quisiste decir Vallan'... estás en lo correcto, ... es -vayan- del verbo IR.... valla es otra cosa y vallan creo que no existe esa palabra... por lo mismo que te comenté que éste tipo de frases son usadas por nacos o gente de bajo perfíl que a veces no han cursado ni la primaria, es "normal" que tengan faltas de ortografía al momento de escribirlo
4) Why is the second part of the saying in the negative? The positive form would make sense, but the negative does not.
R: A veces se usa el NO en esos casos para hacer una advertencia/aviso
"No entres!! no te vaya a morder el perro"
en el caso de tu enunciado:
"Si montas un camello -cuidate- no te vayan a salir... or si montas un camello espero que no te vayan a salir....
Saluods a todooooossss relaxxx!! jaja
Chegx
Chegx, ¿sabes qué quiere decir plagio? Este hilo sí es divertido e interesante, pero si vas a poner algo escrito por otra persona, debes decírnoslo desde el principio. Lo que has puesto viene del siguiente sitio, escrito por Nancy Seeley.
http://www.adip.info/2005_2006/mar/10-slang.html
Pero tengo unas preguntas sobre esta frase.
Si montas un camello, no te vallan a salir ampollas en las nalgas.
1) Why does this saying appear so infrequently on the Internet, and usually in English sites dealing with Spanish? Makes me think it isn't really used much in Mexico.
2) Why is it montar un camello, instead of montar a camello, as in montar a caballo?
3) What is the verb? If it is vallar, it makes no sense. If it is supposed to be "vayan," that would be a negative command, which doesn't make sense, either.
4) Why is the second part of the saying in the negative? The positive form would make sense, but the negative does not.
I smell fish. Stinky fish.
I was never really interested in slang. But this discussion maybe me interested. Gracias.
Great page really interesting. mucho gracious.
Obviously it's very subjective, but I'd say that 'pinche' is a bit like 'bloody'/'damned' in English: some people would avoid the word, and you'd avoid it in polite company, but between friends it's not terribly vulgar or offensive. If you want to tone it down slightly, you can use the euphemistic variant 'chinche'.
The expressions with 'madre' are perhaps a 'notch up' in vulgarity, but most people still wouldn't find them terribly shocking. The expressions based around 'chingar'/'chingada' are maybe a notch up again in vulgarity from 'madre', probably on the level of 'fuck', 'shit' in English.
Of course, there aren't really "notches", and how appropriate these words are depends on the particular context and the particular relationship you have with the people you're speaking to. There are probably Mexican offices where every 5th word uttered starts with "ching-"...
MJ said:
Thanks, Neil, for the Mexican vs Peninsular word list. Also the slang as at least I'll know what these expressions mean.
And now a couple Q's about some of the slang.
1) Ummm are these madre, pinche, and chinga expressions used much in mixed company, or mostly among the guys?
2) And what, please, are "mames" and "manches"? ("¡ay, no mames!" "come off it!" or, more euphemistically, "¡no manches!")
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