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"Macana" is a noun which is often translated as "club", and "che" is a noun which is often translated as "letter ch". Learn more about the difference between "macana" and "che" below.
la macana(
mah
-
kah
-
nah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (weaponry)
a. club
El ladrón se me acercó por atrás, me pegó con una macana y me dejó inconsciente.The burglar approached me from behind and hit me with his club, rendering me unconscious.
b. billy club (of police officer) (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
El policía les pegó a los manifestantes con su macana.The police officer hit the protesters with his billy club.
c. truncheon (of police officer) (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
El guardia de seguridad patrullaba los pasillos mientras hacía oscilar su macana.The security guard patrolled the hallways swinging his truncheon.
2. (colloquial) (falsehood) (Southern Cone)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
3. (colloquial) (snag) (Southern Cone)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. pain (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Qué macana que haya que suspender la ceremonia de la boda por lluvia.It's a pain that the wedding ceremony has to be called off due to the rain.
b. drag (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
El taxi está atrapado en el tráfico. - ¡Qué macana! Te vas a perder el comienzo de la obra.The taxi is stuck in traffic. - What a drag! You'll miss the beginning of the play.
c. nuisance (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
La compañía aérea perdió mi equipaje. - ¡Qué macana!The airline lost my luggage. - What a nuisance!
4. (colloquial) (blunder) (South America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
a. mistake
Hiciste una macana: tendrías que haber incluido a tu directora de tesis en los agradecimientos.You made a mistake: you should have included your thesis advisor in your acknowledgements.
b. screwup (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Te mandaste una macana y ahora tendrás que ver cómo la arreglás.You managed to get into a screwup and now you'll have to see how you're going to fix it.
las macanas
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
5. (colloquial) (absurdity)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. nonsense (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¿Podemos dejar de lado las macanas y hablar en serio para variar?Can we stop the nonsense and speak seriously for a change?
b. rubbish (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
María dijo que se ganó un millón de pesos en la lotería. - ¡Puras macanas!Maria said she won a million pesos in the lottery. - That's just rubbish!
la che, che(
cheh
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. letter ch
La "che" y la "ll" fueron excluidas del alfabeto español.The letter "ch" and the letter "ll" were excluded from the Spanish alphabet.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
2. (colloquial) (nationality) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. Argentinian
Hay un par de ches y boricuas hospedándose en el hotel.There are a couple of Argentinians and Puerto Ricans staying at the hotel.
An interjection is a short utterance that expresses emotion, hesitation, or protest (e.g., Wow!).
b. yo (colloquial) (slang) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).
Regionalism used in the United States
Che, David, ¿dónde pusiste mis llaves?Yo, David, where did you put my keys?
c. oi (colloquial) (slang) (Australia) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Che, Hugo, ¿a qué hora tenemos que ir a la fiesta?Oi, Hugo, when do we have to leave for the party?
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Que frío que hace acá, che. ¿Se puede prender la calefacción?Phew, it's so cold in here. Can you turn on the heating?
¡Las entradas al cine son un robo, che!Wow, these movie tickets are a total rip-off!
5. (colloquial) (form of address) (Southern Cone)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. dude (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¡No te enojés, che! Era una broma.Relax, dude! It was only a joke.
b. man (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¡Quedate quieto, che!Stand still, man!
