Languages are amazing. Everyone has an infinite number of words who compose a vocabulary. In languages, such as Spanish, which is spoken in about twenty countries, the ways to say something changes in every region.

The expressions are like a code between the people of a place, who only understands their meaning. There are funny expressions, offensive or those who doesn’t have importance.

Colombia has many idiomatic expressions, as all the countries. Some of them are vulgar, but the majority is applied in daily life as part of the language. In this article we will show you ten Colombian Spanish idiomatic expressions…

1. De malas

This expression can mean several things. For example, if one of your friends say to you…

For an example:

“Ando de malas, mi novia me dejó.”

It means that your friend is sad because his girlfriend left him.

Also, is used in a sarcastic way. If you are doing an investigation for university with a partner, but you end up doing all the work, you can say to him:

Example:

“¡De malas! Ya hice todo el trabajo.”

“Fuck you! I did all the work.”

Finally, it can mean unfortunate:

Example:

“Yo sí soy de malas, llegué justo cuando cerró el tren.”

“I have bad luck; I arrived just when the train closed.”

2. Hacer el dos

Literally, the translation would be “make the two”, but its meaning is very simple: doing a favor.

Example:

“María, ¿me puede hacer el dos con la computadora?”

“María, can you do me a favor?”

3. Lo que le diga es mentira

“What I (could) tell you is a lie.” That’s the meaning of lo que le diga es mentira. This expression can be used in all conversational contexts. Generally, it is used to answer a question that we do not know. If one of your buddies asks you,

Example:

“Where is the nearest train station?”

and you don’t know where it is, can answer,

“lo que le diga es mentira.”

4. ¡Nanay cucas!

Can be translated as “No way!”

It’s a resounding negative about an action. If some guy or gal invites you to dinner and you really don’t want to go, AND you want to be a little rude, you can perfectly answer,

Example:

“¡Nanay cucas! No tengo hambre ni quiero salir.”

“No way! I ‘m not hungry and don’t want to go out either.”

But be careful, this expression is always used together! Cuca alone is a vulgar meaning of the word, “vagina”.

5. ¡Pa’ las que sean, papá!

If you do a favor to one of your friends and he thanks you, you can answer, ¡pa’ las que sean! The expression means that you —or the person that say it— will be there in any circumstance, no matter what.

For example:

“Jorge, ¡gracias por hacerme el dos con el trabajo!”

“Jorge, thanks for doing me the favor with the job!”

Answer:

“De nada, ¡estamos pa’ las que sean papá!”

“You’re welcome. We’re here no matter what!”

6. Sumercé, ¿se le ofrece algo?

Sumercé came from su merced. It’s a very elegant Colombian expression. It’s like a formal treatment, but in many situations, can be a lovely treatment too. It very respectful, it can be translated as ma’am or sir.

It’s very common say,

Example:

“Sumercé, ¿se le ofrece algo?”

“Ma’am/Sir, what can I do for you?”

When starting a conversation, especially when one of the participants offers a service, like a waiter, a secretary or any of those professions.

7. Se lo(a) rumbiaron

Rumba, in many Latin countries, means party. In Colombia, it means the same as well. Rumbear or rumbear means, “to go party”, but in Bogotá means to kiss also. But in this context, when someone is rumbeado or rumbiado, it means “took advantage of him or her.”

The word can mean that the person had sex, or was used for his money. For example, if someone say:

Example:

“se rumbiaron a la hija de ese man”

It means that the daughter of that man had sex with somebody or took advantage of her by taking her money.

8. O todos en la cama o todos en el suelo

This is an expression that indicates that there are equal rules in a group.

For example, if you’re part of the cast of a theater’s play and there’s a trip, probably your instructor can say to the group:

Example:

“O todos en la cama o todos en el suelo.”

That means that everybody will eat the same or will sleep in the same places. Same amount of treats for everybody.

9. ¡Qué boleta!

A boleta person is someone ridiculous or indiscreet. Is used in an unformal context and cannot be confused with boleta, which means ticket.

For an example:

“María es muy boleta, estuvo bailando borracha toda la noche.”

“María is very ridiculous, she was dancing drunk all night.”

Also, it can mean something someone’s a party pooper:

Example:

“Martin es un boleta. No quiere salir porque está estudiando inglés.”

“Martin is a party pooper. He doesn’t wanna go out because he’s studying English.

10. Eh, ¡Ave María pues!

This a very common Colombian expression in the capital of the department of Antioquia, Medellín. Generally, it is used as a filler, which means that it means almost nothing.

Also, it can mean yes.

If you’re in Medellín, and someone asks you if you’re learning Spanish, you can answer ¡Eh, Ave María pues!

Besides this meaning, it can be an expression of astonishment. If you slept all day and you even notice it when you awake you can say:

¡Ave María!