1. A volar como Matías Perez

Literal Translation:

To fly Like Matías Perez

Actual Meaning:

When you disappear or take off or just don’t show up for something.

Examples:

“Me voy de esta fiesta como Matías Perez”

“I am going to disappear from this party, just like Matías Perez”

“Antes de que te rompa el lomo, haz como Matías Perez y desaparécete de mí frente”

“Before I break you in half, do like Matías Perez and disappear from my face”

Origin:

Matías Perez was said to have been an amateur aeronaut from the 1800’s. He wanted to create a hot air balloon; he got on his invention but the balloon took off with Matías inside. He was never seen or heard of again, his balloon was never found.

2. No te salva ni el medico chino

Literal Translation:

Not even the Chinese doctor will save you.

Actual Meaning:

There is no hope for you.

Examples:

“Cuando tu mama vea el regero en esta casa, no te salva ni el medico chino.”

“When your mom sees the mess in this house, not even the Chinese doctor will save you.”

“Estas bien mal con la bronchitis, de esta no te salva ni el medico chino.”

“You don’t sound too well with that bronchitis, not even the Chinese doctor will cure you.”

Origin:

The Story goes that there once was a Chinese physician called Chan Bom Bia who lived in Cuba in the 1900’s. He was famous for curing alignments in patients who had no hope or no cure.

3. Te voy a despingar

Literal Translation:

No literal translation.

Actual Meaning:

I am going to kick your @ss (I am going to give you the whooping of a lifetime)

Examples:

“Si no te quitas del camino, te voy a despingar”

“If you don’t get out of my way, I am going to kick your ass”

“Si me vuelves a gritar, te voy a despingar”

“If you scream at me again, I am going to kick your ass”

4. Eres un pajaro de mal aguero

Literal Translation:

You are a bird of bad omen.

Actual Meaning:

You have bad luck, you bring bad luck.

Examples:

“Ibamos ganando hasta que llegaste, eres un pajaro de mal aguero”

“We were winning until you showed up, you are bad luck”

5. la pacotilla

Literal Translation:

No literal translation.

Actual Meaning:

Junk, stuff (it can also mean trash)

Examples:

“Maria llega hoy de la yuma y viene llena de pacotilla”

“Maria is coming today from the United States and she is coming full of stuff”

“Juan trajo la pacotilla pero no habia nada Bueno”

“Juan brought all the junk, but there was nothing worthwhile in it”

6. Aché

Literal Translation:

There is no literal translation.

Actual Meaning:

You have good luck.

Examples:

Juan tiene un Aché le acaban de dar una promoción

Juan is so lucky, he just got a promotion

“Tienes un aché no se dieron de cuenta que te llevaste los aretes”

“You are so lucky, they didn’t notice you took those earrings”

7. Más rollo que una película

Literal Translation:

More roll than a movie film.

Actual Meaning:

You talk more than you act or you portray yourself to be better than you actually are.

Examples:

“Juan, no te hagas el pelotero, que eres más rollo que película”

“Juan, don’t pretend to be a great baseball player, because you aren’t”

“Maria se hizo la que había Ganado la lotería, fue más rollo que película”

“Maria acted like she had won the lottery, it was all an act”

8. Chupar el rabo a la jutia

Literal Translation:

To suck on the tail of a rodent (from the Caribbean).

Actual Meaning:

to get drunk, love to drink.

Examples:

“Juan le encanta chuparle el rabo a la jutia”

“Juan loves to drink and get get drunk”

“Maria se pasó la noche entera en la fiesta, chupándole el rabo a la jutia”

“Maria spent the entire night at the party, getting drunk”

9. A caballo Regalado no se le mira el colmillo

Literal Translation:

To a free horse, you don’t need to inspect its teeth.

Actual Meaning:

If get something and its free, do not criticize it.

Examples:

“Juan me regalo este teléfono y le falta una pieca, pero a caballo regalado no se le mira el colmillo”

“Juan gave me this phone, and its missing a piece but if its free then it is all good”

10. Vender Gato por Liebre

Literal Translation:

Getting a cat for a hare.

Actual Meaning:

BAIT AND SWITCH.

Examples:

“El tipo ese de la tienda que te vendió esa cartera, te vendió como gato por liebre”

“That guy from the store who sold you that purse, pulled a bait and switch on you”

“Esto no es una Michael Kors original, no trates de venderme gato por liere”

“This is not an authentic Michael Kors purse, don’t try to pull a fast one on me”

Be sure to also check out the blog post about 9 common slang words and phrases to use when traveling to Cuba.