This week, we’d like to expand your horizons and to go “off-textbook” and teach you some useful everyday phrases in Spanish. “Guatemaltequismos” are sayings, words or idioms typical in Guatemala – the phrases and expressions are used in “the street” for referring to certain things but in a funny or very casual way in this country. Keep in mind that these are common in Guatemala specifically, some words/phrases may be understood in other Latin American countries. Having at least some of these in your back pocket will surely go a long way towards the goal of fluency – and the locals will be impressed!

Here is a list of some Guatemaltequismos:

Amishar – a verb for being shy, or embarrassed.

La niña es muy amishada . – She is very shy.

Dejar en el arranque – being let down

Mis amigos me dejaron en el arranque con la fiesta. – My friends let me down concerning the party.

¡A la gran puchica! (¡a la gran!) – expresses shock.

¡A la gran puchica!, como hiciste eso, es increíble. – Oh my God, how did you do that, it’s amazing!

A tuto – is the same as saying: to bring something back-loaded.

La mama lleva a tuto a su bebe. – The mother carries her baby on her back.

Boca/Boquitas – snacks / appetizer

En la fiesta hubo muchas bocas para comer. – At the party there were many snacks to eat.

Bolo – man who has drunk too much liquor, drunk. (borracho)

Este hombre está muy bolo . – This man is very drunk.

Bote (estar en el bote) – to be in prison or in jail

La policía se lo llevo al bote . – The police took him to jail.

Canche – word used to describe a person with blonde hair.

La mayoría de los turistas son chanches. – Most tourists are blonde.

Cachimbazo – is a sharp blow/hit.

Por faltarle el respeto a una mujer le dieron un cachimbazo. – From disrepecting a woman, he received a big hit (from her).

Canícula – period in which it is much hotter than it should be

Estamos en la canícula . – We are in an abnormally hot period (when it should be cold).

Canillón – word used to describe a person with long legs.

Felipe es un chico canillón. – Felipe is a long-legged guy

Cuaches – twins

Mi padre y mi tío son cuaches . – My father and my uncle are twins.

Chapín(a) – is what to call a Guatemalan person.

Los chapines somos muy alegres. – Guatemalans are very happy.

Chirís (mocoso, güiro) – a child.

Este chirís es muy malcriado. – This boy is very spoiled.

Chucho – dog.

El chucho se salió de la casa. – The dog left the house.

Cicle – bicycle

Ella tiene una cicle muy bonita. – She has a very nice bike

Colocho – word used to describe a person who has curly hair

Mi hermana es colocha natural. – My sister has naturally curly hair.

¡Cómo no chón! (¡que de a sombrero!) – an expression that is used to give an affirmative answer, form of sarcasm.

Invítame a una cerveza. Aahh si, ¡cómo no chón!. – Buy me a beer. Oh yes, of course! (yeah right!)

De plano / de plano que sí – is a way of saying, yes, of course, definitely.

Yo pienso que él se fue con ella. Sí, de plano . – I think he went with her. Yes, definitely.

Guapo / mango – handsome.

Él es muy mango . – He is very handsome.

Güipil – traditional blouse worn by indigenous women in Guatemala.

Este es un bello güipil de San Antonio Aguas Calientes. – This is a beautiful blouse from San Antonio Aguas Calientes.

Hacer la campaña de – to do a favor.

Hágame la campaña de traer pan de la panadería. – Do me a favor and bring bread from the bakery.

Hacer el mate – to pretend to do something.

Él está haciendo el mate de que está trabajando pero está durmiendo. – He is pretending he is working but is sleeping.

Harina de otro costal – expression saying that it is the wrong topic of discussion.

Este problema es harina de otro costal porque no estamos hablando de eso. – The problem is about something else, we are not talking about that.

Jalando la carreta – expression used for saying that someone is working hard.

¿Cómo estás? Mmm bien gracias, ¡jalando la carreta! – How are you? Mmm well thanks, working hard!

Macho – word used to describe an unintelligent person, a fool.

Él no sabe nada, es un macho . – He knows nothing, he’s a fool.

Mango – word used to describe an attractive or beautiful person (male).

¡Que hombre más mango! – What a handsome man!

Meter la pata – to make a mistake, act inappropriately.

Tú metiste la pata al hablar con ella. – You were wrong to talk to her.

Meterse en camisa de once varas – getting into trouble.

Relacionarse con una mujer casada es meterse en camisa de once varas – Having a relationship with a married woman will get you into trouble.

¡Muchá! – expression used to say: “Hi guys!” (plural)

¡ Muchá ! Pongan atención. – Hi guys! Pay attention.

Patojo/patoja – boy / girl / kids

¡Mamá! Los patojos están peleando en la sala. – Mom! The kids are fighting in the living room.

Pisto – money.

No tengo pisto para comprar esa blusa. – I don’t have money to buy that blouse

Ponerse a chupar or just chupar. – a verb used to describe a person who is drinking a lot liquor.

Mis amigos se pusieron a chupar mucho ayer en el bar. – Yesterday my friends drank a lot in the bar.

Ser mansa paloma (¡que no mata ni una mosca!) – describes a person who appears or pretends to be something they are not

Ella aparenta ser una mansa paloma, pero no lo es. – She is pretending to be something that she is not.

Ser pura lata o mala onda – describes a person who is not nice.

Ella es pura lata con sus hermanos. – She is not nice to her brothers.

Do you know some other useful Spanish phrases? Feel free to share!

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