Popular Mexican Slang

Literal Meaning: adventure

Meaning: affair

¿No sabías que Jaime tuvo una aventura con su secretaria? (Didn’t you know that Jaime had an affair with his secretary?)



Ballena

Literal Meaning: whale

Meaning: liter bottle of beer

Vamos a comprar una ballena y jugar dominó. (Let’s buy a big bottle of beer and play dominos.)



Bici

Meaning: bike

¿Me prestas tu bici? Es muy lejos para caminar. (Will you lend me your bike? It’s a long way to walk.)



Borracho

Meaning: drunk (adj.); drunk (noun)

Es un borracho. Siempre anda borracho. (He's a drunk. He's always drunk.)



Bruja

Literal Meaning: witch

Meaning: bitch

Anita se cree espiritual y de buena onda, pero en realidad es una bruja. (Anita thinks she’s so spiritual and cool, but in reality she’s a bitch.)



Burro

Meaning: donkey, dumb person, idiot

¡Qué burro eres! (You’re such a dummy!)



Cabrón

Literal Meaning: he-goat, billy goat

Meaning: asshole, butthead, bastard, cuckold

Ese cabrón siempre gana al dominó! (That bastard always wins at dominos!)



Caca

Meaning: poop

El niño hizo caca y por eso apesta todo el salón. (The baby pooped and that’s why the whole room stinks.)



Chamba

Meaning: work, a job

Necesito chamba. ¿Usted sabe de algo? Puedo hacer ventas, usar la cómpu, o limpiar el jardín. Cualquier cosa será de ayuda. (I need a job. Do you know of anything? I can do sales, use the computer, or work in the garden. Anything would be of help.)



Chango

Literal Meaning: monkey

Meaning: dude

El grupo de rock Café Tacuba tiene una canción en la cual menciona un “chango chilango”. (The rock group Café Tacuba has a song in which they mention a dude from Mexico City.”)



Chaparrito

Meaning: shorty; short guy (with affection)

Ay, mi chaparrito, ¡cuánto te quiero! (Oh, my little shorty, I love you so much!)



Chichis

Meaning: boobs, tits

¡Tápate, mija, se te ven los chichis! (Cover up, daughter, your boobs are showing!)



Chido

Meaning: cool/awesome

¡Qué chido estuvo el juego de futbol! (The soccer/football game was so awesome!)



Chingadera

Meaning: damn thing

Esta chingadera no funciona. (This frikkin’ thing doesn’t work.)



Chisme

Meaning: gossip

Tengo dos meses fuera. ¡Cuéntame todo el chisme! (I’ve been gone for two months. Tell me all the gossip!)



Codo

Literal Meaning: elbow

Meaning: cheap, stingy

¡Qué codo eres! Siempre me invitas al cine, pero luego tengo que pagar yo mi boleto y mis palomitas. (You are so cheap! You always invite me to the movies, but then I have to buy my own ticket and popcorn.)



Cojones

Meaning: balls, bollocks

Ese tipo no es listo, pero sí tiene cojones. (That guy isn’t bright, but he sure has balls.)



Compa

Meaning: More intimate, short form of “compadre,” or “pal.”

“Oye, compa, sabes que te respeto.” (Hey, pal, you know I respect you.)



Compadre

Meaning: Its literal meaning is “godfather of my children.” But the slang usage is “brother,” “pal” or “friend.”

Oye, compadre, dame buen precio. (Hey, friend, give me a good price.)



Coyote

Literal Meaning: coyote

Meaning: one who smuggles human beings across the international border

El coyote los abandonó en el desierto. (The smuggler abandoned them in the desert.)



Crudo/cruda

Meaning: hangover or hungover

¡Híjole, qué crudo tengo! Y tú, Marí, ¿estás cruda también? (My god, what a hangover I have! And you, Mari, do you have a hangover too?)



Dicharachero

Meaning: Someone who uses popular sayings in conversation

Un dicharachero es alguien que conversa con ánimo y tiende a emplear dichos graciosos en las pláticas. (A dicharachero is a person who speaks with enthusiasm and tends to use entertaining sayings in conversation.)



Este ...

Meaning: ummmmm

Padre: “Dónde estabas, hijo?” Lalo: “Este estaba estudiando con Pepe.” Father: “Where were you, son?” Lalo: “Ummmm I was studying with Pepe.”)



Favorzote

Meaning: a big favor

Oiga, un favorzote ... ¿puede cambiarme este billete por uno que no esté roto? (Listen, a big favor, could you exchange this bill for one that's not torn?)



Gringo/a

Meaning: American, foreigner

¡Qué sorpresa! Esa gringa baila bien el merengue. (What a surprise! That American dances the merengue well.)



Guey

Meaning: dude

Cállate, güey! (Shut up, dude!)



Hijo De Puta

Literal Meaning: son of a whore

Meaning: son of a bitch

Ese hijo de puta me robó a mí, mintió a mi madre, y abandonó a mi hermana. Lo odio. (That son of a bitch robbed me, lied to my mother, and abandoned my sister. I hate him.)



Huevón/huevona

Meaning: lazy, slow, weak-minded, stupid

¡Apúrate, huevón, o te quedas atrás! (Hurry up, you idiot, or you’ll be left behind!)



Huevos

Literal Meaning: eggs

Meaning: balls

Ese vato sí tiene huevos; es muy valiente. (That guy sure has balls; he’s very brave.)



La Línea

Meaning: the border

Su hermana vive cerca de la línea. (His sister lives close to the border.)



La Luz

Literal Meaning: the light

Meaning: electricity

Se fue la luz. Es la quinta vez esta semana. Creo que están trabajando en los cables de nuestro barrio. Voy a ir a la compañía de la luz para preguntar qué onda. (The electricity is out. It’s the fifth time this week. I think they are working on the lines in our neighborhood. I’m going to go to the electric company and ask what’s up.)



La Migra

Meaning: immigration department, immigration officer

Córrele, güey, ya viene la migra! (Take off, dude, here comes immigration!)



Llorón

Meaning: crybaby

¡No seas llorón! (Don’t be a crybaby!)



Loca

Literal Meaning: crazy (female)

Meaning: a loose or flirtatious woman

Bromeando con una conocida en la ciudad de Oaxaca, yo le llamé “loca” a la señorita. Su madre me empezó a gritar y me preguntó muy enojado por qué le decía así a su hija. No había entendio el significado de la palabra, que en este contexto referiría a una chica demasiado coqueta o con varios novios. ¡Opa! (Kidding around with an acquaintance in Oaxaca, I called the young woman “loca.” Her mother started yelling at me and asked me angrily why I had called her daughter that. I had not understood the significance of the word, which in slang is used to refer to a flirtatious or loose woman. Oops!)



Los Skatos

Meaning: Skaters, kids from the skateboarding culture

Ella ya anda con los skatos. (She hangs out with the skater kids now.)



Madrecita

Literal Meaning: little mother

Meaning: Used with one’s own mother or with another, usually older, woman to show endearment and/or respect

[said to the old lady selling tamales on the corner] Buenas noches, madrecita. Voy a llevar cinco de sus deliciosos tamales. (Good evening, mother. I’ll take five of your delicious tamales.)



Mamacita

Meaning: As opposed to the diminutive “madrecita,” or “dear little mother” (an affectionate term for one’s mother), a mamacita refers to a “babe.” It’s a common pick-up line.

Oye, mamacita, qué buena estás.” (Hey, baby, you are looking fine.)



Mamarracho

Meaning: braggart, pompous ass, blowhard

Rodolfo es un mamarracho. Siempre está hablando de sí mismo y sus supuestos contactos en el gobierno, pero en realidad no es nadie, y no tiene nada de palanca. (Rodolfo is a blowhard. He’s always talking about himself and his supposed contacts in the government, but in reality he’s a nobody and has no influence at all.)



Mamón

Meaning: kiss ass, stuck up, jerk, uncool person

¡Cómo eres mamón! (You’re so stuck up!)



Maricón

Meaning: fag, gay

Pide a Xavier su ayuda con la decoración. Es maricón, güey. (Ask Xavier for his help with the décor. He’s a fag, dude.)



Media Naranja

Literal Meaning: half orange

Meaning: better half, partner, mate

Ven a la reunión, y trae tu media naranja. (Come to the meeting, and bring your partner.)



Mierda

Meaning: shit

Estás loco, guey. No voy a comprar ese carro de mierda. (You’re crazy, dude. I’m not going to buy that piece of shit car.)



Mija

Meaning: Actually ‘mija’ is not so much slang as a contraction of the words ‘mi’ and ‘hija’: my daughter. However it is often used not only with one’s own daughter but in a friendly way to any girl child.

Hola, mija, ¿cómo estás? Queremos invitarte a Puerto Vallarta para semana santa. Voy a decírselo a tu mamá. Todos nuestros hijos quieren que no acompañes. (Hello, my child, how are you? We want to invite you to Puerto Vallarta for Easter week. I’m going to tell your mother. All of our children want you to come with us.)



Mijo

Meaning: Actually ‘mijo’ is not so much slang as a contraction of the words ‘mi’ and ‘hijo’: my son. However it is often used not only with one’s own son but in a friendly way to any boy.

Muchacho: “¿Quiere que le ayude con sus compras, señora?” Doña Hortensia: “Sí, mijo, gracias.” (Boy: “Would you like help with your purchases, ma’am?” Doña Hortensia: “Yes, son. Thank you.”)



Mocoso

Literal Meaning: full of snot, snot-nosed

Meaning: brat

Tú, mocoso, ¡sal de allí! (Hey, brat, get out of there!)



Mordida

Literal Meaning: bite

Meaning: bribe

¡Pinche policia! Tuve que pagar una mordida de 300 pesos para evitar problemas con mi licencia. (Frikkin’ police! I had to pay a 300-peso bribe to avoid problems with my license!)



Mota

Meaning: pot, dope, marijuana

El antes fumaba mota, pero ya no. (He used to smoke pot, but not anymore.)



Narco

Literal Meaning: drug trafficker

Los narcos están peleando entre sí. (The drug traffickers are fighting among themselves.)



Niño Fresa/niña Fresa

Literal Meaning: strawberry boy/strawberry girl

Meaning: rich kid

Mira el auto nuevo que le compraron sus papás. Es toda una niña fresa. (Look at the new car her parents bought her. She’s such a spoiled rich kid!)



Orale

Meaning: Right on! Cool!

¡Orale, güey! ¡Qué chido que la morena bonita te quiere. (Right on, dude! How awesome that the cute dark-skinned girl loves you.)



Panzón

Meaning: big-bellied, pot-bellied, fatty

Ese panzón sólo sabe chupar y tragar mi comida. (All that fatty knows how to do is drink and eat my food.)



Payaso

Meaning: clown

¡Qué payaso eres! No todo en la vida es broma. Aunque sí es cierto que me haces reír. (You’re such a clown. Not everything in life is a joke. Although you do make me laugh.)



Pelón

Meaning: bald, bald guy

Ahorita viene mi pelón. (My bald-headed guy is on his way.)



Pendejo

Meaning: fool, idiot, jerk, asshole

No seas pendejo. Déjala en paz. (Don’t be an ass; leave her alone.)



Pinche

Meaning: damned, darned

¡Calla la pinche boca! (Shut your damn mouth!)



Poli

Meaning: cop

Pregúntale al poli dónde está el restaurant. Tengo hambre y estoy cansado de caminar. (Ask the cop where the restaurant is. I’m hungry and tired of walking.)



Pollero

Literal Meaning: chicken farmer

Meaning: illegal alien smuggler

Ayer en San Diego capturaron a dos polleros con su cargo humano. (Yesterday in San Diego they captured two smugglers with their human cargo.)



Prepa

Meaning: high school

Mi hija mayor está en la prepa, la más pequeña en la secundaria. (My oldest daughter is in high school, the youngest is in junior high.)



Puente

Literal Meaning: bridge

Meaning: long weekend

Vamos a Zihua para el puente del día de la Revolución. (We’re going to Zihua for the Revolution Day long weekend.)



Ranchero/a

Literal Meaning: rancher, from the ranch

Meaning: shy

Ay, muñeca, no seas rancherita. (Hey, doll, don’t be shy.)



Refri

Meaning: fridge

Saca los blanquillos del refri. (Get the eggs out of the fridge.)



Sabe

Meaning: Short for ¿Quién sabe?, sabe means Who knows? with a generous helping of Who cares?

Mamá: ¿A qué horas llega tu hermano? Tú: Sabe ... (Mom: What time will your brother arrive? You: Who knows?)



Salchicha

Literal Meaning: sausage

Meaning: wiener dog, dachshund

Yo tengo salchicha pero mi perro favorito es el pastor alemán. (I have a wiener dog but my favorite type of dog is the German shepherd.)



Sale

Meaning: cool, that's fine, sure, i agree

Sandra: ¿Quiéres ir al cine? Yo invito. (Want to go to the movies? My treat.) Anabel: ¡Sale! (Cool!)



Sale Vale

Meaning: Great!

Daniel: Tengo dos boletos para el concierto de Juanes; te invito. (I have two tickets to see Juanes; you’re invited.) Béatriz: ¡Sale vale! (Great!)



Sancho

Meaning: squeeze, [second] boyfriend, fuck buddy

Jonathan es mi pretendido, pero mi viejo amigo Pedro es mi sancho. (Jonathan is my fiancé, but my old friend Pedro is my squeeze.)



Taco De Ojos

Literal Meaning: eye tacos

Meaning: eye candy

Vamos al centro a echarnos unos tacos de ojos. Es sábado y las chicas han de estar rebuenas. (Let’s go downtown to check out the eye candy. It’s Saturday and the girls must be looking fine.)



Tan Tan

Meaning: knock knock

¡Tan tan! ¿No hay nadie? (Knock knock! Is anybody home?)



Tepalcuanas

Meaning: butt, fanny

Esta falda es muy corta. Se te ven las tepalcuanas. (That skirt is really short! You can see your butt!)



Tipo

Meaning: guy, fellow

Vamos a preguntar a ese tipo alto de la clase de cocina. Es un buen tipo. (Let’s ask the tall guy from our cooking class. He’s a good guy.)



Vato

Meaning: “Vato” is to the 50 and older crowd what “buey” is to the younger generation. In other words, “dude” or “guy.”

Ese vato no sabe lo que dice.

(“That guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”)

Oye, vato, ven p’aca. (“Hey, dude, come over here.”)



Vibra

Meaning: vibe

Vámonos de aquí. Hay una mala vibra. (Let’s get out of here. There’s a bad vibe.)



Vieja

Literal Meaning: old lady

Meaning: old lady (spouse or mother)

Mi vieja (mi esposa) me acaba de decir que está embarazada. (My old lady [wife] just told me she’s pregnant.)



Viejo

Literal Meaning: old man

Meaning: old man (spouse or father)

Malas noticias, carnal. Mi viejo no me deja salir hoy en la noche. (Bad news, brother. My old man won’t let me go out tonight.)



¿Qué Rollo Con El Hoyo?

Literal Meaning: What’s up with the hole?

Meaning: What’s up?

¡Hola, hermano! ¿Dónde vamos? ¿Qué rollo con el hoyo? (Hey, brother! Where are we going? What’s up?)

