Spanish slang for Latin America
Spanish Slang for Latin America: Many Latinos are sensitive to the fact that education in Latin America isn’t as good as in Europe and the US. As a result, using formal Spanish sometimes sounds to Latinos like, “I have education and you don’t.” Use the words and phrases they use, and you’ll seem like one of them.
Here are some of the local phrases to use:
1. Nos vemos – See you later. Literally “We see each other.” Nicaraguans don’t use “Adios” because we don’t like saying goodbye—it sounds too permanent, like we’ll never see each other again.
2. Bacanal – Party. “Fiesta” isn’t used often—it feels plain and formal.
¿Me gusta el bacanal. (I like the party.)
3. Bacanalear – to party
Me gusta bacanalear. (I like to party.)
4. Chele/chela – The words mean light skin, aren’t derogatory, and are used to refer to Americans or Europeans.
5. Chela/chelas – Also used to mean beers, presumably referring to their blond color.
6. Dale or Dale pues – Ok, Ok then.
ꟷ¿Quieres ir a la playa conmigo? (Do you want to go to the beach with me?)
ꟷDale pues/ Dale (OK)
7. Deacachimba: Cool, Awesome
ꟷ¿Cómo te sientes hoy?
ꟷDeacachimba
8. Elegante: Elegant
¿Cómo estas? or ¿Cómo te sientes hoy? (How do you feel today?)
Elegante
9. El imperio: United States. Literally “the empire”
La próxima semana voy para el imperio.
10. Gringo: An American. Gringo isn’t deragatory; it simply means someone from another country—primarily the US.
11. Gringolandia: United States
La semana próxima voy para Gringolandia. (Next week I’m going to the US.)
12. ¿Ideay?: What’s up? And then what?
Ideay Carlos, que pasó con la prueba de Matematicas.
13. No hay falla: No problem
¿Puedes comprarme un Kindle en Amazon?
Si, no hay falla.
14. Pijudo: Cool , awesome, excellent
ꟷ¿Todo tuani?
ꟷPijudo
15. Tuani: Cool, awesome
¿Todo tuani? (Everything is good?
ꟷSi, todo tuani. (Yes, everything is cool.)
16. ¿Y entonces? Literally it means “And then?” but it’s used like “What’s happening in your life?” or “How’s it going?”
17. Venta o tienda:
Una venta is a small shop or stall.
Una tienda is larger, e.g., a store for clothes, shoes, watches.