¡Híjole! Ready to take your Spanish to the next level? Learning Spanish is more than just verb conjugations and vocabulary drills. To truly connect and communicate like a local, you need to dive into the vibrant world of Mexican Slang. It’s the secret ingredient to understanding everyday conversations, making friends, and truly immersing yourself in Mexican culture. If you’re serious about Spanish fluency and want to impress your compas with your authentic vocabulary, you’ve come to the right place.
This article is your deep dive into the exciting universe of Mexican slang. We’re unpacking over 60 essential expressions that will equip you to chat with everyone from street vendors selling elotes to new friends at a carnaval. Mastering these slang words is a fantastic way to break the ice, build rapport, and showcase your Spanish skills in any setting, even at work.
What Exactly is Mexican Slang?
Mexican slang, or modismos mexicanos, is a rich tapestry of colorful expressions used in everyday conversation by Mexicans. These aren’t your textbook Spanish phrases; they’re the lively, informal words and sayings that add flavor and personality to the language. Often shared across Latin American dialects, Mexican slang thrives in casual settings and offers a glimpse into the culture’s humor and worldview. While some terms are playful and lighthearted, others can be strong or even considered Spanish swear words, so understanding the context is key.
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5 Key Reasons to Master Mexican Slang
Why should you dedicate time to learning Mexican slang? Here are five compelling reasons:
- Forge Deeper Connections: Slang is the language of connection. Every Mexican slang word you learn is a stepping stone to building genuine relationships with Mexican people, both in Mexico and around the world. It’s a sign that you’re interested in more than just surface-level communication; you’re engaging with their culture on a deeper level.
- Unlock Inside Jokes & Cultural Nuances: Ever felt lost when everyone around you is laughing at an inside joke? Understanding slang means you’re in on the cultural nuances and humor that shape everyday interactions. You’ll move from being an outsider to feeling like part of the group.
- Achieve Authentic Spanish Fluency: Textbook Spanish is a great foundation, but slang is what makes your Spanish sound natural and fluent. Incorporating Mexican slang into your vocabulary will make your Spanish more polished, authentic, and relatable to native speakers.
- Connect with the Global Mexican Community: Mexican culture has a massive global footprint. Whether you’re a fan of Mexican music, food, or simply travel, you’re likely to encounter Mexican communities worldwide. Furthermore, with the significant Spanish-speaking population in the United States, including a large Mexican-American community, knowing Mexican slang is incredibly valuable for effective communication and social integration.
- Enjoy Mexican Media & Entertainment Fully: Want to truly appreciate shows like Narcos: Mexico on Netflix? Slang is essential! Understanding the colloquial language brings the dialogue to life and enhances your viewing experience. (By the way, narco is Mexican slang for “gangster”—now you’re already learning!).
Ready to ace the ultimate Spanish test: an impromptu, real-life conversation? Keep reading to discover the essential Mexican slang terms you need to know.
Essential Mexican Slang Words and Phrases with Context
Let’s dive into the exciting world of Mexican slang! Here are 60+ must-know words and phrases, complete with examples to help you use them like a mero mero (a true expert).
Bueno
While literally meaning “good,” bueno takes on a different role in Mexico. It’s the standard Spanish greeting when you answer the phone, similar to “hello.” It’s a polite and friendly way to start a phone conversation.
“¡Bueno! ¿Con quién tengo el gusto de hablar?” – (Hello! To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?)
Wey / Güey
Pronounced “wey” or “gooey,” this is the ultimate Mexican slang multi-tool. Think of it as the equivalent of “dude,” “bro,” or “man” in English. You can use it with friends, acquaintances, and even when you’re playfully annoyed with someone. If you’ve ever wondered what Mexican friends call each other, wey is your answer.
“¡Oye wey, vamos a comer tacos al pastor!” – (Hey dude, let’s go eat some tacos al pastor!)
Ese
Slightly cooler and more laid-back than wey, ese (pronounced “essay”) is another way to address someone informally, like “man” or “guy.” It’s often used among friends or people you know well.
“¿Qué onda, ese? ¿Cómo te va?” – (What’s up, man? How’s it going?)
Chavo
Chavo (pronounced “chah-vo”) is the Mexican term for “guy,” “kid,” or “young person.” It’s an affectionate way to refer to a young man or boy.
“Ese chavo es bien buena onda.” – (That guy is really cool.)
¿Qué pasó?
Directly translating to “What happened?”, ¿Qué pasó? (pronounced “kay pah-so”) is the Mexican equivalent of “What’s up?” or “What’s going on?”. It’s a casual way to check in with someone.
“¡Hola, amiga! ¿Qué pasó contigo hoy?” – (Hey, friend! What’s been going on with you today?)
¿Qué onda?
Similar to ¿Qué pasó?, ¿Qué onda? (pronounced “kay own-dah”) is a super casual way to ask “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?”. It literally translates to “What wave?” but idiomatically it means “What’s the vibe?”.
“¿Qué onda, compa? ¿Todo bien?” – (What’s up, buddy? Everything good?)
¿Qué tal?
¿Qué tal? (pronounced “kay tal”) is a standard and friendly way to ask “How’s it going?” or “How are you?”. It’s polite and suitable for most casual interactions.
“¡Hola, vecino! ¿Qué tal todo?” – (Hello, neighbor! How’s everything?)
¡No manches!
¡No manches! (pronounced “no mahn-chess”) is a versatile exclamation expressing surprise, disbelief, or even annoyance. It’s like saying “No way!”, “You’re kidding me!”, or “Seriously?!” in English.
“¡No manches, viste el partido de ayer? ¡Increíble!” – (No way, did you see yesterday’s game? Incredible!)
¿Neta?
¿Neta? (pronounced “nay-tah”) is the Mexican way to ask “Really?” or “Seriously?”. Use it to seek confirmation or express skepticism.
“Me gané un viaje gratis a Cancún.” – “¿Neta?” – (I won a free trip to Cancun. – Really?)
¡Órale!
¡Órale! (pronounced “oh-rah-lay”) is a spirited and incredibly versatile exclamation. It can mean “OK!”, “Alright!”, “Let’s go!”, “Hurry up!”, or even express encouragement. Context is key!
“¡Órale, vamos a empezar la fiesta!” – (Alright, let’s start the party!)
¿Mande? (or “¿Mande usted?” for formality)
¿Mande? (pronounced “mahn-day”) is a polite way to ask someone to repeat themselves, similar to “Pardon?”, “Excuse me?”, or “Could you repeat that?”. ¿Mande usted? is the formal version, used with elders or people you want to show extra respect.
“Dijo que la cena está lista.” – “¿Mande?” – (He said dinner is ready. – Pardon?)
¿A poco?
¿A poco? (pronounced “ah poh-koh”) is a colloquial way to express doubt or surprise, similar to “Really?”, “You don’t say!”, or “Is that so?”.
“Me voy a vivir a Japón.” – “¿A poco?” – (I’m moving to Japan. – Really?)
¡Aguas!
¡Aguas! (pronounced “ah-gwahs”) is a warning cry, like “Watch out!”, “Be careful!”, or “Look out!”. It alerts someone to potential danger. Literally, it means “waters,” harking back to a time when people would throw wastewater out of windows.
“¡Aguas! Viene un coche rápido.” – (Watch out! A car is coming fast.)
¡Cálmate!
¡Cálmate! (pronounced “cal-mah-tay”) means “Calm down!”, “Take it easy!”, or “Chill out!”. It’s used to tell someone to relax or not get worked up.
“¡Cálmate, wey, no es para tanto!” – (Calm down, dude, it’s not that big of a deal!)
Está cañón
Está cañón (pronounced “es-tah cah-nyohn”) describes something as difficult, tough, or challenging. It’s a milder way of saying something is really hard, a step down from stronger, more vulgar expressions.
“Este examen está cañón, necesito estudiar más.” – (This exam is tough, I need to study more.)
¡Eso que ni qué!
¡Eso que ni qué! (pronounced “eh-so kay nee kay”) is a strong affirmation, meaning “That’s for sure!”, “Definitely!”, or “You bet!”. It emphasizes the certainty of something.
“¿Crees que México va a ganar el mundial? ¡Eso que ni qué!” – (Do you think Mexico will win the World Cup? That’s for sure!)
Te crees muy muy
Te crees muy muy (pronounced “tay krayz muy muy”) is a playful way to tease someone who’s acting conceited or arrogant. It’s like saying “You think you’re all that!” or “You’re full of yourself!”.
“Desde que tiene trabajo nuevo, se cree muy muy.” – (Ever since he got a new job, he thinks he’s all that.)
Feria
Feria (pronounced “fair-ee-ah”) is slang for “money” or “cash,” especially small change. It’s a casual way to talk about money.
“¿Traes feria para las tortillas?” – (Do you have cash for tortillas?)
No hay bronca
No hay bronca (pronounced “no eye bron-kah”) means “No problem!”, “No worries!”, or “It’s all good!”. It’s a common way to reassure someone.
“¿Te molesta si llego un poco tarde?” – “No hay bronca, te esperamos.” – (Do you mind if I arrive a little late? – No problem, we’ll wait for you.)
No hay tos
Similar to no hay bronca, no hay tos (pronounced “no eye toss”) also means “No problem!”, “No worries!”, or “It’s nothing!”. It conveys that something is easy or not a hassle.
“Gracias por traerme, ¡no hay tos!” – (Thanks for giving me a ride, no problem!)
Chale
Chale (pronounced “chah-lay”) expresses disappointment, frustration, or resignation. It’s like saying “Darn it!”, “Too bad!”, or “Bummer!”.
“¡Chale! Se canceló el concierto.” – (Darn it! The concert was canceled.)
¡Guácala!
¡Guácala! (pronounced “gwah-kah-lah”) is an exclamation of disgust, like “Yuck!”, “Gross!”, or “Ew!”. Use it when something is unpleasant or distasteful.
“¡Guácala, esta sopa está fría!” – (Yuck, this soup is cold!)
¡Qué padre!
¡Qué padre! (pronounced “kay pah-dray”) expresses excitement, enthusiasm, or approval. It means “How cool!”, “Awesome!”, “Great!”, or “Fantastic!”. Padre literally means “father,” but in this context, it signifies something excellent.
“¡Qué padre tu nuevo coche!” – (How cool, your new car!)
Ándale
Ándale (pronounced “ahn-dah-lay”) is another super versatile word. It can mean “Come on!”, “Hurry up!”, “Let’s go!”, or “Okay, okay!”. It can also express agreement, like “Exactly!” or “That’s right!”.
“¡Ándale, levántate, vamos a la playa!” – (Come on, get up, let’s go to the beach!)
La tira
La tira (pronounced “lah tee-rah”) is slang for “the police” or “law enforcement.” It’s a colloquial way to refer to cops.
“Ten cuidado, ahí viene la tira.” – (Be careful, the cops are coming.)
Coda
Coda (pronounced “koh-dah”), borrowed from music terminology, refers to the “ending” or “conclusion” of something. In slang, it can mean the final part of an event or experience.
“La coda de la fiesta estuvo muy divertida.” – (The end of the party was really fun.)
Sale
Sale (pronounced “sah-lay”) is a simple and common way to say “Okay,” “Sounds good,” “Deal,” or “Agreed.” It’s used to confirm plans or agree to something.
“¿Nos vemos mañana a las 10?” – “Sale.” – (Shall we meet tomorrow at 10? – Okay.)
Ahorita
Ahorita (pronounced “ah-oh-ree-tah”) literally means “right now” or “in a little while.” However, in Mexican slang, ahorita can be deceptively flexible. It can mean anything from “in a moment” to “later,” and sometimes even “not really soon.” Context is crucial!
“Voy a limpiar mi cuarto ahorita.” – (I’m going to clean my room ahorita… which could be in 5 minutes or 5 hours!)
Ni modo
Ni modo (pronounced “nee moh-doh”) expresses resignation or acceptance of something unavoidable. It’s like saying “Oh well,” “Too bad,” “Nothing can be done about it,” or “That’s life.”
“Se acabó el café, ni modo, tomaré agua.” – (The coffee is finished, oh well, I’ll drink water.)
Qué huevón
Qué huevón (pronounced “kay hweh-vohn”) is a derogatory term for someone who is lazy, idle, or unproductive. It literally translates to “what a big egg” (referring to testicles), and is a stronger way to call someone lazy.
“Ese tipo nunca hace nada, ¡qué huevón!” – (That guy never does anything, what a lazy bum!)
Paro
Paro (pronounced “pah-roh”) can refer to a “problem,” “issue,” “conflict,” or “dispute.” It’s used when talking about something that needs to be resolved.
“Tenemos un paro con la entrega, hay que solucionarlo.” – (We have a problem with the delivery, we need to solve it.)
Chamba
Chamba (pronounced “cham-bah”) is slang for “work,” “job,” or “employment.” It’s a casual way to refer to your profession or tasks you need to do.
“¿Cómo te va en la chamba?” – (How’s work going?)
Chido
Chido (pronounced “chee-doh”) is a very common and positive slang word meaning “cool,” “nice,” “great,” “awesome,” or “neat.” It’s a general term of approval.
“¡Qué chido tu carro nuevo!” – (How cool, your new car!)
Cholo
Cholo (pronounced “choh-loh”) refers to a subculture, often associated with Mexican-Americans, characterized by a specific style of dress, music, and attitude. It can also refer to someone who embodies this style.
“Mira esos cholos, con sus carros lowrider.” – (Look at those cholos, with their lowrider cars.)
Ratero
Ratero (pronounced “rah-tay-roh”) is slang for “thief,” “pickpocket,” or “robber.” It describes someone who steals.
“Cuidado con los rateros en el centro.” – (Be careful of thieves downtown.)
Chilango
Chilango (pronounced “chee-lahn-goh”) is a term specifically for people from Mexico City (CDMX). It’s how people from other parts of Mexico often refer to residents of the capital.
“Los chilangos siempre andan a prisa.” – (People from Mexico City are always in a hurry.)
Chicano
Chicano (pronounced “chee-kah-noh”) refers to people of Mexican descent who were born or raised in the United States. It’s an identity term often associated with cultural pride and activism.
“Muchos chicanos celebran el Cinco de Mayo.” – (Many Chicanos celebrate Cinco de Mayo.)
Jefe
Jefe (pronounced “heh-fay”) literally means “boss” or “chief.” In Mexican slang, it can be used informally to address someone with respect, like “boss,” “chief,” “sir,” or “mate,” even if they aren’t actually your boss.
“¿Qué onda, jefe? ¿Todo bien?” – (What’s up, boss? Everything good?)
Pocho
Pocho (pronounced “poh-choh”) is a term, sometimes derogatory, for Mexican-Americans who are seen as having lost touch with their Mexican culture or Spanish language skills, often preferring English.
“Él es pocho, casi no habla español.” – (He’s pocho, he hardly speaks Spanish.)
Sale y vale
Sale y vale (pronounced “sah-lay ee vah-lay”), often said quickly as one word “saleyvale,” is a slang phrase meaning “Alright then,” “Okay, sounds good,” “Deal,” or “Agreed.” It’s a casual way to finalize plans.
“¿Entonces mañana vamos al cine?” – “Sale y vale.” – (So, are we going to the movies tomorrow? – Alright then.)
Ya estás
Ya estás (pronounced “yah es-tahs”) can have a few meanings depending on tone. It can mean “That’s enough!”, “Stop it!”, or “Cut it out!”. It can also mean “You got it!”, “It’s done!”, or “Sure thing!” in a more helpful context.
“Ya estás, deja de molestarme.” – (That’s enough, stop bothering me.)
Chanclas
Chanclas (pronounced “chan-clahs”) refers to “flip-flops” or “sandals.” In Mexican slang, it can also be used to describe something as cheap, low-quality, or “janky.”
“No uses esas chanclas para salir, están muy viejas.” – (Don’t wear those flip-flops to go out, they’re too old.)
Estoy crudo
Estoy crudo (pronounced “es-toy kroo-doh”) is the Mexican way to say “I’m hungover.” It literally means “I’m raw.”
“Hoy no voy a trabajar, estoy crudo.” – (I’m not going to work today, I’m hungover.)
Malacopa
Malacopa (pronounced “mah-lah-koh-pah”) describes someone who becomes unpleasant, aggressive, or rowdy when they drink alcohol. It’s a term for someone who can’t handle their liquor.
“Ten cuidado con él, es bien malacopa.” – (Be careful with him, he’s a real malacopa.)
Suave
Suave (pronounced “swah-vay”) is a versatile slang word meaning “easy,” “cool,” “smooth,” “chill,” or “take it easy.” It’s used in many contexts to encourage relaxation or express agreement.
“Suave, tranquilo, todo va a salir bien.” – (Take it easy, relax, everything will be alright.)
Pinche
Pinche (pronounced “peen-chay”) is a very common and versatile Mexican profanity. It can be used as an adjective meaning “damn,” “fucking,” “crappy,” “lousy,” or to express frustration, anger, or annoyance. It’s strong language, so use with caution!
“¡Pinche tráfico, siempre es horrible!” – (Damn traffic, it’s always horrible!)
Chafa
Chafa (pronounced “chah-fah”) describes something as low-quality, cheap, shoddy, or “crappy.”
“Ese celular es chafa, no te va a durar.” – (That cell phone is crappy, it won’t last you long.)
Cagarla
Cagarla (pronounced “kah-gar-lah”) is a vulgar verb meaning “to mess up,” “to screw up,” “to blunder,” or “to make a mistake.”
“La cagué en la presentación, me puse muy nervioso.” – (I messed up the presentation, I got too nervous.)
Cagó
Cagó (pronounced “kah-goh”) is the past tense of cagar, meaning “he/she/it messed up” or “screwed up.”
“La cagó bien feo en el examen.” – (He really messed up on the exam.)
¿Quién la cagó?
¿Quién la cagó? (pronounced “key-en lah kah-goh”) is a blunt and informal way to ask “Who messed up?”, “Who screwed up?”, or “Who’s to blame?”.
“¿Quién la cagó con el pedido? ¡Está incompleto!” – (Who messed up with the order? It’s incomplete!)
Me cagó
Me cagó (pronounced “may kah-goh”) means “He/She screwed me over,” “He/She cheated me,” or “He/She ripped me off.”
“El mecánico me cagó, me cobró carísimo y no arregló nada.” – (The mechanic ripped me off, he charged me a fortune and didn’t fix anything.)
¿Qué pedo?
¿Qué pedo? (pronounced “kay pay-doh”) is a very informal and slangy way to ask “What’s up?”, “What’s going on?”, “What’s the matter?”, or “What’s the deal?”. Be careful using this, as it’s quite informal.
“¿Qué pedo, por qué estás tan callado?” – (What’s up, why are you so quiet?)
No hay pedo
No hay pedo (pronounced “no eye pay-doh”) is a very common way to say “No problem!”, “It’s all good!”, “No worries!”, or “It’s okay!”.
“¿Te importa si uso tu cargador?” – “No hay pedo, úsalo.” – (Do you mind if I use your charger? – No problem, use it.)
Ando bien pedo
Ando bien pedo (pronounced “ahn-doh bee-en pay-doh”) is a very slangy and direct way to say “I’m very drunk,” “I’m wasted,” or “I’m hammered.”
“Anoche anduve bien pedo, no me acuerdo de nada.” – (Last night I was really drunk, I don’t remember anything.)
¡No mames!
¡No mames! (pronounced “no mah-mays”) is another incredibly versatile and common Mexican slang exclamation. It can express shock, disbelief, amazement, or be used as emphasis. It’s similar to “No way!”, “You’re kidding me!”, “Get out of here!”, “Wow!”, or even “No shit!”. It’s considered somewhat vulgar, so be mindful of your audience.
“¡No mames, ganamos el partido!” – (No way, we won the game!)
¡Madres!
¡Madres! (pronounced “mah-dres”) is an interjection expressing frustration, anger, surprise, or annoyance, like “Damn!”, “Shoot!”, “Darn it!”, or “Oh crap!”. It literally means “mothers.”
“¡Madres, se me olvidó mi paraguas!” – (Damn, I forgot my umbrella!)
Me vale madres
Me vale madres (pronounced “may vah-lay mah-dres”) is a very strong and vulgar expression of indifference or apathy. It means “I don’t give a damn,” “I don’t care at all,” or “I couldn’t care less.”
“Me vale madres lo que piensen de mí.” – (I don’t give a damn what they think of me.)
¡Puta madre!
¡Puta madre! (pronounced “poo-tah mah-dray”) is a very strong and vulgar exclamation of anger, frustration, pain, or surprise, equivalent to “Damn it!”, “Son of a bitch!”, “Motherfucker!”, or “What the hell!”. This is highly offensive, use with extreme caution or avoid altogether.
“¡Puta madre, me pegué en el dedo!” – (Damn it, I hit my finger!)
Poca madre
Poca madre (pronounced “poh-kah mah-dray”) is a slang phrase, surprisingly positive despite containing the word “madre.” It means “awesome,” “amazing,” “incredible,” “badass,” or “really cool.” Context is key to distinguish it from puta madre.
“Esa película está poca madre, tienes que verla.” – (That movie is awesome, you have to see it.)
Perro
Perro (pronounced “peh-roh”), literally “dog,” is slang for a person who is cunning, sly, sneaky, or shrewd. It can also mean someone who is a “player” or womanizer in some contexts, but in Mexican slang, it leans more towards “street-smart.”
“Ese tipo es bien perro para los negocios.” – (That guy is really shrewd at business.)
Hijo de puta / Hijo de perra
Hijo de puta (pronounced “ee-ho day poo-tah”) (male) or Hijo de perra (pronounced “ee-ho day peh-rah”) (female) are highly offensive insults, meaning “son of a bitch.” Avoid using these unless you intend to deeply offend someone.
“No confíes en él, es un hijo de puta.” – (Don’t trust him, he’s a son of a bitch.)
¿Qué estás haciendo, güey?
¿Qué estás haciendo, güey? (pronounced “kay es-tahs ah-see-en-doh, gooey”) is a casual and common way to ask “What are you doing, dude?”
“¿Qué estás haciendo, güey? ¿Vamos por unas cervezas?” – (What are you doing, dude? Let’s go for some beers?)
Pomo
Pomo (pronounced “poh-moh”) is slang for a “party,” “club,” “bar,” or “social gathering.”
“¿Hay pomo este fin de semana?” – (Is there a party this weekend?)
Culo
Culo (pronounced “koo-loh”) is a vulgar slang term for “butt,” “ass,” or “buttocks.”
“Me duele el culo de tanto estar sentado.” – (My butt hurts from sitting so much.)
Culero
Culero (pronounced “koo-leh-roh”) is a derogatory and offensive term for someone who is mean, unpleasant, contemptible, or an “asshole.”
“Ese tipo es un culero, siempre trata mal a la gente.” – (That guy is an asshole, he always treats people badly.)
Pendejo
Pendejo (pronounced “pen-deh-ho”) or Bendejo is a common derogatory term meaning “idiot,” “fool,” “stupid,” “dumbass,” or “asshole.” The intensity can vary depending on context and tone.
“No seas pendejo, piensa antes de hablar.” – (Don’t be an idiot, think before you speak.)
Chingar
Chingar (pronounced “cheen-gar”) is an incredibly versatile and vulgar verb with many meanings depending on context. It can mean “to fuck,” “to bother,” “to annoy,” “to screw over,” “to work hard,” “to break,” “to ruin,” and much more. It’s a core part of Mexican slang, but highly offensive in many situations.
“Ya me chingaste el coche.” – (You already screwed up my car.)
Cabrón
Cabrón (pronounced “kah-brohn”) is another highly versatile and slangy word. It can mean “badass,” “tough,” “skilled,” “clever,” or “amazing” in a positive sense. It can also be an insult, meaning “bastard,” “asshole,” or “jerk” depending on context and tone. Literally, it means “male goat.”
“Ese jugador es bien cabrón, mete goles increíbles.” – (That player is really badass, he scores incredible goals.)
Huevo
Huevo (pronounced “weh-vo”), literally “egg,” is slang for “testicles” or “balls.” It’s a crude term.
“Me golpeé los huevos jugando fútbol.” – (I hit my balls playing soccer.)
Verga
Verga (pronounced “ver-gah”) is a very vulgar slang term for “penis” or “dick.” It’s also used as an intensifier or exclamation, like “Damn it!” or “What the heck!”.
“¡Qué verga! Olvidé las llaves.” – (Damn it! I forgot the keys.)
¡A la verga!
¡A la verga! (pronounced “ah lah ver-gah”) is a vulgar exclamation expressing frustration, anger, dismissal, or disbelief, like “Go to hell!”, “Screw it!”, “Get out of here!”, or “No way!”.
“¡A la verga con este trabajo, renuncio!” – (Screw this job, I quit!)
Panocha
Panocha (pronounced “pah-noh-chah”) is a very vulgar slang term for “vagina” or “cunt.” Highly offensive and should be avoided.
Cochino
Cochino (pronounced “koh-chee-noh”) means “dirty,” “filthy,” “disgusting,” or “pig.” It can also playfully refer to someone as messy.
“Tu cuarto está bien cochino, ¡límpialo!” – (Your room is really dirty, clean it!)
Chaqueta
Chaqueta (pronounced “chah-kay-tah”), while meaning “jacket” in standard Spanish, is Mexican slang for “masturbation” or “jacking off.”
“Deja de hacerte la chaqueta y ponte a trabajar.” – (Stop jacking off and get to work.)
Gandalla
Gandalla (pronounced “gahn-dah-yah”) describes someone who is selfish, opportunistic, greedy, or who takes advantage of others.
“No seas gandalla, comparte la comida.” – (Don’t be selfish, share the food.)
What’s Your Favorite Mexican Slang Phrase?
Now, when you’re chatting with your Mexican friends and hear something like “bendejo,” you won’t be scratching your head in confusion. You’ll know it’s actually pendejo, and you might even chuckle at its playful (or not-so-playful) use.
Learning Mexican slang is a fun and essential part of mastering Spanish. We’ve explored a wide range of modismos mexicanos, giving you insights into their meanings, uses, and the vibrant culture they reflect. You’re now well on your way to understanding Spanish like a true mexicano and appreciating the richness of Mexican culture on a whole new level.
If you’re eager to continue learning Spanish online and expand your vocabulary even further, give our AI-powered app a try. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your Spanish skills grow compared to traditional methods.
¡Hasta la próxima, wey! (See you next time, dude!)
