| Slang Term |
Literal |
Pachuco |
| Pura vida |
This translated literally is "Pure Life". Its meaning is "great"
or "fantastic". Pura Vida is used in a number of different contexts but
the main one is in answer to the How question. For example: "How are
you?" "How is everything?" or "Did you have a good time?" |
No translation |
| Tuanis |
"cool". This is also used in response to the "How?" question and is
mostly used by young people. |
No translation |
| Chorizo |
"Spicy Sausage" |
"criminal" or "crook". This is used to describe people who take bribes
or kickbacks, usually in politics |
| La
faja de tiros |
"The ammunition belt". |
"the teeth" |
| El
salveque |
"the backpack". |
"the belly" |
| La
torre |
"the tower". |
"the head" |
| El
tapis |
No translation. |
"the booze" |
| Un
Iance |
"spear". |
"a hot date" |
| La
cabra |
"nanny goat". |
"girtfriend" |
| La
cruz |
"the cross". |
"shirt" |
| Un
bostezo |
"a yawn". |
"bore" or "drag out" |
| Un
Palmito |
"palm heart". |
"High Roller" |
| La
jama |
from jamar, "to eat". |
"the food" |
| Una
tanda |
No translation. |
"binge" |
| Un
Arrastrado/a |
"Dragged". |
"a person who begs love from someone who doesn't care" |
| El
chante |
No translation. |
"the house" or "home" |
| Dar
pelota a |
"give the ball to" |
"pay attention" |
| Espantarse |
"be scared". |
"to leave" or "clear out" |
| Montarse
|
"ride". |
"take advantage of" |
| Ponerse
Ia candela |
"put on the candle". |
"be able" |
| La
gaveta |
"the drawer". |
"the mouth" |
| Los
prestinos |
"large flat pastries" |
"the ears" |
| Los
huevos |
"the eggs" |
"the testicles" |
| Una
fria |
"a cold one" |
"a beer" |
| Una guicha |
No
translation |
"a
sucker" |
| El chivo |
"goat
kid" |
"a kept
man" |
| El caballo |
"horse" |
"pants" |
| Una teja |
"a roof
tile" |
"a c100
bill" |
| Un chavalo / a
|
"a
youth" |
"a
guy" or "a girl" |
| La leva |
"anchor, trick, frock coat" |
"a
sweater" |
| Tandero |
No
translation |
"person
who binges" |
| Levanta a leva
|
"raise
anchor" |
"leave" or "split" |
| Copar |
No
translation |
"go
out" |
| Apuntarse |
"write
down" |
"go
along" |
| Ruliar |
No
translation |
"sleep" |
| Ponerse las
pilas |
"put in
batteries" |
"look
alive" |
| Enjachar |
No
translation |
"to
stare at" |
| Voy a meterme en
Ia guata |
"I'm
going to put myself in the..." |
"I’m going to the bathroom" |
| Pele el ojo |
"Peel
your eye" |
"watch
out!" |
| Ya Ia vio |
"already you saw it" |
"you
got it" or "understood" |
| Como esta ci
arroz? |
"How's
your rice?" |
"what's
going on?" |
| Porta a mi |
No
translation |
"not
important" or "I don't give a damn" |
| Tengala adentro
|
"Keep
it inside" |
"take
it easy" or "play it cool" |
| Ne seas mio |
"don't
be mine" |
"you're
up to something" |
| Que es el vigio
|
Literal
translation is "What is the ___" |
"mind
your own business" |
| Que achante or
Que tigra |
No
translation |
"what a
drag" |
| Se va en todas |
Literal
translation is "He/she goes in all of them" |
"he/she
gets around" |
| Que hueso |
Literal
translation is "What a bone!" |
"it
turned out badly" |
| Que cache |
Literal
translation is "how sloppy" |
"how
pretty" |
| Es un chingue |
No translation. |
"what a riot" or "what
a hassle" |
| Que banazo |
"what a bad bath" |
"how shameful" |
