Cool Spanish

This is just a skim across the surface of the great wealth of Spanish slang. Although some may apply in
Latin America, the expressions featured are mostly from Spain.
Swear words tend to be more generally accepted in Spain than many other countries - we!e di!ided up
the expressions so you know what to say and what not to say.
(* = familiar, ** = very familiar, *** = vulgar, R = plain rude, Lit. = Literally)
ARGUMENT
This is the area in which youre most likely to hear a huge !ariety of expressions ranging from simple
sarcasm to crude insults and creati!e metaphors. "hen things get a bit out of hand, !erbal sparks can fly.
You're getting on my nerves
Dar la paliza #$% Lit. To gi!e #someone% the thrashing. To bug&hassle #someone%.
Se pasa el da dndome la paliza en el trabajo #$% She spends the day bugging me at work.
Un to/Una ta paliza pesado/a pelma #$$% An annoying man&woman.
Ser !n plomo/plomazo #$% Lit. To be #as hea!y as% lead. To be !ery dull and boring. Applies to both
people and things.
S! "ltima no#ela es !n a!t$nti%o plomazo #$% 'is latest no!el is an absolute yawn.
Ser !n m!ermo #$% Something or someone so (uiet and&or boring that you fall asleep.
&a dis%ote%a '!e !n m!ermo total #$% The nightclub was dead.
Me importa !n pimiento/pepino/%omino/pito/tres %ojones #$&$$% Lit. ) care as much as a
pepper&cucumber&cumin seed&a whistle&three testicles. )n other words, ) dont gi!e a damn.
N!estra opini(n le importa !n pepino #$% 'e doesnt care what we think.
Get lost
Cabrearse #$% To get pissed off.
Estar %abreado #$$% To be pissed off.
Me ests %abreando #$% *oure getting on my ner!es.
Esto) %abreado #$% )m pissed off.
To%ar los h!e#os/las nari%es #$$&$% Lit. To touch #someones% testicles&noses #yes, in plural to add more
drama+%. To piss #someone% off.
&le#a todo el da to%ndome las nari%es ) se #a a arrepentir #$% Shes been getting on my ner!es all
day and shes going to regret it.
Dar la lata/ser !na lata #$% Lit. To gi!e the tin& be a tin. To be a pain.
Deja )a de dar la lata ) #ete a dormir #$% Lit. Stop gi!ing the tin and go to sleep. Stop being such a pain
and go to sleep.
El horno no est para bollos #$% Lit. The o!en is not ready for buns. )t means youre not in the mood for
any nonsense.
*+rate, *&r-ate, *+i$rdete, #$$% "ays of saying, -et lost+
*D$jame en paz, #$% Lit. Lea!e me in peace+ Lea!e me alone.
*.ete a 'rer esprra-os, #$% Lit. -o off and fry asparagus. .asically disappear and do whate!er you want
as long as it is out of my sight+
*.ete a ha%er p!/etas, #$$% Lit. -o off and make lace cuffs+ &as p!/etas were !ery fashionable in the
olden days, with !ery intricate designs re(uiring meticulous and patient job. 'ence a way of telling
someone to get lost.
*.ete a la mierda, #/% Lit. -o off to the shit+ 0b!iously the rudest expression of the lot.
Looking for trouble
0orde #$% Lit. 1dge. 2sed when someone has a bad attitude.
Es !na ta s!per borde #$% Shes a girl with really bad attitude.
Tener mala san-re/le%he/!#a #$% Lit. To ha!e bad blood&milk&grapes. To be a bad-tempered, nasty
person.
1a) 2!e tener mala !#a para e%harla as de %asa #$% *ou need to be (uite nasty to kick her out of home
like that.
Un animal !n/!na bestia !n/!na br!to/a #$% Lit. An animal, a brute. 2sed to describe someone when
they use unnecessary force.
*To eres !n bestia lo has #!elto a romper, #$% 3ate, youre too much, you!e broken it again+
Cabr(n/Cabrona #$$% Lit. 4uckold. .ased on the word %abra 5goat5 with the intensifier, it means
5bastard&bitch5.
&a m!) %abrona le rob( el dinero #$$% The bitch stole his money.
+oner los %!ernos #$$% Lit. To put horns #on somebody%. To cuckold somebody. 'ence the connection
with !na %abra, a goat #see abo!e%.
EAT3NG 4 DR3N53NG
Eating
+i%ar #$% To nibble.
61a) al-o para pi%ar7 )s there anything to nibble6
+apear #$% To nosh.
El papeo is 5nosh5 or 5grub5. 7rom the word papo/papada, the bit of flesh under the chin.
8a es hora de papear al-o #$% )ts about time we ate something.
3r de tapeo #$% To go for tapas.
6+or 2!$ no nos #amos esta no%he de tapeo7 "hy dont we go out for tapas tonight6
Drinking
Una birra #$% Slang for beer, borrowing the )talian word for it.
Empinar el %odo #$% Lit. To straighten up ones elbow like a pine. To ha!e (uite a few drinks, referring to
your arms position when drinking.
A estas horas )a estar en el bar empinando el %odo #$% At this time hell already be at the bar ha!ing a
few pints.
0eber %omo !na esponja #$% Lit. To drink like a sponge. To drink a lot.
Tener !n pedo peo #$% Lit. To ha!e a fart. To be in a state of drunkenness. 8ot to be confused with
tirarse !n pedo peo #$$% to fart.
Manolo tiene !n pedo de m!%ho %!idado #$$% Lit. 3anolo has a !ery well cared for fart. 3anolos really
drunk.
Estar pedo peo #$$% To be drunk.
Estar mamado/a #$% Lit. To be breast-fed. Another way to refer to drunkenness.
E%har la pota/la pastilla/la papilla #$$% Lit. To throw out the pan&the tablet&the babys puree. To be sick.
8a e%h( la pota dos #e%es #$$% 'es already been sick twice.
Una resa%a #$% A hango!er.
*9oder, *Men!da resa%a ten-o, :!e el p!to #ino de a)er #$$% .loody hell+ ) am so hungo!er+ )t was that
crap wine yesterday.
:R3ENDS 4 :AM3&8
Un to/Una ta #$% Lit. An uncle&aunt, but youll hear these words a lot, particularly amongst young people,
to refer to birds&blokes. 2sed on its own, it refers to a mate.
1ola to 62!$ tal7 'ello mate, hows things6
El/&a %ole-a El/&a %ole-!i #$% Lit. 4olleague. 3ate, pal.
6;!$ pasa %ole-a7 #$% "hats up, mate6
El/&a tron%o #$% 3ate, pal. Less fre(uent but more streetwise. Lit. a tree trunk.
Tran2!i tron%o #$% 4hill out, mate+
&a bas%a/la pe/a #$% The folk, the gang, the posse. A group of friends or people in general.
.inieron <n-el ) toda la bas%a #$% 9ngel came along with the whole gang.
A)er haba m!%ha pe/a en el bar #$% There were a load of people in the bar yesterday.
El pariente/&a parienta #$% Lit. The relati!e. The old man&The missus.
Mi pareja Lit. 3y partner. Applies to both members of an unmarried couple.
Es/son b!ena -ente #$% Lit. 'e&Shes&Theyre good people. 'e&Shes&Theyre good trustworthy.
Es !n po%o %o/azo #$$% pero b!ena -ente #$% 'es a bit of a pain but a good guy.
&e-al #$% Lit. Legal, but applied to people it means you can really trust them.
Es !n to le-al #$% Lit. 'es a legal uncle. 'es a good bloke.
Al 'inal se port( %omo !na ta le-al #$% Lit. )n the end she beha!ed like a top sport.
Ser !n %a%hondo/!na %a%honda =mental> #$% Applies to people with a good sense of fun.
No paramos de rer en toda la tarde es 2!e es !n %a%hondo mental??? #$% "e did not stop laughing the
whole e!ening, he is bonkers ...
"arning - dont confuse with estar %a%hondo/%a%honda #$$$% which means 5to be on heat&horny5+
G3R&S 4 0@8S
Una ta !n to #$% Lit. An aunt, an uncle. These are the generic slang terms for girl&woman and boy&man.
2sed without !n/!na, it refers to a mate.
Me lo dio esa ta de ah #$% That bird o!er there ga!e it to me.
6;!$ tal to7 6C(mo andamos7 #$% "hats up, mate6 'ow are you6
Una ta b!ena !n to b!eno #$% Lit. A good aunt, a good uncle. Slang for a fit girl or boy - drop !n/!na to
use it as an exclamation.
Estar b!eno/a #$% To be fit #gorgeous%. 8ot to be confused with ser b!eno/a, to be good.
*1a) 2!e #er lo b!ensimo 2!e est Enri2!e,#$% 1nri(ue is really fit+
Estar potable #$% :otable means drinkable, but used with estar this means to be fit #gorgeous%.
8ot to be confused with ser potable, to be drinkable.
Un %horbo !na %horba #$% Although it can mean fit #attracti!e%, it is specifically used to refer to
somebodys boyfriend&girlfriend.
Esa tipa es la %horba de 9or-e #$% That chick is ;orges bird.
Aste es el %horbo de Marta #$% This is 3artas bloke.
Una piba !n pibe #$% A young girl, boy - especially used amongst younger people. The term is in general
use in Argentina and 2ruguay, where it originated before crossing the Atlantic to become a cool word in
Spain.
3r/Salir de mar%ha #$% Lit. To go out on a martial parade. To go out and party and ha!e a good time. 0ther
words you can use in its place include j!er-a, mo#ida, 'arra #$%.
*Men!da mar%ha ha) en 3biza, #$% Theres some night life in )bi<a+
El 'in de semana me #o) de j!er-a a Madrid #$% This weekend )m going out partying in 3adrid.
+asarlo bomba/en -rande #$% To ha!e a great time.
&o pasaron en -rande %on Anita #$% They had a ball with Anita.
Un %hirin-o/%hirin-!ito #$% Although it literally means a beach stall selling drinks and tapas, it also refers
to most drinking bars&pubs. 3r de %hirin-os is a common expression that means to go out drinking.
Un -arito #$% Una -arita is a sentry box, but this slang masculine !ersion refers to any drinking !enue.
Esta es la zona de -aritos #$% This is the bar area.
El/&a de la #er-Benza #$% This is the name gi!en to the last bit of food left in a shared platter. Literally, it
means 5the one that brings shame5 because e!erybody feels a bit guilty about taking it.
6Al-!ien 2!iere la de la #er-Benza7 #$% Anyone want the last one6
No %(metela t". 8o, you can ha!e it.
&a Dolorosa #$% is 0ur Lady of Sorrows. )t literally means 5the painful one5 and is used to refer to the
restaurant bill in a sarcastic way.
+ide la dolorosa #eremos %!nto nos %la#an #$% Ask for the bill, lets see how much they rip us off for.
G@3NG @UT
3r/Salir de mar%ha #$% Lit. To go out on a martial parade. To go out and party and ha!e a good time. 0ther
words you can use in its place include j!er-a, mo#ida, 'arra #$%.
*Men!da mar%ha ha) en 3biza, #$% Theres some night life in )bi<a+
El 'in de semana me #o) de j!er-a a Madrid #$% This weekend )m going out partying in 3adrid.
+asarlo bomba/en -rande #$% To ha!e a great time.
&o pasaron en -rande %on Anita #$% They had a ball with Anita.
Un %hirin-o/%hirin-!ito #$% Although it literally means a beach stall selling drinks and tapas, it also refers
to most drinking bars&pubs. 3r de %hirin-os is a common expression that means to go out drinking.
Un -arito #$% Una -arita is a sentry box, but this slang masculine !ersion refers to any drinking !enue.
Esta es la zona de -aritos #$% This is the bar area.
El/&a de la #er-Benza #$% This is the name gi!en to the last bit of food left in a shared platter. Literally, it
means 5the one that brings shame5 because e!erybody feels a bit guilty about taking it.
6Al-!ien 2!iere la de la #er-Benza7 #$% Anyone want the last one6
No %(metela t". 8o, you can ha!e it.
&a Dolorosa #$% is 0ur Lady of Sorrows. )t literally means 5the painful one5 and is used to refer to the
restaurant bill in a sarcastic way.
+ide la dolorosa #eremos %!nto nos %la#an #$% Ask for the bill, lets see how much they rip us off for.
G@@D 4 0AD
Good
Una -ozada #$% This noun applies to anything thats a !ery pleasant experience.
Es !na -ozada #erle j!-ar #$% )ts really great to see him play.
G!a) #$% 4ool. This is a catch-all adjecti!e to describe anything thats cool.
*Mira 2!$ zapatos ms -!a)s, #$% Look+ Such cool shoes
G!a) del +ara-!a) #$% Lit. 4ool from :araguay. As cool as it gets - a silly rhyme that reinforces the idea
of cool.
El m(#il 2!e se %ompr( est -!a) del +ara-!a) #$% The mobile he bought is really, really cool.
Al!%inar #$% Lit. To hallucinate or make hallucinate. To trip. )t assumes the object youre praising has had
such an impact it is comparable to an hallucinogenic drug.
Se %ompr( !n %o%he de al!%ina #$% Lit. 'e bought a car that makes you trip. 'e bought an incredible
car.
Bad
*Mierda, #$$% Shit+
As in so many other languages, when something goes wrong theres an immediate cry announcing
excrement.
*Mierda he #!elto a perder las lla#es, #$% Shit, )!e lost the keys again
???de mierda #$$% Lit. ...of shit.
7rom that follows that whate!ers gone wrong is made of excrement.
6D(nde estn las lla#es de mierda7 #$% Lit. "here are the keys of shit6 "here are the damn keys6
Una mierda #$$% Lit. A piece of shit. )n Spanish you actually (uantify it.
No me a%!erdo por2!e ten-o !na memoria de mierda #$% ) cant remember because my memorys
rubbish.
Ch!n-o/a #$% =odgy.
Es !na ta !n po%o %h!n-a #$% Shes a bit of a dodgy bird.
1ortero/a #$% 8aff and corny.
*ou may also hear hortera, ending in -a, e!en when talking in the masculine. Also, !na horterada,
something as naff and camp as 5knickers5.
No te pon-as esa %ha2!eta tan hortera #$% =ont wear that naff jacket.
1EA&T1
Poor health
Estar pa%h!%ho #$% Lit. To be o!erripe. To be poorly.
Estar he%ho pol#o #$% Lit. To ha!e turned into dust. To be knackered&poorly.
"arning - dont confuse with echar !n pol#o #$$$%, literally to throw a piece of dust, which means to ha!e
sexual intercourse.
Estar a%ha%oso #$% To suffer ailments of old age but it can also be used in a more general sense to
indicate youre not feeling your best.
Est m!) a%ha%oso %on s(lo CD a/os #$% 'e has so many aches and pains and hes just >?.
El/&a matasanos #$% Lit. The one who kills the healthy. A derogati!e or humorous way to refer to a doctor.
Son las pastillas 2!e me re%et( el matasanos #$% Theyre the pills the doctor prescribed me.
Good health
Estar %omo !n %a/(n #$% Lit. To be like a canon, i.e. in great health and full of energy.
Desde la opera%i(n est %omo !n %a/(n #$% Since the operation hes as good as new.
Ser mano de santo #$% Lit. To be a saints hand. *ou can use this expression to refer to something that
has done you a lot of good.
El ans es mano de santo para el est(ma-o #$% Aniseed is a miracle cure for the stomach.
Estar #i#o/a ) %oleando To be ali!e and kicking. )n Spanish, instead of kicking, you wag your tail.
Sano/a %omo !na manzana #$% Lit. To be as healthy as an apple, i.e. to ha!e !ery good health.
The human body
El tarro el %o%o #$% Lit. The jar, the coconut. .oth mean the head.
Me d!ele el tarro #$% ) ha!e a headache.
Comerse el tarro/el %o%o #$% Lit. To eat away at the jar&coconut. 7igurati!ely speaking it means worrying
thoughts are eating away at your brain.
No me %omas el tarro %on t!s historias #$% =ont bug me with your tales.
En pelotas/En pelota pi%ada #$% Literally 5in balls5. .utt naked.
Abri( la p!erta en pelotas *ima-nate, #$% 'e opened the door butt naked, can you imagine+
&a jeta #$% Literally, the nose of some animals, but in human slang, the full face. Also used to indicate that
someone is cheeky,
8 no ha #!elto a pa-ar *2!$ jeta tiene, #$% *et again she hasnt paid, what a cheek+
&as patas #$% Lit. Legs of an animal or a thing. 'owe!er, for comic effect it can refer to a persons legs.
&le#o todo el da andando? *Ten-o las patas rotas, #$% )!e been walking around all day. 3y legs are
broken+
&a panza #$% Lit. An animals belly. 2sed to refer to the well-rounded human !ariety, hence Sancho
:an<as name in =on @uixote.
3NTER9ECT3@N
They do play an important part in e!ery language. Sometimes whole words are just too much and then
interjections come in handy. The good thing about them is that they are !ery often international and from
the intonation you know exactly if you should stay or run.
'ere is a little list of interjections you should know for getting around.
*Ah,&*Aj, #$% ) understand.
*Anda, #$% -ood hea!ens+ Surprise.
*Noo, #$% 8o+ ) dont belie!e it.
Mmm ??? #$% )m thinking.
*@jal, #$% ) wish
@jal ha-a sol. ) wish it would be sunny. 0r someone may say ) hope you win the lottery, and you reply
*@jal, The etymology is (uite interesting as it comes from the Arabic laE F llh, meaning )f Allah
wishes.
*G!a!, #$% "ow+ Thats great+
*C!idado, & *@jo, #$% "atch out+
6;!$7&6Eh7 #$% ) dont understand.
*A), #$% 0uch+ That hurts.
*+!'''???,&*U', #$$% *uck, yuck #smell%.
*+!a-, #$$% *uck, yuck #taste%.
*Cara),&*Caramba, #$% .limey+
M@NE8
&a pasta la plata #$% =osh. The literal meaning of pasta is the same as in 1nglish #from )talian%. +lata is
literally 5sil!er5 and its also the generic term for money in Argentina and 2ruguay.
6Te 2!eda pasta7 'a!e you got any dosh left6
Costar !na pasta =-ansa> #$% To cost a lot.
Ese :errari le debe haber %ostado !na pasta -ansa #$% That 7errari must ha!e cost him some dosh.
+a-ar !n ojo de la %ara/!n ri/(n =) la mitad del otro>/!n h!e#o/dos h!e#os #$$% Lit. To spend an eye
in your face&a kidney #and half the other%, or one, or e!en two, testicles #eggs%. To spend 5an arm and a
leg5.
T!#e 2!e pa-ar !n h!e#o por el #iaje #$$% ) had to pay through the roof for the trip.
Cla#ar #$% To charge excessi!ely, to rip off. Lit. To hammer in - imagine the feeling you get when ha!ing to
pay o!er the odds+
Me %la#aron GH e!ros por !na botella de a-!a #$% ) had to pay AB euros for a bottle of water.
Una %la#ada #$% A rip-off.
6CH e!ros7 *.a)a %la#ada, >B euros6 "hat a rip-off+
Ser =!n/a> a-arrado/a #$% To be tightfisted. A-arrar means to clutch, so when youre clinging on to money
thats what you become.
N!n%a pa-a !na ronda es !n a-arrado #$% 'e ne!er pays for a round, he is so tightfisted.
M@@DS
Embarrassment
;!edarse/estar %ortado/a #$% Lit. To be left cut&To be cut. To lose ones ner!e&tongue #out of
embarrassment%.
3ntent$ hablar %on ella pero me 2!ed$ %ortado #$% ) tried talking to her, but embarrassment stopped me.
Ser !n/a %ortado/a #$% To be a !ery shy and embarrassed person.
+ara esas %osas so) m!) %ortada #$% )m !ery shy about that sort of thing.
Fear
=No> tener %ojones/h!e#os #$$% Lit. To #not% ha!e the testicles&eggs. To #not% ha!e the balls.
6A 2!$ no tienes h!e#os para de%rselo7 #$$% ) bet you dont ha!e the balls to tell him.
A%ojonarse #$$% To get&ha!e your balls in your throat #from fear%.
El eIamen de %ond!%ir me a%ojona mo-oll(n #$$% The dri!ing test scares me to death.
See also, %ojones
Hainess
Estar %omo !nas %asta/!elas #$% Lit. To be like some castanets. To be !ery happy.
Mara est %omo !nas %asta/!elas %on s! n!e#o no#io #$% 3arCa is as happy as a clam with her new
boyfriend.
Estar lo%o/a de %ontento #$% Lit. To be cra<y with happiness.
Estn lo%os de %ontento %on el beb$ #$% They are delighted with the baby.
!adness
Un baj(n #$% Lit. A big drop, for example when tra!elling on a plane. 7igurati!ely, a downer.
&e ha entrado !n baj(n desde 2!e rompieron #$% 'es been on a downer since they split up.
Depre #$% Short for depresiDn. 2sed when youre heading for depression but not (uite there yet.
Ser =!n/a> depre #$% is to be a pessimist.
Es !n to depre J siempre %ontando s!s penas #$% 'es a pessimistic bloke - always talking about his
problems.
Estar depre #$% To be down.
"onfusion
Estar zombi #$% Lit. To be like a <ombie. To be scatterbrained, to think or act aimlessly.
1o) no p!edo %on%entrarme esto) zombi total #$% ) cant concentrate today - )m completely
scatterbrained.
Estar en 0abia #$% To ha!e your head in the clouds. .abia was the retreat of early 4astilian kings in the
3iddle Ages, when they were there, they didnt ha!e a clue what was going on.
Es !n in%ompetente total siempre est en 0abia #$% 'es completely incompetent, his heads always in
the clouds.
#adness
Tener !n %a%ao mental #$% Lit. To ha!e cocoa in your mind. To ha!e your mind in a mess. 4ocoa needs a
lot of stirring, hence the feeling in your head.
Estar %omo !na %abra #$% Lit. Like a goat. 7igurati!ely, mad as a hatter.
Se 2!iere ir a #i#ir a Siberia J est %omo !na %abra #$% 'e wants to go and li!e in Siberia - hes mad as
a hatter.
:altarle !n tornillo #$% Lit. To be missing a screw. To ha!e a screw loose.
6+ara eso llamas a las dos de la madr!-ada7 68 a ti 2!$ tornillo te 'alta7 #$% )s that why youre
ringing at >am6 *ou got a screw loose or something6
+&A8 U+/+&A8 D@KN
Un peln #$% Lit. a tiny hair, meaning a !ery little bit, often used to soften your statement.
6+!edes bajar la tele !n peln7 4an you turn the telly down a wee bit6
Un mo-oll(n de??? #$% )n Spanish, this word e!okes abundance, chaos, lots of things or people.
1aba =!n> mo-oll(n de tr'i%o #$% There was hea!y, chaotic traffic.
!na pasada =de???> #$% "hen something goes past its limit #whether time or (uantity% you say se ha
pasado, 5its gone o!er5. 'ence !na pasada means 5a lot5.
Esos pantalones me -!stan !na pasada #$% ) like those trousers a lot.
%antidad =de???> #$% 2sed with either la or !na, %antidad means 5(uantity5. 0n its own howe!er, its slang
for 5a lot5 as abo!e. Cantidad de... is also used with adjecti!es to mean 5!ery5.
1aba %antidad de -ente en el %on%ierto #$% There were loads of people at the gig.
Tela #$% Lit. 5fabric5 or 5cloth5. )ts used in the following expressions to indicate there are lots of things to do
or something is excessi!e, *Tela, *Manda tela, *Tela marinera,
1a%e tela de 'ro #$% )ts free<ing cold.
RE&3G3@US TERMS
3any general expressions can be traced back to 4atholic themes. Although religious people frown upon
them, theyre in general use and you can e!en hear them on prime-time TE shows. 'ere are some of
them.
Hostia
1ostia #$$% Lit. 'ost. 4ollo(uially used to mean se!eral things,
Dar/pe-ar !na hostia #$$% To hit, slap or smack.
Como no te %alles te #o) a dar !na hostia #$$% )f you dont shut up, )m going to smack you.
??? de la hostia #$$% Lit. ... of the host
This expression is added to nouns to indicate if somethings !ery good, !ery big or !ery intense,
Ten-o !n 'ro de la hostia #$$% ) am absolutely free<ing.
Se %ompr( !na %asa de la hostia #$$% She bought a massi!e house.
Es la hostia #$$% Lit. )ts the host
)ts ama<ing, funny, cool or incredibleF it can be applied to people and things,
S! n!e#o %o%he es la hostia tiene de todo #$$% 'is new car is ama<ing, it has the lot.
La $irgen
&a .ir-en Mara #$% is 3other 3ary, but la #ir-en is used collo(uially to mean the following,
??? de la #ir-en is added to nouns to indicate if somethings !ery good, !ery big or !ery intense.
*.ir-en Santa, *.ir-en Santsima, #$% 0h my -od+ -oodness me+
*.ir-en Santa, 6;!$ te ha pasado7 #$% 0h my -od+ "hat happened to you6
Di%hoso
di%hoso/a #$% Lit. full of happiness, usually of a religious nature. 'owe!er, its mostly used to curse
something thats gone wrong,
8a se ha #!elto a estropear el di%hoso ordenador #$% The damned :4 has broken down again.
S+EC3A& MEAN3NGS
Some common words ac(uire a different meaning in slang,
3adre
2n rollo
Leche
#$ G familiar, $$ G !ery familiar, $$$ G !ulgar, / G plain rude, Lit. G Literally%
3adre
Madre, 53other5 appears !ery often in collo(uial Spanish.
Ciento ) la madre #$% Lit. A hundred and the mother. Too many people.
No p!dimos entrar por2!e $ramos %iento ) la madre #$% "e were not allowed in because there were
too many of us.
*&a madre 2!e te/lo/la/os pari(,#$$% Lit. The mother who ga!e birth to you&him&her ...
This expression denotes anger or annoyance with someone.
*Madre ma, *Mi madre, *Madre, #$% Lit. 3y mother+ 3other+
A common exclamation showing fear, surprise, etc.
*Madre ma, *;!$ perro ms enorme, 3y -od+ "hat a huge dog+
See also, HEirgen+
See also, ... de puta madre
&n rollo
Un rollo is literally a roll #of paper or other material%, but in collo(uial speech it has many different
meanings.
Un b!en/mal rollo #$% Lit. A good&bad roll. Something good&bad
Meterse en as!ntos de pareja es siempre !n mal rollo #$% To meddle in other peoples relationships is
always a bad idea.
Enrollarse bien/mal #also ser enrollado/a% #$% Lit. To roll up well&badly. To get on well&badly with
somebody or something. To be cool.
Son m!) enrollados %on las 'iestas 2!e or-anizan #$% They are !ery cool with the parties they gi!e
Es !n rollo #$% Lit. )ts a roll. )ts a bore #a thing or a situation%.
No #a)as a #er esta pel%!la es !n rollo #$% =ont go to see this film, its a real bore.
Tener !n/medio rollo#$% Lit. To ha!e a&half a roll. To ha!e something going.
S Antonio t!#o medio rollo %on Carmen #$% Lit. *es, Antonio had half a roll with 4armen. *es, Antonio
had something with 4armen.
Le%he
&e%he, literally 5milk5. This totally harmless substance ac(uires a new dimension when it comes to
slang ...
Una le%he #$% Lit. A milk. A crash, a smack, a punch.
Como si-as dando la lata te #a a dar !na le%he... #$% )f you carry on being a pain shes going to thump
you ...
Tener mala le%he #$% Lit. To ha!e bad milk. To be !ery bad tempered.
8o le ten-o miedo tiene !na mala le%he de la hostia #$% )m scared of him, he has a really awful bad
temper.
??? de la le%he #$% Lit. ... of the milk. A hell of a lot of ...
Ten-o !n %onstipado de la le%he #$% ) ha!e a terrible cold.
Ser la le%he #$% Lit. To be the milk. To be the pits.
Ana es la le%he ha #!elto a lle-ar tarde ho) #$% Lit. Ana is the milk, she was late again today. Ana is
unbelie!able, she was late again today.
S@C3ET8
Un pijo/!na pija #$% A posh, stuck-up person. This easily identifiable social group tend to dress in labels,
ha!e lots of money and speak in a !ery particular way. )t can also be used as an adjecti!e to indicate that
something or somewhere is posh.
A)er %enamos en !n resta!rante m!) pijo #$% *esterday we had dinner in a !ery posh restaurant.
Una mar!ja J mar!ja #$% is a con!ersational form of 3arCa and a generic term for housewi!es with little
education and interest in others comings and goings. *ou may be compared to one if you start gossiping.
No seas mar!ja #$% Lit. Stop acting like a maruja.
Un/!na p!reta #$% "hat younger people call older people, who they in!ariably consider uncool.
El to ese es !n p!reta tendr treinta a/os #$% That guys oldish, hes about thirty.
Un/!na %!rsi #$% Applies to someone affected or twee, especially in an old-fashioned way. Also applies to
no!els, films or song lyrics that are sugary.
Es tan %!rsi 2!e pare%e 2!e #i#e en el si-lo L3L #$% Shes so twee she looks like shes li!ing in the AIth
century.
Un/!na -!iri #$% )f youre reading this you probably are one - its a general term to designate a foreign
tourist and foreigners in general.
El/la 'a%ha #$$% A loaded word, it was originally slang for 5fascist5 but many left-wingers also apply it to
anyone right-wing or conser!ati!e, not only in politics but in social attitudes.
Es !na mani'esta%i(n de 'a%has en %ontra del matrimonio -a) #$$% )ts a 5fascist5 demonstration
against gay marriage.
SELUA& SKEARK@RDS
"o'o( %ara)o
Co/o %arajo These can express surprise, anger or simply be used to gi!e emphasis. Literally, and
respecti!ely, they are the female and male pri!ate parts. Theyre much more widely used metaphorically in
a naughty rather than rude sense, nothing like their literal translation in 1nglish.
*Co/o 2!$ hambre ten-o, #$$% .limey, )m hungry+
6.ienes de !na #ez %o/o7 #$$% 7or hea!ens sake, are you coming or not6
6;!$/%(mo/d(nde %o/o??? 7 #$$% "hat&how&where the hell... 6
6D(nde %o/o estn las lla#es7 #$$% "here the hell are the keys6
Un %o/azo #$% A real pain #figurati!ely speaking%.
Este to es !n #erdadero %o/azo #$% This guy is a real pain.
*oder
9oder #also pronounced joer% #$$% Literally it has the same meaning as the 1nglish 7-word, but its more
often used with its figurati!e meanings. )t usually means to 5cock up5 something or to be 5screwed up5,
*8a la han jodido, #$$% They!e already screwed it up+
Nos han jodido %on tantos imp!estos #$$% They!e screwed us with so many taxes.
9oder on its own is used exactly like %o/o abo!e, to indicate surprise, anger or admiration,
*9oder %(mo ll!e#e, #$$% 'ell, its peeing down+
9op$ jopelines jolines joln #$% These are a few euphemisms to replace joder. Theyre usually used by
children or adults who want to a!oid swearing.
Puta
+!ta is short for prostit!ta. At times its used in its proper sense, but more often as a !ery strong insult,
especially if a family connection is made, in phrases that would translate as 5son of a prostitute5 or 5your
prostitute mother5. 'owe!er, its actually more commonly resorted to as an adjecti!e to express anger.
+!to/a #as an adjecti!e and always in front of the noun%
Ten-o 2!e ir al p!to m$di%o #$$% Lit. ) ha!e to go to the prostitute doctor. ) ha!e to go to the effing doctor.
??? de p!ta madre #$$% Lit. ... of the prostitute mother
Although it may sound contradictory, this is a praising expression meaning 5!ery good5 or 5excellent5. )t
can be applied to people and things,
Tiene !n %o%he de p!ta madre #$$% Lit. 'e has a car of the prostitute mother. 'e has a fantastic car.
"arning - do not confuse ... de p!ta madre with t! p!ta madre #$$$%, which is an expression used as an
insult, usually a rude reply to someone whos already insulted you.
1ijo/a de p!ta #/% Lit. Son&daughter of a whore
=epending on the context, tone and how well you get on with the person youre talking to it may be said
not necessarily as an insult.
Huevos( %o)ones( elotas
1!e#os literally means 5eggs5 and pelotas are 5balls5, but these words are also slang for 5testicles5
=%ojones>. The expressions with these words are endless and in many instances you can use either word.
'ere are a few useful expressions, but dont be surprised if you hear testicles mentioned in other contexts+
Estar hasta los h!e#os/%ojones de ??? #$$$% Lit. To be up to the eggs&testicles with... To be fed up with...
Esto) hasta los h!e#os/%ojones de Art!ro #$$$% )!e had enough of Arturo.
Tener h!e#os/%ojones #$$% Lit. To ha!e eggs&testicles. To be bra!e.
+ara ha%er eso ha) 2!e tener m!%hos h!e#os #$$% To do that you need to ha!e balls.
*8 !n h!e#o/%oj(n, #$$$% Lit. And an egg&testicle+ The meaning is similar to the 1nglish 5*eah, right+5 or
58o way+5 but a bit ruder.
*8 !n %oj(n me #o) a le#antar )o a las M para a)!darle, #$$$% 8o way am ) getting up at J to help him+
+or h!e#os/%ojones #$$$% Lit. 7or eggs&testicles. )t means a reason is not re(uired for someone to do
something.
Tiene 2!e #enir a las N por h!e#os #$$$% Lit. S&he has to come at K for eggs. S&he has to come at K
because s&he has to.
Costar !n h!e#o #$$% Lit. To cost an egg. 2sed to indicate that something is !ery expensi!e.
Este abri-o me %ost( !n h!e#o #$$% This coat cost me a fortune.
TEC1N@&@G8
Un emilio/ismael #$% This is a comic take on the 1nglish word 5email5. .oth words are actually 4hristian
names. The proper word is !n %orreo ele%tr(ni%o.
Un orde/ador #$% A comic take on the Spanish word for a computer, !n ordenador. @rdenar is to put
things in order, to arrange them. @rde/ar is to milk a cow or a goat. The phonetic similarity aids the comic
effect resulting in the absurdity of the comparison.
Una parab(li%a #$% 8ot a maths formula, but short for !na antena parab(li%a, a satellite dish.
El/&a -Beb #$% The web.
Un/!na -Beb #$% A website.
4omic effect is achie!ed by sub!erting the original 1nglish spelling.
Mandar !n teIto #$% To send a text message.
The principles of texting in Spanish are the same as in 1nglish, i.e. shorten words, drop !owels and use
the phonetic !alues of letters spelt out.
tbo m/n G teJbeJo, i.e. te #eo ma/ana - c u >moro, i.e. see you tomorrow
nos bmos toC aOi G nos beJmos toJdos aOi, i.e. nos #emos todos a2! well all meet here
2 OO G 2!$ OaJOa i.e. 2!$ %a%a, what crap t2m G te 2!iero m!%ho, ) lo!e you lots