Colombian slang: 300 phrases to sound like a local

"¿Qué más?", "parce", "qué chimba", "bacano" and "no dar papaya" are the ones every Colombian knows. Add "¿me regala?" and "qué pena" and you'll sound polite like a local.

Parce, short for parcero, is the one you'll hear most. It means buddy or pal, and you can say it to any friend your age.

Street sellers, waiters and drivers say "mi amor", "mi reina" and "mi rey" to everyone. It's a friendly habit, so don't read it as flirting.

Mamar gallo means to joke around or tease someone. If a friend says "estoy mamando gallo", they're just messing with you.

"¡Qué chimba!" means "how awesome!". It's crude, because chimba is also a vulgar word for genitals, so keep it for friends.

Among young friends, marica means "dude" and fills half their sentences. It's also a slur for gay men, so don't say it yourself.

They say "echar los perros" for hitting on someone and "caerle a alguien" for making a move. Someone who is smitten is "tragado" or "tragada".

Say "qué linda" or "estás muy bonita" to her face, and among friends call an attractive woman "un bizcocho". On the coast people say "está como un bollo", but bollo can also mean a turd, so never say "es un bollo".

The most common words are "mamacita", "bizcocho" and "qué chimba de vieja", but the last one is crude. Shouting any of them at a stranger is a catcall, so keep them for friends.

"Gonorrea", "malparido" and "hijueputa" are the strongest. "Huevón" is vulgar too, even when friends say it as a joke, and "bobo" and "cansón" are the mild ones.

"Vieja", "la man", "pelada" and "china" all mean girl or young woman. "Parcera" is a female friend.

"Gringo" is mainly an American, and loosely any foreigner. Fair-haired visitors also hear "mono" or "mona", and both are usually friendly.

Gonorrea is a strong insult for a worthless person, and "qué gonorrea" means "how awful". Some people in Medellín also use it as a rough "dude", but you should never say it.

Locals laugh at "pecueca" for smelly feet and "mamar gallo" for teasing a friend.

No, paisas, rolos, caleños and costeños all have their own words. The core words on this page work everywhere.

Say "bacano" or "chévere", and both are safe with anyone. Young people also say "qué chimba", but it's crude.

"¿Qué más?" means "how's it going?". It's the most common hello in Colombia, so answer "bien, ¿y usted?".

"Dar papaya" means to make yourself an easy target, like a phone left on a café table. "No dé papaya" is the first safety tip locals will give you.

Both. Usted is everywhere, even with friends in Bogotá, and friends in Medellín and Cali use vos.

Yes, in Bogotá and the interior. People say every sound clearly, but the coast drops the s and talks fast.

Start with "qué pena" for excuse me, "¿me regala...?" to order and "con mucho gusto" for you're welcome. Add "buen provecho" at meals and "que le vaya bien" to say goodbye.