Mexican slang: 300 phrases to sound like a local

300 phrases
300 real examples
58 slang
8 regions
54 local phrases
34 marked vulgar

These are the words you'll hear in a Mexico City taxi, at a taco stand and in a cantina on a Friday night. Each one has a real example, an English translation and a note on when it's safe to use.

Greetings and small talk 18

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
1	¿Qué onda?	What's up?	¿Qué onda, güey? ¿Cómo te fue en el viaje?What's up, dude? How was the trip?	Casual The default hello between friends and people your age.
2	Buenas	Hi (clipped hello)	Buenas, ¿todavía tiene tamales?Hi, do you still have tamales?	Everyday The clipped hello you say when you walk into any shop or stall.
3	¿Qué tal?	How's it going?	¿Qué tal? ¿Cómo va el viaje?How's it going? How's the trip?	Everyday A friendly hello you can use with anyone, young or old.
4	¿Mande?	Pardon? Yes?	¿Mande? No le escuché bien.Sorry? I didn't hear you well.	Everyday The polite Mexican way to say "what?" Use it with anyone.
5	Mucho gusto	Nice to meet you	Me llamo Ana. Mucho gusto.I'm Ana. Nice to meet you.	Everyday Say it when someone tells you their name. They'll often answer "igualmente."
6	¿De dónde eres?	Where are you from?	¿De dónde eres? Soy de Chicago, ¿y tú?Where are you from? I'm from Chicago, and you?	Everyday The first small-talk question you'll get. Say "¿de dónde es?" to someone older.
7	¿Es tu primera vez en México?	Is this your first time in Mexico?	¿Es tu primera vez en México? ¿Qué te ha gustado?Is this your first time in Mexico? What have you liked?	Everyday Locals ask it to start a chat. Name a place you loved and the talk keeps going.
8	Con permiso	Excuse me (to get past)	Con permiso, ¿me deja pasar?Excuse me, can I get past?	Everyday Say it to squeeze past people or leave a table. People answer "propio" or "adelante."
9	Nos vemos	See you	Ya me voy. Ahí nos vemos mañana.I'm off. See you tomorrow.	Everyday The usual Mexican goodbye. Locals often stretch it to "ahí nos vemos."
10	¡Qué milagro!	Long time no see!	¡Qué milagro! ¿Dónde te habías metido?Long time no see! Where have you been?	Everyday For someone you haven't seen in a while.
11	¿Bueno?	Hello? (on the phone)	¿Bueno? Sí, aquí es el hotel Catedral.Hello? Yes, this is the Catedral hotel.	Everyday How Mexicans answer the phone. Elsewhere they say "¿aló?" or "¿diga?"
12	¿Quiubo?	Hey, what's up? (from "qué hubo")	¿Quiubo, mano? ¿Ya llegaste a Oaxaca?Hey, bro. Did you get to Oaxaca yet?	Casual Quick hello you'll hear a lot. You'll also see "quihúbole."
13	¿Qué rollo?	What's up?	¿Qué rollo, banda? ¿Salimos hoy?What's up, guys? Are we going out tonight?	Slang A very common hello in central Mexico. It can also ask "what's going on?"
14	Para servirle	At your service	Gracias por la ayuda. Para servirle.Thanks for the help. My pleasure.	Formal A polite reply to "thank you," common in shops and offices.
15	Aquí nomás	Just hanging in there	Aquí nomás, trabajando como siempre.Same old, working as usual.	Casual The modest answer to "how are you?" "Nomás" alone means "just," as in "nomás uno."
16	Que te vaya bonito	Take care, all the best	Buen viaje, que te vaya bonito.Have a good trip, take care.	Everyday A sweet Mexican goodbye.
17	Buenos días / buen día	Good morning	Buenos días, ¿tiene cuarto para esta noche?Good morning, do you have a room for tonight?	Everyday Say it to anyone before noon. Locals say it to strangers on stairs, in shops and in elevators.
18	¿Qué pedo?	What's up? / What's your problem?	¿Qué pedo, güey? ¿Ya llegaste?What's up, dude? Are you here yet?	Vulgar Friends only, and said with an edge it means "what's your problem?"

Getting around 26

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
19	¿Me lleva a...?	Can you take me to...?	¿Me lleva a la colonia Roma, por favor?Can you take me to the Roma neighborhood, please?	Everyday The first line you say when you get in a taxi. Say "¿me llevas a...?" with friends.
20	Taxi de sitio	Taxi from an official stand	Mejor pide un taxi de sitio, es más seguro.Better call a taxi from a stand, it's safer.	Everyday Locals tell visitors to use these or an app over a street taxi.
21	¿Cuánto me cobra?	How much will you charge me?	¿Cuánto me cobra al aeropuerto?How much to the airport?	Everyday Ask before you get in a taxi without a meter.
22	¿Me deja en la esquina?	Can you drop me at the corner?	¿Me deja en la esquina, por favor?Can you drop me at the corner, please?	Everyday The phrase you need in a taxi or Uber.
23	¿Dónde queda...?	Where is...?	Disculpe, ¿dónde queda el mercado?Excuse me, where's the market?	Everyday The usual way to ask for a place. "¿Por dónde queda?" asks which way to go.
24	Colonia	Neighborhood	Me quedo en la colonia Roma.I'm staying in the Roma neighborhood.	Everyday City neighborhoods are "colonias." Taxi drivers will ask for yours.
25	Zócalo	Main square	Nos vemos en el Zócalo a las seis.Meet you at the main square at 6.	Everyday Mexico City, Oaxaca, Puebla and many towns call the main square this. In Mexico City it's the huge plaza by the cathedral.
26	Ahí a la vuelta	Just around the corner	La farmacia está ahí a la vuelta.The pharmacy is just around the corner.	Everyday Common answer when you ask for directions.
27	Está retirado	It's far	Está retirado, mejor toma un taxi.It's far, better take a taxi.	Everyday Mexicans often say "retirado" for "lejos."
28	Camión	Bus	Toma el camión que dice "Centro."Take the bus that says "Centro."	Everyday In Mexico a "camión" is a city bus, where other countries say "autobús."
29	La parada	Bus stop	¿Dónde está la parada del camión?Where's the bus stop?	Everyday Wave at the bus to make it stop. Locals call that "hacer la parada."
30	¡Bajan!	Stop here, I'm getting off!	¡Bajan en la esquina, por favor!Getting off at the corner, please!	Everyday Shout it to the driver of a bus or pesero.
31	Combi	Shared van	Agarra una combi a la playa, sale bien barato.Grab a shared van to the beach, it's really cheap.	Everyday Shared vans on fixed routes all over Mexico.
32	Colectivo	Shared van or minibus	Tomamos un colectivo de Playa del Carmen a Tulum.We took a shared van from Playa del Carmen to Tulum.	Everyday The cheap way to get along the Riviera Maya and around Oaxaca. Wave one down by the road.
33	Aventón	A ride, a lift	¿Me das un aventón al hotel?Can you give me a ride to the hotel?	Casual Ask a friend for an "aventón."
34	¿Cuántas cuadras?	How many blocks?	¿Cuántas cuadras hay hasta el hotel?How many blocks is it to the hotel?	Everyday Mexicans measure distance in "cuadras," or blocks.
35	Metro / Metrobús	Subway / rapid-transit bus	Tomo el Metrobús hasta la Condesa.I take the rapid bus to the Condesa.	Everyday The Metro is the underground and the Metrobús is the bus in its own lane. Both need a rechargeable card.
36	Banqueta	Sidewalk	Súbete a la banqueta, vienen coches.Get up on the sidewalk, there are cars coming.	Everyday Mexico's word for the sidewalk, where other countries say "acera" or "vereda."
37	Todo derecho	Straight ahead	Siga todo derecho hasta el semáforo.Go straight ahead to the traffic light.	Everyday The usual way to give or get directions. "Derecho" alone also works.
38	¿Dónde está la salida?	Where is the exit?	Perdón, ¿dónde está la salida?Sorry, where's the exit?	Everyday A must in a big Metro station or bus terminal.
39	Correspondencia	Transfer between lines	La correspondencia a la línea 2 está arriba.The transfer to line 2 is upstairs.	Everyday The sign you follow in the Metro to change lines.
40	Terminal	Bus station	Sale a Oaxaca de la terminal oriente.It leaves for Oaxaca from the east terminal.	Everyday Long-distance buses leave from a "terminal." Mexico City has four, one for each direction.
41	A la izquierda / a la derecha	To the left / to the right	Doble a la izquierda en la esquina.Turn left at the corner.	Everyday Add "por favor" in a taxi. Locals say "a la derecha" and "a la izquierda" for turns.
42	Depa	Apartment	Rentamos un depa en la Condesa.We rented an apartment in Condesa.	Casual Short for "departamento."
43	DiDi	Ride-hailing app	Pedí un DiDi, llega en cinco minutos.I ordered a DiDi, it arrives in 5 minutes.	Everyday Locals use DiDi, Uber and Cabify. People say "pide un DiDi" like "call a cab."
44	Vocho	VW Beetle	Mi tío todavía maneja su vocho de 1990.My uncle still drives his 1990 Beetle.	Everyday The nickname for the old Volkswagen Beetle. You'll still see them all over Mexico.

Food and drink 27

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
45	¡Joven!	Excuse me! (to a waiter)	¡Joven! ¿Nos trae otra salsa, por favor?Excuse me! Could you bring us more salsa, please?	Everyday How you call a waiter of any age. Use "señorita" for a waitress.
46	¿Me da...?	Can I have...?	¿Me da una orden de pastor y un agua de jamaica?Can I have a plate of al pastor and a hibiscus water?	Everyday The core Mexican ordering line. Say "¿me das...?" with friends.
47	La cuenta, por favor	The check, please	Joven, la cuenta, por favor.Excuse me, the check, please.	Everyday Waiters won't bring the bill until you ask. You can also mime writing in the air.
48	¿Para aquí o para llevar?	For here or to go?	¿Para aquí o para llevar? Para llevar, por favor.For here or to go? To go, please.	Everyday The first thing a taquero or café asks. Answer "para aquí" or "para llevar."
49	Una orden de	A plate of (usually 3 to 5)	Me da una orden de tacos al pastor, por favor.Can I get a plate of al pastor tacos, please?	Everyday Tacos and quesadillas come by the "orden." The cook may ask "¿con todo?", which means with onion and cilantro.
50	¿Está picoso?	Is it spicy?	¿Está picosa esta salsa o nomás tantito?Is this salsa spicy, or just a little?	Everyday "Picoso" is Mexico's word for spicy, and a Mexican "poquito" can burn. Say "que no pique" to get it mild.
51	Al pastor	Spit-roasted marinated pork	Cinco de pastor con todo, por favor.5 al pastor tacos with everything, please.	Everyday Pork in chili marinade, cooked on a spit with pineapple on top. Mexico City's classic taco.
52	Provecho	Enjoy your meal	Provecho, señores.Enjoy your meal, everyone.	Everyday Say it to people eating as you walk past or leave the table.
53	Agua de garrafón	Water from a big bottled jug	¿El agua es de garrafón o de la llave?Is the water from a jug or from the tap?	Everyday Don't drink tap water. Ask for "agua purificada" or water from the big jug.
54	Sin hielo	No ice	Una limonada sin hielo, por favor.A lemonade with no ice, please.	Everyday Restaurants use purified ice. At a street stall, say "sin hielo" if you're not sure.
55	¡Qué rico!	How tasty!	¡Qué rico está el mole! ¿Usted lo hizo?This mole is so tasty! Did you make it?	Everyday Say it about any food and the cook will smile.
56	Quesadilla con queso	Quesadilla with cheese	Una quesadilla de flor de calabaza con queso, por favor.A squash blossom quesadilla with cheese, please.	Everyday In Mexico City a quesadilla comes without cheese unless you ask. Say "con queso" to get it.
57	Guajolota	Tamale in a bread roll	Me da una guajolota de verde y un atole, por favor.Can I have a green tamale sandwich and an atole, please?	Everyday A tamale stuffed in a bolillo. It's the classic Mexico City breakfast on the go.
58	Enchilarse	To get a mouth on fire from chili	Me enchilé con la salsa verde.The green salsa set my mouth on fire.	Everyday What happens after the salsa you didn't ask about.
59	Taquear	To eat tacos	¿Vamos a taquear al centro después del museo?Shall we go eat tacos downtown after the museum?	Casual A very Mexican verb for a taco outing.
60	Antojitos	Street snacks	En la plaza venden antojitos toda la noche.They sell street snacks in the plaza all night.	Everyday Tacos, sopes, tlacoyos and other small dishes.
61	Se me antojó	I've got a craving for it	Se me antojó un elote.I've got a craving for corn on the cob.	Everyday Mexicans say "se me antoja" about food all day.
62	Botana	Snacks, bar nibbles	Pide una botana para acompañar las chelas.Order some snacks to go with the beers.	Everyday Chips, peanuts or small plates with drinks.
63	Puesto	Street food stall	El mejor puesto de tacos está en la esquina.The best taco stall is on the corner.	Everyday Look for the "puesto" with the longest line.
64	Fonda	Small family restaurant	Comimos en una fonda cerca del mercado.We ate at a little family place near the market.	Everyday Cheap, home cooking.
65	Comida corrida	Set lunch menu	La comida corrida incluye sopa, guisado y agua.The set lunch comes with soup, a main and a drink.	Everyday Great value at a "fonda" from about 1 to 5 p.m.
66	Torta	Sandwich on a roll	Me comí una torta de milanesa enorme.I ate a huge breaded steak sandwich.	Everyday In Mexico a "torta" is a sandwich on a roll.
67	Bolillo	Crusty white bread roll	Pasa por unos bolillos para la cena.Pick up some bread rolls for dinner.	Everyday Mexicans also eat one to calm a scare: "un bolillo para el susto."
68	Elote	Corn on the cob	Un elote con mayonesa, queso y chile, por favor.Corn on the cob with mayo, cheese and chili, please.	Everyday Mexico's word for fresh corn, from Nahuatl.
69	Agua fresca	Fruit water drink	¿De qué hay agua hoy? De jamaica y de horchata.What flavors of fruit water are there today? Hibiscus and horchata.	Everyday Locals just say "agua" at the stall. Jamaica, horchata and tamarind are the classics.
70	Refresco	Soda	¿Qué refresco quieres? Hay Coca y Sidral.What soda do you want? There's Coke and apple soda.	Everyday A soft drink. "Para el refresco" means a small tip, or sometimes a petty bribe.
71	Popote	Drinking straw	¿Me da un popote, por favor?Can I have a straw, please?	Everyday Mexico's word for a straw. Other countries say "pajita" or "pitillo."

Money and shopping 32

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
72	¿A cómo?	How much is it?	¿A cómo el kilo de mango?How much for a kilo of mango?	Everyday The quick way to ask a price at a market.
73	¿Cuánto le debo?	How much do I owe you?	Joven, ¿cuánto le debo?Excuse me, how much do I owe you?	Everyday The polite way to ask for the bill at a stall or taxi.
74	Marchante	Regular customer, or your regular vendor	¿Qué le damos hoy, marchante?What can we get you today, my friend?	Everyday Market vendors call their shoppers this, and shoppers say it back.
75	Pásele	Come on in, take a look	¡Pásele, güera! ¿Qué va a llevar?Come on in, miss! What will you take?	Everyday Vendors call it out to pull you into their stall. Smile and keep walking if you're not buying.
76	Nomás estoy viendo	I'm just looking	Gracias, nomás estoy viendo.Thanks, I'm just looking.	Everyday Your answer when a vendor says "pásele" or asks what you need.
77	¿Me lo deja en...?	Will you let me have it for...?	¿Me lo deja en doscientos?Will you let me have it for 200?	Everyday Haggle with a smile at markets. Never in supermarkets.
78	¿Me hace un descuentito?	Can you give me a little discount?	Me llevo dos. ¿Me hace un descuentito?I'll take 2. Can you give me a little discount?	Everyday The "-ito" makes it a friendly ask. It works best at markets when you buy more than 1.
79	Me lo llevo	I'll take it	Está bien bonito. Me lo llevo.It's really nice. I'll take it.	Everyday Say it when you decide to buy. "Me llevo dos" means "I'll take 2."
80	¿Me cobra?	Can I pay?	Joven, ¿me cobra, por favor?Excuse me, can I pay, please?	Everyday Ask it when you're ready to pay at a stall or a fonda. If they ask "¿algo más?", say "es todo."
81	¿Tiene cambio?	Do you have change?	¿Tiene cambio de quinientos?Do you have change for 500?	Everyday Stalls and taxis often can't break big bills, so carry coins and small notes.
82	¿Aceptan tarjeta?	Do you take cards?	¿Aceptan tarjeta o nomás efectivo?Do you take cards or just cash?	Everyday Markets, taco stands and many taxis are cash only.
83	Lana	Money	Esa casa cuesta mucha lana.That house costs a lot of money.	Slang The most common word for money in Mexico.
84	Varo	Peso, money	No traigo ni un varo.I don't have a single peso on me.	Slang Also "varos" for cash in general.
85	Feria	Loose change, money	¿Tienes feria para el camión?Do you have change for the bus?	Slang Small change or cash. Also a fair.
86	Propina	Tip	La propina no está incluida en la cuenta.The tip isn't included in the bill.	Everyday 10 to 15% is normal in restaurants. Gas station staff and bag packers get a few pesos.
87	Pilón	A little extra for free	¿Me da un pilón? Le compré tres kilos.Can you throw in a little extra? I bought 3 kilos from you.	Everyday Market vendors often add a bit more. It's fine to ask with a smile.
88	Tianguis	Street market	El tianguis de los domingos tiene de todo.The Sunday street market has everything.	Everyday Pop-up markets from a Nahuatl word.
89	Está regalado	It's a steal	Tres por cien pesos, está regalado.3 for 100 pesos, it's a steal.	Everyday Vendors love to say it.
90	Billetes chicos	Small bills	¿Me lo da en billetes chicos, por favor?Can you give it to me in small bills, please?	Everyday Small vendors rarely break big notes. Ask for small bills at the ATM or the bank.
91	Abarrotes	Corner grocery store	Compra agua en la tienda de abarrotes de la esquina.Buy water at the grocery store on the corner.	Everyday The little family shop on every block. Locals also call it "la tiendita."
92	Changarro	Small shop, stall	Puso un changarro de tacos en la banqueta.He set up a little taco stand on the sidewalk.	Casual Any small, simple business, often on the street.
93	Cajero	ATM	¿Dónde hay un cajero por aquí?Is there an ATM around here?	Everyday Short for "cajero automático." Decline the machine's own exchange rate.
94	Morralla	Loose coins	Guarda la morralla para el baño y las propinas.Keep the coins for the restroom and tips.	Slang Public restrooms and parking guys want coins, so keep some on you.
95	Disparar	To treat, to pay for someone	Hoy yo te disparo los tacos.Today the tacos are on me.	Slang "¿Me disparas una chela?" means "Will you buy me a beer?" Some people say "pichar" for the same thing.
96	Codo	Stingy	No seas codo, invita una ronda.Don't be cheap, buy a round.	Casual Locals tap their elbow to say it without words.
97	Mordida	Bribe	El tránsito quería una mordida.The traffic cop wanted a bribe.	Casual Don't offer one. Ask for the written ticket instead.
98	Chafa	Cheap, poor quality	Esa playera es bien chafa, se rompió luego luego.That T-shirt is junk, it ripped right away.	Slang For things that are flimsy or fake.
99	¿Cuánto cuesta?	How much does it cost?	¿Cuánto cuesta este sombrero?How much is this hat?	Everyday The first price question. "¿Cuánto es?" works too.
100	Está caro / está barato	It's expensive / it's cheap	Está caro, ¿me lo deja en doscientos?It's expensive, can you do 200?	Everyday Say it with a smile. "Caro" is the word for expensive.
101	Chanclas	Flip-flops, sandals	Compré unas chanclas en el mercado para la playa.I bought some flip-flops at the market for the beach.	Everyday Also cheap house slippers.
102	¿Aceptan dólares?	Do you take dollars?	¿Aceptan dólares o solo pesos?Do you take dollars or only pesos?	Everyday Tourist spots often do, at a poor rate. Most shops and taxis want pesos.
103	Andar bruja	To be broke	Ando bruja hasta la quincena.I'm broke until payday.	Slang For men and women, always "bruja."

Bars and going out 26

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
104	Una chela	A beer	¿Nos echamos una chela después del trabajo?Shall we have a beer after work?	Slang The most common word for beer in Mexico.
105	¡Salud!	Cheers!	¡Salud por el viaje!Cheers to the trip!	Everyday The toast before any drink. Look people in the eye when you clink.
106	Caguama	Big beer bottle (about 1 liter)	Compramos dos caguamas para la carne asada.We bought 2 big bottles of beer for the barbecue.	Slang Cheap and shared among friends.
107	Michelada	Beer with lime and salt	Una michelada, pero cubana, por favor.A michelada, but with the sauces, please.	Everyday In Mexico City it's beer with lime and salt. Ask for a "cubana" or "preparada" to get chili and sauces. Other states mix it their own way.
108	Una cubeta	A bucket of beers	¿Nos trae una cubeta de Coronas?Could you bring us a bucket of Coronas?	Everyday The standard group order, a bucket of bottles on ice.
109	Otra ronda	Another round	Joven, otra ronda, por favor.Excuse me, another round, please.	Everyday Say it to the waiter when the glasses are empty.
110	Cooperacha	Chipping in, a whip-round	¿Hacemos una cooperacha para el pomo?Shall we all chip in for the bottle?	Casual Everyone puts in some cash. Some people say "coperacha."
111	Antro	Nightclub	¿Qué antro está bueno en Polanco?Which club is good in Polanco?	Everyday Any club with music and dancing. "Ir de antro" means going clubbing.
112	Cantina	Traditional bar	En esa cantina te dan botana gratis con cada ronda.That bar gives you free snacks with every round.	Everyday Old-school bars, often with food and music.
113	Cover	Entry fee	El cover es de trescientos con barra libre.Entry is 300 with an open bar.	Everyday Clubs and live music bars charge a "cover."
114	Cadenero	Bouncer	El cadenero no nos dejó pasar.The bouncer wouldn't let us in.	Everyday The person at the rope ("cadena") who picks who gets in.
115	Rola	Song	¡Esa rola me encanta! Súbele.I love that song! Turn it up.	Slang The everyday word for a song, at any age. "Echarse una rola" is to sing or play one.
116	Chupar	To drink alcohol	Anoche chupamos hasta las tres.Last night we drank until 3.	Slang Also means "to suck," so keep it among friends.
117	Pistear	To drink, to booze	¿Vamos a pistear a la cantina de enfrente?Shall we go drink at the cantina across the street?	Regional Big in the north, Jalisco and the Bajío.
118	Pomo	Bottle of liquor	Cada quien trae un pomo a la fiesta.Everyone brings a bottle of liquor to the party.	Slang A bottle of tequila, rum or any hard liquor.
119	Caballito	Tequila shot glass	Sírveme un caballito de mezcal.Pour me a shot of mezcal.	Everyday The tall, thin glass for tequila and mezcal.
120	Arriba, abajo, al centro y pa' dentro	Up, down, center and in! (a toast)	¡Arriba, abajo, al centro y pa' dentro! ¡Salud!Up, down, to the center and down the hatch! Cheers!	Casual The classic Mexican toast. Move your glass as you say it.
121	La del estribo	One for the road	Ya nos vamos, pero antes la del estribo.We're leaving, but first one for the road.	Everyday The last drink before you go.
122	Peda	Drinking party, bender	La peda de anoche estuvo épica.Last night's party was epic.	Slang A night of heavy drinking with friends.
123	Hasta atrás	Totally drunk	Anoche acabamos hasta atrás en la boda de mi prima.Last night we ended up wasted at my cousin's wedding.	Slang Very drunk. "Ponerse hasta las chanclas" means the same.
124	Andar pedo	To be drunk	Mi primo ya anda bien pedo y apenas son las diez.My cousin is already really drunk and it's only 10.	Vulgar "Pedo" also means a fart or a problem, so context is key. Friends only.
125	Crudo	Hungover	Ando bien crudo, no vuelvo a tomar.I'm so hungover, I'm never drinking again.	Casual "La cruda" is the hangover. Mexicans fix it with menudo or a michelada.
126	Mala copa	Bad drunk	No le sirvas más, es bien mala copa.Don't pour him any more, he's a really bad drunk.	Slang For someone who gets angry, picks fights or cries after a few drinks.
127	Pulque	Fermented agave drink	Probamos pulque de guayaba en la pulquería.We tried guava pulque at the pulque bar.	Everyday An ancient drink, and pulquerías sell it.
128	Desmadre	Wild party, total mess	Anoche se armó un desmadre en casa de Pepe.Last night things got wild at Pepe's place.	Vulgar A wild night out, or chaos. "Qué desmadre" means "what a mess" and "echar desmadre" means to party hard. Friends only.
129	Reventón	Big party	El sábado hay reventón en casa de Ana, ¿vienes?There's a big party at Ana's on Saturday, are you coming?	Slang A big party with music, dancing and drinks. "Irse de reventón" means to go out partying.

Friends and people 32

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
130	Güey / wey	Dude	Güey, ¿ya viste la hora?Dude, have you seen the time?	Slang Mexico's most used word between friends. Said in anger, it means "idiot."
131	Me caes bien	I like you (as a person)	Me caes bien, güey. ¿Nos vemos mañana?I like you, dude. See you tomorrow?	Everyday The core line for making friends. "Me caes mal" means the opposite.
132	Güero / güera	Blondie, light-skinned person	¿Qué le damos, güero?What can I get you, my friend?	Casual Vendors call foreigners and light-skinned people this, and they mean it kindly.
133	Gringo	American	Hay muchos gringos en San Miguel.There are lots of Americans in San Miguel.	Casual Mostly neutral in Mexico. It means someone from the US.
134	Carnal	Brother, close friend	Él es mi carnal desde la secundaria.He's been my brother since middle school.	Slang A friend who is like family.
135	Compa	Buddy	Mi compa te puede llevar al aeropuerto.My buddy can take you to the airport.	Casual Short for "compadre" or "compañero." Friendly with anyone.
136	Cuate	Pal	Vino con unos cuates del trabajo.He came with some pals from work.	Casual A friend. From the Nahuatl word for "twin."
137	Mano	Bro	¿Qué onda, mano? ¿Todo bien?What's up, bro? All good?	Casual Short for "hermano."
138	Echar la mano	To lend a hand	¿Me echas la mano con las maletas?Can you give me a hand with the bags?	Everyday "Échame la mano" is how friends ask for help.
139	Hazme un paro	Do me a favor	Hazme un paro y guárdame el lugar.Do me a favor and save my seat.	Slang "Paro" means a favor.
140	Vato	Guy, dude	Ese vato es de Tijuana.That guy is from Tijuana.	Regional Big in the north. Some people write "bato."
141	La banda	The crew, your friends	Toda la banda va a ir al concierto.The whole crew is going to the concert.	Slang Your group of friends.
142	Chavo / chava	Young guy, young woman	Es una chava muy buena onda.She's a really cool girl.	Casual For anyone young.
143	Morro / morra	Kid, guy, girl	Ese morro juega muy bien futbol.That kid plays soccer really well.	Regional Started in the north, now heard all over.
144	Chamaco / chamaca	Kid	Los chamacos juegan futbol en la calle.The kids are playing soccer in the street.	Casual The everyday word for a kid or a teen. Also "chamaquito."
145	Escuincle	Brat, little kid	Ese escuincle no deja de gritar.That brat won't stop yelling.	Casual Can be fond or annoyed. From Nahuatl.
146	Jefe / jefa	Dad, mom	Le voy a preguntar a mi jefa si puedo ir.I'm going to ask my mom if I can go.	Casual Literally "boss." Also how you address a taxi driver or worker.
147	Mijo / mija	Son, honey	Ven a comer, mijo.Come eat, honey.	Everyday From "mi hijo." Parents and older people use it with anyone younger.
148	Compadre / comadre	Godparent of your child, close friend	Mi compadre va a ser el padrino de la boda.My close friend is going to be a sponsor at the wedding.	Everyday A family bond, also used for close friends.
149	La raza	Folks, the gang	¿Qué pasó, raza? ¿Nos vamos?What's up, folks? Shall we go?	Slang Your friends or people in general. Also used for Mexicans as a group.
150	Tocayo	Namesake	¡Tú también te llamas Luis! Qué onda, tocayo.You're called Luis too! Hey, namesake.	Everyday Someone with the same first name as you.
151	Ruco / ruca	Old guy, old lady	Ese ruco baila mejor que todos en la plaza.That old guy dances better than everyone in the plaza.	Slang A jokey word for an old person. Don't say it to their face.
152	Chilango	Person from Mexico City	Los chilangos manejan bien rápido.People from Mexico City drive really fast.	Casual Can be proud or teasing, depending on who says it.
153	Pocho	Americanized Mexican	Mi primo es bien pocho, habla puro spanglish.My cousin is so Americanized, he speaks all Spanglish.	Slang For Mexican Americans or emigrants who mix in English. It can sting, so don't use it yourself.
154	Chicano / chicana	Mexican American	Mi prima es chicana, nació en Los Ángeles.My cousin is Chicana, she was born in Los Angeles.	Everyday For people of Mexican roots raised in the US. Many use it with pride.
155	Prieto / prieta	Dark-skinned person	Mi compa el Prieto juega de portero.My buddy Prieto plays in goal.	Slang A common nickname among friends, but it can be racist. Don't call anyone this yourself.
156	Fresa	Posh, snobby person	Esa chava es muy fresa, solo va a Polanco.That girl is really posh, she only goes to Polanco.	Slang Literally "strawberry." For rich kids and snobs. "Fifí" is a political jab with the same idea.
157	Godín	Office worker	Mi hermano es godín, trabaja de nueve a seis.My brother is an office drone, he works 9 to 6.	Slang A 9 to 5 worker in a suit. From the surname Godínez.
158	Chairo	Leftie (mocking)	Mi tío es bien chairo, todo lo critica.My uncle is a total leftie, he criticizes everything.	Slang A mocking label for a leftist, all over politics and social media. It stings, so don't use it yourself.
159	Cholo	Street-style guy	Los cholos del barrio traen pantalones flojos.The guys from the hood wear baggy pants.	Slang A style with roots in Chicano street culture. Can sound like a stereotype.
160	Bruto / bruta	Clumsy, thoughtless	No seas bruto, casi tiras la mesa.Don't be clumsy, you almost knocked over the table.	Casual Teasing among friends. Said in anger it's rude.
161	Mandilón	Henpecked guy	No seas mandilón, quédate otra hora.Don't be so whipped, stay another hour.	Casual Teasing for a man who does whatever his partner says. From "mandil," an apron.

Reactions and feelings 30

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
162	¡No manches!	No way!	¿Te ganaste la rifa? ¡No manches!You won the raffle? No way!	Casual The clean version of "no mames." Safe with almost anyone.
163	¡No mames!	No freaking way!	¡No mames, güey! ¿Neta te vas a casar?No freaking way, dude! You're really getting married?	Vulgar Very common among friends. Never with elders or at work.
164	¡No inventes!	No way! You're kidding!	¿Te vas a vivir a Oaxaca? ¡No inventes!You're moving to Oaxaca? No way!	Casual A clean "no way" you can say to anyone.
165	¿Neta?	Really? For real?	¿Neta te gustó el mezcal?Did you really like the mezcal?	Slang "La neta" means the truth, and "la neta, no me gustó" means "honestly, I didn't like it."
166	¡Órale!	Wow! OK! Come on!	¡Órale! Qué bonita está tu casa.Wow! Your house is so nice.	Casual Surprise, agreement or "let's go," depending on tone.
167	¡Ándale!	Come on! That's it!	¡Ándale, ya vámonos que es tarde!Come on, let's go, it's late!	Everyday To hurry someone or to say "exactly." "Ándale pues" means "OK then."
168	¡Híjole!	Oh man! Yikes!	¡Híjole! Se me olvidó la cartera.Oh man! I forgot my wallet.	Everyday For bad news or a tricky spot.
169	¡Aguas!	Watch out!	¡Aguas con el coche!Watch out for the car!	Casual A warning. Listen for it on busy streets.
170	¡Chin!	Darn!	¡Chin! Se me olvidó el cargador en el hotel.Darn! I left my charger at the hotel.	Casual The clean way to swear when something goes wrong.
171	¡Chale!	Oh no! Bummer!	¡Chale! Ya cerraron la taquería.Bummer! The taco place already closed.	Slang Disappointment or disbelief.
172	¡Madres!	Damn! Oh no!	¡Madres! Dejé el pasaporte en el taxi.Damn! I left my passport in the taxi.	Vulgar A crude "oh no" when something goes wrong. Say "¡chin!" around elders.
173	Chido	Cool	Está bien chido tu hotel.Your hotel is really cool.	Slang Mexico's go-to word for "cool."
174	¡Qué padre!	How cool!	¡Qué padre que vinieron a México!How cool that you came to Mexico!	Casual Safe with everyone, even grandma. "Padrísimo" means really great.
175	Chingón / chingona	Awesome, great at something	¡Está bien chingón el mezcal de aquí!The mezcal here is really awesome!	Vulgar Mexico's strongest "awesome." "Es bien chingona para bailar" means she's a great dancer. Say "padre" or "fregón" around elders.
176	De poca madre	Awesome, amazing	La fiesta estuvo de poca madre.The party was awesome.	Vulgar Friends only. Don't mix it up with "¡qué poca madre!", which means "how shameless!"
177	¡Guácala!	Yuck!	¡Guácala! Hay una mosca en mi sopa.Yuck! There's a fly in my soup.	Casual For anything gross.
178	Ni pedo	Oh well, no problem	Se acabaron los boletos. Ni pedo, vamos mañana.The tickets are gone. Oh well, we'll go tomorrow.	Vulgar Like "ni modo," but rougher. Very common with friends.
179	Perrón	Awesome	¡Está perrón tu tatuaje!Your tattoo is awesome!	Slang Big with young people all over Mexico.
180	Gacho	Lousy, mean	Qué gacho que te robaron la cartera.That's so lousy that they stole your wallet.	Slang For bad things and unkind people.
181	A toda madre	Awesome	El concierto estuvo a toda madre.The concert was awesome.	Vulgar Very common for "great." Keep it for friends.
182	Jalada	That's a stretch, nonsense	¿Viste un fantasma en la pirámide? Esa es una jalada.You saw a ghost at the pyramid? That's a stretch.	Slang For a crazy or over-the-top idea. "¡Qué jalada!" can also mean "what a low move!"
183	¡Qué oso!	How embarrassing!	Me caí enfrente de todos. ¡Qué oso!I fell in front of everyone. How embarrassing!	Slang "Oso" means bear, but here it means a cringe moment.
184	Me late	I like it, I'm into it	¿Te late ir a Teotihuacán mañana? Me late.Do you fancy going to Teotihuacán tomorrow? I'm in.	Slang For things you like or plans you're up for.
185	Me cae gordo	I don't like him, he gets on my nerves	Ese mesero me cae gordo.That waiter gets on my nerves.	Casual Same as "me cae mal," with a bit more feeling.
186	Te la rifaste	You nailed it	¡Te la rifaste con la comida!You nailed it with the food!	Slang Praise for something done really well.
187	Qué hueva	What a drag	Qué hueva hacer la maleta.Packing is such a drag.	Vulgar Very common but crude, so keep it for friends. Say "qué flojera" to be polite.
188	Me sacó de onda	It threw me off	Me sacó de onda que me hablara en inglés.It threw me off that he spoke to me in English.	Slang When something surprises or confuses you.
189	Me vale	I don't care	Me vale lo que digan.I don't care what they say.	Casual "Me vale gorro" is the mild version, and "me vale madre" the vulgar one.
190	¡A huevo!	Hell yeah! Of course!	¿Vas a la fiesta? ¡A huevo!Are you going to the party? Hell yeah!	Vulgar Very common among friends. Also "ahuevo."
191	¡Ni madres!	No way, not a chance	¿Prestarle mi coche? ¡Ni madres!Lend him my car? No way!	Vulgar A flat, crude no. Friends only.

Fillers and everyday words 29

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
192	Pues / pos	Well, so	Pos, no sé, ¿tú qué quieres comer?Well, I don't know, what do you want to eat?	Everyday Mexico's most common filler. You'll hear it as "pos" or "ps" all day.
193	Este...	Um...	Este... ¿dónde está el baño?Um... where's the bathroom?	Everyday The Mexican "um." You'll hear it in every sentence.
194	O sea	I mean, like	O sea, me gusta, pero pica mucho.I mean, I like it, but it's really spicy.	Everyday Very common, more so with "fresa" speakers.
195	Se me hace	I think, it seems to me	Se me hace que va a llover.I think it's going to rain.	Everyday A soft way to give your opinion. "Se me hace caro" means "it seems pricey to me."
196	Platicar	To chat	Nos quedamos platicando hasta la una.We stayed up chatting until 1.	Everyday The usual Mexican word for "to talk," where Spain says "charlar."
197	Ya estás	Enough, that's it	Ya estás, no me expliques más.That's enough, don't explain any more.	Casual A quick way to cut something short.
198	Sale	OK, deal	¿Nos vemos a las ocho? Sale.See you at 8? OK.	Casual Mexicans say it all day. The playful long form is "sale y vale."
199	Va	OK, sure	¿Vamos por unos tacos? Va.Shall we go get some tacos? Sure.	Casual Quick yes. "¿Va?" means "OK?"
200	Sobres	Sure, let's do it	¿Paso por ti a las nueve? Sobres.Shall I pick you up at 9? Sure thing.	Slang An eager yes.
201	Un chingo	A ton, loads	Hay un chingo de gente en el metro a esta hora.There are a ton of people on the metro at this time.	Vulgar Very common among friends. "Un chorro" or "un montón" is the clean way to say it.
202	Simón	Yes, yeah	¿Vienes con nosotros? Simón.Are you coming with us? Yeah.	Slang A playful "sí."
203	Nel	Nope	¿Quieres más? Nel, ya estoy lleno.Want more? Nope, I'm full.	Slang A playful "no."
204	Chance	A chance, a moment, permission	¿Me da chance de pasar?Can I squeeze through?	Casual "¿Me das chance?" asks for a moment, a favor or permission. "Chance y" means "maybe."
205	Tantito	A little bit	Espérame tantito, ya voy.Wait a sec, I'm coming.	Casual A small amount or a short wait.
206	Un chorro	A lot, loads	Hay un chorro de gente en el Zócalo.There are loads of people in the Zócalo.	Casual "Te quiero un chorro" means "I love you loads."
207	Igual y	Maybe	Igual y vamos a Puebla el sábado.Maybe we'll go to Puebla on Saturday.	Casual A very Mexican way to say "maybe."
208	¿A poco?	Really? No way?	¿A poco ya te vas?You're leaving already?	Casual Disbelief or mild surprise.
209	Al chile	Honestly, for real	Al chile, no sé qué pasó.Honestly, I have no idea what happened.	Slang Blunt honesty. A bit rough, so use with friends.
210	A sus órdenes	At your service	A sus órdenes, joven. ¿Qué le sirvo?At your service. What can I get you?	Everyday Vendors, waiters and taxi drivers say it to you. Reply with what you need.
211	Ni modo	Oh well, it can't be helped	Se acabaron los boletos. Ni modo.The tickets sold out. Oh well.	Everyday Mexico's shrug in 2 words.
212	No hay bronca	No problem	¿Puedo pagar mañana? No hay bronca.Can I pay tomorrow? No problem.	Casual "Bronca" means trouble. "No hay tos" is a playful version.
213	No hay pedo	No problem, no worries	¿Llegaste tarde? No hay pedo, güey, todavía no empieza.You're late? No worries, dude, it hasn't started yet.	Vulgar Young locals say it all the time. Friends only, and say "no hay bronca" with anyone else.
214	Fíjate que	Guess what, the thing is	Fíjate que no voy a poder ir.The thing is, I won't be able to go.	Everyday Used to start news, often bad news.
215	Buena onda	Nice, cool (person)	Tu amigo es muy buena onda.Your friend is really nice.	Casual For good people and good vibes. "Mala onda" is the opposite.
216	¿Cómo no?	Of course	¿Me ayuda con la maleta? ¿Cómo no?Can you help me with my bag? Of course.	Everyday A warm yes. It doesn't mean "why not?" here.
217	Agarrar la onda	To get the hang of it, to catch on	Ya le agarré la onda al metro.I've got the hang of the metro now.	Casual Also for getting a joke. "¿Agarras la onda?" means "Do you get it?"
218	Pa' qué te digo	I won't lie, to be honest	Pa' qué te digo, el viaje estuvo increíble.I won't lie, the trip was amazing.	Casual Used before you admit something or agree. Short for "para qué te digo."
219	Chingadera	Piece of junk, dirty trick	¿Qué es esta chingadera? No sirve.What is this piece of junk? It doesn't work.	Vulgar For worthless stuff or a low move. Friends only.
220	Cotorrear	To chat and joke around	Nos quedamos cotorreando en la terraza hasta las dos.We stayed chatting and joking on the terrace until 2.	Slang "El cotorreo" is the fun, the banter. "Puro cotorreo" means "just kidding."

Time and plans 15

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
221	Ahorita	Right now, in a bit, maybe never	Ahorita te traigo la cuenta.I'll bring you the check in a moment.	Everyday It can mean now, later or never, so watch the tone. To turn down a vendor, say "ahorita no, gracias."
222	Al rato	Later	Al rato te marco.I'll call you later.	Everyday Some time later today.
223	Luego luego	Right away	Llegó la policía luego luego.The police came right away.	Everyday Immediately.
224	Ya merito	Almost, nearly there	¿Ya llegamos? Ya merito.Are we there yet? Almost.	Casual Mexico's "almost." It can still mean 20 more minutes.
225	Llego en cinco	I'll be there in 5 (much later)	Ya voy, llego en cinco.I'm on my way, I'll be there in 5.	Casual "En cinco" often means 20 minutes. Friends turn up late to parties, but be on time for tours, buses and work.
226	¿Qué horas son?	What time is it?	Oye, ¿qué horas son? No quiero perder el camión.Hey, what time is it? I don't want to miss the bus.	Everyday Mexicans often say "horas" here, where other countries say "¿qué hora es?"
227	De volada	In a flash	Voy de volada a la tienda.I'll run to the store real quick.	Slang Very fast.
228	Ya estuvo	That's it, done	Ya estuvo, ya tenemos los boletos.That's it, we've got the tickets.	Casual "Ya estuvo bueno" means "that's enough."
229	¿Jalas?	Are you in?	Vamos a la playa, ¿jalas?We're going to the beach, are you in?	Slang "Jalar" means to join in.
230	¿Te avientas?	Are you up for it?	Vamos a nadar con tiburones, ¿te avientas?We're going swimming with sharks, are you up for it?	Casual "Aventarse" means to dare or dive in. "Me aventé" means "I went for it."
231	Te caigo	I'll drop by	Te caigo en tu casa como a las seis.I'll swing by your place around 6.	Slang "Caerle" is to show up at someone's place.
232	Rajarse	To back out	Dijo que venía y se rajó.He said he was coming and he bailed.	Casual To back out of a plan. "No te rajes" means "don't chicken out."
233	Dar un rol	To go for a stroll	Vamos a dar un rol por Coyoacán.Let's go for a stroll around Coyoacán.	Slang A walk or a drive with no plan.
234	Puente	Long weekend	Aprovechamos el puente para ir a Valle de Bravo.We used the long weekend to go to Valle de Bravo.	Everyday A holiday that joins a weekend. Book hotels early.
235	Chamba	Job, work	Encontré una chamba nueva en Monterrey.I found a new job in Monterrey.	Slang Any job, often a hard one. "Chambear" means to work.

Teasing and insults 25

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
236	Pinche	Damn, lousy	Este pinche tráfico no avanza.This damn traffic isn't moving.	Vulgar Goes before a noun. Mild with things, rude aimed at people.
237	Cabrón	Bastard, or a tough one	Ese examen estuvo cabrón.That exam was brutal.	Vulgar Between friends it can be praise: "eres bien cabrón" means you're great at something.
238	Pendejo	Idiot	No seas pendejo, cierra la puerta.Don't be an idiot, shut the door.	Vulgar A strong insult. Friends use it as a joke.
239	Chingar	To annoy, to mess up	Deja de chingar, ya te dije que no.Stop bugging me, I already said no.	Vulgar Mexico's most flexible swear word. "Se chingó" means it broke.
240	A la verga	Screw it, get lost	¡A la verga, me voy!Screw it, I'm out of here!	Vulgar Very crude. In texts it's "alv."
241	Chinga tu madre	F* you	Le gritó "chinga tu madre" y se fue.He yelled "f* you" at him and left.	Vulgar One of the worst things you can say in Mexico. Learn it for recognition only.
242	Culero	Jerk, coward	No seas culero, ayúdame.Don't be a jerk, help me out.	Vulgar A mean person. Also means scared.
243	Puto	Gay slur, coward	Ese grito de puto en el estadio es una vergüenza.That slur chant at the stadium is a disgrace.	Vulgar A homophobic slur. Learn it so you know it. Never say it, even at a match.
244	Mamón	Show-off, arrogant	Ese güey es bien mamón, nunca saluda.That guy is so stuck-up, he never says hi.	Vulgar Someone full of himself.
245	Te crees muy muy	You think you're all that	Desde que vive en Polanco se cree muy muy.Since he moved to Polanco, he thinks he's all that.	Casual A tease for someone who acts superior.
246	Naco	Tacky, low-class	Qué naco ponerse lentes de sol en la noche.So tacky to wear sunglasses at night.	Vulgar Classist and offensive. Friends say it as a joke about style, but don't use it yourself.
247	Gandalla	Cheater, someone who takes advantage	No seas gandalla, deja algo para los demás.Don't be greedy, leave some for the others.	Slang For people who cut in line or grab more than their share.
248	Cagarla	To blow it, to mess up	Reservaste el hotel para el mes equivocado. ¡La cagaste!You booked the hotel for the wrong month. You blew it!	Vulgar "¿Quién la cagó?" means "who messed up?" Friends only.
249	Ratero	Thief	Cuida tu cartera, hay muchos rateros en el metro.Watch your wallet, there are lots of thieves on the metro.	Casual Also said about anyone who overcharges you.
250	Madriza	A beating, a crushing defeat	Le dieron una madriza al equipo visitante.The away team got crushed.	Vulgar A fight, or a big loss in sports. "Putiza" means the same.
251	Menso	Silly, dummy	¡Ay, qué menso! Dejé las llaves adentro.Oh, how dumb! I left the keys inside.	Casual Soft enough to use about yourself.
252	Tarado / tarada	Idiot	No seas tarado, ese camión va para el otro lado.Don't be an idiot, that bus goes the other way.	Vulgar An offensive word for "idiot" with a disability root. Learn it, but don't use it yourself.
253	Zafado / zafada	Crazy, a bit nuts	Está medio zafado, se fue a Acapulco en bici.He's a bit nuts, he rode to Acapulco on a bike.	Slang Half crazy. Often said with a smile.
254	Huevón / huevona	Lazy bum	No seas huevón, ayúdame con las maletas.Don't be lazy, help me with the bags.	Vulgar Very common, even from parents. "Echar la hueva" means to laze around.
255	Cochino / cochina	Dirty, gross	¡Qué cochino está el baño de la terminal!The bathroom at the bus station is so gross!	Casual Also for a dirty trick or a rude joke. Literally "pig."
256	Metiche	Busybody	Mi vecina es bien metiche.My neighbor is so nosy.	Casual Someone who sticks their nose in.
257	Animal	Reckless or rude person	¡No seas animal, casi me atropellas!Don't be an animal, you almost ran me over!	Casual Calls someone reckless or rude. It's an insult, so avoid it with strangers.
258	Ñoño / ñoña	Nerd, goody-goody	Mi hermano es bien ñoño, estudia hasta en vacaciones.My brother is such a nerd, he studies even on vacation.	Casual A soft tease for someone who studies or follows rules too much.
259	¡Qué poca madre!	How shameless!	Te dejó pagar todo, ¡qué poca madre!He let you pay for everything, how shameless!	Vulgar For shameless behavior. Friends only.
260	Albur	Dirty double meaning, wordplay	No le contestes, te está echando un albur.Don't answer him, he's slipping in a dirty joke.	Vulgar Mexico's sport of sexual puns. Locals will catch you with them, so laugh it off.

Love and flirting 22

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
261	Guapo / guapa	Good-looking	Te ves muy guapa hoy.You look really pretty today.	Everyday The safe compliment for anyone you just met.
262	Mi amor	My love, honey	¿Qué va a llevar, mi amor?What will you have, honey?	Everyday Vendors and older women call strangers this, plus "mi reina," "mi rey" and "corazón." It's plain friendliness.
263	¿Me pasas tu número?	Can I get your number?	Me caes bien. ¿Me pasas tu número?I like hanging out with you. Can I get your number?	Everyday The simple way to ask. Most people swap numbers on WhatsApp, so you'll also hear "pásame tu whats."
264	¿Te invito algo?	Can I buy you a drink?	Hola, ¿te invito algo de tomar?Hi, can I buy you a drink?	Everyday "Invitar" means you pay. "Yo invito" means "it's on me."
265	¿Quieres salir conmigo?	Do you want to go out with me?	Me caes muy bien. ¿Quieres salir conmigo el sábado?I really like hanging out with you. Do you want to go out with me on Saturday?	Everyday The clear way to ask someone on a date.
266	Me gustas	I like you (romantic)	Me gustas desde que te vi en la clase de salsa.I've liked you since I saw you in salsa class.	Everyday This one is romantic. "Me caes bien" means you like someone as a person.
267	Echar los perros	To hit on someone	Ese güey te está echando los perros.That guy is hitting on you.	Slang To flirt or make a move on someone.
268	Andar con	To date	Ando con una chava de Guadalajara.I'm dating a girl from Guadalajara.	Everyday "¿Andas con alguien?" means "Are you seeing anyone?"
269	Ligar	To pick someone up, to flirt	Fuimos al antro a ligar.We went to the club to meet someone.	Casual "Se la ligó" means he won her over.
270	¿Quieres ser mi novio?	Will you be my boyfriend?	Ya salimos hace meses. ¿Quieres ser mi novio?We've been going out for months. Will you be my boyfriend?	Everyday Mexicans often ask it out loud to make it official. Say "novia" for a girlfriend.
271	Chulo / chula	Cute, lovely	¡Qué chula te ves hoy!You look so lovely today!	Casual A sweet compliment. Vendors also call you "chula" or "chulo."
272	Tirar la onda	To flirt	Creo que el bartender te está tirando la onda.I think the bartender is flirting with you.	Slang Showing interest in someone.
273	Estar clavado	To be hooked on someone	Está bien clavado con ella.He's totally hooked on her.	Slang Falling hard for someone.
274	Apapachar	To cuddle, to pamper	Ven, te voy a apapachar.Come here, let me give you a cuddle.	Casual A warm hug or loving care. From Nahuatl.
275	Me bateó	He or she shot me down	Le pedí su número y me bateó.I asked for her number and she shot me down.	Slang From baseball. "Batear" is to bat away, and "me batearon" means "I got shot down."
276	Taco de ojo	Eye candy	En la playa hay mucho taco de ojo.There's lots of eye candy at the beach.	Slang Looking at attractive people. Literally an "eye taco."
277	No me pela	He or she ignores me	Le escribo diario, pero no me pela.I text her every day, but she ignores me.	Slang "Pelar" means to pay attention to someone. "¿Por qué no me pelas?" means "why are you ignoring me?"
278	Gordo / gorda	Honey (pet name)	Gordo, ¿ya te vas al trabajo?Honey, are you off to work?	Casual A pet name for your partner. Couples use it whatever their size.
279	Vieja	Wife, girlfriend, woman	Mi vieja me espera en la casa.My wife is waiting for me at home.	Casual Common but can sound disrespectful. Don't say it about someone else's partner.
280	Ponerle el cuerno	To cheat on someone	Lo dejó porque le puso el cuerno.She left him because he cheated on her.	Casual Literally "to put the horn on."
281	Está buena	She's hot	Esa chava está bien buena.That girl is really hot.	Vulgar Crude when said about a woman to her face. "Está bueno" for a guy.
282	Mamacita	Hot mama	Le gritaron "mamacita" en la calle.They yelled "hot mama" at her in the street.	Vulgar Usually a catcall. Don't use it with strangers.

Sayings and expressions 18

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
283	Primero Dios	God willing	Primero Dios, nos vemos el año que viene.God willing, see you next year.	Everyday Mexicans add it to plans for the future.
284	Mi casa es tu casa	Make yourself at home	Vivo en Coyoacán, ya sabes, mi casa es tu casa.I live in Coyoacán, you know, my home is your home.	Everyday Mexicans call their own home "tu casa" as a warm welcome.
285	Échale ganas	Give it your all	Mañana es tu examen, ¡échale ganas!Your exam is tomorrow, give it your all!	Everyday Mexicans say it to cheer you on at work, school or life.
286	Andar de cabeza	To be swamped	Ando de cabeza con la mudanza.I'm swamped with the move.	Casual Literally "to walk on your head." For when you have too much to do.
287	Para todo mal, mezcal, y para todo bien, también	Mezcal fixes everything	¿Perdiste el vuelo? Para todo mal, mezcal, y para todo bien, también.You missed your flight? Mezcal for the bad times, and for the good times too.	Casual A famous mezcal saying from Oaxaca. You'll see it painted on mezcal bar walls.
288	Me cayó el veinte	The penny dropped	Hasta ayer me cayó el veinte de lo que dijo.It only dawned on me yesterday what she meant.	Casual From old phones that took a 20 cent coin.
289	Ya valió	It's ruined, game over	Se nos fue el último camión. Ya valió.We missed the last bus. Game over.	Casual "Ya valió madre" is the vulgar long form. Don't mix it up with "me vale," which means you don't care.
290	Ponte buzo	Stay sharp, watch out	Ponte buzo con el cambio, a veces te dan de menos.Stay sharp with your change, sometimes they short you.	Slang A warning to keep your eyes open.
291	El que no transa no avanza	Cheaters get ahead	El taxista me cobró doble. El que no transa no avanza, ¿no?The taxi driver charged me double. Cheaters get ahead, right?	Casual A cynical saying about getting ahead by bending the rules.
292	Te va a cargar el payaso	You're in big trouble	Si llegas tarde otra vez, te va a cargar el payaso.If you're late again, you're in big trouble.	Casual Literally "the clown is going to carry you off."
293	A falta de pan, tortillas	Make do with what you have	No hubo taxi, pero a falta de pan, tortillas: tomamos el Metro.There was no taxi, but we made do and took the Metro.	Casual Literally "if there's no bread, tortillas."
294	Camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente	Snooze and you lose	Compra ya los boletos. Camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente.Buy the tickets now. Snooze and you lose.	Casual Literally "the shrimp that falls asleep gets carried off by the current."
295	Estar hasta la madre	To be fed up	Estoy hasta la madre del tráfico.I'm fed up with the traffic.	Vulgar Also means very drunk in some places. Friends only.
296	Al que obra mal se le pudre el tamal	Bad deeds come back to you	Robó y lo atraparon. Al que obra mal se le pudre el tamal.He stole and got caught. Bad deeds come back to you.	Casual Literally "the tamal of a wrongdoer goes bad."
297	¡Sepa la bola!	Who knows!	¿A qué hora sale el camión? ¡Sepa la bola!What time does the bus leave? Who knows!	Casual A playful "no idea." Also just "sepa."
298	El mero mero	The big boss, the very best	Él es el mero mero de la cocina.He's the top dog in the kitchen.	Casual The one in charge, or the best there is.
299	A darle que es mole de olla	Let's get to it	Ya es tarde. ¡A darle que es mole de olla!It's late. Let's get to it!	Casual A cheerful push to start a job.
300	El que se fue a la Villa perdió su silla	If you leave, you lose your seat	Fui al baño y me quitaron el lugar. El que se fue a la Villa perdió su silla.I went to the restroom and someone took my spot. If you leave, you lose your seat.	Casual Said when someone takes the place you left.

Around Mexico 54

Mexican slang shifts a lot from the US border to the Maya south, and each big city has words of its own.

Mexico City

You'll hear these in the capital's markets, metro and taxis, mostly from chilangos.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
Ñero	Pal, or a rough street type	¿Qué onda, ñero? ¿Vamos por unas chelas?What's up, pal? Shall we go for some beers?
¿Qué pex?	What's up?	¿Qué pex, carnal? ¿Vienes al concierto?What's up, bro? Are you coming to the concert?
Pesero	Small city bus, also called a micro	El pesero te deja enfrente del mercado.The minibus drops you right outside the market.
¿Qué transa?	What's up?	¿Qué transa, güey? ¿Ya llegaste?What's up, dude? Are you here yet?
Nave	Car	Me robaron la nave afuera del antro.My car got stolen outside the club.
Chamaquear	To fool, to trick	Me chamaqueó, me dijo que el celular era nuevo.He fooled me, he said the phone was new.
Chavoruco	Older guy who acts young	Mi tío es bien chavoruco, va a todos los festivales.My uncle is a total wannabe kid, he goes to every festival.

Monterrey

Regios talk fast and clipped, and you'll hear these at every carne asada.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
Huerco / güerco	Kid	Los huercos andan jugando en la calle.The kids are out playing in the street.
¡Fierro!	Let's go! Go for it!	¿Vamos por unos cabritos? ¡Fierro, pariente!Shall we go get some roast kid? Let's go, buddy!
¡Te la bañaste!	You went too far	Pidió tres cervezas más, ¡te la bañaste!You ordered 3 more beers, you overdid it!
Tirar carro	To tease, to joke	Me estás tirando carro, ¿verdad?You're teasing me, right?
Cheve	Beer	Pásame una cheve bien fría.Pass me a really cold beer.
Pichar	To pay for someone	Hoy pichas tú, yo pagué ayer.You pay today, I paid yesterday.
Bordo	Speed bump	Baja la velocidad, hay un bordo.Slow down, there's a speed bump.
Pariente	Buddy, pal	¿Qué onda, pariente? ¿Vamos por la carne asada?What's up, buddy? Shall we go get the barbecue?

Sinaloa and Sonora

These come from the Pacific northwest, from Culiacán and Mazatlán up to Hermosillo.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
Plebe	Kid, young people	Ahí viene la plebe del rancho.Here come the kids from the ranch.
Bichi	Naked	Los niños andaban bichis en la playa.The kids were running around naked on the beach.
Buchón	Flashy narco style	Llegó bien buchón, con camisa abierta y cadenas de oro.He showed up dressed like a narco, open shirt and gold chains.
¡Arre!	OK, deal	¿Vamos al malecón? ¡Arre!Shall we go to the boardwalk? Deal!
Chilo	Cool, great	¡Qué chilo está tu carro!Your car is so cool!

Tijuana and Baja California

On the US border, English words turn into Spanish ones, and you'll hear many across the north.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
Tijuas	Tijuana	Este fin vamos a Tijuas por unos tacos.This weekend we're going to Tijuana for some tacos.
Troca	Pickup truck	Súbete a la troca, vamos a la playa.Get in the truck, we're going to the beach.
Wachar	To look, to watch	Wacha nomás ese atardecer.Just look at that sunset.
Raite	A ride, a lift	¿Me das raite a la línea?Can you give me a ride to the border?
Yonque	Junkyard for car parts	Busca el espejo en el yonque, sale más barato.Look for the mirror at the junkyard, it's cheaper.
Parquear	To park	Parquéate enfrente del hotel.Park in front of the hotel.

Guadalajara and Jalisco

Tapatíos talk in a sing-song way and clip their words, so listen for these.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
¡Ira!	Look!	¡Ira, ya llegó el camión!Look, the bus is here!
¿Edá?	Right?	Está bien bonito el centro, ¿edá?Downtown is really pretty, right?
Bien mucho	So much, really	Me gustó bien mucho el mariachi de anoche.I really loved last night's mariachi.
Ocupar	To need	¿Qué ocupas? Ocupo cambio para el camión.What do you need? I need change for the bus.
Chucho	Dog	Cuidado, el chucho de la vecina muerde.Careful, the neighbor's dog bites.

Oaxaca

You'll hear these in Oaxaca city's markets and mezcal bars, and in the villages around it.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
¡Que parió!	Wow! Oh no!	¡Que parió! Ya se acabó el mezcal.Oh no! The mezcal is all gone.
Hecho un chilaque	A total mess	Tu cuarto está hecho un chilaque.Your room is a total mess.
Estar acedo	To smell bad	Ando bien acedo, ya me voy a bañar.I really stink, I'm going to shower.
Tlayudón	Big, strong person	Tu primo está bien tlayudón.Your cousin is really big and strong.
Aposcahuado	Gone bad, ruined	El pan ya está aposcahuado.The bread has gone bad.
Ser como el quesillo	To overcomplicate things	No seas como el quesillo, nomás pide un taxi.Don't tie yourself in knots, just call a taxi.
Muchito	Little kid	¿De quién es ese muchito?Whose little kid is that?

Veracruz

In the port of Veracruz people talk fast, drop their "s" and use these all day.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
Pachi	Friend, buddy	¡Vaya pachi! ¿Qué haces por acá?Hey, buddy! What are you doing around here?
¡Pa' su mecha!	Wow!	¡Pa' su mecha! Mira el tamaño de ese pescado.Wow! Look at the size of that fish.
Micha	Bread roll	Pasa por unas michas para la cena.Pick up some bread rolls for dinner.
Cabulear	To fib, to pull someone's leg	No te creas, te está cabuleando.Don't believe him, he's pulling your leg.
¿Qué iris?	Hi, how are you?	¿Qué iris, pachi? ¿Vas al malecón?Hi, buddy, how are you? Are you going to the boardwalk?
Grulla	Generous	Mi tío es bien grulla, siempre paga la cuenta.My uncle is really generous, he always pays the bill.
Flota	Group of friends	Toda la flota va a la playa el domingo.The whole crew is going to the beach on Sunday.
Papayón	Scared, a scaredy-cat	No seas papayón, el agua no está tan honda.Don't be a scaredy-cat, the water isn't that deep.

Yucatán and Quintana Roo

Maya words run through the Spanish of Mérida and the Riviera Maya, from Cancún to Tulum.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
¡Uay!	Whoa! Ow!	¡Uay! ¿Ya viste el tamaño de esa iguana?Whoa! Did you see the size of that iguana?
¡Mare!	Wow! Oh no!	¡Mare! Qué calor hace hoy en Mérida.Wow! It's so hot in Mérida today.
Chel	Blond, fair-skinned person	Ese chel es de Canadá.That blond guy is from Canada.
Mulix	Curly-haired	Su hija salió mulix como la abuela.Her daughter has curly hair like her grandma.
Tuch	Belly button	Se puso un arete en el tuch.She got her belly button pierced.
Chichí	Grandma	Voy a comer a casa de mi chichí.I'm going to eat at my grandma's.
Huach	Outsider from central Mexico (an insult)	Ese huach no aguanta el calor de Mérida.That outsider can't take the Mérida heat.
¡Bomba!	Rhyming toast at a dance	En la vaquería gritaron "¡bomba!" y paró la música.At the dance someone yelled "bomba!" and the music stopped for a rhyme.

Don't mix these up

English look-alikes. These words mean the same in every Spanish country, but English speakers mix them up. "Caliente" means hot to the touch or horny, so say "tengo calor" when you're warm. "Preservativos" means condoms, so say "conservadores" for food preservatives. "Excitado" means sexually aroused, so say "emocionado" for excited. "Embarazada" means pregnant, so say "me da pena" when you're embarrassed.

Word	In Mexico	Elsewhere
Coger	To have sex. Say "tomar" or "agarrar" for a bus or taxi.	To take or catch, as in Spain ("coger el autobús").
Chaqueta	Slang for masturbation, as well as a jacket. Say "chamarra" for a coat.	A jacket.
Huevos	Eggs, and also testicles, so expect jokes. Older people sometimes say "blanquillos" for eggs.	Just eggs. You can order them without a second meaning.
Torta	A sandwich on a crusty roll.	A cake or a flat bread in much of Latin America and Spain.
Pena	Embarrassment. "Me da pena" means "I'm embarrassed."	Sorrow or pity, as in "qué pena" for "what a shame."
Ahorita	Soon, later or never, depending on tone.	Right now, this minute.
Padre	Cool, great ("qué padre"). Also father.	Only father.
Camión	A city bus.	A truck.
Pinche	Damn, lousy. Mild with things, rude aimed at people.	A kitchen helper in Spain.
Vale	"Me vale" means "I don't care."	"OK" in Spain.
Cajeta	Sweet goat's milk caramel.	A vulgar word for female genitals in Argentina and Uruguay.
Concha	A sweet bread with a shell-shaped top.	A vulgar word in Argentina, Uruguay and Chile.
Tomate	The green tomatillo in much of Mexico. Red ones are "jitomates."	A red tomato.
Coraje	Anger. "Me da coraje" means "it makes me mad."	Courage.
Pararse	To stand up. "Párate" means "stand up."	To stop, in Spain.
Limón	A small green lime.	A yellow lemon in Spain and much of South America.
Boleto	A ticket for a bus or a show.	"Billete" in Spain, and "boleto" is a ticket in much of Latin America.
Celular	A mobile phone.	"Móvil" in Spain.
Carro	A car.	"Coche" in Spain.
Jugo	Juice.	"Zumo" in Spain.
Platicar	To chat.	"Charlar" in Spain, where "platicar" sounds odd.
Tortilla	A thin corn or flour flatbread.	A potato omelette in Spain.
Pendejo	An idiot. A strong insult.	A kid or teenager in Argentina.
Fresa	A posh, snobby person, and also a strawberry.	Only a strawberry.
Chichí / chichi	"Chichí" means grandma in Yucatán. Elsewhere in Mexico "chichi" is slang for a breast.	Rare outside Mexico, so most visitors never hear it.

Questions people ask

What is a very Mexican thing to say?

Locals say "¿qué onda?" for hello, "¿mande?" when they didn't hear you and "ahorita" for any time from now to never. Add "güey" to the end of a sentence with friends and you'll sound like a local.

What Mexican slang phrases should you learn first?

Start with "¿qué onda?", "pues," "chido," "no manches," "sale," "¿neta?" and "aguas." For taxis and food, learn "¿me lleva a...?", "¿me deja en la esquina?", "¿me da...?" and "¿cuánto le debo?"

What are popular Mexican sayings?

Locals love "me cayó el veinte" (the penny dropped), "a darle que es mole de olla" (let's get to it) and "camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente" (snooze and you lose). "Primero Dios" (God willing) gets added to almost any plan.

What is some funny Mexican slang?

"Taco de ojo" is an "eye taco" for eye candy. "Te va a cargar el payaso" means the clown will carry you off, and "al que obra mal se le pudre el tamal" means bad deeds come back to you.

What is Mexican street slang?

Street slang is the casual talk you hear in markets, bars and on the metro, like "carnal," "la neta," "simón," "nel," "chamba" and "lana." Much of it started in Mexico City's tough neighborhoods and spread across the country.

What is Mexican slang for a hot girl?

People say a woman "está buena," and "mamacita" is a catcall. Both can sound crude, so with someone you just met, "guapa" or "bonita" is the safe choice.

What is Mexican slang for homie or gangster?

For a homie, say "carnal," "compa," "cuate" or "mano." For a gangster or thug, Mexicans say "malandro" or "pandillero," and "cholo" names a street style with roots in Chicano culture.

What are the most common Mexican slang insults?

"Pendejo" (idiot), "cabrón" (bastard), "pinche" (damn) and "culero" (jerk) top the list. "Chinga tu madre" is one of the worst things you can say, so as a visitor you're safer not to use any of them.

What is Mexican slang for money?

"Lana" is the most common word, followed by "varo" and "feria." "Morralla" means loose coins.

What does qué onda mean?

"¿Qué onda?" means "what's up?" It's the default hello between friends, and "¿qué onda, güey?" is "what's up, dude?"

What does pinche mean?

"Pinche" means "damn" or "lousy," and it goes before a noun, as in "pinche tráfico." It's a mild swear with things but rude when you aim it at people.

What does pendejo mean?

"Pendejo" means "idiot," and it's a strong insult. Friends throw it at each other as a joke, but don't say it to a stranger.

What does cabrón mean?

"Cabrón" means "bastard," but friends also use it as praise, as in "eres bien cabrón" (you're great at this). It's vulgar either way, so keep it for close friends.

What does órale mean?

"Órale" means "wow," "OK" or "come on," depending on the tone. You'll hear it for surprise, for agreement and to get people moving.

What does ahorita mean?

"Ahorita" can mean right now, in a bit or never. To turn down a vendor politely, say "ahorita no, gracias."

What does chido mean?

"Chido" means "cool," and it's Mexico's go-to word for anything good. "Está bien chido" means "it's really cool."

What does güey mean?

"Güey" (also spelled "wey") means "dude," and friends drop it into almost every sentence. Said in anger, it means "idiot," so keep it for people you know.

What does no mames mean?

"No mames" means "no freaking way" or "you're kidding." It's vulgar, so use the clean "no manches" with elders, at work or with people you just met.

What do nmms, alv and ntp mean in texts?

"Nmms" is "no mames" (no way), "alv" is "a la verga" (screw it) and "ntp" is "no te preocupes" (don't worry). You'll also see "q onda" for "qué onda" and "ps" for "pues."

Slang in other countries

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Sources

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