Panamanian slang: 300 phrases to sound like a local

300 phrases
300 real examples
118 slang
6 regions
33 local phrases
17 marked vulgar

Panamanians flip syllables, swallow letters and borrow English words from a century of the Canal. This page gives you 300 words and phrases you'll hear, from the taxi to the fonda to the dance floor.

Greetings and small talk 22

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
1	Buenas	Hi (any time of day)	Buenas, ¿tiene agua fría?Hi, do you have cold water?	Everyday Short for buenas tardes or buenos días. Say it when you walk into a shop, a taxi or a fonda.
2	¿Qué xopá? / ¿Qué sopá?	What's up?	¡Qué xopá, fren! ¿Todo bien?What's up, buddy! All good?	Slang The classic Panama hello. It's pasó flipped, so stress the last syllable: "so-PAH."
3	¿Qué tal?	How's it going?	Buenas, ¿qué tal? ¿Cómo va todo?Hi, how's it going? How's everything?	Everyday A friendly how are you that works with anyone. Answer "bien, ¿y tú?"
4	Joven	Excuse me (to a waiter or clerk)	Joven, ¿me trae un vaso de agua, por favor?Excuse me, can you bring me a glass of water, please?	Everyday The polite way to call a waiter, driver or clerk, whatever their age.
5	A la orden	You're welcome, at your service	"Gracias, joven." "A la orden.""Thank you." "You're welcome."	Everyday What clerks, drivers and vendors say after you thank them. You can say it back too.
6	Con gusto	My pleasure, you're welcome	"Gracias por la ayuda." "Con gusto.""Thanks for the help." "My pleasure."	Everyday The warm answer to a thank you. Use it back when someone thanks you.
7	Mucho gusto	Nice to meet you	Mucho gusto, me llamo Ana. ¿Y tú?Nice to meet you, I'm Ana. And you?	Everyday Say it when you meet someone. Encantado or encantada means the same.
8	¿De dónde eres? / ¿De dónde es usted?	Where are you from?	¿De dónde eres? ¿Es tu primera vez en Panamá?Where are you from? Is it your first time in Panama?	Everyday The first question you'll get. Use usted with older people.
9	Perdón / Disculpe	Sorry / Excuse me	Disculpe, ¿me puede ayudar? Perdón, no lo vi.Excuse me, can you help me? Sorry, I didn't see you.	Everyday Perdón says sorry. Disculpe gets someone's attention. Con permiso is for squeezing past people on a bus or in a line.
10	¿Todo bien? / Todo bien	All good? / All good	"¿Todo bien?" "Todo bien, gracias.""All good?" "All good, thanks."	Everyday A quick check-in and its answer. You'll hear it after every hello.
11	¡Qué aguacero!	What a downpour!	¡Qué aguacero! Mejor esperamos aquí hasta que pase.What a downpour! Let's wait here until it passes.	Everyday Rain is the top small talk in Panama. An aguacero is a heavy, sudden rain.
12	El invierno / el verano	The rainy season / the dry season	Ya entró el invierno, todas las tardes llueve.The rainy season is here, it rains every afternoon.	Everyday Invierno runs from May to November and verano from December to April. Neither means cold.
13	Gracias / Por favor	Thanks / Please	Un café, por favor. Gracias.A coffee, please. Thanks.	Everyday Say both often. Panamanians are polite, and a bare order sounds cold.
14	No entiendo	I don't understand	Perdón, no entiendo. ¿Más despacio, por favor?Sorry, I don't understand. Slower, please?	Everyday People talk fast here. Add más despacio, por favor and they slow down.
15	¿Habla inglés?	Do you speak English?	Disculpe, ¿habla inglés?Excuse me, do you speak English?	Everyday Many people in the capital, Colón and Bocas say yes. In the interior, start in Spanish.
16	Ofi	OK, got it	"Te recojo a las ocho." "Ofi.""I'll pick you up at 8." "OK."	Slang Short for oficial. Use it for any quick yes.
17	Dale	Sure, let's do it	"¿Vamos a comer algo?" "Dale, vamos.""Shall we go grab something to eat?" "Sure, let's go."	Casual You'll hear it all day as a friendly yes. Some people add pues.
18	¿Dónde está el baño?	Where's the bathroom?	Disculpe, ¿dónde está el baño?Excuse me, where's the bathroom?	Everyday The line you need in the first hour. It works in any shop, bar or fonda.
19	'Tá cul	It's cool, no problem	"Llego un poco tarde." "Tranquilo, 'tá cul.""I'll be a bit late." "Relax, it's cool."	Slang From English cool. Works for "no worries" too.
20	Necesito ayuda	I need help	Necesito ayuda, perdí mi pasaporte.I need help, I lost my passport.	Everyday Say it to a police officer, a shopkeeper or the hotel desk.
21	Hasta luego	See you later, bye	Gracias por todo, hasta luego.Thanks for everything, see you later.	Everyday The safe goodbye for shops, taxis and people you just met. Tatai is baby talk for bye, said to kids or to friends as a joke.
22	Hablo poco español	I speak a little Spanish	Hablo poco español, pero estoy aprendiendo.I speak a little Spanish, but I'm learning.	Everyday People smile and slow down when you say it.

Getting around 27

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
23	Lléveme a..., por favor	Take me to..., please	Lléveme a Casco Viejo, por favor. ¿Cuánto sería?Take me to Casco Viejo, please. How much would that be?	Everyday Most taxis don't run a meter, so agree on the price before you get in.
24	Déjeme aquí, por favor / Aquí está bien	Drop me here, please / Here is fine	Aquí está bien, joven. Déjeme aquí, por favor.Here is fine. Drop me here, please.	Everyday The way to get out of a taxi or a ride. Say it a little before your stop.
25	¿Me pone el aire?	Can you turn on the AC?	Joven, ¿me pone el aire, por favor? Hace mucho calor.Excuse me, can you turn on the AC, please? It's really hot.	Everyday Ask in a hot taxi. Aire is short for aire acondicionado.
26	¿Dónde queda...?	Where is...?	Disculpe, ¿dónde queda la estación del Metro?Excuse me, where's the Metro station?	Everyday The usual way to ask for a place in Panama. ¿Dónde está...? works too.
27	Pedir un Uber / un inDrive	To order a ride on an app	Es tarde, mejor pido un Uber pa' volver al hotel.It's late, I'd better get an Uber back to the hotel.	Everyday Uber, inDrive and DiDi all work in Panama City. Many visitors use them instead of street taxis.
28	¡Parada!	Stop here! (on a bus)	¡Parada, por favor! Me quedo en la esquina.Stop, please! I'm getting off at the corner.	Everyday Shout it to get off a bus or a chiva. La parada is the bus stop.
29	Tarjeta Metro	Metro card	Recarga la tarjeta Metro antes de subir al Metrobús.Top up your Metro card before you get on the Metrobús.	Everyday The Metrobús needs this card and doesn't take cash. On the Metro you can also tap a contactless bank card, even on the airport line.
30	Tranque	Traffic jam	Salgo temprano porque en la Transístmica hay un tranque horrible.I'm leaving early because there's a horrible jam on the Transístmica.	Everyday You'll use it every day in Panama City.
31	Bote	A ride, a lift	Hey, ¿me das un bote hasta Albrook?Hey, can you give me a ride to Albrook?	Casual Ask a friend with a car.
32	Chiva	Minibus	Agarra la chiva que dice Chorrera.Take the minibus that says Chorrera.	Everyday Small buses on fixed routes. Wait at la parada, the bus stop, and wave one down.
33	Diablo rojo	Painted old school bus	Antes cogía el diablo rojo, ahora cojo el Metrobús.I used to take the diablo rojo, now I take the Metrobús.	Casual The loud, airbrushed buses Panama City used to run before the Metrobús. Locals say it with nostalgia.
34	¿A qué hora sale?	What time does it leave?	¿A qué hora sale la chiva pa' David?What time does the bus to David leave?	Everyday Ask it for buses, ferries and boats. Times can change, so ask again at the stop.
35	El interior	Anywhere outside the capital	Este fin de semana me voy pal interior.I'm heading out to the countryside this weekend.	Everyday Panamanians call every place outside Panama City el interior.
36	A la derecha / a la izquierda / derecho	Right / left / straight	Siga derecho y doble a la derecha.Go straight and turn right.	Everyday Directions you get from drivers and passersby. Pare aquí means stop here.
37	Pa'lante	Go ahead, keep going	Sigue pa'lante, la entrada está después del semáforo.Keep going, the entrance is past the light.	Casual Short for para adelante. It can also mean "I'm leaving."
38	¿Cuánto se demora?	How long does it take?	¿Cuánto se demora hasta Boquete?How long does it take to get to Boquete?	Everyday Ask it before a long ride. Traffic changes everything, so expect a bit more.
39	Biencuidao	Car watcher	Dale un dólar al biencuidao cuando salgas.Give the car watcher a dollar when you leave.	Everyday Guys who watch parked cars for a tip.
40	Guachimán	Security guard	Pregúntale al guachimán dónde está la entrada.Ask the security guard where the entrance is.	Everyday From English watchman. Every building, bank and parking lot has one.
41	Policía muerto	Speed bump	Baja la velocidad, que ahí viene un policía muerto.Slow down, there's a speed bump coming up.	Everyday Literally "dead policeman." Taxis and buses brake hard for them.
42	Tongo	Cop	Bájale, que allá hay un tongo.Slow down, there's a cop over there.	Slang A beat cop. Say policía or agente to their face.
43	Nevera	Freezing AC long-distance bus	Lleva suéter, que la nevera a David va bien fría.Bring a sweater, the bus to David is freezing.	Slang Literally "fridge," because intercity buses run the AC so cold.
44	Chota	Police van, the cops	Llegó la chota y se acabó la fiesta.The police van showed up and the party was over.	Slang A bit rude, so say policía to an officer.
45	¿Dónde hay un cajero?	Where's an ATM?	Disculpe, ¿dónde hay un cajero automático?Excuse me, where is there an ATM?	Everyday Cajero is short for cajero automático. Outside the capital, get cash before you leave town.
46	Lancha	Small boat, water taxi	¿De dónde sale la lancha pa' Isla Colón?Where does the boat to Isla Colón leave from?	Everyday Lanchas carry people to the islands, from Bocas del Toro to the Guna coast.
47	¿Me enseña la tabla de tarifas?	Can I see the fare chart?	Joven, ¿me enseña la tabla de tarifas antes de salir?Excuse me, can I see the fare chart before we go?	Everyday City fares go by zone, and drivers have to show you the chart if you ask.
48	¿Cuánto me cobra hasta...?	How much to...?	¿Cuánto me cobra hasta Albrook?How much to Albrook?	Everyday Ask before you get in. If the price sounds high, ask a local what it should be and haggle.
49	¿Compartimos el taxi?	Shall we share the taxi?	Vamos pa'l mismo lado. ¿Compartimos el taxi?We're going the same way. Shall we share the taxi?	Everyday Sharing from the airport cuts the fare a lot. In the city, each extra rider adds a small surcharge.

Food and drink 28

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
50	¿Puedo ver el menú, por favor?	Can I see the menu, please?	Buenas, joven, ¿puedo ver el menú, por favor?Hi, can I see the menu, please?	Everyday Your first line at a restaurant. At a fonda the dishes are often on a board on the wall.
51	¿Qué me recomienda?	What do you recommend?	Es mi primera vez aquí. ¿Qué me recomienda?It's my first time here. What do you recommend?	Everyday Ask the waiter or the cook. At a fonda they'll point you to the dish of the day.
52	La cuenta, por favor	The check, please	Joven, la cuenta, por favor. ¿Aceptan tarjeta?Excuse me, the check, please. Do you take cards?	Everyday Ask for it when you're ready to go. Call joven first to get the waiter's eye.
53	La propina / ¿Incluye el servicio?	The tip / Is service included?	¿La cuenta incluye el servicio o dejo la propina aparte?Does the bill include service, or do I leave the tip separately?	Everyday Check the bill for a servicio line before you tip. Taxi drivers don't expect a tip.
54	¿Pica?	Is it spicy?	¿Pica? ¿Le echaron ají chombo?Is it spicy? Did they put hot pepper in it?	Everyday Ask before you eat a sauce. Ají chombo, Panama's local hot pepper, burns.
55	Estaba muy rico	It was really good	Gracias, señora, estaba muy rico el sancocho.Thank you, ma'am, the sancocho was really good.	Everyday Say it to the cook or the waiter on your way out. People love to hear it.
56	Fonda	Cheap local diner	Vamos a la fonda de la esquina, ahí el almuerzo sale a cuatro palos.Let's go to the diner on the corner, lunch there is 4 bucks.	Everyday The best place for a cheap plate of rice, beans and meat.
57	Patacón	Fried flattened plantain	Me da el pescado con patacones, por favor.I'll have the fish with fried plantains, please.	Everyday The side dish that comes with almost everything.
58	Carimañola	Stuffed yuca fritter	Desayuné una carimañola con café.I had a yuca fritter with coffee for breakfast.	Everyday A breakfast classic, stuffed with meat.
59	Hojaldra	Fried dough bread	Los domingos hay hojaldras con bistec.On Sundays there's fried dough with steak.	Everyday Panama's breakfast fried bread.
60	Micha	Oval bread roll	Dame dos michas y un café, por favor.Give me 2 bread rolls and a coffee, please.	Everyday Careful: among friends it's also vulgar slang for vagina. At the bakery it's just an oval roll.
61	Sancocho	Chicken and yam soup	Nada como un sancocho pa' la goma.Nothing beats a sancocho for a hangover.	Everyday Panama's national dish. Locals swear it cures hangovers.
62	Para llevar / para aquí	To go / to eat here	Dos empanadas para llevar, por favor.2 empanadas to go, please.	Everyday The waiter asks ¿para aquí o para llevar? Answer with one of them.
63	Ceviche	Raw fish cured in lime	Un ceviche de corvina, por favor.A sea bass ceviche, please.	Everyday A Panama favorite, often made with corvina. Sold at stands and in restaurants.
64	Sin picante / sin hielo	No spice / no ice	Sin picante y sin hielo, por favor.No spice and no ice, please.	Everyday Say it as you order.
65	Bollo	Corn dough wrapped in leaves	Compra unos bollos pa' acompañar el queso.Buy some corn bollos to go with the cheese.	Everyday Steamed corn in husks, sold on the road.
66	Chicha	Fresh fruit drink	¿De qué tienes la chicha hoy? ¿Tamarindo?What's today's fruit drink? Tamarind?	Everyday Fruit, water and sugar. Chicha fuerte is the fermented, boozy kind. Chicheme is the sweet corn and milk version.
67	Raspao	Shaved ice	Un raspao de fresa con leche condensada, por favor.A strawberry shaved ice with condensed milk, please.	Everyday Vendors sell it from carts in every park.
68	Soy vegetariano / Soy alérgico a...	I'm vegetarian / I'm allergic to...	Soy alérgico al maní. ¿Tiene maní?I'm allergic to peanuts. Does it have peanuts?	Everyday Say it before you order. Many plates come with meat, so ask what's in it.
69	Arroz con sombrero	Rice with a fried egg on top	Me da un arroz con sombrero y un jugo, por favor.I'll have rice with a fried egg on top and a juice, please.	Casual Literally "rice with a hat." A cheap, filling plate at any fonda.
70	Empanada	Fried pastry with meat or cheese	Dos empanadas de queso, por favor.2 cheese empanadas, please.	Everyday Made with flour or corn dough. A cheap snack.
71	Tamal	Corn dough steamed in a leaf, with meat	En Navidad no falta el tamal.At Christmas there's always tamal.	Everyday The classic Christmas dish, made with chicken.
72	El plato del día	The dish of the day	¿Cuál es el plato del día?What's the dish of the day?	Everyday The set lunch at most fondas. Ask what it comes with.
73	Breham	Hungry	Tengo breham, vamos a la fonda.I'm starving, let's go to the diner.	Slang Hambre flipped.
74	Guacho	Thick rice stew	Los domingos en el interior se come guacho de rabito.On Sundays in the countryside people eat thick rice stew with pork tail.	Everyday Rice, yam, yuca and meat, often served in a totuma. It can also mean a jumble of things.
75	Refine / pebre	A meal, grub	Después del partido nos fuimos a buscar el refine.After the game we went to get some grub.	Slang A meal. The verb is refinar, to eat.
76	Chiwiz	Snacks, junk food	Deja de comer chiwiz antes del almuerzo.Stop eating junk food before lunch.	Slang From the brand Cheez Whiz, and any bag of chips counts. Conflei, from Corn Flakes, is any boxed cereal.
77	Pipa	Green coconut, coconut water	Una pipa bien fría, por favor.An ice-cold coconut, please.	Everyday Vendors cut it open with a machete and hand you a straw.

Money and shopping 28

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
78	¿Cuánto es? / ¿Cuánto cuesta?	How much is it?	¿Cuánto es la piña? ¿Y cuánto cuesta el pescado?How much is the pineapple? And how much is the fish?	Everyday Ask before you buy or get in a taxi, since prices aren't always posted.
79	Está muy caro	That's too expensive	¿Quince palos? Está muy caro para mí.15 bucks? That's too expensive for me.	Everyday Say it with a smile in markets and taxis. Then offer your price: ¿me lo deja en 10?
80	¿Me hace un descuento?	Can you give me a discount?	Me llevo tres molas. ¿Me hace un descuento?I'll take 3 molas. Can you give me a discount?	Everyday Ask when you buy more than 1 thing. A rebaja is the same thing.
81	¿Aceptan tarjeta?	Do you take cards?	¿Aceptan tarjeta o solo efectivo?Do you take cards, or cash only?	Everyday Hotels in the capital take cards. Outside the city, carry cash.
82	Yappy	Pay by phone (app)	"¿Me pagas por Yappy?" "No tengo, te pago en efectivo.""Can you pay me by Yappy?" "I don't have it, I'll pay you cash."	Everyday The phone payment app that thousands of shops take. It needs a Panamanian bank account, so most visitors pay cash or card.
83	Palo / palos	Dollar, bucks	Ese taxi me cobró cinco palos.That taxi charged me 5 bucks.	Slang 1 palo is $1.
84	Balboa	Panama's currency	Te dan el vuelto en monedas de balboa.They give you change in balboa coins.	Everyday Same value as the US dollar. Bills are US dollars, and coins can be US or balboa. Both work.
85	Cuara	Quarter, 25 cents	¿Tienes una cuara pa' la máquina?Do you have a quarter for the machine?	Slang From English quarter.
86	Real	5-cent coin	Me faltan dos reales pa'l pasaje.I'm 10 cents short for the fare.	Everyday A nickel. 2 reales make a daim. The name goes back to colonial coins.
87	El vuelto	Your change	Joven, me falta el vuelto. Le di 20.Excuse me, I'm missing my change. I gave you 20.	Everyday The word for change in Panama. Count it before you walk away.
88	¿Tiene cambio? / sencillo	Do you have change? / small change	Solo tengo un billete de 50. ¿Tiene cambio? Necesito sencillo pa'l taxi.I only have a 50. Do you have change? I need small change for the taxi.	Everyday Many shops won't take a $50 or $100 bill at all. Carry small bills for taxis and fondas.
89	Ñapa	Little extra for free	La señora me dio dos mangos de ñapa.The lady threw in 2 mangoes for free.	Everyday Ask with a smile at markets.
90	El chino	Corner shop	Voy al chino a comprar hielo.I'm going to the corner shop for ice.	Everyday Chinese Panamanian families run many of them. It's normal for the shop, but don't call a person chino.
91	Datien	Shop, store	Voy pa'l datien a comprar pan.I'm going to the shop to buy bread.	Slang Tienda flipped.
92	Daim	Dime, 10 cents	Me faltan dos daims pa' completar.I'm 2 dimes short.	Slang From English dime. Also spelled dain.
93	Martinelli	1-balboa coin	El vuelto vino en puros martinellis.The change came all in 1-balboa coins.	Slang People named it after the president who brought in the coin.
94	Estar limpio	To be broke	Préstame cinco, que estoy limpio.Lend me $5, I'm broke.	Casual Literally "clean."
95	En tuco	Flat broke	Después del carnaval quedé en tuco.After carnival I was flat broke.	Slang Like a car up on blocks.
96	Hacer una vaca	To pool money	Hagamos una vaca pa' la pizza.Let's chip in for the pizza.	Casual Everyone puts in a few palos.
97	Gallo	Cheap, tacky	Esos zapatos se ven bien gallos.Those shoes look really cheap.	Slang Low quality or in bad taste.
98	Chen chen	Money, cash	No puedo salir, no tengo chen chen.I can't go out, I've got no cash.	Slang A jokey word for money in general, while a palo is 1 dollar.
99	Peso	50-cent coin	Me dieron el vuelto en dos pesos y una cuara.They gave me my change as 2 half-balboa coins and a quarter.	Everyday The half-balboa coin, a name from the years when Panama was part of Colombia.
100	Pilinqui	Stingy	No seas pilinqui y brinda una ronda.Don't be stingy and buy a round.	Slang A cheapskate.
101	Montao	Well-off, loaded	Su papá está montao, tiene tres carros.His dad is loaded, he has 3 cars.	Slang From montado.
102	Camarón	Side job, gig	Este sábado tengo un camarón pintando una casa.This Saturday I have a side job painting a house.	Slang People say it comes from "come around," what Canal Zone bosses told job seekers.
103	Palanca	Connections, pull	Consiguió el trabajo por palanca.He got the job through connections.	Casual The verb is palanquear.
104	Chance	Cheap lottery ticket	Cómprame un chance pa'l sorteo del domingo.Buy me a chance ticket for Sunday's draw.	Everyday A cheap National Lottery ticket that costs less than a full billete. Sellers walk every street.
105	Botella	Do-nothing job, someone paid for no work	Ese man es botella en el ministerio, cobra y no hace na'a.That guy has a do-nothing job at the ministry, he gets paid and does nothing.	Slang A person given a public job through connections. Literally "bottle."

Bars and going out 30

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
106	Una fría / una pinta	A cold beer	Joven, tráigame una fría, por favor.Excuse me, bring me a cold beer, please.	Casual The way to order a beer at any bar.
107	¡Salud!	Cheers!	¡Salud, frenes! Por el viaje.Cheers, guys! To the trip.	Everyday Clink glasses and look people in the eye. People also say it after a sneeze.
108	Otra ronda, por favor	Another round, please	Joven, otra ronda, por favor. Y una chicha pa' ella.Excuse me, another round, please. And a fruit drink for her.	Everyday For 1 more, say "otra, por favor."
109	¿A qué hora cierran?	What time do you close?	Joven, ¿a qué hora cierran? ¿Nos da tiempo pa' otra ronda?Excuse me, what time do you close? Do we have time for another round?	Everyday Ask before you order the last round. ¿Hasta qué hora abren? asks the same thing.
110	Rompepecho	Huge bottle of beer	Trae un rompepecho pa' la mesa.Bring a huge bottle of beer for the table.	Slang Literally "chest breaker." Also called mangalarga or pescuezona.
111	Paciero / pacieros	Party buddy, party crew	Esta noche salgo con mis pacieros.Tonight I'm going out with my party crew.	Slang The friends you go out drinking with.
112	Seco con leche	Seco rum with milk	En el interior te brindan seco con leche.In the countryside they'll offer you seco with milk.	Casual Seco is Panama's cane spirit. With milk, people also call it seco con vaca.
113	Paracaídas	Gatecrasher	Ese man no estaba invitado, es un paracaídas.That guy wasn't invited, he's a gatecrasher.	Slang Literally "parachute," for someone who drops in on a party uninvited.
114	Nueve letras	Herrerano seco (rum)	Sírvame un nueve letras con hielo, por favor.Pour me a Herrerano with ice, please.	Slang The nickname of the Herrerano seco, because the name has 9 letters.
115	Chupar	To drink (alcohol)	Anoche chupamos hasta las tres.Last night we drank until 3.	Slang Literally "to suck."
116	Hasta la tuza	Totally drunk	Mi primo salió del bar hasta la tuza.My cousin left the bar totally wasted.	Slang Way past tipsy.
117	Limado / limada	Wiped out	Después de bailar toda la noche quedé limado.After dancing all night I was wiped out.	Slang Worn out after a lot of work or a lot of drinking.
118	Juma / jumarse	Drunk / to get drunk	Se jumó con tres frías nada más.He got drunk on just 3 beers.	Slang Juma is also the state: está en una juma.
119	Tener goma / engomao	To be hungover	Tengo una goma que no me deja ni hablar.I'm so hungover I can't even talk.	Casual Goma is the hangover, and engomao is how you feel.
120	Atlas / una Atlas	Panama's top-selling beer	Dos Atlas bien frías, por favor.2 ice-cold Atlas, please.	Everyday A national brand. Cerveza Balboa is the other classic, and the beer shares its name with the coin.
121	Parisear	To go partying	El viernes vamos a parisear a Calle Uruguay.On Friday we're going partying on Calle Uruguay.	Slang From English party.
122	Activao / activado	Out partying, in party mode	Ya estamos activaos, ¿vienes o no?We're already out partying, are you coming or not?	Slang You're out and the night has started.
123	Arranque / arrancarse	Big wild party, to party hard	Este sábado hay arranque en la casa de Luis.There's a big party at Luis's place this Saturday.	Slang A party that goes all night. Arrancarse is to party hard, and it can also mean to take off.
124	Parkin / parquear / parkear	Hangout, to hang out	Vente al parkin, hay música y frías.Come to the hangout, there's music and beer.	Slang A get-together with friends. Parquear also means to park a car.
125	Canchalarga	All-night partier	Mi primo es un canchalarga, siempre es el último en irse.My cousin parties all night, he's always the last to leave.	Slang Literally "long field." Someone who can party for hours.
126	Ponchera	Wild party, chaos	¡Qué ponchera la de anoche!What a wild party last night!	Slang It can also mean a big mess.
127	Dale valor	Turn it up	¡Esa es mi canción! Dale valor.That's my song! Turn it up.	Slang Ask the DJ or the driver to crank the music.
128	Plena	Panamanian reggae, a good song	¡Pon la plena, que esa sí se baila!Put on the reggae, that one's for dancing!	Slang Panama's reggae en español. Any banger can be una plena.
129	Arrepinchoso / arrepinchosa	Party animal	Mi prima es bien arrepinchosa, no se pierde un arranque.My cousin's a real party animal, she never misses a party.	Slang Someone who loves a wild night. It can also mean a kid who throws tantrums.
130	Blanco	A cigarette	¿Me regalas un blanco?Can you spare a cigarette?	Slang You'll hear it outside the bar, since Panama bans smoking indoors.
131	No fitin	I'm not buying	"¿Quién brinda la próxima?" "Yo no, no fitin.""Who's buying the next round?" "Not me, I'm not buying."	Slang Say it with a grin when you won't pay for the round.
132	Rejeros	Guys out together, chasing dates	Los rejeros llegaron al bar a las diez.The guys showed up at the bar at 10.	Slang A group of men who go out together and often strike out.
133	Un seco, por favor	A seco, please	Un seco con hielo, por favor.A seco with ice, please.	Casual Seco is Panama's cane spirit. Row 112 has the milk version.
134	Chirrisco	Homemade liquor	Mi abuelo hacía chirrisco en el monte.My grandpa made homemade liquor in the hills.	Slang A home-distilled drink, usually from corn or cane. Don't buy it from a stranger.
135	Pichi	Cocaine	Si alguien te ofrece pichi en la calle, di que no y sigue.If someone offers you coke on the street, say no and keep walking.	Slang Street word for cocaine, and a piedrero is a crack addict. Know them so you spot the offer, then walk away.

Friends and people 23

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
136	¿Cómo te llamas? / Me llamo...	What's your name? / My name is...	"¿Cómo te llamas?" "Me llamo Sam, mucho gusto.""What's your name?" "I'm Sam, nice to meet you."	Everyday Ask it once the chat gets going. Say ¿cómo se llama usted? to someone older.
137	¿Cuál es tu número?	What's your number?	Me caes bien. ¿Cuál es tu número? Te escribo por WhatsApp.I like you. What's your number? I'll text you on WhatsApp.	Everyday The way to keep in touch with a new friend. Send a hi right away so they have yours.
138	Vamos pa'...	Let's go to...	Vamos pa'l cine esta noche, ¿vienes?Let's go to the movies tonight, are you coming?	Casual Short for vamos para. The easy way to invite someone along.
139	Fren / frenes	Friend / friends	Vamos a la playa con los frenes.We're going to the beach with the guys.	Slang From English friend. Blo, from blood, means the same, and guial, from girl, is a young woman.
140	Pelao / pelada	Guy, girl, kid	Ese pelao es el hermano de mi novia.That guy is my girlfriend's brother.	Casual For anyone young, and a small kid is a pelaito. Laopé (row 148) means the same.
141	Fulo / fula	Blond guy, blond girl	La fula del hostal es de Canadá.The blond girl from the hostel is from Canada.	Casual Locals call travelers this a lot. It isn't rude.
142	Compa	Pal, buddy	Gracias, compa, te debo una.Thanks, pal, I owe you one.	Casual From compadre. Friendly with strangers too.
143	Loco	Buddy, dude	¿Qué sopá, loco? ¿Vienes a la playa?What's up, dude? Are you coming to the beach?	Slang Friends call each other loco, and it has nothing to do with crazy.
144	Inchi pinchi	Best friend, inseparable	Juana y yo somos inchi pinchis desde la escuela.Juana and I have been best friends since school.	Slang For 2 friends who go everywhere together.
145	Lapesillo / laopecillo	Young kid, little dude	Ese lapesillo ya sabe manejar moto.That kid already knows how to ride a motorbike.	Slang The small form of lapé. Some people tie it to street gangs, so it can sound rough.
146	Man / la man	Guy / girl	La man del bar me dio su número.The girl at the bar gave me her number.	Slang From English man, for women too. Plural is manes.
147	Mopri	Buddy, cousin	¿Qué xopá, mopri? ¿Vienes al partido?What's up, buddy? Are you coming to the game?	Slang Primo flipped.
148	Laopé / lapé	Dude	Ese laopé siempre llega tarde.That dude is always late.	Slang Pelao flipped.
149	Viejo / vieja	Old buddy, dude	¿Qué hay, viejo? Tanto tiempo.Hey, old buddy, long time.	Casual Also used for older men and women.
150	Chichí	Baby	Mira qué lindo el chichí de mi prima.Look how cute my cousin's baby is.	Casual Also a sweet name for a partner.
151	Abuelazón	Grandparents spoiling the grandkids	Con tanta abuelazón, el chichí nunca quiere irse a casa.With all that spoiling from grandma and grandpa, the baby never wants to go home.	Casual The over-the-top joy grandparents show their grandkids. People say it with a smile.
152	Juega vivo	Opportunist, sly person	No le prestes plata, que ese es un juega vivo.Don't lend him money, he's a hustler.	Slang Someone who bends rules for gain. Panamanians joke it's a national habit.
153	Vidajena	Nosy person	La vecina es una vidajena, sabe todo de todos.The neighbor is a busybody, she knows everyone's business.	Slang The verb is vidajenear.
154	Sapo / sapa	Snitch	No le cuentes na'a, que ese es un sapo.Don't tell him anything, he's a snitch.	Slang Literally "toad." A vidajena wants to know your business, but a sapo tells on you.
155	Yeyé	Rich show-off, preppy	Ese bar está lleno de yeyés.That bar is full of rich preppy kids.	Slang People say it comes from English yes, since yeyés mix English into their Spanish. It's teasing.
156	Rabiblanco	Old-money elite	Los rabiblancos siempre han mandado en este país.The old-money families have always run this country.	Slang Literally "white-tailed." Political and a bit sharp.
157	Interiorano / interiorana	Person from the countryside	Mi abuelo es interiorano, de Las Tablas.My grandpa is from the countryside, from Las Tablas.	Everyday The neutral word. You'll also hear cholo, but it's often a put-down, so don't use it.
158	Barriada bruja / casa bruja	Shantytown / a squatter's shack	Esa barriada bruja creció al lado de la carretera.That shantytown grew up next to the highway.	Everyday A settlement built without permits, and casa bruja is a single shack.

Reactions and feelings 25

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
159	Nítido / sólido	Great, cool	¡Nítido! Nos vemos allá.Great! See you there.	Casual Everything good. Sólido means the same, but it's old-school, so nítido is safer.
160	¡Chuzo!	Oh snap! Darn!	¡Chuzo! Dejé la billetera en el taxi.Oh snap! I left my wallet in the taxi.	Casual The clean way to say chucha. Safe with anyone.
161	Tengo calor / ¡Qué calor!	I'm hot / It's so hot!	¡Qué calor! Tengo calor, vamos a buscar sombra.It's so hot! I'm hot, let's find some shade.	Everyday You'll say it every day in Panama. Never say "estoy caliente," which means you're horny.
162	No me parece	I don't like it	No me parece que nos cobren extra.I don't like that they charge us extra.	Everyday The polite way to complain.
163	La botaste	You nailed it	¡La botaste con esa comida, fren!You nailed it with that food, buddy!	Slang Like hitting it out of the park.
164	Priti / pritti	Cool, nice	¡Qué priti tu camisa!Your shirt is so cool!	Slang From English pretty. It means the same as cul.
165	Ñampiao	Gone crazy	Ese man está ñampiao, se metió al mar en pleno aguacero.That guy has lost it, he went in the sea in the middle of a downpour.	Slang Like ñame, it teases someone for acting nuts.
166	Guilla'o	Hyped, stunned, or high	Quedé guilla'o con ese show de fuegos artificiales.I was blown away by that fireworks show.	Slang It can mean amazed or hyped, but it also means stoned, so watch the context.
167	¡Chuleta!	Shoot! Wow!	¡Chuleta! Se fue la luz otra vez.Shoot! The power's out again.	Casual Another polite stand-in for chucha. Old-school, so chuzo sounds younger.
168	¡Ayala vida! / ¡Váyala vida!	Oh my! Oh no!	¡Ayala vida, qué aguacero!Oh my, what a downpour!	Casual Fits surprise, bad luck or joy. ¡Ayala peste! is a stronger form.
169	¡Qué chévere!	Cool! Great!	¡Qué chévere tu hostal, tiene piscina!Your hostel is so cool, it has a pool!	Casual Said all over the Caribbean, and you'll hear it in Panama all day.
170	Tripear	To love it, have a blast	Estoy tripeando este viaje, todo está nítido.I'm loving this trip, everything is great.	Slang From English trippin'. Say it about a party, a song or a trip.
171	¡Jo!	Man! Gosh!	¡Jo, qué calor hace hoy!Man, it's so hot today!	Casual A quick sound that stresses what you say next. Safe with anyone.
172	¡Oye eso!	Nice! Listen to that!	"Me dieron el trabajo." "¡Oye eso! Felicidades.""I got the job." "Nice! Congrats."	Casual Literally "listen to that." Approval after good news or a cool story.
173	'Tá serio / 'tá cruel	It's great (or awful)	Cha, esa playa 'tá seria.Man, that beach is amazing.	Slang Serio means worth it, and cruel can mean really good or really bad.
174	En panga	Boring, lame	Esta fiesta está en panga, vámonos.This party is lame, let's go.	Slang Also means someone sucks at something.
175	Cabreao	Fed up, annoyed	Me tiene cabreao con tanta llamadera.He's got me fed up with all his calling.	Casual Fed up with someone or something. Berraco means furious or really skilled, but Colombians say it even more.
176	Culillo	Fear, the jitters	Me da culillo cruzar esa calle de noche.I get the jitters crossing that street at night.	Casual A strong fear, from culo, butt, which is vulgar.
177	Salao	Unlucky	Estoy salao, otra vez llovió en mi día libre.I'm so unlucky, it rained on my day off again.	Casual Literally "salted."
178	Cizaña	Fear, doubt; stirring up trouble	Me entró la cizaña antes del examen.I got the jitters before the exam.	Casual In Panama it's fear or doubt, like culillo. Meter cizaña means to stir up trouble between people.
179	¡Ñecks!	Darn! Nothing at all!	No me queda ni ñecks de plata.I don't have a cent left.	Slang A clean stand-in for mierda. Ni ñecks means nothing.
180	Me sabe a cake	I couldn't care less	Que se moleste, me sabe a cake.Let him get mad, I couldn't care less.	Slang Literally "it tastes like cake to me." A clean way to say me vale.
181	Focop	Messed up, feeling bad	Me siento focop después de tanto guaro.I feel messed up after all that booze.	Vulgar From English "f*ed up." Common, but crude.
182	¡Chucha!	F*!	¡Chucha! Me di en el dedo.F*! I hit my finger.	Vulgar Very common but crude, and also a word for vulva. ¡Cha! is the mild short form.
183	¡Qué bestia! / ¡Ayala bestia!	Wow! That's wild!	¡Qué bestia, ese surfista agarró una ola gigante!Wow, that surfer caught a huge wave!	Casual Surprise or awe, good or bad. Ayala bestia is the stronger form.

Fillers and everyday words 25

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
184	Vaina	Thing, stuff	Pásame esa vaina que está en la mesa.Pass me that thing on the table.	Casual The word for anything you can't or won't name.
185	¡Cuidao!	Careful! Watch out!	¡Cuidao con el hueco en la acera!Watch out for the hole in the sidewalk!	Casual Cuidado with the d dropped. You'll hear it on busy streets and buses.
186	De repente	Maybe	"¿Vienes a la fiesta?" "De repente.""Are you coming to the party?" "Maybe."	Casual Here it means maybe.
187	Buco	A lot, lots	Había buco de gente en la playa.There were tons of people at the beach.	Slang From French beaucoup.
188	Rantan	A lot, tons	Tengo un rantan de trabajo esta semana.I have tons of work this week.	Slang Pocotón means the same, and tarrantantán is a huge amount.
189	Manso / mansa	Huge, really	Se formó un manso tranque.A huge traffic jam built up.	Slang Goes before a noun for emphasis.
190	Chantin / chanti	Home, crib	Me voy pa' la chantin, estoy cansao.I'm heading home, I'm tired.	Slang From English shanty.
191	Pillar	To look, check out	Pilla eso, el mar está bien azul hoy.Check that out, the sea's so blue today.	Slang It also means to catch or grab.
192	Chécheres	Stuff, junk	Recoge tus chécheres, que nos vamos.Grab your stuff, we're leaving.	Casual Your bits and pieces.
193	Awebasón / ahuevazón	Something dumb, a dumb mess	Perder el vuelo por quedarse dormido fue una awebasón.Missing the flight by oversleeping was so dumb.	Vulgar From ahuevao. A mess someone made by being an idiot. Keep it for friends.
194	Mili	Careless, rushed	Ese man maneja bien mili.That guy drives so carelessly.	Slang From English melee. Doing something sloppy, without thinking.
195	Arrebatiña	Mad scramble, free-for-all	Rompieron la piñata y se formó la arrebatiña.They broke the piñata and a mad scramble broke out.	Casual The rush after a piñata breaks. You'll hear it for any crowd grabbing at something.
196	Tinaco	Trash can	Bota eso en el tinaco.Throw that in the trash can.	Everyday Some say it comes from the Tin and Co. trash company.
197	Pifioso / pifiosa	Show-off, or really nice	Ese man es bien pifioso, siempre con ropa de marca.That guy is such a show-off, always in designer clothes.	Slang For a person, it means vain and flashy. For a thing, it means great.
198	Mol	Shopping mall	Vamos al mol, que afuera está lloviendo.Let's go to the mall, it's raining outside.	Casual From English mall. Malls have strong AC, so people go to cool off.
199	Bochinche	Gossip	No me vengas con bochinche, que no me interesa.Don't bring me gossip, I'm not interested.	Casual Juicy, often mean gossip. Cinta and cocoa mean the same.
200	Tildear	To freeze, crash	Se me tildeó el celular otra vez.My phone froze again.	Slang From the TILT light on old pinball machines.
201	Berrinche	A tantrum; a strong pee smell	Este baño huele a berrinche.This bathroom smells like pee.	Casual It means a tantrum, and in Panama it's also a strong smell of urine.
202	Grajo / golpe de ala	Armpit smell	El bus venía lleno y con un grajo terrible.The bus was packed and smelled awful.	Slang Body odor. Rude if you say it to someone.
203	Chonta	Head	Me duele la chonta de tanto sol.My head hurts from all the sun.	Slang Jokey word for head. A cafá is a slap on the chonta.
204	Cafá	Slap on the back of the head	Si sigues así te doy una cafá.Keep it up and I'll smack you on the head.	Slang Mostly playful between friends.
205	Chingongo	Chewing gum	¿Tienes un chingongo?Do you have any gum?	Slang From English chewing gum.
206	Tof	Tough, hard	Ese examen estuvo bien tof.That exam was really tough.	Slang From English tough. It fits a hard test, a hard surface or a tough guy.
207	Chaneao	Dressed up, looking sharp	¿Pa' dónde vas tan chaneao?Where are you going all dressed up?	Slang From English shined up.
208	Puesto quemao	Dibs on this seat	Voy al baño, pero puesto quemao.I'm going to the bathroom, but dibs on this seat.	Slang Say it to save your seat. Kids say it most, but adults say it as a joke.

Time and plans 16

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
209	Ahorita	In a bit, later	Ahorita te llamo, estoy manejando.I'll call you in a bit, I'm driving.	Everyday In Panama it means in a bit or later. Don't expect it right now.
210	A balazo	Super fast, in a flash	Cómete eso a balazo, que el bus ya viene.Eat that super fast, the bus is coming.	Slang Literally "like a gunshot." A pingazo means the same, but it's cruder.
211	Vamos pal cuero	Let's do it	"¿Subimos el volcán mañana?" "¡Vamos pal cuero!""Shall we climb the volcano tomorrow?" "Let's do it!"	Slang A hyped yes to a plan, but cuero can also mean sex, so pick your crowd.
212	De vez	Right away	Paga de vez y nos vamos.Pay right now and let's go.	Casual Short for de una vez.
213	¡Dale cuero!	Hurry up! Go for it!	¡Dale cuero, que el bus se va!Hurry up, the bus is leaving!	Slang A push to move fast, or a cheer: go for it.
214	Suave	Easy, slow down	Suave, suave, que no hay apuro.Easy, easy, there's no rush.	Casual Calm down or take your time.
215	Redi	Ready	¿Ya estás redi? El taxi llegó.Are you ready yet? The taxi is here.	Slang From English ready.
216	De ley	For sure	Mañana voy, de ley.I'm going tomorrow, for sure.	Slang A promise.
217	Por fuera	Gone, out	Esta semana estoy por fuera, me voy a Bocas.I'm away this week, I'm going to Bocas.	Casual Out of town or out of the plan.
218	Ya vengo	Be right back	Ya vengo, voy al chino por hielo.Be right back, I'm going to the corner shop for ice.	Everyday Said when you step out for a minute.
219	Al rato	In a while, see you later	Nos vemos al rato.See you in a while.	Everyday A loose time, not a clock time.
220	Ahora mismo	Right now	Salimos ahora mismo.We're leaving right now.	Everyday It means now. Ahorita (row 209) is looser.
221	Mañana	Tomorrow	Nos vemos mañana a las ocho.See you tomorrow at 8.	Everyday Mañana por la mañana is tomorrow morning. Confirm the hour, since mañana can mean not today.
222	El finde	The weekend	Este finde nos vamos a Boquete.This weekend we're going to Boquete.	Casual Short for fin de semana.
223	¿A qué hora?	At what time?	¿A qué hora nos vemos?What time shall we meet?	Everyday Ask it to pin down a plan.
224	Esta noche	Tonight	¿Qué haces esta noche?What are you doing tonight?	Everyday The start of most plans.

Teasing and insults 31

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
225	Ahuevao / awebao	Idiot, dude	¿'Tás ahuevao? Te dije que a la izquierda.Are you an idiot? I told you to go left.	Vulgar An insult to strangers, but "dude" between close friends.
226	Ñame	Crazy person	Ese man es un ñame, se tiró al mar vestido.That guy is nuts, he jumped in the sea with his clothes on.	Slang Literally "yam." Teasing, mostly. A ñamería is a crazy act or remark.
227	Chambón / chambona	Clumsy, bad at it	Soy bien chambón bailando salsa.I'm really bad at dancing salsa.	Casual Fine to say about yourself.
228	Bulto	Dead weight	En el equipo él es un bulto, no hace nada.On the team he's dead weight, he does nothing.	Slang Worse than a chambón. Can sting.
229	Como un pupu	Badly, terribly	Ese equipo jugó como un pupu.That team played terribly.	Slang Pupu is poop. Kids' talk, adults use it to tease.
230	Ñañeco / ñañeca	Crybaby	No seas ñañeco, fue un golpecito.Don't be a crybaby, it was a tiny bump.	Slang Teasing for someone who whines or cries over nothing.
231	Taquillero / taquillar	Show-off / to show off	Mira a ese taquillero con su carro nuevo.Look at that show-off with his new car.	Slang Someone always fishing for attention.
232	Saina	Poser	Ese man es un saina, dice que habla inglés y no sabe na'a.That guy is a poser, he says he speaks English and knows nothing.	Slang Someone faking it.
233	Reventar	To tease, roast	Lo estuvimos reventando toda la noche por su corte.We roasted him all night for his haircut.	Slang Also detonar or romper.
234	Blazear	To diss	Me estaba blazeando delante de todos.He was dissing me in front of everyone.	Slang To insult.
235	Hablar paja	To talk nonsense	Deja de hablar paja, eso no es verdad.Stop talking nonsense, that isn't true.	Casual Also to lie. Say the whole phrase, since paja alone is crude slang.
236	Manzanillo / manzanilla	Freeloader, hanger-on	Ese manzanillo siempre anda pegado al diputado buscando un favor.That hanger-on is always stuck to the congressman, looking for a favor.	Slang Someone who sticks close to a politician or a boss for favors. It can also mean a pushover.
237	Meter un bate	To give a lame excuse	No le metas un bate a tu mamá, ella sabe dónde estabas.Don't feed your mom some excuse, she knows where you were.	Slang A batoso is someone full of tall tales. ¡Qué bate! means no way.
238	Cocobolo / cocobola	Baldy	Mira al cocobolo, le brilla la cabeza.Look at baldy, his head is shining.	Slang Teasing about a bald head. Bagre (row 250) is a mean word, so skip it.
239	Ñángara	Commie, leftist (rude)	Mi tío le dice ñángara a cualquiera que hable de huelga.My uncle calls anyone who talks about a strike a commie.	Vulgar A rude word for a communist or anyone on the far left. Leave it out of political talk with strangers.
240	Lokario / lokoide	Total nutcase	Ese lokario se fue en moto hasta Darién.That nutcase rode a motorbike all the way to Darién.	Slang Playful, for a friend who does wild things.
241	Luser	Loser	No seas luser, ven a bailar.Don't be a loser, come dance.	Slang From English loser.
242	Chiquishow	Public scene	La pareja montó un chiquishow en la discoteca.The couple made a scene at the club.	Slang A public fight or drama.
243	La kenton	A promise that never comes true	No le creas, te va a hacer la kenton.Don't believe him, he'll promise and never deliver.	Slang Hacer la kenton is to promise and not deliver. The name comes from a wrestling hold.
244	'Tás como el cúlei	You're everywhere	'Tás como el cúlei, te vi en tres fiestas este finde.You're everywhere, I saw you at 3 parties this weekend.	Slang Teasing for someone who turns up everywhere and knows everyone. Cúlei is Kool-Aid, the drink at every kids' party.
245	Culicagao	Little kid, brat	No le hagas caso, ese culicagao no sabe nada.Ignore him, that brat knows nothing.	Vulgar A very young person. It's crude at its root, so keep it for friends.
246	Congo	Pushover, easy mark	Te 'tán cogiendo de congo.They're taking you for a fool.	Slang Chuchita means the same, but it's also vulgar for vulva, so say congo.
247	Arrabalero / arrabalera	Troublemaker	No andes con ese arrabalero, siempre se mete en peleas.Don't hang out with that troublemaker, he's always in fights.	Slang Someone who picks fights.
248	Cagalitroso	Old geezer	Ese cagalitroso no deja de quejarse.That old geezer never stops complaining.	Vulgar A rude word for an old man. Never say it to an elder.
249	Vale cebo	That's messed up, unfair	Vale cebo que nos cobren la entrada.It's messed up that they charge us to get in.	Slang For something unfair or stupid.
250	Bagre / cangreja	Very ugly person / unattractive woman	Le dijeron bagre en la escuela y lloró.They called her bagre at school and she cried.	Vulgar Both are mean put-downs. Know them, but don't say them.
251	Pajizo / pajiza	Weakling	¡Jo! No puedes ni levantar eso, 'tás pajizo.Man! You can't even lift that, you're such a weakling.	Vulgar It teases someone weak or skinny, but it also means someone who masturbates a lot. Keep it for friends.
252	Firi-firi	Super skinny	Ese pelao está firi-firi, dale más comida.That kid is super skinny, give him more food.	Slang Teasing for a very thin man or woman.
253	La última coca-cola del desierto	Someone who thinks they're the best	Ese man se cree la última coca-cola del desierto.That guy thinks he's the best thing ever.	Casual Literally "the last Coke in the desert." Teasing for someone full of himself.
254	Chacal / meña / rakataca	Class put-downs	Le dijeron chacal por su ropa, y eso no se hace.They called him a thug because of his clothes, and that's not OK.	Vulgar Chacal and meña put down young people from poor barrios, and rakataca a loud woman. Know them, but don't say them.
255	Chombo / cueco	Slurs (race and gay)	Si oyes chombo o cueco en la calle, es un insulto.If you hear chombo or cueco on the street, it's an insult.	Vulgar Chombo targets Black Panamanians of West Indian roots, and cueco gay men, with tortillera for lesbians. Never say them.

Love and flirting 21

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
256	¿Bailamos?	Shall we dance?	Me encanta esta canción. ¿Bailamos?I love this song. Shall we dance?	Everyday The easy way to ask someone to dance. A smile and a hand out works too.
257	¿Tienes novio? / ¿Tienes novia?	Do you have a boyfriend? / a girlfriend?	Oye, ¿tienes novio? Te pregunto por curiosidad.Hey, do you have a boyfriend? Just curious.	Casual A direct ask, but common.
258	Me gustas	I like you (romantic)	La verdad, me gustas mucho.Honestly, I really like you.	Casual Only for romance. To say you like someone as a friend, say me caes bien.
259	¿Salimos? / ¿Te gustaría salir conmigo?	Want to go out? / Would you go out with me?	¿Te gustaría salir conmigo el sábado? Conozco una fonda buenísima.Would you go out with me on Saturday? I know a great diner.	Casual ¿Salimos? is the short, relaxed form. Both ask for a date.
260	No, gracias, no me interesa	No thanks, I'm not interested	"¿Bailamos, mami?" "No, gracias, no me interesa.""Shall we dance, babe?" "No thanks, I'm not interested."	Everyday A clear, polite no to a catcall or a pushy guy. If he keeps going, say "déjame en paz," leave me alone.
261	Mi novio / mi novia	My boyfriend / my girlfriend	Te presento a mi novia, Laura.Meet my girlfriend, Laura.	Everyday Also the way to tell a pushy guy you're taken.
262	Estoy soltero / soltera	I'm single	Estoy soltera, pero no busco nada serio.I'm single, but I'm not looking for anything serious.	Casual Say it plainly. Soltero is for a man and soltera for a woman.
263	Tirar los perros	To hit on someone	Ese man me está tirando los perros desde que llegamos.That guy's been hitting on me since we got here.	Slang To flirt hard.
264	'Tás buena / 'tás wena	You're hot	"Mami, 'tás wena." "No, gracias.""Hey babe, you're hot." "No, thanks."	Vulgar A street catcall to a woman. Between partners it's a compliment, but from a stranger it's rude.
265	Pay	Hot girl, a cutie	Tu amiga es un pay, preséntamela.Your friend is a cutie, introduce me.	Slang From English pie. Plural is pais.
266	Perro	Player, womanizer	No te enamores, que ese man es perro.Don't fall for him, that guy is a player.	Slang A man who cheats or chases everyone.
267	Levante	Partner, a couple who click	Ella es mi levante desde marzo.She's been my partner since March.	Slang A boyfriend or girlfriend, or a couple with chemistry.
268	Gruvear	To fool around	Solo están gruveando, no es nada serio.They're just fooling around, it's nothing serious.	Slang A fling. The noun is grubeo.
269	Arropar	To make out with your clothes on	Los pillaron arropando en el sarao.They got caught making out at the school dance.	Vulgar Heavy kissing and touching with clothes on. A sarao is a school dance.
270	Enculao	Head over heels	Está enculao con la muchacha de Boquete.He's head over heels for the girl from Boquete.	Vulgar Madly in love, early days.
271	Quemar / quemao	To cheat on, cheated on	Su novio la quemó con su mejor amiga.Her boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend.	Slang Literally "to burn." The one cheated on is quemao or quemada, and the teary stage after is the mococoa.
272	Mami / papi	Hot woman / hot man	Ese papi del gimnasio me saludó.That hot guy from the gym said hi to me.	Vulgar Said with a sexual meaning. From a stranger on the street, mami is a catcall, so don't say it.
273	¿Tomamos un café?	Want to grab a coffee?	¿Tomamos un café mañana?Want to grab a coffee tomorrow?	Casual A low-pressure way to ask someone out.
274	Violinista	Third wheel	No voy con ustedes, no quiero ser el violinista.I'm not going with you 2, I don't want to be the third wheel.	Slang The friend who tags along on a couple's night out.
275	Cuatrera	Woman on the hunt for a man	Cuidado, esa es una cuatrera.Careful, she's on the hunt for a man.	Vulgar A woman out to land a man. Some people use it for a prostitute, so it's an insult.
276	Liso / lisa	Cheeky, out of line	¡No seas liso! Esa es mi novia.Don't be cheeky! That's my girlfriend.	Casual For someone who gets fresh or says too much. You'll hear it all the time.

Sayings and expressions 24

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
277	Chicha 'e piña	A piece of cake	Tranquilo, ese examen es chicha 'e piña.Relax, that exam is a piece of cake.	Casual Literally "pineapple juice." Easy or no big deal.
278	Se formó un arroz con mango	It turned into a mess	Llegó el ex y se formó un arroz con mango.The ex showed up and all hell broke loose.	Casual Literally "rice with mango." A fight, chaos or a big problem.
279	Salió el fulo	The sun's out	¡Salió el fulo! Vamos pa' la playa.The sun's out! Let's go to the beach.	Slang Fulo means blond, so the sun is the big blond in the sky.
280	Verguero	Huge mess, brawl	Se armó un verguero en la discoteca.A huge brawl broke out at the club.	Vulgar From verga. Say arroz con mango instead.
281	Puro tilín tilín y nada de paleta	All talk, no action	Dice que me va a invitar, pero es puro tilín tilín y nada de paleta.He says he'll take me out, but he's all talk.	Casual Like the ice cream cart bell with no ice cream.
282	Coger los mangos bajitos	To take the easy way	Hey, pelao, deja de coger los mangos bajitos y estudia.Hey, kid, stop taking the easy way and study.	Casual Also agarrar los mangos bajitos.
283	Darse un baño de pueblo	To mix with regular folks	Vamos al mercado a darnos un baño de pueblo.Let's go to the market and mix with regular folks.	Casual Eat at a fonda, ride a bus, dance at a country fiesta.
284	Ni chicha ni limonada	Neither one thing nor the other	Ese plan no es ni chicha ni limonada.That plan is neither here nor there.	Casual For something that can't make up its mind.
285	Allá onde uno	Back home in the countryside	Pa' Navidad me voy allá onde uno.For Christmas I'm going back home to the countryside.	Casual From a TV show. Means the village you grew up in.
286	Caldero le dice a paila	Pot calling the kettle black	¿Tú me dices impuntual? Caldero le dice a paila.You call me late? That's the pot calling the kettle black.	Casual Criticizing a flaw you share.
287	De a leche	By sheer luck	Llegué al aeropuerto de a leche.I made it to the airport by sheer luck.	Slang Also de a coco or de a vaina. Just in time.
288	Ir a tocar el arpa	To die	El abuelo de Juan se fue a tocar el arpa.Juan's grandpa passed away.	Casual Literally "to go play the harp." A soft, jokey way to say someone died.
289	Estar hasta la guacha	To be in a bad way	Después de esa fiesta quedé hasta la guacha.After that party I was a total wreck.	Slang Broke, sad or very drunk.
290	Me salió la bruja	Everything went wrong	Hoy me salió la bruja: se pinchó la llanta y llovió.Everything went wrong today: I got a flat and it rained.	Casual A run of bad luck.
291	Trepa que sube	A real mess, big trouble	Se fue la luz y llovió: ¡trepa que sube!The power went out and it rained: what a mess!	Slang A bad situation that keeps getting worse.
292	Cuatro gatos	Hardly anyone	En la fiesta había cuatro gatos.There was hardly anyone at the party.	Casual Literally "4 cats." For a place that's nearly empty.
293	Pelar el bollo	To kick the bucket	El gallo de mi tío peló el bollo.My uncle's rooster kicked the bucket.	Slang Literally "to peel the bollo."
294	Meter borriguero por iguana	To pull a bait and switch	Ojo con ese vendedor, te mete borriguero por iguana.Watch that seller, he'll pull a bait and switch on you.	Casual Selling you something worse than promised.
295	Buscarse una nariz sin hueco	To ask for trouble	No toques esos cables, te vas a buscar una nariz sin hueco.Don't touch those wires, you're asking for trouble.	Casual Literally "to find yourself a nose with no holes."
296	Más liso que la espalda de un frasco	Super cheeky	Ese pelao es más liso que la espalda de un frasco.That kid is super cheeky.	Casual Liso is row 276, and this saying makes it stronger.
297	Tener una cocoa	To have some gossip to share	Siéntate, que te tengo una cocoa.Sit down, I've got some gossip for you.	Slang Cocoa, cinta and bochinche all mean gossip. Ask for it with ¿cuál es el bochinche?
298	A guanchinche / a monchinche	Piggyback	El pelaíto se cansó y lo cargué a guanchinche.The little kid got tired, so I gave him a piggyback ride.	Casual Carrying someone on your back. Parents and kids use it most.
299	Hacer un arrepinche	To throw a tantrum to get something	El chichí hizo un arrepinche pa' que le compraran un duro.The baby threw a tantrum to get a frozen treat.	Casual A kid's fit to get what they want. A kid who does it a lot is arrepinchoso.
300	Esta vaina no está en na'a	This is boring	Vámonos, esta vaina no está en na'a.Let's go, this is boring.	Slang Say it about a dull party, class or plan.

Around Panama 33

Panama is small, but the same idea changes by place. A quick yes is ofi in the capital, meto in Chiriquí and a "yes" in Guna (eye) in San Blas. Friends say vos in Azuero and tú almost everywhere else.

Panama City

The capital, where locals use street nicknames, not the names on the map. The interior calls the capital's speech fast and yeyé, and the capital calls the interior el interior.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
Tumba Muerto	Vía Ricardo J. Alfaro, a main avenue (taxi talk)	Lléveme por Tumba Muerto, por favor.Take me along Tumba Muerto, please.
La Transístmica	Avenida Simón Bolívar (taxi talk)	Por la Transístmica a esta hora vas a tardar.If you take the Transístmica at this hour, it'll be slow.
Salsipuedes	Street by the old market, watch your wallet	En Salsipuedes venden de todo, pero cuida la cartera.They sell everything on Salsipuedes, but watch your wallet.
Pataconcito	Small pile of trash (informal)	Hay un pataconcito de basura en la esquina.There's a little pile of trash on the corner.
Cholopop	Country guy new to the capital, dressed retro (teasing, careful)	Mi primo llegó de Las Tablas bien cholopop, con la camisa abierta.My cousin showed up from Las Tablas all retro, shirt wide open.

Colón

The Caribbean port city an hour from the capital. Its food words come from West Indian roots, so you won't hear them much in the interior.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
Saus	Pickled pig's feet with lime and chili (food)	En Colón venden saus en cada esquina.In Colón they sell pickled pig's feet on every corner.
One pot	Rice with seafood and coconut milk (food)	El domingo mi tía hace one pot con mariscos.On Sunday my aunt makes one-pot rice with seafood.
Bon / pan bon	Dark spiced sweet bread (food)	En Colón siempre compro bon con queso.In Colón I always buy spiced bread with cheese.
Domplin	Boiled dumpling (food)	Me da pescado con domplin, por favor.Fish with dumplings, please.
Patí	Spicy meat pastry (food)	Deme 2 patís calientes, por favor.2 hot meat pastries, please.
Naitafón	House party (casual)	El sábado hay naitafón en casa de mi tía.There's a house party at my aunt's on Saturday.
Yiyinbré	Gingerbread, from English (food)	Compré yiyinbré en el mercado.I bought gingerbread at the market.

Bocas del Toro

The islands near Costa Rica, where many families speak Guari-guari, a Caribbean English creole. Where Panama City says qué xopá, Bocas can say W'appin deh.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
W'appin deh? / ¡Guapin!	What's happening? Hi! (casual)	¡W'appin deh, mi hermano! ¿Todo bien?What's happening, brother! All good?
Guari-guari	Bocas creole English (the language)	Mi abuela habla guari-guari con sus hermanas.My grandma speaks Bocas creole with her sisters.
Flintin	A fight, drama (slang)	Yo no quiero flintin con ese man.I don't want any drama with that guy.
Rondón	Coconut seafood stew (food)	¿Hoy hay rondón? Quiero probarlo.Is there rondón today? I want to try it.
Plantintá	Plantain-filled pastry (food)	En Bastimentos compré plantintá recién hecho.On Bastimentos I bought a fresh plantain pastry.

Guna Yala (San Blas)

The Guna islands on the Caribbean, where people speak Guna first and Spanish second. A few words go a long way.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
Eye	Yes (in Guna)	Le pregunté si había lancha y me dijo "eye."I asked if there was a boat and he said "yes."
Dii	Water (in Guna)	Pedí dii fría y me trajeron un vaso.I asked for cold water and they brought me a glass.
Ogob	Coconut (in Guna)	Nos dieron ogob fresco al llegar a la isla.They gave us a fresh coconut when we reached the island.
Skungit	Lobster (in Guna)	El pescador trajo skungit pa' la cena.The fisherman brought lobster for dinner.
Mola	Guna women's hand-sewn cloth panel (craft)	¿Cuánto cuesta esta mola? La hizo su abuela.How much is this mola? Her grandma made it.

Chiriquí and the interior

The western highlands and the countryside. Where the capital says ofi, Chiriquí says meto.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
¡Meto!	Wow! Or yes, OK (the Chiriquí answer to the capital's ofi)	"¿Nos vemos a las cinco?" "¡Meto!""Shall we meet at 5?" "OK!"
Arrecho / arrecha	Angry (in the capital it can mean horny, so careful)	No le hables ahora, que está arrecho.Don't talk to him now, he's angry.
Bajareque	Fine mountain drizzle (weather)	Lleva chaqueta, que en Boquete está cayendo bajareque.Bring a jacket, it's drizzling in Boquete.
Chiricano / chiricana	Person from Chiriquí (neutral)	Mi esposo es chiricano, de David, y no para de hablar de su tierra.My husband is from Chiriquí, from David, and he never stops talking about home.
Cholo	Person from the interior (often a put-down, don't say it)	En la capital le decían cholo, y a él no le gustaba.In the capital they called him cholo, and he didn't like it.

The central provinces: Coclé and Azuero

The folk heartland west of the capital, from Penonomé down to Las Tablas, famous for its carnival and its seco. People here say vos to friends, which you rarely hear in the city.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
¿Eres de Calle Arriba o de Calle Abajo?	Which carnival side are you on?	"¿Eres de Calle Arriba o de Calle Abajo?" "¡Calle Arriba hasta la muerte!""Which side are you on?" "Calle Arriba till I die!"
Tuna	Carnival street parade	¿A qué hora sale la tuna?What time does the street parade start?
Zambito / zambita	Kid (in Herrera and Los Santos)	Ese zambito ya monta caballo solo.That kid already rides a horse on his own.
Pindín	Country dance party	Este sábado hay pindín en el pueblo, ¿vamos?There's a country dance in the village this Saturday, shall we go?
Saloma	Farmer's work song, a high cry	Desde el monte se oía la saloma de mi abuelo.You could hear my grandpa's call from the hills.
Vos	You (informal, in Azuero)	Esto es pa' vos, zambito.This is for you, kid.

Don't mix these up

Word	In Panama	Elsewhere
Caliente	Estoy caliente means I'm horny. For hot weather, say tengo calor.	English speakers say "I'm hot" and grab the wrong word. Caliente is fine for food and coffee.
Embarazada	Pregnant. For embarrassed, say me da pena.	It looks like English embarrassed, but it means pregnant everywhere.
Palo	$1. "Veinte palos" is $20.	A stick. In Colombia and Chile "un palo" is a million pesos.
Pelao	A young guy, a kid. Friendly.	In Mexico pelado is a rude, low-class person. In Spain it means bald or broke.
Chucha	A strong swear word and a word for vulva.	In Colombia it's body odor or an opossum.
Chuleta	A mild "shoot!"	A pork chop. In Spain it's a cheat sheet.
Tongo	A cop.	In Spain and Argentina it's a fixed fight or a rigged deal.
Chiva	A minibus.	A female goat. In Colombia it's an open-sided party bus.
Coger	A normal verb: to take or grab. "Coger un taxi" is fine.	In Mexico and Argentina it's a crude word for sex.
Carro	A car. A bus is a bus, a chiva or a Metrobús, never a guagua.	In Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Canary Islands guagua is a bus. In Chile it's a baby.
Chombo	A word for Black Panamanians of West Indian roots. It often offends. Ají chombo, the hot pepper, is fine to say.	Few Spanish speakers outside Panama know it.
Cholo	A person from the countryside. Often a put-down.	In Mexico and the US it can mean a gang member. In Peru it means a mixed-race person and can offend.
Ahorita	In a bit, later.	In Mexico it can mean right now or much later, so ask when.
Bicho	A bug, or any little thing.	In Puerto Rico it's a crude word for penis.
Bote	A ride in someone's car.	A boat. In Mexico it can mean jail.
Tinaco	A trash can.	In Mexico it's a water tank on the roof.
Peso	A 50-cent coin.	The currency of Mexico, Colombia, Chile and more.
De repente	Maybe.	In Spain and Mexico it means suddenly.
Quemar	To cheat on your partner.	To burn. In Mexico it can mean to expose someone.
Arrecho	Angry or horny, so tone matters. In Chiriquí it means angry.	In Venezuela and Nicaragua it means angry. In Colombia it mostly means horny or angry. In El Salvador and Honduras it can mean great or tough.
Pena	Me da pena means I'm embarrassed or shy.	In Spain it usually means sadness or pity.
Invierno / verano	The rainy season (May to November) and the dry season (December to April).	Winter and summer, the cold and the hot months.
Nevera	A fridge, and also the freezing AC bus between cities.	Just a fridge.
Macarrones	Any pasta, spaghetti included. Macarrones con pollo is a home classic.	In most places it means only short tube pasta. A macaron is a French almond cookie.
Bravo	Angry. "Está bravo" means he's mad.	In Spain it means brave or fierce.

Questions people ask

What does "qué xopá" mean, and how do you say hi in Panama?

"¿Qué xopá?" means what's up, from qué pasó flipped. With strangers, say "buenas."

How do you say thank you and you're welcome in Panama?

Say gracias, and you'll hear "a la orden" or "con gusto" back. You can answer a thank you the same way.

How do you pay in Panama?

Panama uses US dollar bills with its own balboa coins, so carry small bills for taxis and fondas. Locals also pay by phone with Yappy, but it needs a Panamanian bank account, so most visitors can't use it.

Is Panamanian Spanish hard to understand?

At first, yes. People talk fast, drop the s and the final r, and mix in English words, so ask them to slow down: "¿Más despacio, por favor?"

Do people speak English in Panama?

Many people in Panama City, Bocas del Toro and Colón speak some English. In the interior, you'll need Spanish.

What does chombo mean in Panama?

Chombo is a word for Black Panamanians of West Indian roots. Some use it with affection, but it often offends, so don't say it.

What does ofi mean in Panama?

Ofi means OK or got it. It's short for oficial, and you'll hear it all day as a quick yes.

What does pelao mean in Panama?

Pelao means a guy or a kid, and pelada means a girl. It's friendly in Panama.

What does chanti mean in Panama?

Chanti or chantin means home, your place. It comes from English shanty, as in "me voy pa' la chantin."

What are 5 Panamanian slang words you should know?

Start with xopá (what's up), fren (friend), ofi (OK), chuzo (oh snap) and pelao (guy). With those 5 you can greet, agree and react like a local.

What is a popular saying in Panama?

"Chicha 'e piña" means something is a piece of cake. "Se formó un arroz con mango" means things turned into a total mess.

What is Panama slang for friend, cool and money?

Friend is fren, mopri, compa or loco. Cool is nítido, chévere or 'tá cul, a dollar is a palo and money in general is chen chen.

What are Panamanian slang bad words?

The big one is chucha, plus verga and ahuevao. Use chuzo or chuleta instead, since both are safe with anyone.

What does chucha mean in Panama?

Chucha is a strong swear, close to the f-word, and also a word for vulva. Say chuzo or chuleta instead.

Is Panamanian Spanish like Colombian or Caribbean Spanish?

Yes, it's close to the Caribbean Spanish of Colombia's coast, Cuba and Puerto Rico, with the same dropped s and fast pace. Panama adds its own slang and a lot of English from the Canal years.

What does juega vivo mean in Panama?

A juega vivo is a sly opportunist who bends the rules to get ahead. Panamanians joke that juega vivo is a national habit.

Slang in other countries

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Sources

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