Uruguayan slang: 300 phrases to sound like a local

300 phrases
300 real examples
92 slang
7 regions
39 local phrases
10 marked vulgar

Uruguay is small, but its Spanish has a sound and a word bank all its own. You'll hear "ta" and "bo" before you leave the airport.

Greetings and small talk 26

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
1	Buenas	Hi (any time of day)	Buenas, ¿tenés agua sin gas?Hi, do you have still water?	Everyday The usual hello in shops, taxis and bars. It works morning, noon and night.
2	Ta	OK, fine, got it	Ta, nos vemos a las 9 en el shopping.OK, see you at 9 at the mall.	Everyday Short for "está". Everyone says it, in every setting.
3	Dale	OK, go ahead	Dale, te espero en la parada.OK, I'll wait for you at the bus stop.	Everyday Agrees or hurries someone up.
4	Bo	Hey, dude	Bo, ¿me pasás el termo?Hey, can you pass me the thermos?	Slang Calls a friend. The most Uruguayan word after "ta".
5	Ya está	OK, done, that is it	Ya está, nos vemos mañana.OK, that is it, see you tomorrow.	Everyday Says a thing is done or settled. Street use
6	Buen día	Good morning	Buen día, ¿tenés bizcochos de hoy?Good morning, do you have fresh pastries today?	Everyday Locals say this more than "buenos días".
7	¿Todo bien?	All good?	Buenas, ¿todo bien? ¿Me das un cortado?Hi, all good? Can I get a cortado?	Everyday A quick hello for shops, taxis and cafés.
8	¿Qué hacés?	Hi, how's it going?	¡Hola, Flor! ¿Qué hacés? Tanto tiempo.Hi, Flor! How's it going? Long time no see.	Casual A greeting. Nobody expects a list of what you're doing.
9	¿Cómo andás?	How are you doing?	¿Cómo andás? ¿Todo bien con el laburo?How are you doing? All good with work?	Everyday Warm and safe with anyone your age.
10	Todo bien, ¿y vos?	All good, and you?	A: ¿Qué hacés, bo? B: Todo bien, ¿y vos?A: How's it going, man? B: All good, and you?	Everyday The easy answer to "¿qué hacés?" or "¿cómo andás?". Then ask back.
11	Más o menos	So-so, not bad and not great	A: ¿Cómo andás? B: Más o menos, con un poco de sueño.A: How are you doing? B: So-so, a bit sleepy.	Everyday The honest answer when the day isn't great. You'll also hear "ahí andamos".
12	Chau	Bye	Bueno, chau, nos vemos el lunes.OK, bye, see you Monday.	Everyday The default goodbye. People often say it twice: "chau, chau".
13	Nos vemos / hasta luego	See you / see you later	Bueno, me voy. ¡Nos vemos mañana!OK, I'm off. See you tomorrow!	Everyday Safe goodbyes with anyone. Add "mañana" or "el lunes" to set the next time.
14	Permiso / disculpá	Excuse me	Permiso, ¿me dejás pasar?Excuse me, can I get past?	Everyday Say "permiso" to get past someone or into a room. Say "disculpá" to get someone's attention or to say sorry.
15	No (as a reply to gracias)	You're welcome, don't mention it	A: Gracias por traerme. B: No, ¡por favor!A: Thanks for the ride. B: Oh, don't mention it.	Everyday Uruguayans often answer "gracias" with "no", meaning there's no need to thank them.
16	Merece	You're welcome	A: Gracias por el mate. B: Merece.A: Thanks for the mate. B: You're welcome.	Casual Friends and older people say it in place of "de nada". You'll hear it in shops in the Interior too.
17	No entiendo	I don't understand	Perdón, no entiendo. ¿Podés repetir?Sorry, I don't understand. Can you repeat?	Everyday Plain Spanish, and the first line to learn.
18	¿Podés hablar más despacio?	Can you speak more slowly?	¿Podés hablar más despacio, por favor?Can you speak more slowly, please?	Everyday "Podés" is the "vos" form, so it sounds local.
19	¿Hablás inglés?	Do you speak English?	Buenas, ¿hablás inglés?Hi, do you speak English?	Everyday "Hablás" is the "vos" form. Start with "buenas" first.
20	A las órdenes	At your service, anything you need	Cualquier cosa, estoy a las órdenes.If you need anything, I'm here to help.	Everyday Shop staff and hosts say it when they hand you something or say goodbye. It also answers "gracias".
21	Mirá vos	Really? / Go figure	¿Sos de Canadá? ¡Mirá vos!You're from Canada? No way!	Everyday Mild surprise. Keeps a chat going.
22	Che	Hey	Che, ¿sabés a qué hora pasa el 121?Hey, do you know what time the 121 bus comes?	Casual Gets attention. Used in Uruguay, but "bo" is more local.
23	¿Cómo no?	Of course, sure	¿Me sacás una foto? ¡Cómo no!Can you take a photo of me? Of course!	Everyday A warm yes, and you'll hear it all the time.
24	¿De qué cuadro sos?	Which team do you support?	¿De qué cuadro sos? ¿Peñarol o Nacional?Which team do you support? Peñarol or Nacional?	Everyday The first question at any asado. Pick a side or say you're neutral.
25	Bolso / manya	Nacional fan / Peñarol fan	Mi viejo es bolso, pero yo soy manya.My dad supports Nacional, but I support Peñarol.	Slang The 2 big Montevideo clubs split families.
26	Me mataste	You've got me, no idea	¿A qué hora cierra el museo? Me mataste.What time does the museum close? You've got me there.	Slang A funny way to say you don't know.

Getting around 30

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
27	¿Me llevás a...?	Can you take me to...?	¿Me llevás a Pocitos, por favor?Can you take me to Pocitos, please?	Everyday Tells a taxi driver where you're going.
28	La bajada de bandera	Taxi base fare	Mirá el reloj, la bajada de bandera ya está marcada.Look at the meter, the base fare is already on it.	Everyday The fare the meter shows as soon as you get in.
29	Tachero	Taxi driver	El tachero me paseó por media ciudad.The taxi driver drove me around half the city.	Slang From "tacho", the old taxi meter. Apps like Uber also work in Montevideo.
30	¿Dónde queda...?	Where is...?	Disculpá, ¿dónde queda el Mercado del Puerto?Excuse me, where's the Port Market?	Everyday The usual way to ask for a place. Start with "disculpá" and people will stop to help.
31	¿Dónde está el baño?	Where is the bathroom?	Perdón, ¿dónde está el baño?Excuse me, where is the bathroom?	Everyday "Baño" is the usual word in cafés and bars.
32	Doblá a la derecha / a la izquierda	Turn right / turn left	En la esquina doblá a la izquierda.Turn left at the corner.	Everyday "Doblar" is the word for turn. Taxi drivers and locals giving directions use it.
33	Seguí derecho	Go straight on	Seguí derecho 3 cuadras hasta la Rambla.Go straight on for 3 blocks until you hit the Rambla.	Everyday "Derecho" means straight ahead. Careful: "a la derecha" means to the right.
34	Cuadra	City block	El hotel está a 3 cuadras de la playa.The hotel is 3 blocks from the beach.	Everyday How locals give distance.
35	Bondi	Bus	Me tomo el bondi y llego en 20 minutos.I'll catch the bus and get there in 20 minutes.	Slang Shared with Argentina and very common here.
36	Ómnibus	City or long-distance bus	¿Este ómnibus va para Pocitos?Does this bus go to Pocitos?	Everyday The standard word on signs and timetables.
37	Parada	Bus stop	La parada está en la esquina de 18 de Julio.The bus stop is on the corner of 18 de Julio.	Everyday Wait here and wave the bus down.
38	Boleto	Bus ticket	¿Cuánto sale el boleto común?How much is a regular ticket?	Everyday A ride on the city bus.
39	La tarjeta STM	Montevideo bus card	Cargué la tarjeta STM para andar en el ómnibus.I topped up the STM card to ride the bus.	Everyday Most Montevideo buses run on this card, so you may not pay cash. Ask a kiosk for one.
40	Pasaje	Long-distance bus ticket	Compré el pasaje a Colonia en la terminal.I bought my bus ticket to Colonia at the terminal.	Everyday For intercity buses and flights. A "boleto" is for the city bus.
41	Guarda	Bus conductor	Pagale el boleto al guarda.Pay the conductor for the ticket.	Everyday On some buses a guarda sells tickets.
42	Me bajo en la próxima	I'm getting off at the next stop	Permiso, me bajo en la próxima.Excuse me, I'm getting off at the next stop.	Everyday Say it as you move to the back door. Press the bell before your stop.
43	¿Me avisás cuando lleguemos a...?	Can you tell me when we get to...?	¿Me avisás cuando lleguemos a la Ciudad Vieja?Can you tell me when we get to the Old City?	Everyday Ask the driver, the guarda or the person next to you.
44	Punga	Pickpocket	Un punga me sacó el celular en el bondi.A pickpocket took my phone on the bus.	Slang A thief with no violence. Keep your phone in a front pocket on the bondi.
45	Chorro	Thief	Cuidado con la mochila, hay chorros en el centro.Watch your backpack, there are thieves downtown.	Slang A common warning downtown and on the bondi.
46	Rapiña	Mugging, robbery with force	Hubo una rapiña en la parada y se llevaron 2 celulares.There was a mugging at the bus stop and they took 2 phones.	Everyday The word you'll hear on the news. A "punga" is the quiet kind of thief.
47	Cana	Police, the cops	Llamá a la cana, le robaron la moto.Call the cops, they stole his motorbike.	Slang The police. "Caer en cana" is to end up in jail.
48	¡Ayuda!	Help!	¡Ayuda! ¡Me robaron el celular!Help! They stole my phone!	Everyday Shout it. For an emergency, call 911.
49	Milico	Soldier (scornful)	Mi vecino era milico, ahora está retirado.My neighbor was a soldier, now he is retired.	Slang Very common, and scornful. For a police officer, say "cana" or "policía".
50	La Rambla	The seafront road	Vamos a caminar por la Rambla al atardecer.Let's walk along the Rambla at sunset.	Everyday Montevideo's long riverside walk. Everyone meets here.
51	El Interior	Anywhere outside Montevideo	Mi familia es del Interior, de Tacuarembó.My family is from the interior, from Tacuarembó.	Everyday Means the whole country beyond the capital.
52	Balneario	Beach town	Pasamos enero en un balneario de Canelones.We spent January in a beach town in Canelones.	Everyday Any town on the coast.
53	Tomarse el palo	To leave, to take off	Ta, me tomo el palo, mañana madrugo.OK, I'm out, I'm up early tomorrow.	Slang The usual way friends say they're leaving. Older people say "tomarse los olivos".
54	Rajar	To get out fast	Rajemos que viene la lluvia.Let's get out of here, the rain's coming.	Slang Leave in a hurry. "Tomarse el raje" means to slip away.
55	Nafta	Gasoline	Hay que cargar nafta antes de salir a la ruta.We need to get gas before we hit the highway.	Everyday The word on every gas pump.
56	Cuidacoches	Informal parking attendant	Dale unas monedas al cuidacoches.Give the parking guy a few coins.	Everyday The person who "watches" your car on the street.

Food and drink 43

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
57	¿Qué me recomendás?	What do you recommend?	Es mi primera vez acá, ¿qué me recomendás?It's my first time here, what do you recommend?	Everyday Waiters love this question.
58	Mozo	Waiter	¡Mozo! ¿Nos traés la carta?Waiter! Can you bring us the menu?	Everyday Catch their eye and say "mozo" or "disculpá". A small wave is fine, but don't snap your fingers.
59	¿Me traés...?	Can you bring me...?	¿Me traés una Coca y un chivito, por favor?Can you bring me a Coke and a chivito, please?	Everyday The usual way to order. "¿Me das...?" works at a counter.
60	La contraseña del wifi	The wifi password	¿Me decís la contraseña del wifi?Can you tell me the wifi password?	Everyday Say "wifi" as it is spelled. "Contraseña" is the password.
61	Jugoso / a punto / bien cocido	Medium-rare / medium / well done	El bife de chorizo, ¿lo querés jugoso o a punto?The sirloin, do you want it medium-rare or medium?	Everyday The grill cook will ask. "Jugoso" means pink and juicy inside.
62	Agua de la canilla	Tap water	¿Me traés una jarra de agua de la canilla?Can you bring me a jug of tap water?	Everyday "Canilla" is the tap. The water in Montevideo is safe to drink.
63	Rotisería	Takeaway food shop	Compramos pollo y papas en la rotisería de la esquina.We bought chicken and fries at the takeaway shop on the corner.	Everyday Cheap ready meals to take home.
64	Cubierto	Cover charge	El cubierto incluye el pan y la manteca.The cover charge includes the bread and butter.	Everyday A charge per person on many restaurant bills. Saying no to the bread won't always remove it.
65	Propina	Tip	Dejamos 10% de propina, la atención fue excelente.We left a 10% tip, the service was great.	Everyday About 10% is normal. Only very touristy places add it to the bill.
66	Descuento del IVA	Tax off your bill	Pagué con tarjeta extranjera y me hicieron el descuento del IVA.I paid with a foreign card and they took the tax off.	Everyday Pay with a foreign card and restaurants knock some tax off the bill. Check the rule still applies when you travel.
67	Morfar / morfi	To eat / food, grub	¿Vamos a morfar algo? El morfi de acá es buenísimo.Shall we go eat something? The food here is great.	Slang Old street slang, shared with Argentina. Use it with friends, not with the waiter.
68	Chivito	Uruguay's steak sandwich	Un chivito al pan, completo, por favor.A chivito sandwich with everything, please.	Everyday Steak, ham, cheese, egg and more. A must.
69	Mate	Mate, the national herbal drink	¿Querés un mate? Está recién cebado.Do you want some mate? It's freshly made.	Everyday Drink it all until it gurgles, and don't stir the straw.
70	Matear	To drink mate together	¿Venís a matear a la Rambla?Want to come drink mate on the Rambla?	Everyday Friends mate in parks and on the beach all afternoon.
71	Cebar	To pour mate	¿Quién ceba? Yo cebo re mal.Who's pouring? I'm really bad at it.	Everyday Hand the gourd back to the cebador after each one. Say "gracias" only when you want no more.
72	Termo	Thermos	Siempre ando con el termo bajo el brazo.I always carry my thermos under my arm.	Everyday Uruguayans carry it everywhere, even to work.
73	Bombilla	Metal mate straw	No muevas la bombilla, que se tapa.Don't move the straw, it'll clog.	Everyday It has a filter at the bottom. Leave it where the cebador put it.
74	Yerba	Mate leaves	Se me terminó la yerba, voy al almacén.I ran out of yerba, I'm going to the shop.	Everyday The dried leaves that fill the gourd.
75	Cortado	Espresso with a dash of milk	Un cortado y 2 medialunas, por favor.An espresso with a dash of milk and 2 croissants, please.	Everyday The standard café order.
76	Medialunas	Sweet croissants	¿Las medialunas son de manteca o de grasa?Are the croissants made with butter or with lard?	Everyday The top pick at breakfast. Ask for "de manteca" or "de grasa".
77	Bizcochos	Breakfast pastries	Traje bizcochos para el mate.I brought pastries for the mate.	Everyday The local word. In Argentina, facturas.
78	Caliente / sándwich caliente	Toasted ham and cheese sandwich	Un cortado y un caliente de jamón y queso, por favor.An espresso with milk and a toasted ham and cheese sandwich, please.	Everyday Every café sells one. In Argentina it's a "tostado".
79	Olímpico	Club sandwich with ham, cheese, egg and tomato	Un olímpico y un jugo de naranja, por favor.A club sandwich and an orange juice, please.	Everyday A staple café order. It comes on soft sliced bread.
80	Milanesa al pan	Breaded steak sandwich	Una milanesa al pan con lechuga y tomate, por favor.A breaded steak sandwich with lettuce and tomato, please.	Everyday The cheap, filling lunch in any bar.
81	Asado	Barbecue	El domingo hay asado en lo de mi tío.On Sunday there's a barbecue at my uncle's.	Everyday The social event of the week.
82	Parrilla	Grill restaurant	Hay una parrilla buenísima en el Mercado del Puerto.There's a great grill place in the Port Market.	Everyday Also the grill itself.
83	Asado de tira	Short ribs	Pedimos asado de tira para 4.We ordered short ribs for 4.	Everyday The classic cut.
84	Bife de chorizo	Sirloin steak	Un bife de chorizo jugoso con papas fritas.A medium-rare sirloin with fries.	Everyday The classic steak at any parrilla. It has nothing to do with sausage.
85	Entraña	Skirt steak	La entraña es lo primero que sale de la parrilla.The skirt steak is the first thing off the grill.	Everyday A thin, tasty cut that cooks fast. Street use
86	Achuras	Offal for the grill	¿Pedimos achuras para picar mientras sale la carne?Shall we get some offal to snack on while the meat cooks?	Everyday The first plates at an asado. Ask for "mollejas" (sweetbreads) if you're not sure.
87	Chinchulines	Grilled small intestine	Los chinchulines bien crocantes, por favor.The intestines nice and crispy, please.	Everyday A classic achura. Order them well done and crispy.
88	Morcilla	Blood sausage	Arrancamos con chorizo y morcilla.We started with sausage and blood sausage.	Everyday Served with chorizo at the start of every asado. Some are sweet, with raisins or nuts.
89	Choripán	Sausage sandwich	Comimos un choripán en la feria.We had a sausage sandwich at the market.	Everyday Street food at markets and games.
90	Pancho	Hot dog	2 panchos con mostaza, por favor.2 hot dogs with mustard, please.	Everyday Sold on every corner.
91	Fainá	Chickpea flatbread	Una porción de muzza y una de fainá.A slice of cheese pizza and one of chickpea flatbread.	Everyday People put it on top of pizza.
92	Muzza	Cheese pizza	¿Pedimos una muzza para compartir?Shall we order a cheese pizza to share?	Casual Short for "muzzarella".
93	Pizza a caballo	Pizza with fainá on top	¿Pedimos 2 porciones de pizza a caballo?Shall we get 2 slices of pizza with fainá on top?	Everyday A slice of fainá laid on a slice of pizza. A Montevideo pizzería classic.
94	Refuerzo	Sandwich in a soft roll	Llevá unos refuerzos de jamón y queso para el viaje.Take some ham and cheese sandwiches for the trip.	Everyday A sandwich in a soft bun.
95	Medio y medio	Half sparkling, half white wine	Brindamos con un medio y medio en el Mercado.We toasted with a medio y medio at the Market.	Everyday The drink of the Port Market.
96	Torta frita	Fried dough	Llueve, ¡hagamos tortas fritas!It's raining, let's make fried dough!	Everyday The rainy day tradition.
97	Dulce de leche	Milk caramel	Le pongo dulce de leche a todo.I put milk caramel on everything.	Everyday In every dessert.
98	Alfajor	Filled cookie	Compré alfajores para llevarles a mis amigos.I bought alfajores to take to my friends.	Everyday Cookies with dulce de leche. A good gift.
99	Pascualina	Spinach and egg pie	¿Me das una porción de pascualina para llevar?Can I get a slice of spinach pie to go?	Everyday Every rotisería and bakery sells it. It's a cheap, filling lunch.

Money and shopping 24

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
100	¿Cuánto sale?	How much is it?	¿Cuánto sale el kilo de tomates?How much is a kilo of tomatoes?	Everyday The usual way to ask a price.
101	¿Me cobrás?	Can I pay? Can I get the bill?	Disculpá, ¿me cobrás cuando puedas?Excuse me, can I pay when you get a chance?	Everyday The usual way to ask for the bill in a café or bar.
102	La cuenta, por favor	The bill, please	La cuenta, por favor. Todo junto.The bill, please. All together.	Everyday The plain way to ask. "¿Me cobrás?" is the casual way.
103	¿Aceptan tarjeta? / ¿Débito o crédito?	Do you take cards? / Debit or credit?	¿Aceptan tarjeta? Débito, en 1 cuota.Do you take cards? Debit, in 1 payment.	Everyday Ask first at ferias and small almacenes. "Cuotas" are installments. Hotels and rentals often price in US dollars, so ask "¿pesos o dólares?". Street use
104	Cajero	ATM	¿Hay un cajero de RedBROU o de Banred por acá?Is there a RedBROU or Banred ATM around here?	Everyday RedBROU and Banred are the 2 big ATM networks. Look for their signs.
105	¿Tenés cambio?	Do you have change?	Solo tengo uno de mil, ¿tenés cambio?I only have a 1,000 note, do you have change?	Everyday Small shops and taxis often can't break big notes.
106	Vuelto	Change (money back)	Quedate con el vuelto.Keep the change.	Everyday The word every cashier uses. Count it before you walk away.
107	¿Me hacés una rebaja?	Can you give me a discount?	Si llevo 2, ¿me hacés una rebaja?If I take 2, can you give me a discount?	Everyday Try it at ferias, mostly when you buy more than 1. You'll also hear "¿me hacés precio?".
108	Plata	Money	Me quedé sin plata, ¿me prestás?I'm out of money, can you lend me some?	Everyday The default word for money.
109	Salado	Expensive	Punta del Este en enero está salado.Punta del Este in January is expensive.	Casual "Salty" means pricey when you talk about money. It can also mean hard ("el examen estuvo salado") or amazing.
110	Pichincha	Bargain	Esta campera fue una pichincha en la feria.This jacket was a bargain at the market.	Casual A great deal.
111	La feria	Street market	El domingo vamos a la feria de Tristán Narvaja.On Sunday we're going to the Tristán Narvaja market.	Everyday Weekly open-air markets in every neighborhood.
112	Almacén	Corner shop	Bajo al almacén a comprar pan.I'm popping down to the corner shop for bread.	Everyday The small shop on every block.
113	Guita	Money, cash	Me quedé sin guita a mitad de mes.I ran out of cash halfway through the month.	Slang Very common. Safe with friends, odd with a bank teller.
114	Mango	A peso, a buck	Eso no vale ni un mango.That's not worth a single peso.	Slang Often "no tengo un mango".
115	Hacer changas	To do odd jobs for cash	Hago changas los fines de semana para juntar plata.I do odd jobs on weekends to save up some money.	Casual A "changa" is a short, paid gig, like a move or a paint job.
116	Luca	1,000 pesos	La entrada sale 2 lucas.The ticket is 2,000 pesos.	Slang Friends use it for prices. "2 lucas" is 2,000.
117	Afanar	To rip off, to steal	En ese kiosco te afanan, todo es carísimo.That kiosk rips you off, everything's super expensive.	Slang Also plain stealing.
118	Hacer una vaca	To pool money	Hagamos una vaca para la carne.Let's pool money for the meat.	Casual How friends pay for an asado.
119	Berreta	Cheap and bad	Compré unos auriculares berretas y ya se rompieron.I bought some cheap headphones and they already broke.	Slang Low quality.
120	Trucho	Fake	Ojo, ese perfume es trucho.Careful, that perfume is fake.	Slang Fake goods or fake papers.
121	Championes	Sneakers	Me compré unos championes para caminar.I bought some sneakers for walking.	Everyday The local word, used in every shoe shop. In Argentina, zapatillas.
122	Buzo	Sweatshirt	Llevá un buzo, de noche refresca.Bring a sweatshirt, it cools down at night.	Everyday Means a sweatshirt or a hoodie.
123	Campera	Jacket	Me olvidé la campera en el bondi.I left my jacket on the bus.	Everyday The local word for jacket. Pack one, the wind off the river is cold.

Bars and going out 22

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
124	Chop	A draft beer	Un chop bien frío, por favor.A nice cold draft beer, please.	Everyday A big glass of beer from the tap.
125	¡Salud!	Cheers!	¡Salud! Por el viaje y por los amigos.Cheers! To the trip and to friends.	Everyday The toast before the first sip. Say it to the whole table.
126	Una Patricia de litro	A 1 liter bottle of Patricia beer	Una Patricia de litro y 3 vasos, por favor.A liter of Patricia and 3 glasses, please.	Everyday Patricia and Pilsen are the big local beers. Friends share the 1 liter bottle.
127	Otra ronda	Another round	¡Otra ronda para la mesa, por favor!Another round for the table, please!	Everyday Orders drinks for the whole group. Friends take turns paying.
128	Tannat	Uruguay's signature red wine	¿Me recomendás un tannat para el asado?Can you recommend a Tannat for the barbecue?	Everyday The national grape. Order a glass with your steak.
129	Picada	Snack platter	Pedimos una picada con fiambres y quesos.We ordered a platter of cold meats and cheeses.	Everyday Comes with drinks before dinner.
130	Boliche	Nightclub	¿A qué boliche vamos esta noche?Which club are we going to tonight?	Everyday "Bolichear" is to go clubbing. It's also a plain local bar, mostly with older people.
131	La previa	Pre-drinks	Hacemos la previa en casa y después vamos al boliche.We'll have pre-drinks at home and then go to the club.	Casual Nobody gets to the club before 2 a.m. At school, "una previa" is a subject you still have to pass.
132	Una caña	A shot of sugar cane liquor	Tomamos una caña en el boliche del pueblo para el frío.We had a cane liquor at the village bar against the cold.	Casual A strong, cheap spirit. You'll see older men drink it in old bars and in the Interior.
133	Salir de joda	To go out partying	El sábado salimos de joda con los de la facultad.On Saturday we're going out partying with the uni crowd.	Slang "La joda" is the party itself, and "es una joda" means it's a joke.
134	Grappamiel	Grappa with honey	Un grappamiel para el frío, por favor.A honey grappa for the cold, please.	Everyday The bar drink of winter.
135	Escabio	Booze	Cada uno trae su escabio.Everyone brings their own booze.	Slang Also "escabiar", to drink.
136	Chupar	To drink alcohol	Anoche chupamos hasta las 5.Last night we drank until 5.	Slang Literally "to suck".
137	Empedarse	To get very drunk	Se empedó en el casamiento y se durmió en la mesa.He got wasted at the wedding and fell asleep at the table.	Slang Friends say it the morning after. Keep it out of work talk.
138	En pedo	Drunk	Estaba re en pedo y no se acuerda de nada.He was really drunk and doesn't remember a thing.	Vulgar Common among friends, rude in polite company.
139	Mamúa	Drunkenness	¡Qué mamúa tenías el sábado!You were so drunk on Saturday!	Slang "Estar mamado" is to be drunk.
140	Pucho	Cigarette	¿Tenés un pucho?Do you have a cigarette?	Slang Also a cigarette butt.
141	Faso	Cigarette or joint	Salió a fumarse un faso.He stepped out for a smoke.	Slang Young people's word. It often means a joint, so mind who you ask.
142	Quilombo	A mess, chaos	Se armó un quilombo bárbaro en la puerta del boliche.A huge mess broke out at the club's door.	Slang You'll also see "kilombo". It once meant brothel.
143	Candombe	Afro-Uruguayan drum music	Los domingos se escucha candombe en Barrio Sur.On Sundays you hear candombe drums in Barrio Sur.	Everyday Follow the drums in the street.
144	Las Llamadas	Candombe parade	Fuimos a ver las Llamadas en febrero.We went to see the Llamadas parade in February.	Everyday The big drum parade of Carnival.
145	Murga	Carnival choir theater	Esta noche hay murga en el tablado del barrio.Tonight there's a murga show at the neighborhood stage.	Everyday Satire in song. Uruguay's Carnival lasts 40 days.

Friends and people 28

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
146	¿De dónde sos?	Where are you from?	¡Qué buen español! ¿De dónde sos?Your Spanish is great! Where are you from?	Everyday The first question you'll get. Answer "soy de..." and ask it back.
147	Un gusto	Nice to meet you	Soy Martín. Un gusto.I'm Martín. Nice to meet you.	Everyday Say it when someone tells you their name. "Mucho gusto" is a bit more formal.
148	Juntarse	To meet up, get together	¿Nos juntamos el sábado a tomar unos mates?Shall we get together on Saturday for some mate?	Everyday The usual verb for meeting up with friends.
149	La barra	Your group of friends	Hoy viene toda la barra a casa.The whole gang is coming over today.	Casual Your crew.
150	Loco	Dude	¿Qué hacés, loco? ¡Qué bueno verte!What's up, dude? Great to see you!	Slang Between friends, mostly men.
151	Gurí / gurisa	Kid, boy / girl (plural gurises)	Mi gurí empieza la escuela en marzo.My boy starts school in March.	Everyday From Guaraní. "La gurisada" is the young crowd.
152	Chiquilín / chiquilina	Young person, kid	Los chiquilines se fueron a la playa.The kids went to the beach.	Everyday Also teens and young adults.
153	Botija	Kid	Cuando era botija jugaba al fútbol en la calle.When I was a kid I played football in the street.	Everyday For boys and girls.
154	Pibe / piba	Young guy / young woman	¿Quién es ese pibe que vino con vos?Who's that guy who came with you?	Casual The main word in Argentina. Uruguayans say it too, but gurí and chiquilín are more local.
155	Mis viejos	My parents	Paso las fiestas en lo de mis viejos.I spend the holidays at my parents' place.	Casual A fond way to say it. "Mi vieja" is mom.
156	Nono / nona	Grandpa / grandma	Los domingos comemos ñoquis en lo de la nona.On Sundays we eat gnocchi at grandma's.	Casual From Italian.
157	Gaucho	A loyal, generous friend	Gracias por llevarme, sos un gaucho.Thanks for the ride, you're a true friend.	Casual Praise for someone who helps you out.
158	Crack / crá	Star, ace	Ese botija es un crá con la pelota.That kid is a star with the ball.	Slang Someone very good at something.
159	Capo	Boss, legend	¡Sos un capo! Lo arreglaste en 5 minutos.You're a legend! You fixed it in 5 minutes.	Slang Warm praise between friends. Also means the boss of a gang.
160	Fachero / fachera	Good-looking, stylish	Mirá qué fachero vino hoy.Look how sharp he looks today.	Slang A light compliment among friends and teens.
161	Mina	Woman, girl	Hay una mina en el laburo que es re divertida.There's a woman at work who's really funny.	Slang Can sound crude to some ears.
162	Cheto / cheta	Posh, snob	Es un barrio re cheto, todo es caro.It's a really posh area, everything's expensive.	Slang Often a little negative.
163	Terraja	Tacky person	No seas terraja, no tires la basura en la playa.Don't be tacky, don't throw trash on the beach.	Slang Bad taste or bad manners. Friends say it about loud music, litter or flashy clothes.
164	Canario	Someone from Canelones; by extension a country person	Mi abuelo es canario, de Canelones.My grandpa's a country man, from Canelones.	Casual Fond or teasing. People from Canelones own it.
165	Garronero	Freeloader	No seas garronero, pagá tu parte.Don't be a freeloader, pay your share.	Slang Teasing between friends, but it stings if you mean it.
166	Vivo / viva	Sly, quick	Ese tachero se hizo el vivo con el precio.That taxi driver tried to be sly with the price.	Casual Smart in a sneaky way.
167	Gallego	Spaniard	El dueño del bar es gallego.The bar's owner is from Spain.	Casual Means any Spaniard, from any region.
168	Tano	Italian, Italian Uruguayan	Mi nono era tano, de Génova.My grandpa was Italian, from Genoa.	Casual Many families have Italian roots.
169	Yorugua	Uruguayan (in reverse)	Soy yorugua, pero vivo en Madrid.I'm Uruguayan, but I live in Madrid.	Slang "Uruguayo" said backwards. Locals use it with pride.
170	Oriental	Uruguayan	Mi abuelo era bien oriental, tomaba mate todo el día.My grandpa was a true Uruguayan, he drank mate all day.	Everyday From the country's old name, the Eastern Republic.
171	Colado / colada	Gatecrasher	¿Y a este quién lo invitó? Vino de colado.And who invited him? He crashed the party.	Casual "Colarse" is to sneak in, at a party or in a queue. Older people may say "cayeron piedras sin llover" when one shows up.
172	Buena onda	Nice, friendly, easy to be around	El dueño del hostel es re buena onda, nos prestó el termo.The hostel owner is really nice, he lent us his thermos.	Casual For people you like. "Mala onda" is the opposite: mean or unfriendly.
173	Plancha	Rough lower-class kid with flashy style	Unos planchas estaban en la esquina con la música alta.Some guys were on the corner with loud music.	Slang Describes a style, and many hear it as a put-down. Use with care.

Reactions and feelings 23

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
174	¡Pa!	Wow!	¡Pa, qué lindo día!Wow, what a beautiful day!	Everyday The local gasp. Stretch it: "¡Paaa!".
175	¡Faaa!	Whoa!	¡Faaa! ¿Te casás?Whoa! You're getting married?	Slang Big surprise, good or bad.
176	Bárbaro	Great	¿Nos vemos a las 8? Bárbaro.See you at 8? Great.	Everyday Agreement and praise.
177	De más	Awesome	El toque de anoche estuvo de más.Last night's gig was awesome.	Slang "Está de más" means it's great.
178	Una masa	Amazing, a gem	Tu amiga es una masa, me cayó re bien.Your friend is a gem, I really liked her.	Slang Mostly about people. Young people say it.
179	Mufado / mufada	Grumpy, in a bad mood	No le hables, hoy está mufado porque perdió Peñarol.Don't talk to him, he's grumpy today because Peñarol lost.	Slang A bad mood that lasts all day.
180	¡Ta loco!	That's crazy!	¿Te vas a Cabo Polonio caminando? ¡Ta loco!You're walking to Cabo Polonio? That's crazy!	Slang Short for "está loco". Shock or awe.
181	Copado	Cool, nice	El hostel es re copado.The hostel is really cool.	Slang Also for people: "un tipo copado". "Me copa" means I love it.
182	Joya	Great, perfect	¿Llegaste bien? Joya.You got here OK? Great.	Slang A quick "perfect" in chats and texts.
183	De menos	Bad, lame	El partido estuvo de menos, ni un gol.The game was lame, not a single goal.	Slang The flip side of "de más".
184	Bosta	Junk, rubbish	Este celular es una bosta.This phone is junk.	Slang A mild, everyday word for junk. The literal meaning is cow dung.
185	¡Qué embole!	How boring!	¡Qué embole este lunes de lluvia!What a boring rainy Monday!	Slang Also "me embola", it bores me.
186	¡Qué garrón!	What a bummer!	Se canceló el vuelo. ¡Qué garrón!The flight got canceled. What a bummer!	Slang For small bad luck, like a late bus or a canceled plan.
187	¡Qué bajón!	What a downer!	Se terminaron las vacaciones, qué bajón.The holidays are over, what a downer.	Casual Safe with anyone. For a sad mood or a letdown.
188	¡Qué paja! / Me da paja	What a drag / I can't be bothered	Me da paja salir con esta lluvia.I can't be bothered to go out in this rain.	Vulgar Very common among friends. Skip it with people you just met. Street use
189	Bien ahí	Nice one, well done	¡Bien ahí! Sacaste el examen.Nice one! You passed the exam.	Casual Praise for something done well. A flat tone can make it sarcastic.
190	Apichonado	Under the weather, down	Estoy medio apichonado, creo que me engripé.I'm a bit under the weather, I think I've got the flu.	Slang Sick or low in mood.
191	Abombado	Dazed, slow (abombado / abombao)	Hoy estoy abombado, dormí 3 horas.I'm in a daze today, I slept 3 hours.	Slang You'll often hear it as "abombao", with the "d" dropped.
192	Podrido	Fed up	Estoy podrido del frío.I'm sick of the cold.	Casual "Me tenés podrido" means you're driving me mad.
193	Chocho	Thrilled	La nona está chocha con el nieto.Grandma is thrilled with her grandson.	Casual Delighted, a bit soft.
194	¡Divino! / ¡Divino día!	Lovely! / What a lovely day!	¡Divino día para ir a la playa!What a lovely day for the beach!	Everyday Very Uruguayan praise for a day, a place or a person.
195	¡La pucha!	Darn!	¡La pucha, me olvidé las llaves!Darn, I forgot my keys!	Casual A soft swear. Safe with anyone. A jokier stand-in is "¡la punta de un sauce verde!".
196	Yeta	Bad luck	¡Qué yeta! Llovió toda la semana.What bad luck! It rained all week.	Slang A "yetatore" is a jinx.

Fillers and everyday words 24

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
197	Bueno	Yes, please (to an offer)	¿Querés un mate? Bueno, gracias.Do you want a mate? Yes, please, thanks.	Everyday A warm yes. Also "well" at the start of a sentence.
198	Pronto	Ready, all set	¿Estás pronto? El taxi ya llegó.Are you ready? The taxi's here.	Everyday Means ready. "Ta pronto" means all set.
199	¡Qué macana!	What a shame, what a pain	Se cortó la luz y no pude cargar el celular, ¡qué macana!The power went out and I couldn't charge my phone, what a pain!	Casual Safe with anyone, any age. "Es una macana" means it's a shame or a hassle.
200	Cachila	Old car, a beat-up car	Mi viejo todavía anda en una cachila del 70.My dad still drives a car from 1970.	Slang Any old car, from a classic to a wreck.
201	De una	Sure, for sure	¿Vamos a la playa? ¡De una!Shall we go to the beach? For sure!	Slang An eager yes to a plan.
202	Tranqui	Relax, no worries	Tranqui, el bondi pasa cada 10 minutos.Relax, the bus comes every 10 minutes.	Casual Short for "tranquilo".
203	Pila	A lot	Había pila de gente en la playa.There were tons of people on the beach.	Everyday Also "una pila de tiempo", ages.
204	¿Viste?	You know?	Es lejos, ¿viste? Mejor tomá un taxi.It's far, you know? Better take a taxi.	Everyday Tags the end of a sentence.
205	Igual	Anyway, still	Llueve, pero igual vamos.It's raining, but we're going anyway.	Everyday You'll hear it in almost every chat. It also means "the same".
206	Capaz	Maybe	Capaz que vamos a Punta mañana.Maybe we'll go to Punta tomorrow.	Everyday Locals say it far more than "quizás".
207	Coso	Thingy	Pasame el coso ese de la mesa.Pass me that thingy on the table.	Casual When you forget the word.
208	De vuelta	Again	¿Se cortó la luz de vuelta?Did the power go out again?	Everyday The usual word for "otra vez" here. "Estoy de vuelta" means I'm back.
209	Un cacho	A bit	Dame un cacho de pan.Give me a bit of bread.	Casual Fine at home and with friends. "Un cacho de tiempo" is a while.
210	Re	Really, very	Está re lindo el día.The day's really nice.	Slang Goes in front of almost any word.
211	Rezongar	To scold, to tell off	Mi vieja me rezongó por llegar tarde.My mom told me off for getting home late.	Everyday The word every Uruguayan kid hears from their parents.
212	Posta	For real	¿Posta te vas mañana?Are you really leaving tomorrow?	Slang "De posta" means for real.
213	Descuajeringado	Falling apart, a mess	Esta silla está toda descuajeringada, no te sentés.This chair is falling apart, don't sit on it.	Casual For worn-out things, and for a person who looks a mess.
214	Al pedo	For nothing / with nothing to do	Fuimos al pedo, el museo cierra los lunes.We went for nothing, the museum is closed on Mondays.	Slang A bit crude, but everyone says it. "Estoy al pedo" means I'm free and bored.
215	¿Tamos?	Deal? Are we good?	Te pago mañana, ¿tamos?I'll pay you tomorrow, deal?	Casual Short for "¿estamos?". Answer "tamos" to agree.
216	Ni ahí	Not at all	No me gusta ni ahí.I don't like it at all.	Slang Teen and twenties talk. "No estar ni ahí" is to not care at all.
217	Listo el pollo	Done, that's that	Lavamos los platos y listo el pollo.We washed the dishes and that's that.	Casual Says a job is finished. "The chicken is ready."
218	Manguear	To bum, to borrow (often money)	¿Te puedo manguear un pucho?Can I bum a cigarette off you?	Slang Asking for something small for free.
219	Laburo / laburar	Work / to work	Mañana laburo temprano, así que no salgo.I work early tomorrow, so I'm not going out.	Slang From Italian "lavoro". Everyone says it.
220	Hacer los mandados	To do the shopping, run errands	Voy a hacer los mandados al almacén.I'm going to the corner shop to do the shopping.	Everyday Mostly the food shopping for the house.

Time and plans 16

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
221	Al toque	Right away	Pido el taxi y llega al toque.I'll order the taxi and it'll be here right away.	Slang "Un toque" alone means a moment.
222	¿Te prendés?	Are you in?	Vamos a la playa, ¿te prendés?We're going to the beach, are you in?	Slang The answer is "me prendo".
223	¿En qué quedamos?	So what's the plan?	Bueno, ¿en qué quedamos? ¿A las 8 en la Rambla?OK, so what's the plan? 8 at the Rambla?	Everyday Pins down a time and place. "Quedamos en..." means we agreed to...
224	Bancame	Hang on, wait for me	Bancame un toque que busco la billetera.Hang on a sec, I'll grab my wallet.	Slang "Bancar" is to wait for or put up with.
225	¿Te animás?	Are you up for...?	¿Te animás a probar la morcilla?Are you up for trying the blood sausage?	Everyday Asks if someone is up for a plan or a dare. To ask for a favor, say "¿me hacés el favor de...?".
226	Agendame	Save my number	Agendame y me mandás un mensaje.Save my number and send me a message.	Everyday "Agendar" is to save a contact or set a date.
227	El finde	The weekend	¿Qué hacés el finde?What are you up to this weekend?	Casual Short for "fin de semana".
228	De tardecita / de nochecita	Late afternoon / at dusk	Pasá de tardecita y después nos juntamos de nochecita en la Rambla.Come by in the late afternoon, and then we'll meet on the Rambla at dusk.	Everyday "De tardecita" is just before dark. "De nochecita" is as night falls.
229	Zafar	To get out of it, to scrape by	No estudié nada, pero zafé en el examen.I didn't study at all, but I scraped through the exam.	Slang Also to dodge a plan.
230	Pegame un grito	Let me know, give me a shout	Cuando llegues, pegame un grito.When you get there, give me a shout.	Casual It means call, text or send a voice note, whichever is easiest. Older people say "pegame un tubo", from the old phone receiver. Street use
231	De a ratos	Now and then	De a ratos sale el sol, pero llevá el paraguas.Now and then the sun comes out, but bring your umbrella.	Everyday Common for weather and moods. Safe with anyone.
232	Clavar	To stand someone up, to ghost	Me dejó clavado y no vino a la cita.He stood me up and didn't show for the date.	Slang You'll hear "me dejó clavado".
233	Semana de Turismo	Easter week	En Semana de Turismo nos vamos a acampar.During Easter week we're going camping.	Everyday Uruguay's name for Holy Week. Most offices close.
234	Quedar en veremos	To stay up in the air	Lo del viaje quedó en veremos.The trip is still up in the air.	Casual A plan nobody has confirmed.
235	Noche de la Nostalgia	August 24th party night	Para la Noche de la Nostalgia hay fiestas con música de los 80.On Nostalgia Night there are parties with 80s music.	Everyday The big night out before the August 25th holiday.
236	Ponele la firma	You can count on it	¿Venís mañana al asado? Ponele la firma.Coming to the barbecue tomorrow? Count on it.	Casual A sure yes. Plain "ponele" means "let's say", a rough guess.

Teasing and insults 24

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
237	Nabo	Dimwit, fool	¡No seas nabo, te dejaste las llaves adentro!Don't be a fool, you left the keys inside!	Slang A soft insult friends use. Literally "turnip".
238	Gil	Fool, sucker	Me cobraron de más por gil.They overcharged me for being a sucker.	Slang Mild between friends. Said by a stranger, it's a real insult.
239	Boludo	Idiot, dude	¡Qué boludo, dejé el celular en el bondi!What an idiot I am, I left my phone on the bus!	Vulgar Dude to friends, an insult to strangers. Uruguayans say it less than Argentines.
240	Pelotudo	Jerk, idiot	Ese pelotudo casi me choca.That idiot almost hit me.	Vulgar Stronger than "boludo".
241	Salame	Dummy	Sos un salame, era para mañana.You dummy, it was for tomorrow.	Casual Mild and almost fond.
242	Bagarto	Ugly person	Dice que el novio es un bagarto, pero es divino.She says her boyfriend is ugly, but he's a sweetheart.	Vulgar Rude about someone's looks, so keep it for friends who joke like that. A mix of "bagayo" and "lagarto".
243	Hinchapelotas	Pain in the neck	No seas hinchapelotas, ya te lo devuelvo.Don't be a pain, I'll give it back to you.	Vulgar Rude. Fine with close friends, never with strangers.
244	Pesado	Annoying, heavy	¡Qué pesado sos con ese tema!You're so annoying about that!	Everyday Mild and safe with anyone. Friends say it to someone who won't drop a topic.
245	Jorobar	To annoy	Dejá de jorobar, estoy laburando.Stop bugging me, I'm working.	Casual A clean way to say "stop it".
246	Basurear	To put someone down	No lo basurees, él no hizo nada.Don't put him down, he didn't do anything.	Casual To treat someone like trash with words.
247	Tomar para el churrete	To make fun of, to not take seriously	Me tomaron para el churrete por mi acento.They made fun of me for my accent.	Slang Friendly teasing, River Plate style.
248	Bolazo	Big lie, tall tale	Eso que te contó es un bolazo.What he told you is a tall tale.	Slang A "bolacero" tells them.
249	Amarrete	Stingy, a tightwad	No seas amarrete, invitá una ronda.Don't be stingy, buy a round.	Casual Friendly teasing for someone who never pays.
250	Chanta	Fraud, unreliable person	No le prestes plata, es un chanta.Don't lend him money, he's a fraud.	Slang For someone who promises and never delivers.
251	Sotreta	Scoundrel	El sotreta se fue sin pagar.The scoundrel left without paying.	Slang Older people say it most, often about someone who cheats or skips a bill.
252	Alcahuete	Suck-up, snitch	No seas alcahuete del profesor.Don't be the teacher's pet.	Casual Common at school and work. It also means a snitch.
253	Pecho frío	Gutless, no fight in them	Ese delantero es un pecho frío.That striker has no guts.	Slang A football insult. The opposite of "garra charrúa".
254	Arrugar	To chicken out	Iba a saltar, pero arrugó.He was going to jump, but he chickened out.	Slang Friends tease with it. "No arrugues" means don't back out.
255	Chusma	Gossip, nosy person	No seas chusma, no es asunto tuyo.Don't be nosy, it's none of your business.	Casual Also "chusmear", to gossip or snoop.
256	Opa	Fool, dope	¡Qué opa! Me bajé en la parada equivocada.What a dope! I got off at the wrong stop.	Vulgar A put-down that started as a word for a person with a mental disability. People often use it on themselves, but don't aim it at a stranger.
257	Pajarón / pajarona	Airhead	Sos un pajarón, te olvidaste el pasaporte otra vez.You airhead, you forgot your passport again.	Casual Friendly teasing for someone with their head in the clouds.
258	Careta	Fake, a poser	Es re careta, en Instagram es otra persona.He's such a poser, he's a different person on Instagram.	Slang Also someone who stays away from drugs and parties.
259	Agrandado / agrandada	Cocky, full of yourself	Desde que ganó, anda re agrandado.Since he won, he's been really full of himself.	Slang Teasing for a show-off.
260	La concha de tu madre	A very strong curse	¡La concha de tu madre, me pisaste!Motherf*er, you stepped on my foot!	Vulgar Very strong. You'll hear it at football, but don't say it.

Love and flirting 19

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
261	Tirar onda	To flirt	Me parece que te está tirando onda.I think she's flirting with you.	Slang Friends use it to point out a flirt. Light and playful.
262	Pata dura	Someone who can't dance	No me saques a bailar, soy re pata dura.Don't ask me to dance, I've got 2 left feet.	Casual Say it about yourself when someone asks you to dance. It gets a laugh, and they'll often pull you up anyway.
263	Dar bola	To pay attention, show interest	Le hablé toda la noche y ni bola me dio.I talked to her all night and she ignored me.	Slang "No dar bola" is to ignore.
264	Clavar el visto	To leave someone on read	Le escribí ayer y me clavó el visto.I texted him yesterday and he left me on read.	Slang The "visto" is the read tick on WhatsApp. Friends use it to moan about a crush.
265	Chamuyar	To sweet-talk	La chamuyó toda la noche en el boliche.He sweet-talked her all night at the club.	Slang "Chamuyo" is the smooth talk itself.
266	Estar bueno / buena	To be hot	Ese muchacho del boliche está re bueno.That guy at the club is really hot.	Slang Careful: "es bueno" means kind. Street use
267	Tirarse un lance	To make a move	Me tiré un lance y me dio el número.I made a move and she gave me her number.	Slang Friends say it the morning after, about the night before. Light and joking.
268	Chapar	To make out	Los vi chapando en la puerta del boliche.I saw them making out at the club door.	Slang Teen and twenties word. Older people say "besarse".
269	Levante	A pickup, a fling	Anoche se fue con un levante.Last night she left with someone she met.	Slang Also "ir de levante", to go out looking.
270	Metejón	Crush, infatuation	Tiene un metejón con la vecina.He has a huge crush on the neighbor.	Slang Friends use it to tease someone who's lovesick.
271	¿Te puedo invitar algo?	Can I buy you a drink?	Hola, ¿te puedo invitar algo de tomar?Hi, can I buy you a drink?	Casual "Invitar" here means you pay. The easy opener at a bar.
272	Bichar	To check out, to watch	Ese chiquilín del boliche te está bichando.That guy at the club is checking you out.	Slang Also to spy.
273	Amigovio	Friend with benefits	No es mi novio, es mi amigovio.He's not my boyfriend, he's a friend with benefits.	Slang "Amigo" plus "novio".
274	Hacer gancho	To set 2 people up	Le hice gancho con mi prima.I set him up with my cousin.	Casual Friends say it about matchmaking. Ask "¿me hacés gancho?" if you like someone in their group.
275	Gordo / gorda	Honey, buddy (a fond nickname)	Gorda, ¿qué querés comer hoy?Honey, what do you want to eat today?	Casual A fond nickname for your partner, and between close friends too.
276	¿Querés bailar?	Do you want to dance?	Me encanta esta canción, ¿querés bailar?I love this song, do you want to dance?	Everyday The plain opener at a boliche or a wedding. If the answer is "no, gracias", smile and move on.
277	Estar metido / metida	To be smitten, in love	Está re metida con el chiquilín de la facultad.She's really into the guy from uni.	Casual Friends say it about someone who can't stop talking about a crush.
278	Guampudo	Cheated on	Todos sabían que era guampudo menos él.Everyone knew he was being cheated on except him.	Vulgar Rude, so keep it for close friends. From "guampa", horn. "Poner las guampas" is to cheat on someone.
279	Garchar	To have sex	¿Garcharon o no?Did they screw or not?	Vulgar Crude. Only with close friends.

Sayings and expressions 21

#	Phrase	Meaning	Example	When to use
280	¡Uruguay nomá!	Go Uruguay!	¡Ganamos 2 a 0! ¡Uruguay nomá!We won 2 to 0! Go Uruguay!	Casual "Nomá" is "no más". A proud cheer.
281	El paisito	Uruguay, "the little country"	Extraño el paisito, bo.I miss Uruguay, man.	Casual A fond nickname. People say it with love.
282	Un aplauso para el asador	A round of applause for the grill cook	¡Qué asado! Un aplauso para el asador.What a barbecue! A round of applause for the grill cook.	Everyday Said at every asado. Join in.
283	Vayan pelando las chauchas	You lost, accept it	¿3 a 0? Vayan pelando las chauchas.3 to 0? You might as well give up.	Slang From amateur football, where the losing team peeled the green beans for the asado.
284	Es lo que hay, valor	That's what there is	No hay más bondis, es lo que hay, valor.There are no more buses, that's what there is, buddy.	Slang Take it or leave it.
285	A llorar al cuartito	Tough luck	¿Perdiste? A llorar al cuartito.You lost? Tough luck.	Slang "Go cry in your room." Teasing.
286	Garra charrúa	Uruguayan fighting spirit	Ganamos con garra charrúa.We won with pure Uruguayan grit.	Everyday The national pride phrase, mostly about football.
287	Vamo arriba	Come on, let's go	¡Vamo arriba, que se puede!Come on, we can do it!	Casual Cheers up a team or a friend.
288	Agarrate Catalina	Brace yourself	Viene el jefe de mal humor. ¡Agarrate Catalina!The boss is coming in a bad mood. Brace yourself!	Casual Something rough is about to happen.
289	El día del golero	Never	¿Cuándo te va a pagar? El día del golero.When will he pay you? Never.	Slang There's no goalkeeper's day.
290	Donde el diablo perdió el poncho	In the middle of nowhere	Vive donde el diablo perdió el poncho.He lives in the middle of nowhere.	Casual Very far away.
291	No tiene gollete	It makes no sense	Lo que dijo no tiene gollete.What he said makes no sense.	Slang "Gollete" is the neck of a jug.
292	Atado con alambre	Held together with wire	La heladera anda, pero está atada con alambre.The fridge works, but it's held together with wire.	Casual A rough, makeshift fix. Locals say it with a wink.
293	Curado de espanto	Nothing shocks you any more	Con 3 hijos, ya estoy curado de espanto.With 3 kids, nothing shocks me any more.	Everyday Said with a shrug by someone who's seen it all. Safe with anyone.
294	¿Sos hijo del vidriero?	You're blocking my view	Correte, ¿sos hijo del vidriero?Move over, are you the glazier's son?	Slang "Are you the glazier's son?" Said to someone in front of the TV.
295	Abrí los ganchos	Watch out, pay attention	Abrí los ganchos en esa esquina.Keep your eyes open on that corner.	Slang "Ganchos" are eyes. Locals say it to warn a friend, often about thieves.
296	Bailar en una pata	To be over the moon	Cuando le dieron la beca, bailaba en una pata.When she got the scholarship, she was over the moon.	Casual "To dance on 1 leg." Safe with anyone.
297	Del tiempo del miriñaque	Ancient, really old	Ese celular es del tiempo del miriñaque.That phone is ancient.	Casual A miriñaque was an old hoop skirt. Say it about old phones, cars or jokes.
298	Difícil que el chancho chifle	It'll never happen	¿Que él pida perdón? Difícil que el chancho chifle.Him say sorry? Pigs will fly first.	Casual "Hard for the pig to whistle."
299	Estar en la lona	To be broke, or worn out	Después del Carnaval quedé en la lona, no tengo un peso.After Carnival I'm broke, I don't have a peso.	Slang From boxing, where a knocked-down fighter lies on the canvas. It also means feeling down.
300	Andá a cantarle a Gardel	Tell it to someone else	¿Que no tenías señal? Andá a cantarle a Gardel.You had no signal? Tell it to someone else.	Casual Carlos Gardel was the great tango singer. You say it when you don't buy an excuse.

Around Uruguay 39

Most slang works all over Uruguay, but 7 places have names and words of their own.

Montevideo

The capital, where almost half the country lives. These are the names and habits you hear in the city.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
La Ciudad Vieja	The old port district at the west end of the city	Trabajo en la Ciudad Vieja, a 2 cuadras del puerto.I work in the Old City, 2 blocks from the port.
El Mercado	The Mercado del Puerto, the grill hall by the port	Almorzamos en el Mercado, pedimos un asado.We had lunch at the Mercado, we ordered a mixed grill.
Ir a Tristán	To go to the Sunday street market on Tristán Narvaja	Los domingos vamos a Tristán a mirar libros viejos.On Sundays we go to Tristán to look at old books.
Pocitos	The beach barrio where many locals and visitors stay	Alquilamos un apartamento en Pocitos.We rented an apartment in Pocitos.
La Teja	A working-class barrio west of the center, by the bay	Mi tío tiene un almacén en La Teja.My uncle has a corner shop in La Teja.

Punta del Este and Maldonado

The resort coast 2 hours east of Montevideo, packed with visitors from December to March.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
¿En qué parada estás?	Which beach stop are you at?	Llegué a la Brava, ¿en qué parada estás?I'm at the Brava beach, which stop are you at?
Parador	A restaurant or bar right on the sand	Almorzamos en un parador de la Mansa.We had lunch at a beach restaurant on the Mansa.
La bajada	The path down to the beach, named after its parador	Bajamos por la bajada del parador y ahí nos quedamos.We went down the beach path by the restaurant and stayed there.
Los Dedos	The giant hand sculpture on Brava beach, a meeting point	Nos vemos en los Dedos a las 6.See you at the hand sculpture at 6.
Puntaesteño / puntaesteña	Someone from Punta del Este	Los puntaesteños se van a la playa en marzo, cuando no hay nadie.The locals go to the beach in March, when it's empty.

Colonia del Sacramento

The old river town across from Buenos Aires, a first stop for many visitors.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
El Barrio Histórico	The walled old town with cobbled streets	Caminamos por el Barrio Histórico toda la tarde.We walked around the old town all afternoon.
El Real de San Carlos	The area at the edge of town with the old bullring	Fuimos en bici hasta el Real de San Carlos.We biked out to the Real de San Carlos.
La Calle de los Suspiros	The famous cobbled lane in the old town	Sacamos una foto en la Calle de los Suspiros.We took a photo on the Lane of Sighs.
El Buquebus	The ferry from Buenos Aires	Llegamos en el Buquebus de las 9.We arrived on the 9 o'clock ferry.
Coloniense	Someone from Colonia	La dueña de la posada es coloniense.The owner of the inn is from Colonia.

Rocha

The wild Atlantic coast up to Brazil, with Cabo Polonio, La Paloma and Chuy. Near Chuy, on the Brazil line, many people use full "tú" verbs.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
El camión	The 4x4 truck that crosses the dunes to Cabo Polonio	Tomamos el camión hasta el Polonio.We took the truck to Cabo Polonio.
Los lobos	The sea lions on the rocks at Cabo Polonio	Vimos los lobos desde el faro.We saw the sea lions from the lighthouse.
El faro	The lighthouse on the point, a landmark and viewpoint	Subimos al faro para ver el atardecer.We climbed the lighthouse to watch the sunset.
Veraneante	A summer visitor	En enero el pueblo se llena de veraneantes.In January the town fills up with summer visitors.
¿Tú tienes...?	Do you have...? (full "tú" verb, heard in Chuy)	¿Tú tienes cambio para el bondi?Do you have change for the bus?
Rochense	Someone from Rocha	Mi pareja es rochense, de Castillos.My partner is from Rocha, from Castillos.

The interior and the campo

The cattle country inland from the coast, with towns like Tacuarembó, Durazno and Salto and ranches that take guests.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
Mi pago	My home turf, where I'm from	Para las fiestas vuelvo a mi pago.For the holidays I go back home.
Paisano	Country man, good at farm work	Mi abuelo es paisano, sabe domar caballos.My grandpa is a real country man, he can break horses.
¡Velay!	Well, look at that!	¡Velay, llegó la lluvia!Well, look at that, the rain's here!
Quincho	A shed or covered area beside a house, for the grill	Armamos el asado en el quincho.We set up the barbecue in the shed.
La zafra	The busy season for a farm job	En la zafra de la esquila no hay domingos.During shearing season there are no Sundays off.

Salto and Paysandú

River towns on the Uruguay river in the northwest, known for hot springs and a beer week.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
Salteño / salteña	Someone from Salto	Mi abuela es salteña, de la costa del río.My grandma is from Salto, from the river bank.
Las termas	The hot springs near Salto	Los domingos de invierno vamos a las termas.On winter Sundays we go to the hot springs.
Salto Grande	The big dam on the river, a day trip from Salto	Fuimos a Salto Grande a ver la represa.We went to Salto Grande to see the dam.
Sanducero / sanducera	Someone from Paysandú	Los sanduceros son hinchas de la cerveza.People from Paysandú love their beer.
La Semana de la Cerveza	Paysandú's beer week in spring	Vamos a la Semana de la Cerveza en Paysandú.We're going to Beer Week in Paysandú.

Rivera, Artigas, Chuy and the Brazil border

Twin towns on the Brazil line, where many people speak "portuñol", a mix of Spanish and Portuguese.

Phrase	Meaning	Example
Bagayo / bagayero	Small-scale smuggled goods / the person who carries them	El bagayero cruza todos los días con bolsas de Brasil.The smuggler crosses every day with bags from Brazil.
Jururu	Sad, down	Hoy ando medio jururu.I'm feeling a bit down today.
Bulishe	Small corner shop	Voy al bulishe a comprar pan.I'm going to the corner shop for bread.
Bóia	Food, grub	¿Ya está la bóia? Tengo hambre.Is the food ready? I'm hungry.
Brincá	To play (like kids)	Los gurises están brincando en la plaza.The kids are playing in the square.
Barúio	Noise, racket	¡Qué barúio hacen los vecinos!What a racket the neighbors are making!
Aflósha	Leave me alone, don't bother me	¡Aflósha, que estoy cansado!Leave me alone, I'm tired!
Más corto que carnaval en Tranqueras	Over in a flash	El verano fue más corto que carnaval en Tranqueras.The summer was over in a flash.

Don't mix these up

Word	In Uruguay	Elsewhere
Gracias (in a mate circle)	No more for me	Thank you
Coger	To have sex. Very vulgar.	To take or grab (Spain). Say "tomar el bondi" here.
Salado	Expensive, hard, or amazing	Salty
Pronto	Ready ("¿estás pronto?")	Soon
Caña	Cane liquor, served in a small glass	A small draft beer (Spain)
Concha	Vulgar word for vagina, in many curses	A seashell
Pija	Vulgar word for penis	Posh (Spain)
Fiaca	Strong hunger ("tengo una fiaca")	Laziness (Argentina)
Pila	A lot ("pila de gente")	A battery
Bombacha	Women's underwear. "Bombacha de campo" is the gaucho's baggy trousers.	Panties are "bragas" in Spain; "bombacha" isn't used there
Pancho	A hot dog. Also a nickname for Francisco.	Only a nickname for Francisco (Mexico, Spain)
Caliente	A toasted ham and cheese sandwich ("un caliente"). Also angry ("está caliente conmigo"), and crude for horny	Hot (temperature)
Guarda	The bus conductor who checks tickets	A guard
Buzo	A sweatshirt	A diver
Caravanas	Earrings	Caravans or convoys
Pendejo	A kid or teenager, often scornful. Don't use it for someone's child.	An idiot (Mexico), pubic hair (Spain)
Paja / pajero	Vulgar: masturbation, a wanker. "Me da paja" means I can't be bothered.	Straw
Chucho	A chill or a fright	A dog (Mexico, Central America)
Tortilla	An omelette, often with potato	A corn or flour flatbread (Mexico)
Torta	Cake	A sandwich (Mexico)
Manteca	Butter	Lard (Mexico)
Caldera	The kettle you heat mate water in	A boiler
Liceo	High school	A cultural club or a posh school (Spain)

Questions people ask

What are 5 Uruguayan slang words you should know?

Start with "ta" (OK), "bo" (hey), "dale" (OK, go ahead), "pila" (a lot) and "bárbaro" (great). You'll hear all 5 on your first day.

How do you say "hi" in Uruguay?

Say "hola" or "buenas", then "¿qué hacés?" or, with friends, "¿qué hacés, bo?". Friends and family greet each other with 1 kiss on the right cheek, men included.

What is the slang term for "cool" in Uruguay?

"De más" is the most Uruguayan: "está de más". You'll also hear "bárbaro", "copado", "joya" and "una masa".

What does "ta" mean in Uruguay?

"Ta" is short for "está" and means OK, fine or got it. Uruguayans close almost every chat with it, and "ta, ta" means sure, I get it.

What does "bo" mean in Uruguay?

"Bo" is how you call a friend, like "hey" or "dude": "Bo, ¿venís?". It may come from "vos" or from "botija", kid, and it's the most Uruguayan word after "ta".

What does "salado" mean in Uruguay?

"Salado" means expensive: "Punta en enero está salado." It can also mean hard, as in "el examen estuvo salado", or amazing.

What does "che" mean in Uruguay?

"Che" means "hey" and grabs someone's attention: "Che, ¿sabés dónde queda?". Uruguayans use it, but "bo" sounds more local.

What does "pa" mean in Uruguay?

"¡Pa!" is a gasp, like "wow". The longer you stretch it, "¡paaa!", the bigger the surprise, good or bad.

What does "Uruguay nomá" mean?

It's "Uruguay no más" with the final "s" dropped, as locals do. It's a proud cheer, like "Go Uruguay!", when something great happens, mostly in football.

What is some funny Uruguayan slang?

Try "¿sos hijo del vidriero?" (move, you're blocking my view), "el día del golero" (never) and "vivir en un táper" (to live in a bubble). Locals laugh when a visitor uses one.

What are some Uruguay slang insults?

The common ones are "nabo", "gil", "salame", "boludo", "pelotudo" and "terraja". "Nabo" and "salame" are mild, "boludo" depends on the tone, and "la concha de tu madre" is the strongest.

What are some Uruguayan sayings and idioms?

"Es lo que hay, valor" (take it or leave it), "atado con alambre" (a makeshift fix), "a llorar al cuartito" (tough luck) and "garra charrúa" (fighting spirit) are classics, and you'll find 27 in the sayings section above. You'll also hear sayings used all over the Spanish-speaking world, like "a caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes", "en boca cerrada no entran moscas" and "del dicho al hecho hay un gran trecho".

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

Say "gracias" for thank you. For you're welcome, you'll hear "de nada", "merece", a plain "no" and "a las órdenes".

How do you say dude or friend in Uruguay?

Friends call each other "bo" or "loco". A kid or young guy is a "gurí" or a "botija", and your group of friends is "la barra".

What language do they speak in Uruguay?

Spanish, in its River Plate form, with "vos" and the "sh" sound for "ll" and "y". Near the Brazilian border many people also speak a mix of Spanish and Portuguese.

Is Uruguayan Spanish hard to understand?

It's fast, and the "sh" sound for "ll" and "y" and the dropped "s" take a few days to catch. Learn "ta", "bo" and the "vos" verbs first, and the rest gets easier.

Is Uruguayan slang the same as Argentinian slang?

They share a lot, like "bondi", "laburo" and "guita". But "ta", "bo", "gurí", "botija", "championes" and "bizcochos" are Uruguay's own, and here "pronto" means ready.

Slang in other countries

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Sources

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