10 Colorful Spanish Idioms for Everyday Conversations
Spanish idioms can make a familiar conversation suddenly feel unfamiliar. In this lesson, Lucía introduces ten colorful expressions that help you recognise what people mean beyond the literal words.
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Try it yourself
Pick three idioms from the video and write down what each means, rather than translating it word for word. Make a short example for each, then listen again and repeat Lucía’s pronunciation and rhythm.
Watch the original lesson on YouTube.
Edited lesson transcript and examples
Read the complete substantive lesson in its original order. This readable transcript is edited from the full original manual English captions and original automatic caption track, with Spanish forms and examples checked against the actual video graphics. Caption errors and punctuation are repaired. Contextual English translations and labelled learner notes are additions; the instructor’s coaching, humor and teaching priorities are retained. Chapter timestamps are approximate. Music and the brand bumper are omitted.
The original lesson is for adults and teaches sexual idioms, including vulgar language. Its warning, examples, register and jokes are retained. The Cuenca origin anecdote is explicitly presented as an unverified story told in the video.
- 0:00 — Ten colorful adult idioms
- 0:58 — 1. Liarse con alguien
- 1:39 — 2. Echar un polvo
- 2:16 — 3. Llevar a alguien al huerto
- 2:58 — Study guide and a cute name
- 3:24 — 4. Echar un kiki
- 4:06 — 5. Tocar la zambomba
- 5:12 — 6. Acostarse con alguien
- 5:55 — 7. Tirarse a alguien
- 6:39 — 8. Poner mirando a Cuenca
- 7:30 — 9. Jugar al teto
- 8:11 — 10. Mojar el churro
0:00 — Ten colorful adult idioms
You’ve probably learned the basics in a Spanish textbook, but did anyone teach you how Spaniards really talk about sex? Today I’m revealing ten idioms you’ll never learn in class. Some are funny, some are weird, and I honestly hesitated to include the last one. But you’re here to learn real Spanish, right?
An idiom is a group of words with a figurative meaning. You can’t usually translate it word for word and understand what it means. We’ll start with softer ones and work up to the playful, cheeky ones. By number five, you’ll blush if you haven’t already. And number ten? Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Before we get to the act: this video is for adults, no kids beyond this point. Let’s start soft and then raise the temperature.
0:58 — 1. Liarse con alguien
Liarse con alguien
Example translation: To hook up with someone, in the context of this lesson.
Literally, this is to get tangled up with someone. In slang, it means to hook up, mainly kissing—though that can lead to sex.
El sábado me lie con Javi
Example translation: I hooked up with Javi on Saturday.
Learner note — Spelling of lie: The video writes lié. Under current Spanish spelling, the first-person singular preterite lie has no written accent. The noun lío below keeps its accent; it is a different form. Source: RAE dictionary.
¿Os habéis liado?
Example translation: Have you hooked up?
And estar liado con alguien is used for being involved with someone. The video describes this as having an affair.
Samuel y Alejandro están liados
Example translation: Samuel and Alejandro are involved with each other.
Learner note — Relationship context: Liarse or estar liado with someone does not by itself mean that either person is cheating on a partner. English affair can imply adultery, so involved with each other is a contextual translation here. Source: RAE dictionary.
Un lío
Example translation: A bundle; a tangle; a mess.
A lío—a bundle—can lead to… well, you know what!
1:39 — 2. Echar un polvo
Echar un polvo
Example translation: To have sex; to have a shag, in vulgar slang.
Literally, throw some dust or powder. It sounds strange, but polvo is a slang word for sex. The next expressions get even weirder.
María está muy contenta, parece que ha echado un polvo
Example translation: María is very happy; it looks as though she’s had sex.
No veo a Dani, igual está echando un polvo con la rubia
Example translation: I can’t see Dani; maybe he’s having sex with the blonde woman.
Estás muy triste últimamente, necesitas un buen polvo
Example translation: You’ve been very sad lately; you need a good shag.
That last line is the cheeky joke in the lesson. Did that sound weird? Wait for the next one.
2:16 — 3. Llevar a alguien al huerto
Llevar a alguien al huerto
Example translation: To seduce someone, in the sexual context here.
Literally, take someone to the vegetable patch. We’re not picking tomatoes! In this lesson, it’s about getting someone into bed. It isn’t especially vulgar, but it isn’t particularly romantic either.
Es la tercera cita… esta noche, me la llevo al huerto
Example translation: It’s the third date… tonight, I’m going to seduce her.
Luisa se está liando con Juan. Yo creo que se lo va a llevar al huerto
Example translation: Luisa is hooking up with Juan. I think she’s going to seduce him.
Learner note — Meaning in context: Llevar a alguien al huerto can mean to persuade someone or to seduce them sexually. The sexual meaning is the one taught here; the expression does not necessarily state that sex has already taken place. Source: RAE dictionary.
2:58 — Study guide and a cute name
These expressions are fun, but you still need a solid foundation. Download My Daily Spanish’s free study guide by scanning the QR code in the video or using the link in its description. It gives you a step-by-step process for learning Spanish faster. I’m getting nervous about number five—oh my God—but first, number four has a cute name.
3:24 — 4. Echar un kiki
Echar un kiki
Example translation: To have sex; to have a quickie, in the examples here.
Literally, throw a kiki. Kiki is a word for sex. Can you guess which English word the video connects it to? Quickie—a quick encounter.
Learner note — Origin and meaning: The RAE records kiki, also quiqui, as a vulgar word for sex. Its origin is expressive, possibly influenced by English quickie; the English derivation is not certain. It need not always mean a brief encounter. Source: RAE dictionary.
Mi madre ha echado un kiki con el vecino
Example translation: My mother had a quickie with the neighbor.
De vez en cuando Pablo y yo echamos un kiki
Example translation: Pablo and I have a quickie from time to time.
Are you blushing yet? I’m going red. Here comes number five.
4:06 — 5. Tocar la zambomba
Tocar la zambomba
Example translation: To masturbate, in the vulgar slang context shown.
To play the zambomba. A zambomba is a traditional friction percussion instrument, popular in southern Spain, especially Andalusia, at Christmas. Look at how you play it in the demonstration: rubbing the stick up and down. You can’t unsee it now, can you? In this sexual metaphor, it’s about masturbation by someone with a penis.
¿Dónde está tu hermano?
Example translation: Where’s your brother?
En su cuarto, estará tocando la zambomba
Example translation: In his room; he’s probably masturbating.
No digas eso de tu hermano
Example translation: Don’t say that about your brother.
¡Au!
Example translation: Ouch!
Use that one with friends! If this is making your Spanish spicy, give the video a like and subscribe.
5:12 — 6. Acostarse con alguien
Acostarse
Example translation: To go to bed.
Acostarse on its own is simply to go to bed.
Ayer me acosté a las 11
Example translation: I went to bed at 11 yesterday.
Acostarse con alguien
Example translation: To sleep with someone, in the sexual context here.
But add con alguien, and in the context of this lesson, you know what it means.
¿Qué tal con Pedro ayer?
Example translation: How did it go with Pedro yesterday?
Nos acostamos…
Example translation: We slept together…
He escuchado que Alberto se ha acostado con Marta
Example translation: I’ve heard that Alberto has slept with Marta.
Learner note — Sexual or literal meaning: As in English sleep with, context matters: acostarse con alguien can refer to sex, but it can also describe literally going to bed with someone. The examples here use the sexual meaning. Source: RAE dictionary.
The next is more common in this kind of slang, and the last three are crazy. Wait for them!
5:55 — 7. Tirarse a alguien
Tirarse a alguien
Example translation: To bang someone, in vulgar slang.
Literally, throw yourself at someone. This expression is stronger and more vulgar: to bang someone.
Mi amiga Estefanía se ha tirado al hermano de Pepe
Example translation: My friend Estefanía has banged Pepe’s brother.
¿Qué tal con Natalia? ¿Te la has tirado?
Example translation: How did it go with Natalia? Did you bang her?
These last three are the best. Number ten is my favorite.
6:39 — 8. Poner mirando a Cuenca
Poner mirando a Cuenca
Example translation: To bang someone, in the vulgar sexual use illustrated here.
Literally, put someone facing Cuenca, a city in Spain. In this context it refers to a sexual position—you know what I mean.
Unverified origin story told in the video: supposedly Felipe el Hermoso—Philip the Handsome—had a tower built in Toledo where he could secretly meet lovers. He would tell his wife that he was putting a lady facing Cuenca to enjoy the view. The guards understood the excuse, and the phrase spread. That is the supposed story recounted in the lesson, rather than a verified historical explanation of the expression.
Cuéntame de ayer. ¿Te pusieron mirando a Cuenca o no?
Example translation: Tell me about yesterday. Did they bang you or not?
Yo lo que quiero es que alguien me ponga mirando a Cuenca
Example translation: All I want is for someone to bang me.
7:30 — 9. Jugar al teto
Jugar al teto
Example translation: To play teto; to have sex in the vulgar joke here.
Let me recreate how, in my joke, every Spaniard found out what this means.
¿Quieres jugar al teto?
Example translation: Do you want to play teto?
¿Qué es el teto?
Example translation: What is teto?
Tú te agachas y yo te la meto
Example translation: You bend down, and I’ll stick it in you.
That’s the vulgar punchline.
¿Dónde están José y Alberto?
Example translation: Where are José and Alberto?
Yo creo que están jugando al teto
Example translation: I think they’re having sex.
8:11 — 10. Mojar el churro
Mojar el churro
Example translation: To get laid, in the vulgar sexual metaphor here.
Literally, dip the churro. You know churros, right? Here the churro is a metaphor for a penis. Sadly, I can’t use that one about myself! With your male friends, you can ask:
Bueno, ¿qué? ¿Has mojado el churro o no?
Example translation: Well? Did you get laid or not?
A ver si mojo el churro esta noche
Example translation: Here’s hoping I get laid tonight.
Beautiful grammar, a work of art. Spanish has so many metaphors and jokes. Remember the context: these expressions are for friends, not your teacher or your in-laws. If you want more real-life Spanish, watch the recommended slang lesson. See you in the next video!
