Mexican Slang
From “órale!” to “chido” and several other Mexican slang terms, learn how to sound like a native Mexican with this list we compiled!
Mexican Spanish is one of the most exciting forms of the language. Travel to Mexico, and you’ll soon discover the abundance of Mexican slang used in daily conversation. Literal translations of Mexican slang may be confusing on paper, but understood correctly by the locals when used in the right context.
If you want to understand common Mexican slang, here are some of the Mexican slang words and phrases you should know.
When to use Mexican slang
You may already be familiar with formal vs. informal word use when speaking Spanish. Consider Mexican slang as the most casual way to speak Spanish locally.
Many of the words and phrases are widespread and frequently used in conversation. It’s best, however, to only use them when talking with peers and close friends.
Be sure to understand the appropriate context when speaking Mexican slang so that the other person understands and receives the phrase correctly. Phrases with double meanings are easily misunderstood if misused.
Understanding slang can make conversations easier, but use it only when you know the meaning, register, and context.
Greetings
There are lots of Mexican slang phrases for greetings.
You may hear the casual greeting “Buenos,” short for “buenos días.” You may also hear buenas used on its own as a casual greeting.
Mexicans often shorten frequently used greetings in casual conversation. In a more formal situation, use the full greeting: buenos días, buenas tardes, or buenas noches.
Some of the more informal ways to greet friends are with phrases including:
The literal meaning of the phrases does not make sense in any language; therefore, the context is essential when using them.
They are popular for street talk and talking with close friends or family. Try to avoid using these phrases when talking to people more senior than you or strangers. While they will understand you, the expressions are very informal.
Mexican slang in conversation
If you’re using Mexican slang to greet friends, chances are the conversation will be filled with a lot of other slang words and phrases. Someone who studies Spanish without visiting Mexico may seem like an expert until arriving – a lot of meaning gets lost in translation unless you understand the context and the local slang.
Exclamation phrases
Exclamatory phrases when using Mexican slang have multiple meanings and are useful in a variety of scenarios. Many of the words are also interchangeable with one another.
A common, flexible expression is “¡órale!”
You may hear órale used for encouragement, agreement, surprise, or urging someone to move, depending on tone and context. Some of the meanings include:
- ¡órale!amazing! / go ahead! / sure! / hurry up! / come on! / ok! / done!
In times of extreme emotion, whether good or bad, when words don’t do it justice, choose a response that fits the context; órale is informal and its tone matters.
In English, we say “cool,” or “that’s cool” often. Mexicans have two phrases to say the same:
You may hear people saying “padre” more than expected, but be aware that they aren’t talking about their fathers. Mexicans use the words for father, and sometimes mother, for exclamatory phrases.
You can say “qué padre” for “that’s cool” when talking about something or an event. You can also use “está padre” for “it’s cool,” or simply “padre” for “cool,” in the right context.
Poca madre is vulgar and highly context-dependent: in some expressions it can be positive, while in others it is insulting or negative.
One of the exclamatory slang words with a bit of history is “aguas,” which doesn’t mean “waters,” as the literal translation suggests.
When you hear “¡Aguas!” in Mexico, someone is alerting you to “be careful,” or “watch out.”
The exact origin is uncertain, but today ¡aguas! simply warns someone to be careful or watch out.
When you’re in shock or hear surprising news, one way to react is by saying, “¡no manches!“
Manches is a form of manchar (“to stain”), but the expression no manches is figurative and has several meanings:
- ¡No manches!no way!/really?/Get out of here!
Mexican slang phrases
Understanding some of the popular phrases that Mexicans use for slang is tricky. Translating word for word will confuse anyone, but understanding the entire phrase within the context makes perfect sense.
A few examples are:
- Eso que ni quéno doubt about it/for sure
- Ando bien pedoI’m drunk
- El mal del puercoto be full and sleepy from eating
- Está cañónit’s rough/difficult
- Echar la huevato be lazy
- Ni modocan’t do anything about it
All of these examples showcase phrases that have slang meanings that vary significantly from their literal translations.
The phrase “eso que ni qué” can be used when you agree with someone. The words translate literally to “that what nor what.”
The phrase “el mal del puerco” translates into “the curse of the pig.” In English, the best word for translation is “food coma,” or a combined feeling of being full and sleepy after overeating.
The word pedo is a common slang word, as you’ve seen in the phrase “qué pedo” to say “what’s up.” The word alone means “fart,” but you can use the phrase “ando bien pedo” to say that you’re very drunk.
In Mexican slang, está cañón means that something is rough, difficult, or intense. Está is a form of estar; cañón here has a colloquial meaning rather than referring literally to a canyon.
Mexican slang varies by region, generation, and social group. Learning common expressions can help you follow informal conversations. Slang is a part of their daily conversations, and learning some of it will help you understand when someone uses it with you.
See below for a complete list of Mexican slang words and phrases – we’ve even included a few bonus words!
- SPANISHENGLISH
- BuenosGood morning
- ¡Qué padre!That’s cool
- ChidoCool
- ¿Qué pedo?What’s up
- ¿Qué onda?What’s going on
- ¡No manches!No way/really
- ¡Órale!Come on/hurry up/amazing/go ahead/ok
- ¡Aguas!Watch out / be careful
- Estoy crudoI’m hungover
- Está cañónIt’s rough
- Echar la huevaTo be lazy
- Ando bien pedoI’m drunk
- Eso que ni quéNo doubt about it/for sure
- El mal del puercoFood coma; sleepy after a large meal
- FresaPreppy/snobbish (informal)
- ChafaCheap / bad quality
- PlataMoney (understood in Mexico; more characteristic of some other regions)
- GüeyDude/friend
- ¿Mande?Pardon?/Yes?
- Ni modoOh well; nothing can be done
- ChelaBeer
- Poca madreThat’s good / that’s bad
Which of these slang words have you heard in Mexico?
