Mexican Spanish:
slang, expressions, and local vocabulary

In Mexican Spanish, la neta is an informal expression speakers use to say ‘the truth’ or ‘to be honest’. Neta, without ‘la’, means ‘really’ and emphasizes a statement, or expresses surprise or disbelief. La neta, a mí no me gustó la peli. To be honest, I didn’t like the movie.  Dime la neta, ¿mis tenis ... Read more

In Mexican slang Spanish, chido is an adjective that describes that something or someone is cool, nice, pretty or good. In Mexico, chido is also used as an informal way to thank. Nuestro vecino es muy chido.Our neighbor is very cool.  No está tan chido como pensé.It’s not as good as I thought.  ¡Qué chida ... Read more

A while ago, some of my best students had the hardest time understanding what some Mexicans were saying. Does this sound familiar to you? When struggling to understand locals, it’s highly-likely you need to improve your slang vocabulary. So, if want to take your Mexican Spanish to the next level, you must learn some Mexican ... Read more

What does ‘trucha’ mean in Spanish? In Spanish, trucha is a Mexican slang term that people use as a synonym of ‘alert’ or ‘quick-witted’. Although this informal meaning is more popular in Mexico, it can also be used in Latin American countries. As a standard term, trucha means ‘trout’. Trucha is a word that will ... Read more

What does ‘mijo’ mean? In Mexican Spanish, mijo is a slang word that people use to refer to their sons. It can also be used informally as a synonym for ‘boy’ or an affectionate way of referring to a friend. Mija is its feminine form and is only applied when referring to girls, daughters or ... Read more

What does ‘güera’ mean in Spanish? In Spanish, guera and its masculine form güero are informal adjectives that describe a blond person or someone with light skin. If working as nouns, they can also be used as nicknames for white people. With this meaning, ‘güera’ and ‘güero’ are mostly applied in Mexico. If you’re interested ... Read more

Definition –  Me vale is a Mexican slang expression that means I don’t care or I don’t give a damn. On top of expressing a lack of interest in something, depending on the context, ‘me vale’ can also express impatience, bravery, or frustration.  What does ‘Me Vale’ mean? Translation #1: It means I don’t give ... Read more

Padre is one of the most popular words in colloquial Mexican Spanish. Since ‘padre’ is the direct translation of ‘father’, many new and experienced Spanish learners may get confused by the slang meanings of this word.  What does ‘padre’ mean in Mexico? ‘Padre’ is a casual synonym of ‘cool’, ‘nice’, ‘well’, ‘good’, ‘great’ or ‘wonderful’. ... Read more

What does ‘chela’ mean in Spanish? In some countries from Latin America, the word chela is used as an informal synonym of ‘beer’. Additionally, in Spanish, Chela is also used as a nickname for women who are called either Marcela or Graciela. How and When to use ‘Chela’?  In informal situations, ‘chela’ is a slang ... Read more

Definition – Ni modo is a slang phrase that expresses that someone cannot do something about a situation because it cannot be fixed. Depending on the context, ‘ni modo’ expresses passivity, frustration, or reluctance to do something. Although it does not have a direct translation, it is close in meaning to ‘Oh, well’, ‘It is ... Read more

Definition – Ya mero is a Mexican slang expression that we use to express that we’re close to finishing something or express that we’re about to start doing something. It’s also used to express that we’re about to arrive at a certain place. Depending on the context, ‘ya mero’ can be translated as ‘to be ... Read more

Definition – El mero mero is a Mexican slang expression that we use as a synonym of ‘ big boss’. As a result, it could be translated as ‘head honcho’ or ‘top dog’. Additionally, this phrase can also be translated as ‘the best’. Keep in mind that el mero mero refers to a man. La ... Read more

Definition – Morro and its feminine form morra are one of the most robust Mexican slang words. We use it to call a girl or a boy, but we can also use it to express how young they are. Depending on the context, it could mean ‘kid’, ‘young’, ‘dude’, ‘guy’, ‘boy’ and ‘girl’.  Meaning of ... Read more

Orale is a slang word that Mexicans use as a way to express surprise, admiration, agreement, approval or disappointment. We also use it to urge someone to do something. As a result, it can be translated as ‘come on’, ‘okay’, ‘wow’. What does ‘Órale’ mean? Translation #1: In Spanish, this word is used to express ... Read more

When using Mexican slang, you may hear the word Pancho which could be referring to one of the nicknames of ‘Francisco’. However, in other contexts, this word could also be used to express that someone is ‘making a scene’. It’s also a synonym of ‘calm’ or ‘relaxed’.  What does ‘Pancho’ mean? Translation #1: ‘Pancho’ is ... Read more

When learning Mexican Slang ‘No manches’ is one of the most important phrases that you need to add to your vocabulary. Depending on the context, this slang phrase could mean ‘No way’, ‘Come on’, ‘Holy cow’, ‘You are kidding’, ‘Cut it out’ or ‘Damn’. What does ‘no manches’ mean? Translation #1: Depending on the situation, ... Read more

Cuate is another common slang word for young Mexicans. Although it has some other meanings, for young people ‘cuate’ is very popular as a synonym of ‘friend’.  What does ‘Cuate’ mean? Translation #1: It’s a Mexican slang word for ‘friend’. Translation #2: In Mexican slang, it’s also used as a synonym of ‘guy’.  Translation #3: ... Read more

In Mexico, carnal is a very popular slang word to say ‘friend’, ‘buddy’, ‘pal’ or ‘mate’. In its slang form, it’s also used as a synonym of ‘brother’. However, in standard Spanish ‘carnal’ is an adjective with multiple meanings.  What does ‘Carnal’ mean? Translation #1: It’s a Mexican slang word for ‘friend’, ‘buddy, ’pal’ or ... Read more

Hands down, güey or wey is one the most popular Mexican words. So, if you’re interested in learning Mexican Spanish, this term is a must. Regardless of how common this word might be, many new learners often wonder what güey in Spanish means. In Mexican Spanish, güey is an informal term that people use to ... Read more

‘Gacho’ is the opposite of the Mexican slang word ‘chido‘. As a result, depending on the context, this word could mean ‘awful’, ‘bad’, ‘ugly’ or ‘mean’. What does ‘Gacho’ mean? Translation #1: In Mexican slang, this word is an adjective that we use to express that a person or object is ‘awful’, ‘ugly’, ‘bad’ or ... Read more

In Mexican slang, ‘cantón’ is a synonym of the word ‘casa’. As a result, the English translation would be ‘place’ or ‘house’. What does ‘Cantón’ mean? Translation #1: It’s the Mexican slang word for ‘house’ or ‘place’. Translation #2: In more specific and formal contexts, we use this word to name the corner of a ... Read more

‘Compa’ is a very popular slang word among Mexicans. Although it has two meanings, the most famous one is as a synonym of ‘friend’, ‘buddy’ or ‘pal’. What does ‘Compa’ mean? Translation #1: It’s the Mexican slang word for ‘friend’, ‘buddy’ or ‘pal’. Translation #2: ‘Compa’ is also an abbreviation for ‘compadre’, a word that ... Read more