Mexican use of word

Content

• Properly Mexican words
• Achicopalar
• Acocote
• Pamper
• Sidewalk
• snack
• Cantinflear
• Stroller
• ketchup
• Chatter
• Chafa
• Chalet
• Chaparro / rra
• Chavo / goes
• Check
• beer
• Chero
• Cheve
• Cool / day
• Chilango / ga
• Choco / ca
• Raw
• Friend
• Scotch tape
• Gross
• Güero / ra
• Son
• Snout / na
• Huarache
• Jaina
• Jocho
• Tire
• Bag
• Naco / ca
• Net
• Orale
• T-shirt
• Pulque
• Refri
• Ruco
• Serape
• Teto
• Tianguis
• Tlachique
• Tompiates
• Unicel
• Vato
• Kid
• Words with different meanings in Mexico
• Waters
• lunch
• Joint
• Good
• Hearty
• Truck
• Suck
• Food
• Coyotito
• Girdle
• Strawberry
• Scrub
• Beat
• often
• Bear
• Father
• Lace
• Blowout
• Cake
• Words that could be considered vulgar
• Dumbass
• Chichona
• Fuck
• Chingada
• Chingadazo
• Fucking
• Chingón / na
• Culero / ra
• Start
• Riot
• Güey
• Huevón / na
• Joto
• Mother
• Suck
• Mamón / na
• Panocha
• Fart / day
• Scullion
• Whistle
• Dunce
• Themes of interest
• References

Some say there are so many mexican words as there are Mexicans in the world. Mexico is a country with approximately 120 million inhabitants and a land area of ​​almost 2 million square kilometers.

This makes the diversity of words originated by Mexicans surprising even themselves since, although there are words that everyone uses and understands, there are many more that are used in each region or state.

Going from the southeast to the north of the Mexican territory can bring the feeling that you have traveled from one country to another. The pronunciation, accent or tone and the difference in names that they have for each thing generates communication problems between nationals themselves, and what to say between foreigners.

The following describes Mexican words and idioms invented in this country, in addition to other existing ones that are given a different meaning in Mexico.

Properly Mexican words

The Mexicans invented their own words that were generated from the sounds of indigenous words, words in English or other languages, and even from the abbreviation of phrases in Spanish.

As a consequence of globalization, some of these words are already used in other countries, or at least understood.

Achicopalar

Discourage: «Don’t get shy.»

Acocote

Instrument used to extract mead from the maguey: “Bring me the acocote”.

Pamper

Lovingly hugging or caressing: «I need a cuddle.»

Sidewalk

Sidewalk: «He got on the sidewalk.»

snack

Sandwich, aperitif or light meal: «I brought the snacks.»

Cantinflear

Talk bluntly, incongruously and nonsensically: «Stop chanting and tell me what happened.» This term originated from a well-known character from Mexican films called Cantinflas, since speaking in that way was one of its main characteristics.

Stroller

Baby carriage: «Put the baby in the stroller.»

ketchup

Tomato sauce: «Can you pass me the ketchup?»

Chatter

Talk or converse a lot about a topic but without substance. Chattering can also mean trading or negotiating things that are not of great value.

Chafa

Something of poor quality or little value: «The design is a bit shabby.»

Chalet

Expression of surprise, usually in a negative or regretful way: «Chale, you would have told me!»

Chaparro / rra

Short person: «She is very short.»

Chavo / goes

Young person: «I used to go when I was young.»

Check

Same meaning of the Spanish verb check, revise or examine: “Check the invoices they sent”.

beer

A chela is a beer. Example: Let’s have some chelas!

Chero

Prison or jail: «They sent him to the car.»

Cheve

Beer: «Let’s go for some cheves.»

Cool / day

Something good or cute: «This restaurant is cool.»

Chilango / ga

Person or thing from the capital (Federal District): «The Chilangos don’t understand this.»

Choco / ca

Person or thing from the Tabasco state: «Choco cocoa is the best.»

Raw

Hangover: «He gave me raw.»

Friend

Very close friend, only for the male gender: «He is my friend.»

Scotch tape

Although it is a brand, in Mexico all adhesive tapes are called like this: «We glue the poster with diurex.»

Gross

Expression of disgust or disgust: «Guácala, I will not eat that!».

Güero / ra

White or blond-haired person: «My sister is a blonde.»

Son

Expression of surprise or amazement: «Hi, I didn’t know that!»

Snout / na

Boastful or indiscreet person: «He was snout to tell him what I said»

Huarache

Sandals: «He put on his huaraches.»

Jaina

Girlfriend: «I have no jaina.»

Jocho

Hot dog or hot dog: “I ate 2 jochos”.

Tire

Fat fold around the waist: «I already got tires from eating so many tacos.»

Bag

Bag or purse that is carried on the back: «Put the notebooks in your backpack.»

Naco / ca

Vulgar or rude person: «I didn’t want it for naco.»

Net

Truth or sincere person: «It is clear that it rained.»

Orale

Expression to exhort someone to hurry up or to do something: «Oh, we’re late!», Astonishment or surprise: «Oh, you’re so great!», Or just to let it be known that what the other person understood or understood person said, synonymous with the expression “OK”.

T-shirt

Short-sleeved collarless shirt: «I only have black shirts.»

Pulque

Alcoholic drink that is obtained by fermenting the juice that is extracted from the maguey: “We drink a lot of pulque”.

Refri

Coming from the word «refrigerator», it is the appliance where food is kept: «The water is in the fridge.»

Ruco

Elderly person, belonging to the third age, old.

Serape

Blanket or blanket with an opening in the center to introduce the head and use as a garment, usually in bright colors: «Take your serape just in case.»

Teto

Silly or childish person: «What a tit!»

Tianguis

Popular or informal economy market that is usually provisional: «I bought fruits at the tianguis.»

Tlachique

Maguey juice: «You have to extract the tlachique.»

Tompiates

Word used to refer to the testicles. It is also an indigenous basket made of palm to store tortillas.

Unicel

Expanded polystyrene: «They gave me a Styrofoam cup.»

Vato

Man or boy: «I saw a guy from school.»

Kid

It is a word to refer in a derogatory way to a child. The origin of this word comes from the Nahuatl language «iztcuíntli» and did not refer to children, but to a hairless dog that existed in Mexico before the arrival of the Spanish. A synonym for this word is «brat.»

Words with different meanings in Mexico

There are words in Spanish that said in Mexico can mean something totally different from its original definition, so understanding it will depend on the context in which they are said.

Waters

Expression of warning or caution, as if to say to be careful: «Waters on that street.»

lunch

Food eaten in the morning after breakfast and before the main meal: «I brought lunch and dinner.»

Joint

Leisure venue to drink alcoholic beverages, listen to music and dance, usually at night: «On Saturday we went to the club.»

Good

Greeting when answering the phone: «Good?»

Hearty

Although Campeche is the gentilicio of Campeche, a state of Mexico, this word is used in several regions of the country to refer to a food or drink formed by the combination of different foods or drinks, without being related to this state: “It gives me four hearty tacos ”.

Truck

Bus: «I got on the truck.»

Suck

Alcoholic drink or its consumption: «Where is the chupe today?».

Food

When a Mexican uses this word, he usually refers specifically to food eaten in the middle of the day: «They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner there.»

Coyotito

Siesta: «A coyotito took off.»

Girdle

Encounter or moment in which caresses or kisses are passionately given: «I knew they were in a girdle.»

Strawberry

Person who is or behaves as if he belonged to the upper social class: «She is strawberry.»

Scrub

It can refer to beating: «You don’t know the scrubs he gave him», or excessive or complicated work: «My boss brings me in scrubs.»

Beat

When you feel like something or feel like it: «It beats me to see that movie.»

often

Food with pieces of the cow’s stomach: «There was not often on the menu.»

Bear

Shame or shame: «What a bear he gave me!»

Father

Something very good, excellent or impressive: «The concert was great.»

Lace

Graphite mines: «My toes ran out.»

Blowout

Spree, party or boisterous fun: “Let’s go out on a rampage”.

Cake

Bread that is cut lengthwise and filled with other foods: «I ate a ham cake.»

Words that could be considered vulgar

Although Mexicans are people of very good treatment and good manners, they very often use words that in some moments or situations can be considered vulgar.

Even in formal, business or social settings, words or expressions are used that may be frowned upon by people with whom one does not have much confidence, while among friends none of these would be considered offensive or disrespectful.

The common use of these words means that some are not considered as vulgar as others, but they are still so.

Dumbass

It can be a person with a bad character or very experienced, it will depend on the context: «What a bastard she is!»

Chichona

Woman with very large breasts: «You like it because it is big.»

Fuck

It is one of the words most used by the Mexican because of the multiple meanings it has. As a verb it can refer to:

-Damage («The computer already screwed up»).

-Working very hard («I go on chinga»).

-Steal («I fucked my pencil»).

-Commit a sexual act, generally as an offense («I fucked your sister»).

-Being annoying or annoying («He’s fucking me»).

Some of its conjugations can mean something very different or opposite, like the four mentioned below.

Chingada

Anything very bad or complicated: «He went to hell»; or promiscuous woman: «Damn mother!»

Chingadazo

Very strong blow: «He gave his fuck.»

Fucking

Expression of surprise: «Ah, fucking!».

Chingón / na

Very good person or thing, of excellent or extraordinary quality: «Your phone is awesome.»

Culero / ra

Fearful or cowardly person: «He did not come for asshole.»

Start

Same meaning of the verb drunk: «He just came to get started.»

Riot

Disorder or mess: «Everything was a mess.»

Güey

This word has different meanings. It can refer to a man who does not know himself: «A guy I saw on the street»; to a stupid person: “I’m going güey today”; to treat a friend: «Güey, I told you not to go»; or as an expression of amazement, warning or pain: «Güey, watch out!»

Huevón / na

Lazy or lazy person: «Come up, don’t be an idiot.»

Joto

Homosexual, effeminate or cowardly man: «I think he’s joto.»

Mother

Give very strong blows: «I was all screwed up.»

Suck

Exaggerate: «You’re sucking.»

Mamón / na

Cocky, unfriendly or hateful person: «Before you were very suckers.»

Panocha

Vulva or vagina: «The dog was smelling her pussy.»

Fart / day

It can refer to a party or meeting in which alcoholic beverages are drunk in excess: “I was in that peda”, to a person who is drunk: “It got really bad”, or to a conflict or problem: “He made me fart because I’ve arrived late».

Scullion

Despicable person or thing, of poor quality or insignificant: «The fucking cup fell.»

Whistle

Penis: «The cock was being seen.»

Dunce

Although it is a word of affectionate connotation, it is used to define someone who is rough, slow, silly or clumsy to learn.

Themes of interest

100 typical words and phrases from Argentina

50 most popular Peruvian phrases and words.

Colombian words.

Mexican phrases.

References

1. Mulato A. «17 Mexican phrases that do not make sense when said in English» (2016) in Verne. Retrieved on March 23, 2019 from Verne: verne.elpais.com
2. Cruz, M. «Discover the meaning of these 23 Mexican sayings» (2016) in Verne. Retrieved on March 23, 2019 from Verne: verne.elpais.com
3. Gaona, P. “Orale, how cool! The origin of these six words of daily use ”(2017) in Chilango. Retrieved on March 23, 2019 from Chilango: chilango.com
4. «Dictionary of Americanisms» (s.f.) in the Association of Academies of the Spanish Language. Retrieved on March 23, 2019 from the Association of Academies of the Spanish Language: lema.rae.es
5. «Dictionary of the Spanish Language» (s.f.) in the Royal Spanish Academy. Retrieved on March 23, 2019 from the Royal Spanish Academy: del.rae.es
6. Gómez de Silva, G. «Short Dictionary of Mexicanisms» (s.f.) in the Mexican Academy of the Spanish Language. Retrieved on March 23, 2019 from the Mexican Academy of the Spanish Language: academia.org.mx
7. Moreno, M. «26 words that Mexicans use daily and that the RAE does not recognize» (2016) in Verne. Retrieved on March 23, 2019 in Verne: verne.elpais.com
8. “20 Mexican words and expressions that we should all use” (2018) in Liopardo. Retrieved on March 23, 2019 in Liopardo: antena3.com
9. “7 Mexican slang words from Netflix’s Club de Cuervos” (2018) in Hello Spanish. Retrieved on March 23, 2019 in Hello Spanish: hellospanish.co
10. “5 More Mexican Slang Words that You Need to Know” (2017) in Hello Spanish. Retrieved on March 23, 2019 in Hello Spanish: hellospanish.co

When traveling in Spanish speaking countries, one of the best ways to befriend a native Spanish speaker is to have some knowledge of their local slang, which is why today we’re going to teach you the very best Mexican slang.

Of course, it’s a good idea to first know some basic Spanish words, or even better, learn the most common Spanish phrases for traveling.

Once you cover these, you’ll want to make local friends and what better way to do so than to speak the local lingo.

Since our post on Colombia slang proved to be so popular, we figured that it was time to dedicate a post on teaching the most commonly used Mexican slang.

 
 

(Some of the following language is a little “colorful”, and so we advise the easily offended to stop reading right now)

What are Mexican slang words you need to know?

1. Güey

This word is at the forefront of Mexican slang. Similar to “dude” in English, “güey” is commonly used for friends or acquaintances, and in some unpleasant situations, refers to strangers in a sarcastic way. Pronounced like “whey” in English.

• Mira güey, ¿salimos hoy o que? – Hey dude, wanna go out today?

2. Neta

This is another one of those words that you will hear in movies, tv shows, or from some Mexican friends. It usually means “the truth”, but when used interrogatively, it’s understood as:

• ¿Neta? – For real?

You can also refer to someone great by saying:

• ¡Eres la neta! –  You rock!

3. No manches

When a friend tells you about some amazing event, or something that you don’t know if it’s real or not, you would say No manches! (Really? or Are you kidding?).

You can also use ¡No mames! which means the same thing, but is a little more colourful (similar to damn!).

4. ¡Órale!

This word has many different purposes: amazement, approval, enthusiasm and even to complement orders.

• ¡Órale! ¿Y tu desde cuando trabajas tanto? – Wow, since when do you work so much?

5. ¡Aguas!

As odd as this expression may seem, it has no relation to water. This expression refers to being alert or aware of your surroundings.

• ¡Aguas! – Watch out!

6. Pinche

Typically used as an adjective to label something as ugly, terrible or of bad quality. Can also be used as a curse word to enhance an insult and its characteristics (the same way “fucking” in English is used.

• ¡Jajaja! pinche Ricardo, siempre sales con esas cosas – Hahahah, fucking Ricardo, you always come up with stuff like this

• Eres un pinche idiota, Ricardo – You’re a fucking idiot, Ricardo

7. Chido

Mexicans love to use “chido” to describe something cool, or with good vibes. It can be used with people, objects or situations.

• Esta bien chido ese regalo, gracias wey – That gift is really cool, thanks man

8. No Hay Bronca

Let’s start with “bronca”, commonly used to refer to a problem or discomfort. So as you can imagine “no hay bronca”, means that there is no problem – everything is fine.

• Claro, yo te puedo prestar algo de dinero, no hay bronca – Sure, I can lend you some money, no problem

9. Chavo or Chava

The most commonly used words to describe children, adolescents and young people in general. Similar to “kid” in English.

• El chavo sigue en el colegio, debería buscarlo – The boy is still in school, I should pick him up

10. Naco

Mexican slang for someone with a tacky, or poor attitude, and is considered less sophisticated than your regular member of society. Most of the time, a naco acts unpleasantly, is not well-educated and uses certain colorful slang. Close equivalent to “ghetto” in English.

• Naaah, te ves muy naco con eso, mejor cambiate – Nah, you look really trashy on that, go change

11. Fresa

You probably recognize this word as “strawberry”, but in Mexican slang, “fresa” is used to describe a person who is a snob, stuck-up and basically, thinks that they are better than everyone else. They’ll likely speak with a distinct accent – which may or may not be fake.

• Sabes que no me gusta salir con hombres como él, es demasiado fresa – You know I don’t like going out with men like him, he’s way too stuck up

12. Chicano

Natives use this word to describe people of Mexican origin born in the United States, or people who were born in Mexico but emigrated to the US at an early age.

• Hay una población bastante grande de Chicanos en Los Angeles – There is a very important Chicano population in Los Angeles

13. Cholo

Commonly heard in the southwest of the United States, “cholo” is a somewhat loosely defined term, but it generally refers to Mexican gangsters, with a very specific look – big white shirts, black baggy shorts, shaved heads, religious black ink tattoos, black shades, etc.

• Tengo algunos primos cholos, pero prefiero no meterme en eso – I have a few cholo cousins, but I’d rather not get involved with that

14. Metiche

That person who always has his/her nose in other people’s business. Not guaranteed to spread rumors, but still likes to keep tabs on everyone’s business.

• Hay demasiados metiches en mi trabajo, no los soporto – There are too many nosy people on my job, I can’t stand them

15. Tocayo

Nickname given to anyone who shares your first name.

• Ahí va el tocayo – There goes my tocayo

16. Prieto

While this may seem a little racist to an English speaker, in Mexico this word is seen as non-offensive slang to describe someone with darker skin.

• ¿Recuerdas quién es Daniel? Mi amigo prieto, estuvo acá el otro día – Remember who Daniel is? My black friend, he was there the other day

17. Vieja

Although this directly translates to “old lady”, in Spanish and particularly Mexican slang, this word is used as an affectionate word for your mom.

• Tengo que visitar a la vieja de vez en cuando, y darle algún regalito – I have to visit my mother from time to time, and give her some little present

18. Padre

Similarly, this literally translates as “father”, but in Mexican slang means cool. You’ll hear common phrases such as “que padre!” (“How cool!”) or ‘más padre’ (‘very cool’). Just like “chido”, it can be used when talking about people, things or situations.

• Está bien padre ese juego, ¿como se llama? – That videogame looks really cool, how’s it called?

19. Chela

Chelas, or cheves are beers, and the word comes from a beer cocktail (michelada) that mixes beer with lime, chili and tomato juice.

• Dame dos chelas para mi y mi compadre – Give me two chelas for me and my compadre.

20. Pomo

A rather short name for a bottle of any liquor that you might find, from vodka to some fine tequila.

• Las chelas no van a alcanzar para todo el mundo, hay que abrir un pomo – Beers aren’t going to be enough for everyone, we have to open a bottle

21. Malacopa

The lightweight person who gets drunk extremely easy or extremely fast – we all know someone like that.

• Creo que el pomo no hacía falta, estos son muy malacopa – I think the bottle wasn’t even necessary, these guys are extreme lightweights

22. Crudo

The imminent future of a “malacopa” is to have a hangover.

• Esta mañana amaneci crudo – I woke up with a hangover today

23. Cantina

Sounds similar to a canteen, and they serve a similar purpose, since this term means “bar” for Mexican folk.

(A naco will probably describe a nightclub as “antros”)

• Hoy no tengo ganas de ir a la cantina, vayan ustedes – I don’t want to go to the bar tonight, but you guys can go

24. Pedo

This word has 3 uses a) a fart b) being buzzed/drunk c) being a problem.

• No pensé que fuesen a volver tan pedos wey – I didn’t think you’d come home so drunk, man.

25. Chamba

A difficult and demanding job, or an unpleasant situation i.e. something you don’t want to get stuck in for too long.

• Mañana tengo que volver a mi chamba wey, o me despiden – I have to go back to my job tomorrow man, or I’ll get fired

26. Changarro

The name given to small, wholesome family businesses – like the bodega (mom and pop store) on the corner of the street.

• Ve al changarro ese y ve si tienen algunos dulces – Go to the store and see if they have any kind of candy

27. Chafa

Something that is of very low quality, disappointing or prone to causing frustration and have you screaming “¡Que chafa!” which means “what crap!”.

• Esa camisa está chafa – This t-shirt is bad quality (or fake)

28. Varos

Slang word for money, capable of replacing the word “pesos” since it can hold a numerical value, like “bucks”.

• Me pagaron esta semana, puedo poner unos cuantos varos más para la pizza – I got paid this week, I can help with a few more bucks for the pizza

29. Refresco

Commonly used slang term for sodas of any kind.

• ¿Quieres beber refresco o te sirvo algo más? – Do you want to drink some soda or do you want me to serve you something else?

30. Paro

This simply means favor, and will replace the word in most occasions.

• ¿Me puedes hacer un paro y recordarme eso? – Can you do me a favor and remind me of that?

31. Gacho

This is a substitute for “feo” (ugly), though both words are used in a much wider sense than for physical ugliness i.e. just general badness.

• No seas gacho, déjalos ir al parque – Don’t be so boring, let them go to the park

32. Jalada

A word for something that is completely unbelievable or overdone, like “The Fast and Furious” movie franchise.

• No puede ser, que jalada toda esa historia, ¿como quieres que te crea? – That’s a ridiculous story, how do you want anyone to believe you?

33. Chorro

When you have a stream of something, meaning you have large quantities of it (like “The Fast and Furious” boxset collection).

• Tenemos un chorro de películas por ver esta vacaciones, deberíamos comenzar – We have a ton of movies to watch on vacation, we should get started

34. Ratero

In Mexico, “ratero” is used instead of “ladrón”. Both words mean “thief”.

• Pues el teléfono me lo robó un ratero, así que no tengo – A thief robbed me off of my phone, so i don’t have one

25. Vocho

Nickname for the old Volkswagen Beetle, a car you will see a lot in Mexico.

• ¿Por qué hay tantos vochos en la capital? – Why are there so many beetles in the capital city?

36. Chamarra

In Mexico, this word is slang for jacket or coat, and acts as a replacement for “chaqueta” which is used in every other Spanish speaking country.

That’s because in some parts of Mexico, “chaqueta” is a slang term for masturbation or touching yourself.

So if you want to avoid an awkward (and possibly funny moment,  the next time you go to buy a “jacket” in Mexico, it’s best to use the slang term.

• ¿Me prestas tu chamarra? – Can I have your jacket for a minute?

37. Chanclas

A word for sandals and flip-flops, a common sight everywhere in the country.

• Deberías ponerte algo mejor que esas chanclas para salir – You should put on something better than those flip-flops to go out

38. Camión

A slang word for both formal and informal route buses, even though it means “truck” in the rest of Latin America.

• Apúrate que no vamos a alcanzar el camión – Hurry up or we won’t catch the bus

________________________

By learning these Mexican slang terms, you’ll have a better chance of endearing yourself to the locals – or at the very least make a Spanish speaker laugh.

For some slightly more NSFW words, make sure to read our ultimate guide to Spanish curse words here.

As we said in Mexicanisms I: widely used Mexican expressions, Mexico is one of the real linguistic driving forces of Latin America. While there are some words that are still used despite having been removed from the Spanish spoken in Spain, a lot of the most common Mexican words are based on the enormous influence that the Mayan civilization has passed on to the Spanish language.

Let’s get down to business and take a look at commonly used Mexican words. But before that, remember that in a previous post we shared widely used Mexican expressions and we will have a third post with the most popular proverbs in Mexico. As always, we have aimed to be as thorough as possible in conveying the most accurate meaning of these expressions, but if you know of any other variants or definitions that are worth taking into account, feel free to let us know!

Commonly used Mexican words

1. Achicopalarse. From the Náhuatl language, this is to feel as though you’re inadequate for carrying out a particular task and to feel low emotionally.
2. Apapachar. From the same language as the previous one. Meaning to massage or to rub.
3. Arrecholar. A word used in the state of Coahuila meaning to shut oneself away and do nothing. For example, «Me arrecholé y así pasé la tarde,» meaning: «I spent the whole afternoon just staying inside at home.»
4. Bonche. This can refer to both a group of friends going on a night out and a large amount of something. «En la mesa había bonche de tacos” (There were loads of tacos on the table).
5. Cantinflear. This term is included in the RAE dictionary, but we think it’s important to highlight where this comes from to give it the credit that is really deserves. This refers to the eternal character «Cantinflas» created by the great Mario Moreno. Known for speaking without actually saying anything. We love him. What about you?
6. Chambear. Synonym of «to work,» «chamba» means job position.
7. Chela. Used to mean «beer.» But, careful! It has a variant, «michelada,» which sets itself apart from standard beer due to the chilli powder on the rim of the glass it is served in.
8. Chincual. A classic of the Veracruz region, meaning «party.»
9. Chingaquedito. This is a person who seems nice, cool and calm but will take any opportunity to speak badly of others. For example: «No seas chingaquedito» (don’t be so two-faced).
10. Chingón. Ideal word for describing something that’s very good or positive. When used to describe a person, it refers more to their intelligence.

    

11. Chipocludo. Somebody who does their job efficiently and responsibly.
12. Enmuinarse. From the North of the country, meaning «to get angry.»
13. Escuincle. From the Náhuatl language, this is a synonym of the Spanish word «mocoso,» meaning «child.»
14. Fresa. A posh person who over-pronounces their words to put emphasis on their social status.
15. Guandajón. Used to describe men who don’t look after their physical appearance and who always wear large-sized clothes.
16. Güero/a. Blonde.
17. Güey. Another very commonly used word. Usually used to mean peer or friend, but can also be used to mean stupid or clumsy.
18. Locochón. Can be used as a synonym of the previous word and is also useful for describing something daring or different.
19. Merequetengue. A party or celebration with many people, or an obstacle in the way of achieving something.
20. Neta. Colloquial word referring to the absolute truth.
21. Padrísimo. This has nothing to do with the parent of the person saying it. It means that something is excellent or that you really like it.
22. Ruco/a. Used exclusively in Mexico to refer to the elderly. In other countries it means the complete opposite.
23. Sacatón. He who lacks bravery and acts in a cowardly manner.
24. Teporocho. Alcoholic.
25. Teto. Forget about the Castilian Spanish association of the word, as this means clumsy or somebody who isn’t very bright.
26. Tompiates. A basket used by indigenous people to transport food. Due to its similarity in appearance it is also used to mean testicles.
27. Vaquetón. Sluggish, with no motivation to work.

Do you need translations into Spanish?: Spanish translations by qualified, native Spanish translators

Planning to visit Mexico and want to sound like a local? Have you already traveled to Mexico and struggled to understand people? Don’t worry, they might not have understood you either! Many people travel to Mexico and don’t realize how different Mexican Spanish is from other forms of Spanish. But don’t worry – this doesn’t mean that your textbook Spanish lessons won’t be useful to you.

If you’ve studied Spanish before, people from Mexico to Spain will likely understand you. However, the language used in Mexico is heavily influenced by indigenous languages and local customs. For that reason, some words and expressions in Spanish are pretty unique to the culture of Mexico. In this way, Mexican Spanish is not only represented by an accent or a different way to name things, but a set of Spanish varieties that feature important cultural aspects.

At TruFluency, we have prepared a comprehensive guide to help you learn Mexican Spanish, so, with a little practice, you will be able to blend right in with the locals or with your Mexican acquaintances in your country.

Mexican Spanish Grammar

In Mexico, the past tense (pretérito perfecto compuesto – for example: he viajado, he dicho) is relatively uncommon to describe finished actions. Instead, Mexicans use the pretérito perfecto simple (yo viajé, yo dije) to talk about a past action that has concluded in the present. In Central and South America, this is common as well. While the opposite, using pretérito perfecto compuesto for the same way Mexicans use préterito perfecto simple, is the rule in Spain. For example, a person that just had breakfast in Spain would say (yo) he desayunado una tortilla, while a Mexican would say (yo) desayuné una tortilla. It’s a little similar to when Americans say ‘I just ate’ and British people might say “I’ve just eaten”.

Another characteristic of Mexican Spanish grammar is the use of the second person plural ustedes to refer to a group of people – think you all, you guys, y’all, etc. However, even though it is a polite form to address others, Mexicans say ustedes regardless of the level of familiarity. In Europe, for example, Spanish speakers use the vosotros (you guys, you all, y’all, etc) when Mexicans use ustedes. This affects verb conjugation, which you can see in the next examples:

Additionally, Mexicans are tuteantes. This means that they prefer tú (you) and its traditional verb forms for the familiar second person singular (you).

For example:

Tú me gustas mucho. I like you a lot.

Te quiero desde el primer día que te vi. I’ve loved you since the first day I saw you.

Mexican Spanish Syntax

A typical component of Mexican Spanish is the ellipsis of the negation in the main clause introduced by an adverbial clause. Don’t stress – we will explain!

You can see this in the following example:

Hasta que limpiemos la casa, no saldremos de la casa.
Until you clean the house, we’re not going out.

On the other hand, Mexico shares with other Latin American countries the use of the interrogative word qué in conjunction with the quantifier tan(to). For example:

¿Qué tan difícil es aprender inglés?
It’s so difficult to learn English.

¿Qué tan buen abogado eres?
What a good lawyer you are.

You may also notice a greater influence of indigenous languages among the more rural areas in Mexico, with the redundant use of clitics (lo, la, los, las). For example:

Yo lo veo feo.
Literally: I see it ugly. (It looks ugly to me.)

Additionally, in expressions of time spans, Mexicans, just like other Latin Americans, prefer the preposition por over durante, as in:

Estuvimos casados por veinte años.
We’ve been married for 20 years.

Mexican Spanish Vocabulary

So, we know there is a lot to take in! Mexican Spanish has unique aspects, just like the English in Boston has differences from the English in Texas. But don’t worry – with enough exposure, it’s relatively easy to grasp. The particular vocabulary of Mexican Spanish includes the following peculiarities:

Suffixes

Mexican Spanish uses the suffixes -ito and -ita to denote affection or respect. In this way, you can add a level of fondness to someone’s name or role in a show of warmth and appreciation. The suffixes -ito and -ita have an arguable equivalency in English to the suffix -y in ‘Mikey’ and ‘granny’. In Spanish, these examples are Miguelito (little Miguel) and abuelita (literally little grandma, but maybe it’s better translated as dear or sweet grandma). In Northern parts of the country -ito/-ita is replaced by -illo/a, as in cafecillo (little coffee).

For words ending in -n, Mexicans add the suffixes -cito, -cita to the end of the word. This does not necessarily imply small size but rather an affectionate attitude towards it. For example: camioncito (little truck) and ratoncita (little rat).

To make nouns sound larger or more powerful Mexicans use the suffix -zote, as in avionzote (huge plane). For disparaging words, Mexicans use the suffixes -uco/a or -ucho/a. Some examples are maluco (very bad) and flacucha (sickly skinny).

Other suffixes commonly used are -azo/a and -ón/a to refer to something impressive or large, respectively. For example tipazo (hot or tall guy/a really good person) and tetona (big-breasted girl).

In the State of Mexico, the negation in unmarked yes/no questions is quite common. Thus, instead of asking ¿Quieres…? (Would you like…?), people tend to ask ¿No quieres…? (Wouldn’t you like…?)

Mexicanisms

Words, phrases, and modes of expression distinctive of Mexican Spanish are known as mexicanisms. Some of them come from Spanish spoken in Spain many years ago. However, others originated in the enormous influence Mayan civilization had on the Spanish language in Mexico. Examples of commonly used mexicanisms are:

Achicopalarse
This means you feel down emotionally or unprepared to perform a task. It comes from the Náhuatl language. Example:

No te achicopales. (Don’t be sad).

Apapachar
From the same Náhuatl origins as achicopalarse, it means to massage, rub or cuddle someone. It is understood in most Latin American countries. Example:

Quiero apapacharte. (I want to cuddle with you).

Arrecholar
Common in the Mexican state of Cohauila. It stands for shutting oneself away and doing nothing. Example:

El perro está arrecholado en el rincón. (The dog is cornered).

Cantinflear
If you’re a fan of Mexican culture, you must have heard of the comedian Mario Moreno and his signature character, Cantinflas. A kind-hearted yet poorly-spoken man, Cantinflas entertained Mexicans over decades. Thus, the term cantinflear means to speak inconsistently without communicating anything useful. Besides, you can also use it to describe the action of performing something absurd. Example:

Deja de cantinflear. (Stop saying/doing nonsense).

Chambear
It’s a synonym of trabajar (to work). In this way, chamba is synonymous with the noun work. Chamba, in its part, means job position.

Chela
A regular beer. But, be wary! There is a variant, a typical Mexican beer, called michelada. This beverage differs from a standard beer in that chili powder is put on the rim of the glass. Example:

Yo solo estaba tomándome una chela con la comadre. (I was just drinking a beer with a close friend).

Chincual
It’s a classic word from the Veracruz region, meaning ‘party’. Example:

Vamos al chincual. (Let’s go to the party)

Chingaquedito(a)
Someone reserved who turns out to be two-faced, or could be bothersome to you. Example:

Es un chingaquedito, no decía nada pero hablaba mal de nosotros a nuestras espaldas. (He is two-faced, he wouldn’t say anything but he was speaking bad of us behind our backs).

Chingón(a)
You say something is chingón to convey that something is very good, positive, or pretty cool. Besides, you can also use it to describe a person. In that case, it means the person in question is very smart. Example:

Eres un chingón. (You are brilliant).

Chipocludo(a)
Someone efficient and responsible at their job. For example:

Mi hijo es el más chipocludo de su clase para las matemáticas. (My son is the most responsible at his Math class).

Escuincle
Someone bratty or childish. From the Náhuatl language, it’s synonym with ‘mocoso’ in Spanish.

No traigas a tus escuincles para el trabajo. (Don’t bring your brats to work).

Fresa
A privileged person that often brags about their social and economical status. For example:

Esa es una niña fresa. (That’s a posh/preppy girl).

Guandajón
Men who don’t look after their physical appearance and thus always wear unflattering clothes. Example:

Míralo ahí, todo guandajón. (Look at him there, all looking like a hobo).

Güero(a)
Blonde. If you want to add a dash of endearment to it, you can also say güerito/a. For example:

Mi pelo es güero, y el de ella es castaño. (My hair is blond and hers is brown).

Güey
Commonly used to address a peer or friend. However, it also means stupid or clumsy. Example:

¿Qué onda güey, cómo estás? (What’s up, man/dude? How are you?).

Locochón
It describes something daring, different, or extraordinary. Example:

Se va a poner locochón el concierto del viernes. (The concert on Friday is going to be crazy).

Merequetengue
A party or celebration, or a messy situation or obstacle in the middle of something. Example:

Se armó el merequetengue al momento de dar los resultados de las elecciones. (A whole mess started at the time of giving the results of the elections).

Neta
The absolute truth, for a Mexican. For example:

La neta, me da mucha pereza hacer ejercicio. (To say the truth, I really don’t feel like exercising).

Padrísimo(a)
While the stem might look like it has something to do with parents, it does not! Padrisimo describes something excellent or that you really like, as in:

¡El parque de atracciones está padrísimo! (The amusement park is great!)

Ruco(a)
An elderly person or to fall asleep. For example:

Me quedé ruco en el cine otra vez. (I fell asleep in the movie theater again).

Sacatón(a)
A coward, as in:

David es un sacatón por no apostar con Esteban. (David is a coward for not gambling with Esteban).

Teporocho(a)
Get drunk. For example:

Ella se quedó teporocha al pasarse de copas. (She got drunk after having way too many shots).

Teto
Nerdy or dumb person. Example:

Tu novio es un teto. (Your boyfriend is a dumb person).

Vaquetón
An unmotivated, sluggish, or insolent person. For example:

Te la pasaste allí tirado en el sofá güey viendo la tele, no me digas que no andabas de vaquetón. (You spent the time on the couch watching TV, don’t tell me you weren’t being sluggish)

Mexican Spanish Pronunciation

If you live in the United States, chances are that most of your Spanish exposure comes from hearing Hispanic immigrants speak, watching telenovelas and films, and interacting with Latino pop culture. Hence, it is likely you notice differences in the pronunciation of Mexicans when compared to other Spanish speakers from Argentina, Spain, or maybe Colombia.

The Mexican Spanish pronunciation is characterized by:

Affricates

Affricate sounds are consonant sounds that start with a complete obstruction of the breath stream and conclude with an incomplete closure that generates a sound of friction. See below for examples of affricates.

WORDS WITH TS and TL

Due to the influence of Nahuatl in Mexican Spanish, the set of affricate sounds include a voiceless alveolar affricate [t͡s] and a voiceless alveolar lateral affricate [t͡ɬ]. This leads to softer T sounds in autoctone words such as tlapalería (hardware store), coatzacoalquense (from the city of Coatzacoalcos). You can say it’s not the T in tomato, which is sharp sounding. It’s just softer.

Fricatives

Fricative sounds are consonant sounds produced by blocking the passage of the airstream, without making complete closure. As a result, the air moving through the mouth generates an audible friction.

WORDS WTIH X

Besides the usual voiceless fricatives of Latin American Spanish (such as the common F, S, and X sounds), Mexican Spanish has the palatal sibilant /ʃ/. You’ll find this sound mostly in some place names of indigenous origin, written with X. For example, Xola (shola) (a station in the Mexico City Metro) or Xochimilco (sounds like Sochimilco). While some Nahuatl and Mayan words keep their original pronunciation, others evolved over time and moved its articulation to other regions of the mouth. Thus, words like Xalapa (Halapa) or Mexico (meh-hee-ko) itself keep their velar, glottal, or uvular pronunciation.

WORDS WITH LL, Y, AND THE YEÌSMO

Yeísmo is present among all varieties of Mexican Spanish and consists of pronouncing identically letters LL and Y. Therefore, in most cases, you’ll hear a palatal fricative [ʝ] for words like Yemen or pollo (po-yo). This sound is weakened between vowels, as in gallina ( gah-(y)ee-na) and silla (see-(y)uh).

Stops

In phonetics, a stop is the momentary blocking of some part of the oral cavity.

WORDS WITH BU

The sound /bw/ often becomes /gw/ in rural speech. Hence, abuelo and bueno may be pronounced as agüelo and güeno. Other times, they’ll sound as if they were pronounced as awelo and weno.

Time to practice your Mexican Spanish!

At TruFluency, your Mexican Spanish lessons are customized to your needs. If there’s any section of this guide that you would like to focus on, we are happy to help you. Book a lesson now for as little as $35 for a trial class and become fluent sooner than you think.