Spanish Slang
Below are lists of Spanish slang, expressions, and idioms. Certain slang, etc. can be localized to a particular country where Spanish is spoken. As such, country names are indicated where applicable. These include Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, USA, and Venezuela.
- Más vale tarde que nunca: Better late than never.
- ¡Pierde cuidado!: Don't worry!
- ¡Anda a bañarte! (Chile) Go away!
- Menudo pájaro es ese: I wouldn't trust him futher than I can throw him.
- Es broma: Just kidding.
- Dicho y hecho: No sooner said than done.
- El que no se aventura no cruza el mar: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
- ¡Probre!: Poor thing!
- ¡Plop! (Chile): No comment!
- Ver y creer: Seeing is believing.
- ¡No seas payaso!: Stop clowning around!
- Eso es el colmo: That's the limit.
- Chao pescado. (Chile), Hasta luego: See you later, alligator.
- No hay esperanzas: There is no hope.
- No cabe duda: There is no doubt.
- ¡Qué barbaridad! (Mexico): What a bummer!
- Cuando el gato va a sus devociones, bailan los ratones: When the cat is away, the mice will play.
- El tiempo da buen consejo: Time will tell.
- ¡No sirves para nada!: You are good for nothing!
- Suave (Mexico, Joe Camel is advertised as "Un Tipo Suave")
- Chingon, Chingo (Mexico, as in: Qué coche más chingo! = What a cool car!
- Bárbaro (Mexico, means bad, but like in English, also can mean cool): Cool!