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 SLANG OF CENTRAL AMERICA

After spending a lot of time in these countries I have — and I hope that anyone else, has made a concerted effort to learn and communicate in Spanish. If you aren't, then I think you are traveling like an asshole. It's one of the most widely spoken and useful languages in the world. Try to learn.

That being said, every country as soon as you cross the border will have new and unique slang. I am going to get into a very very small amount of the slang words that you may hear, and can use in normal conversation. Locals will be impressed, and will respect the fact that you are trying to learn a little about the Spanish language intricacies of their country. 

mexico

Mexico probably has the most developed and wide-spanning slang compared to anywhere else in Central America. It's also my favorite slang of all the countries. A lot of the words just sound right and seem to fit perfectly. It's great, really. I still use a lot of Mexican slang outside of the country and people look at me like an idiot. But it's the best Spanish slang if you ask me. 

wey

Extremely common, means dude or homie.​ — Technically spelled guey. 

que onda wey

What's up dude? Used everywhere all the time​.

belize

Que Pedo

What's up?​

— Not much in the way of slang here that I ever learned. Half the country speaks English, and a lot of the slang is going to be Creole-based slang rather than Spanish slang. So I am just going to leave this country blank, from a slang perspective. 

Que Padre

That's cool, how cool. ​

que chingon

How cool, that's awesome. — More vulgar though.

oralé

— Means like, let's go! Or a word of approval or encouragement.

Pinche

Essentially means like "fucking". You would use it like, "Pinche gringo".
— "Fucking gringo". 

No Mames

You're kidding me? No way. You don't say. It can't be. ​

chido

Means 'cool' or 'good'. You would say like "Que Chido" if you saw something you like. Means like "How cool", or that's cool. 

No manches

Same as no mames, but 'no mames' is technically vulgar. If you are talking to an old lady or something, use manches. ​

chela

Mexican for a beer. Bottled beer. 

fresa

Really the word for strawberries. This just refers to a fancy or preppy person. — Pretty negative connotation.

crudo

Hangover

mande

Mexican way to say "What?". Commonly used at restaurants and everywhere really when someone wants you to repeat something. 

chilango

Slang for someone from Mexico City. 

cabron

Dude or man. Like "What's up, cabron?" 

Aguas!

— Means "Watch out"... "Look out". — Something along those lines.

puta madre

Son of a bitch, motherfucker, really any bad word you can come up with. 

pendejo

Asshole

hijo de puta

Common everywhere, but son of a bitch

a la verga

— Means like "What the fuck?" or "Fuck off" or "Fuck this". 

No manches

Same as 'no mames', but no mames is technically vulgar. If you are talking to an old lady or something, use 'manches'. ​

geuro

This is another word for 'gringo', but it's a bit of a nicer way to say it. — Like a gringo, but a good gringo. 

guatemala

The slang in Guatemala is certainly not as far-reaching or extensive as it is in Mexico, but it still is very much a thing. Mexican slang is more well-known, so people won't be as impressed when you use it. Guatemalan slang on the other hand — if you drop some of these words, you will turn some heads. 

cerote

— Means 'dude'. Say "que onda cerote". Meaning "What's up dude?"  ​

Chapin

A word referring to Guatemalans. — Or when a thing is very Guatemalan. Like a Gallo, the beer of Guatemala, 'es muy chapin'. A person can also be chapin. 

honduras

Chilero

Chill or cool. 

chivas

A term for 'stuff'. "Donde esta mis chivas?" "Where are my things?", "Where is my stuff?" 

I spent most of my time out on the islands, which are very very influenced by English speakers, so I wasn't exposed to that much Spanish slang in Honduras. The few things that I do know are below. 

Pelar

To gossip.

Chucho

Guatemalan slang for dog. 

Sho!

Pronounced kind of like 'yo', it means "hey". 

Chinchar

A verb that means 'to bother'. "Dejar a chincharme", stop bothering me. 

boquitas

Slang for 'snack' or 'appetizer'. Something to pick at. 

pisto

Slang for money or cash. 

Maje

Honduran for 'dude'. ​

yuca

Hard or difficult to get rid of. 

el salvador

goma

Honduran for 'hangover'. "Esoty con goma!" — Means 'rubber', like your brain is rubber.  ​

chele

Honduran for gringo. A white person. 

Chuco

Something that is dirty. Referred to typically one of their best street foods, 'pollo chuco'. Dirty chicken. 

shasta

Something of poor or bad quality

cheque

Means like 'ok' or 'alright'. Someone says something to you, you can say "Si, cheque" to agree. 

birrias

Slang for beer. 

alero

Word that means like 'best friend'. "Mi Alero" would be like 'My Best Friend'. 

belico

— Word for cool. "Que Bèlico" is like "Que Chido", or "How Cool". 

Catracho

Term used for Hondurans when they refer to being Honduran.  A word used with a sense of pride. 

Not going to be all that widespread, and a lot of words like 'Cerote' are used here and in other Central American countries, but there's some good words to keep in your brain to help you fit in, or get a smile out of a local. 

bolado

Means 'thing'. Like 'give me that thing'. "Dame esto bolado". ​

baboso

Can be used to call something or someone dumb. ​

nicaragua

arrecho

Slang for 'something is looking perfect', or 'perfect'. "Este parece arrecho!" 'This looks perfect'. ​

de choto

For free. Interchangeable with gratis. ​

bicho

Refers to kids or younger people. Can be interchangeable with joven. ​

chero

Salvadorian for 'close friend'.​

Chuco

Dirty. ​

Vea

A word used to get someone's attention, or start a conversation. ​

Dundo

— Means dumb. "Estas siendo dundo". You're being dumb, or silly. 

Cerote

Common word here for 'dude', or man. "Que onda cerote". ​

The king has finally arrived. Nicaragua only has 2 real options for beer. The 'Toña' and 'La Victoria'. But the Toña is the greatest beer in all of Central America. It's an amazing refreshing beer that works at any time of the day, and it also has a great name to add to that. The best national beers of any country in Central here. 'La Victoria' is also really good. 

tuani

"Cool" or 'awesome'.

jama

Food. "Voy a cocinar una a jama buena". 'I'm going to cook some great food'. 

costa rica

Chele/a

White-skinned person, not necessarily gringo, but most probably. 

I actually really liked Costa Rican slang. It's fun, and it's really widely used. It's also just nice and playful. — Like 'Pura Vida', which is something that everyone associates with the country, is really just slang that they use to start and end interactions. So there's some good stuff here. 

dale pues

— Very Nicaraguan. This means 'go for it'. But also a lot of other stuff, like 'alright', or 'okay', or just a way to end a conversation. 

bacanal

Another word for a party. 

chuchada

Means very simply, 'the thing'. 

maje

Slang for a person who always brings problems. — A bad person, which is in direct contrast to the meaning in Honduras for 'dude' or 'man' in an endearing way. 

cerote

Dude, or 'man'. 'Piece of shit', endearingly. More common in Guate and El Sal. 

nicas, Nica

Slang word for people from Nicaragua. 

jaña

Slang for 'woman' or 'girl'. 

mae

Pronounced more "Mai" but it means dude. Simliar to Guey in Mexico. Used all the time. "Que onda Mae". 

Tico

The word used for Costa Ricans. If you are Costa Rican, you are a Tico. 

Que Es la vara

Means "What's up?"

choza

Typically means 'house', but in Costa Rica it refers to house in general. 

bomba

Gas station. 

panama

Carga

Ticos use this word to describe someone who is really good at something. "El es una carga en futbol".  

gallo pinto

Costa Rican local food. 'Beans and rice'. Comes with everything. 

Hablar papaya

When someone isn't making sense, or talking nonsense. 

dar pelota

Means 'give attention', in Costa Rica. "Prestame attencion". — The same for the most part. 

por dicha

Means luckily. "Por dicha, habia holas". — 'Luckily, there were waves'. 

vara

Slang for 'thing'.

pura vida

The common way that people greet each other or say 'goodbye' in Costa Rica. You can use it to start and end any conversation. 

soda

The word to describe a local restaurant. They are called 'Sodas'. 

This was my first exposure to Latin American slang so I really love it, and still use a lot of these today in other countries. — Which doesn't make any sense, but I do. Panama has great slang, and a lot of great dirty words and phrases.  

vaina

Panamanian for 'thing'. "Que es este vaina"? 'What is this thing'?

que xopa?

Panamanian for "What's up?" It's the most unique slang I know of. It's 'Que paso?' But the paso is reversed. It's pronounced 'Que Sopa', and it's how everyone greets everyone. 

ahuevao

Means 'asshole' or stupid. "El es un ahuevao". 'He's an asshole'. 

parking

A word for a party. "Vamos a el parking". — 'Let's go to the party'. 

Que Chucha

'What the fuck?' "Por que chucha no?" 'Why the fuck not?' 

frenes

— Word for friends. It relies heavily on the English word obviously, but it means amigos. 

chifear

— To ignore, or more in modern terms, 'ghosting'. 

Goma

Hangover.

ofi

Means like ok! "Queres ir a cenar?" "Ofi, vamos!" 'Want to go get dinner?' 'Okay! Let's go!'

Pelao

— Means like 'man' or 'guy'. "Ese pelao es loco!" 'This guy is crazy!'

Chuleta

Means like "Wow!" or "Damn!" 

Juma

Panamanian for drunk. 

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