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Jerga de Bolivia

The 20 words and phrases you’ll hear in Bolivia, with friendly pronunciation, 3 examples each, games and dialogues to practice.

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Paso 1

Las 20 · The 20 words and phrases

Bolivian Spanish lives side by side with Quechua, Aymara and Guaraní, so everyday speech is full of indigenous loanwords such as 'wawa' (baby), 'yapa' (a little extra) and 'chaqui' (hangover). Many Bolivians also use 'vos', and 'pues' (often heard as 'pue' or 'puej') softens everyday requests.

Tap any word to see its meaning, 3 examples and a cultural note. Pronunciation: the CAPITAL syllable is stressed. 🔊 uses your device’s Spanish voice, so the accent may not match Bolivia exactly.

chango, changa/CHAHN-goh, CHAHN-gah/kid, young person; guy, girl

wordcasual [chan-go, chan-ga]

3 examples

  • Ese chango juega muy bien al fútbol.That kid plays soccer really well.
  • Las changas del colegio organizaron la kermés.The girls from school organized the fair.
  • Cuando era chango, vivía en Sucre.When I was a kid, I lived in Sucre.

In Mexico 'chango' means monkey — in Bolivia (and northwest Argentina) it simply means a youngster.

yapa/YAH-pah/a little extra a seller adds for free

wordcasual, neutral [ya-pa]

3 examples

  • Casera, ¿no me da su yapa?Ma'am, won't you give me a little extra?
  • Compré pan y me dieron uno de yapa.I bought bread and they gave me one extra.
  • De yapa, empezó a llover.On top of that, it started to rain.

From Quechua 'yapa' (increase, help). Asking the 'casera' for yapa is part of market culture; also used in Peru.

cuate/KWAH-teh/buddy, friend

wordcasual [cua-te]

3 examples

  • Voy al cine con mis cuates.I'm going to the movies with my buddies.
  • Mi cuate me ayudó con la tarea.My buddy helped me with the homework.
  • Somos cuates desde el kínder.We've been friends since kindergarten.

Also very common in Mexico (from Nahuatl 'cóatl', snake or twin).

chaqui/CHAH-kee/hangover

wordcasual [cha-qui]

3 examples

  • Mi tío tenía chaqui después del matrimonio.My uncle had a hangover after the wedding.
  • Un caldo es bueno para curar el chaqui.A broth is good for curing a hangover.
  • No vino a trabajar por el chaqui.He didn't come to work because of the hangover.

From Aymara 'ch'akhi' / Quechua 'ch'aki' (dry), per the Diccionario de americanismos. 'Curar el chaqui' = cure a hangover.

trancadera/trahn-kah-DEH-rah/traffic jam

wordcasual, neutral [tran-ca-de-ra]

3 examples

  • Hay trancadera en El Prado.There's a traffic jam on El Prado.
  • Por la trancadera llegué tarde al examen.Because of the traffic I was late for the exam.
  • Salgamos temprano para evitar la trancadera.Let's leave early to avoid the traffic.

Recorded in the Diccionario de americanismos as a Bolivian word.

trucho, trucha/TROO-choh, TROO-chah/fake, counterfeit

wordcasual [tru-cho, tru-cha]

3 examples

  • Ese celular es trucho.That phone is fake.
  • Cuidado, venden entradas truchas para el concierto.Careful, they sell fake concert tickets.
  • Mi reloj trucho dejó de funcionar.My knockoff watch stopped working.

Also common in Argentina.

capo/KAH-poh/ace, someone really good at something

wordcasual [ca-po]

3 examples

  • Mi abuelo es un capo para cocinar salteñas.My grandpa is an ace at making salteñas.
  • ¡Sos un capo, aprobaste todo!You're amazing, you passed everything!
  • El nuevo profe es capísimo.The new teacher is fantastic.

Intensified form: 'capísimo'. Also common in Argentina.

guagua, wawa/GWAH-gwah, WAH-wah/baby

wordcasual, affectionate [gua-gua, wa-wa]

3 examples

  • La wawa ya camina.The baby is already walking.
  • Mi vecina tuvo una guagua en enero.My neighbor had a baby in January.
  • En el minibús, una wawa dormía en el aguayo.On the minibus, a baby was sleeping in the aguayo.

From Quechua and Aymara 'wawa'. An 'aguayo' is the colorful Andean carrying cloth.

pintudo, pintuda/peen-TOO-doh, peen-TOO-dah/good-looking, well dressed

wordcasual [pin-tu-do, pin-tu-da]

3 examples

  • ¡Qué pintudo estás para la entrada!You look so sharp for the parade!
  • Tu prima es muy pintuda.Your cousin is very good-looking.
  • Fue pintudo a la entrevista.He went to the interview looking sharp.

The Diccionario de americanismos records it for Bolivia and northwest Argentina.

chacharse/chah-CHAHR-seh/to skip class or work

wordcasual [cha-char-se]

3 examples

  • Ayer me chaché la clase de química.Yesterday I skipped chemistry class.
  • No te chaches, mañana hay examen.Don't skip, there's an exam tomorrow.
  • Se chachó del trabajo para ver el partido.He skipped work to watch the game.

Pronominal verb: me chacho, te chachas, se chacha.

charlar/chahr-LAHR/to fib, tell tall tales; to sweet-talk

wordcasual [char-lar]

Literally: to chat

3 examples

  • No me charles, sé que no estudiaste.Don't feed me stories, I know you didn't study.
  • Siempre charla para no pagar.He always sweet-talks his way out of paying.
  • ¿Me estás charlando o es verdad?Are you kidding me, or is it true?

False friend! In standard Spanish 'charlar' just means to chat.

macurca/mah-KOOR-kah/muscle soreness (after exercise)

wordcasual, neutral [ma-cur-ca]

3 examples

  • Después del gimnasio tengo macurca.After the gym I'm sore.
  • Subimos a Chacaltaya y me macurqué.We hiked up Chacaltaya and got sore muscles.
  • La macurca se me pasó en dos días.My soreness went away in two days.

Recorded by the RAE as a Bolivian word. Verb: macurcarse.

ñeque/NYEH-keh/guts, drive, strength

wordcasual [ñe-que]

3 examples

  • Hay que tener ñeque para estudiar y trabajar.You need guts to study and work at the same time.
  • Ese equipo juega con ñeque.That team plays with real drive.
  • Mi mamá tiene mucho ñeque.My mom is really strong-willed.

Also used in other Latin American countries, such as Peru, Chile and Ecuador.

¡nica!/NEE-kah/no way!, not a chance!

wordcasual [ni-ca]

3 examples

  • ¿Prestarte mi auto? ¡Nica!Lend you my car? No way!
  • ¿Lavar los platos otra vez? ¡Nica!Wash the dishes again? Not a chance!
  • Le pedí su chamarra, pero me dijo: ¡nica!I asked for his jacket, but he said: no way!

A playful refusal among friends; use it with a smile.

¡ya pues!/YAH PWEHS/okay then!, sure!; come on!

phrasecasual [ya pues]

Literally: already then

3 examples

  • —¿Vamos por salteñas? —¡Ya pues!—Shall we get salteñas? —Sure!
  • ¡Ya pues, apúrate, que perdemos el teleférico!Come on, hurry up, we'll miss the cable car!
  • Ya pues, mamá, mañana lo hago.Okay, Mom, I'll do it tomorrow.

Often sounds like 'ya pue' or 'ya puej'. A drawn-out 'yaaa' can mean 'yes' or 'I get the joke'.

¡qué macana!/KEH mah-KAH-nah/what a shame!, too bad!

phrasecasual [qué ma-ca-na]

3 examples

  • ¿Se suspendió el partido? ¡Qué macana!The game was called off? What a shame!
  • ¡Qué macana, se acabaron las salteñas!Too bad, the salteñas are sold out!
  • Perdí el bus a Oruro. ¡Qué macana!I missed the bus to Oruro. What a pity!

A friendly reaction to small bad news.

estar k'encha/ehs-TAHR KEHN-chah/to be unlucky, have bad luck

phrasecasual [es-tar k'en-cha]

3 examples

  • Estoy k'encha: perdí el celular y las llaves.I'm so unlucky: I lost my phone and my keys.
  • Mi equipo está k'encha este año.My team is having bad luck this year.
  • ¡Qué k'encha, llovió el día del paseo!What bad luck, it rained on the day of the trip!

From Quechua. Also spelled q'encha, kh'encha or quencha; the apostrophe marks a sharp, 'popped' k.

estar yesca/ehs-TAHR YEHS-kah/to be broke

phrasecasual [es-tar yes-ca]

Literally: to be tinder

3 examples

  • No voy a la fiesta, estoy yesca.I'm not going to the party, I'm broke.
  • Después de pagar el alquiler quedé yesca.After paying rent I was left broke.
  • Estamos yesca hasta el viernes.We're broke until Friday.

Bolivian sense recorded in the Diccionario de americanismos. In parts of Central America 'yesca' has a different slang meaning, so keep this one for Bolivia.

estar camote/ehs-TAHR kah-MOH-teh/to be head over heels in love

phrasecasual, affectionate [es-tar ca-mo-te]

Literally: to be (a) sweet potato

3 examples

  • Mi hermano está camote de su compañera.My brother is head over heels for his classmate.
  • Estoy camote, no puedo dejar de pensar en ella.I'm crazy in love, I can't stop thinking about her.
  • Mis abuelos siguen camotes después de cincuenta años.My grandparents are still in love after fifty years.

Verb: encamotarse (to fall for someone).

¡jallalla!/hah-YAH-yah/hooray!, long live…!, cheers! (a celebratory shout)

phrasecasual, festive [ja-lla-lla]

3 examples

  • ¡Jallalla, Bolivia!Long live Bolivia!
  • En el Año Nuevo Andino todos gritaron: ¡jallalla!At the Andean New Year everyone shouted: hooray!
  • ¡Jallalla por los novios!Cheers to the bride and groom!

From Aymara and Quechua; heard at festivals, toasts and celebrations, especially in the highlands.

Paso 2

Tarjetas · Flashcards

Say the meaning out loud, then tap the card to check.

Paso 3

Quiz · ¿Lo sabes?

10 quick questions: match each word with its meaning. You get instant feedback.

Paso 4

Diálogos · Dialogues

Three conversations, from beginner to advanced. Together they use all 20. Read and listen first, then press Practicar to fill in the blanks.

En el mercado Rodríguez (Principiante · Beginner)

Friends Ximena and Rodrigo meet while shopping at the Rodríguez market in La Paz.

  1. Ximena:¡Hola, Rodrigo! ¿Qué compras?Hi, Rodrigo! What are you buying?
  2. Rodrigo:Fruta para mi hermana. Tiene una wawa recién nacida.Fruit for my sister. She has a newborn baby.
  3. Ximena:¡Qué lindo! Mira, esa casera da yapa.How lovely! Look, that vendor gives a little extra.
  4. Rodrigo:¡Ya pues, vamos!Sure, let's go!
  5. Ximena:Ese chango es mi cuate Pablo. Vende jugos.That young guy is my buddy Pablo. He sells juices.
  6. Rodrigo:¡Qué pintudo está con su camisa nueva!He looks so sharp in his new shirt!
  7. Ximena:Sí, y sus jugos son riquísimos. ¡Es un capo!Yes, and his juices are delicious. He's the best!

¿Por qué llegaste tarde? (Intermedio · Intermediate)

Classmates Camila and Andrés talk before class at a university in Cochabamba.

  1. Camila:¿Por qué llegaste tarde, Andrés?Why were you late, Andrés?
  2. Andrés:Había una trancadera horrible en la avenida América.There was a horrible traffic jam on Avenida América.
  3. Camila:¿Seguro? El viernes también te chachaste.Really? You also skipped class on Friday.
  4. Andrés:Es que el jueves jugué fútbol y el viernes tenía macurca.Well, on Thursday I played soccer and on Friday my muscles were sore.
  5. Camila:No me estés charlando, Andrés.Don't feed me stories, Andrés.
  6. Andrés:¡Es verdad! Ahora necesito zapatillas nuevas, pero estoy yesca.It's true! Now I need new sneakers, but I'm broke.
  7. Camila:En La Cancha venden baratas.They sell cheap ones at La Cancha market.
  8. Andrés:Sí, pero muchas son truchas. Oye, ¿me prestas tus apuntes del viernes?Yes, but many are fake. Hey, will you lend me your notes from Friday?
  9. Camila:¡Nica! Primero ven a clases, pues.No way! Come to class first.

Después de la boda (Avanzado · Advanced)

Friends Mariana and Luis talk over Sunday lunch in La Paz, the day after Luis's brother's wedding.

  1. Mariana:¿Cómo te fue en la boda de tu hermano, Luis?How did your brother's wedding go, Luis?
  2. Luis:Muy bonita, pero hoy tengo un chaqui tremendo; bailamos hasta las cuatro.Very nice, but today I have a terrible hangover; we danced until four.
  3. Mariana:¡Qué macana! Deberías tomar un caldo y descansar.What a shame! You should have some broth and rest.
  4. Luis:Lo haría, pero perdí mi celular en la fiesta. Estoy k'encha esta semana.I would, but I lost my phone at the party. I'm out of luck this week.
  5. Mariana:No creo que esté perdido. Seguro alguien de tu familia lo guardó.I don't think it's lost. Surely someone in your family kept it.
  6. Luis:Ojalá. Pero mi hermano está camote y no contesta mensajes.I hope so. But my brother is head over heels and isn't answering messages.
  7. Mariana:¡Está recién casado! Sería raro que pensara en tu celular.He just got married! It would be strange if he were thinking about your phone.
  8. Luis:Tienes razón. Hay que tener ñeque para organizar una boda así.You're right. You need real drive to organize a wedding like that.
  9. Mariana:Si yo me casara, haría una fiesta pequeña, sin tanto estrés.If I got married, I'd have a small party, without so much stress.
  10. Luis:Yo también, aunque me encantaría que todos gritaran ¡jallalla! como ayer.Me too, although I'd love for everyone to shout 'jallalla!' like yesterday.
  11. Mariana:Entonces, ¡jallalla por los novios!Then, cheers to the newlyweds!

Paso 5 · Apply it

Habla y escribe: Un mensaje para un amigo

Record a voice note or write a text to a friend from Bolivia. Tell them about your weekend and make a plan to meet. Use at least 5 words or phrases from the list.

  1. Open with a greeting from the list (or a friendly ¡Hola!).
  2. Tell 2–3 things you did, using slang to describe them.
  3. Suggest a plan: where, when and what you’ll eat or do.
  4. Close the way a friend from Bolivia would.
  5. Now say it out loud, twice: once slowly, once at natural speed.

    Slang detection is a helper and may miss some forms.

    Self-check

    Need ideas? Re-read the advanced dialogue above. Want feedback on your Spanish? Book a free consultation.

    Sources and a note

    Slang changes fast and varies by region, age and social group. These are words and phrases widely used in Bolivia today, checked against the sources below. Heard something different? Tell me.