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🇨🇱 Jerga · Practice & Play

Jerga de Chile

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

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Paso 1

Las 20 · The 20 words and phrases

Chilean Spanish is famous for its fast rhythm, softened final 's' and its own voseo verb forms like '¿cómo estái?' and '¿cachai?'. The Academia Chilena de la Lengua documents this everyday vocabulary in its Diccionario de uso del español de Chile (DUECh).

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 Chile exactly.

cachai/kah-CHAI/do you get it?; you know?

wordcasual [ca-chai]

Literally: do you catch?

3 examples

  • Mañana no hay clases, ¿cachai?There's no school tomorrow, you know?
  • Primero el informe y después la reunión, ¿cachai?First the report and then the meeting, got it?
  • Te llamo cuando llegue al metro, ¿cachai?I'll call you when I get to the metro, okay?

Chilean vos-form of 'cachar' (to get, to understand). Also written '¿cachái?' or '¿cachay?'. Used constantly in casual talk; avoid it in formal writing.

po/POH/well, so, of course (an emphatic tag)

wordcasual [po]

3 examples

  • ¡Sí po, vamos a la playa!Yeah, of course, let's go to the beach!
  • Ya po, deme dos kilos de paltas.Okay then, give me two kilos of avocados.
  • No po, mamá, hoy no puedo.No way, Mom, I can't today.

Short for 'pues'. Hear it everywhere in 'sí po', 'no po' and 'ya po'.

bacán/bah-KAHN/cool, great, awesome

wordcasual [ba-cán]

3 examples

  • ¡Qué bacán tu chaqueta nueva!Your new jacket is so cool!
  • El profe de historia es bacán.The history teacher is great.
  • Fue bacán ver los cerros de Valparaíso.It was awesome to see the hills of Valparaíso.

Also very common in Peru.

fome/FOH-meh/boring, lame, dull

wordcasual [fo-me]

3 examples

  • La película estuvo súper fome.The movie was really boring.
  • No seas fome, ven al cumpleaños.Don't be lame, come to the birthday party.
  • Esta clase es fome los lunes.This class is dull on Mondays.

A classic chilenismo, recorded in the Academia Chilena's DUECh.

pololo, polola/poh-LOH-loh, poh-LOH-lah/boyfriend, girlfriend

wordcasual, affectionate [po-lo-lo, po-lo-la]

3 examples

  • Mi polola estudia medicina en Concepción.My girlfriend studies medicine in Concepción.
  • ¿Vas a traer a tu pololo al almuerzo?Are you bringing your boyfriend to lunch?
  • Llevamos dos años pololeando.We've been dating for two years.

Verb: pololear (to date).

carrete/kah-RREH-teh/party, night out

wordcasual [ca-rre-te]

Literally: reel, spool

3 examples

  • El sábado hay carrete en la casa de Nico.On Saturday there's a party at Nico's place.
  • ¿Vamos a carretear después del examen?Shall we go out partying after the exam?
  • Llegué cansado del carrete de anoche.I got home tired from last night's party.

Verb: carretear (to go out, to party).

luca/LOO-kah/1,000 Chilean pesos

wordcasual [lu-ca]

3 examples

  • El completo cuesta tres lucas.The hot dog costs three thousand pesos.
  • ¿Me prestas una luca para el bus?Can you lend me a thousand pesos for the bus?
  • Gané veinte lucas cuidando a mi sobrino.I earned twenty thousand pesos babysitting my nephew.

In Peru 'luca' means one sol, so the value changes by country!

guagua/GWAH-gwah/baby

wordcasual, affectionate [gua-gua]

3 examples

  • La guagua está durmiendo, habla despacio.The baby is sleeping, speak quietly.
  • Mi prima tuvo una guagua preciosa.My cousin had a beautiful baby.
  • En el avión había tres guaguas.There were three babies on the plane.

From Quechua 'wawa' (baby). In the Caribbean and the Canary Islands, 'guagua' means bus!

pega/PEH-gah/job, work

wordcasual [pe-ga]

3 examples

  • Encontré pega en una librería.I found a job at a bookstore.
  • Hoy salgo tarde de la pega.Today I'm leaving work late.
  • Mi papá tiene una pega nueva en Santiago.My dad has a new job in Santiago.

Chile's everyday word for 'trabajo' (compare Peru's 'chamba').

cuático, cuática/KWAH-tee-koh, KWAH-tee-kah/intense, over the top, a big deal

wordcasual [cuá-ti-co, cuá-ti-ca]

3 examples

  • El partido fue cuático, ganamos en el último minuto.The match was intense, we won in the last minute.
  • No seas tan cuática, es solo una nota.Don't be so dramatic, it's just one grade.
  • Fue cuático subir el volcán Villarrica.Climbing the Villarrica volcano was intense.

Can be positive (amazing) or negative (too much); tone tells you which.

pituto/pee-TOO-toh/an inside contact who helps you; a side gig

wordcasual [pi-tu-to]

3 examples

  • Consiguió la práctica por un pituto.She got the internship through a contact.
  • Los fines de semana tengo un pituto de fotógrafo.On weekends I have a side gig as a photographer.
  • ¿Tienes algún pituto en el banco?Do you have any inside contact at the bank?

The Diccionario de americanismos marks both senses as Chilean.

taco/TAH-koh/traffic jam

wordcasual [ta-co]

3 examples

  • Había un taco enorme en la Costanera.There was a huge traffic jam on the Costanera.
  • Salí temprano para evitar el taco.I left early to avoid the traffic.
  • Llegué tarde a clases por el taco.I was late to class because of traffic.

Not the Mexican food here! In Chile a 'taco' is a traffic jam.

seco, seca/SEH-koh, SEH-kah/really good at something, an ace

wordcasual [se-co, se-ca]

Literally: dry

3 examples

  • Mi hermana es seca para las matemáticas.My sister is brilliant at math.
  • Ese arquero es seco.That goalkeeper is excellent.
  • Eres seco cocinando empanadas.You're amazing at making empanadas.

Usually 'seco para' + activity.

al tiro/ahl TEE-roh/right away, immediately

phrasecasual [al ti-ro]

Literally: at the shot

3 examples

  • Voy al tiro, espérame.I'm coming right away, wait for me.
  • Contesté el correo al tiro.I answered the email right away.
  • Mamá, lavo los platos al tiro.Mom, I'll wash the dishes right now.

Also written 'altiro'; the Academia Chilena's DUECh lists it.

¿cómo estái?/KOH-moh ehs-TAI/how are you?

phrasecasual [có-mo es-tái]

3 examples

  • ¡Hola, Cami! ¿Cómo estái?Hi, Cami! How are you?
  • ¿Cómo estái después del viaje?How are you after the trip?
  • Abuelo, ¿cómo estái hoy?Grandpa, how are you today?

Chilean voseo verb form (estái = estás). Use it with friends and family, not in formal situations.

¡qué lata!/KEH LAH-tah/what a drag!, how annoying!

phrasecasual [qué la-ta]

Literally: what a tin can!

3 examples

  • ¿Se canceló el concierto? ¡Qué lata!The concert got canceled? What a drag!
  • ¡Qué lata hacer tareas el domingo!Doing homework on Sunday is such a drag!
  • Me da lata ir al supermercado.I can't be bothered to go to the supermarket.

'Lata' = something boring or annoying; 'me da lata' = I don't feel like it.

pasarlo chancho/pah-SAHR-loh CHAHN-choh/to have a great time

phrasecasual [pa-sar-lo chan-cho]

Literally: to spend it (like a) pig

3 examples

  • ¡Lo pasamos chancho en el paseo!We had a blast on the trip!
  • Que lo pases chancho en tu cumpleaños.Have a great time on your birthday.
  • Los niños lo pasaron chancho en la piscina.The kids had a great time at the pool.

One of the most-used Chilean sayings in the 2021 'Orgullo Chileno' survey.

estar pato/ehs-TAHR PAH-toh/to be broke

phrasecasual [es-tar pa-to]

Literally: to be (a) duck

3 examples

  • No puedo ir al cine, estoy pato.I can't go to the movies, I'm broke.
  • A fin de mes siempre ando pato.At the end of the month I'm always broke.
  • Estamos patos, cocinemos en la casa.We're broke, let's cook at home.

Also 'andar pato'.

mandarse un condoro/mahn-DAHR-seh oon kohn-DOH-roh/to make a big blunder

phrasecasual [man-dar-se un con-do-ro]

Literally: to pull a 'condor'

3 examples

  • Me mandé un condoro: olvidé las llaves adentro.I messed up big: I left the keys inside.
  • El arquero se mandó un condoro en el penal.The goalkeeper made a huge blunder on the penalty.
  • No te mandes un condoro en la entrevista.Don't make a big mistake in the interview.

Usually linked to Condorito, the classic Chilean comic-strip condor famous for his mishaps.

ser pavo, ser pava/sehr PAH-boh, sehr PAH-bah/to be naive, clueless or a bit awkward

phrasecasual, teasing [ser pa-vo, ser pa-va]

Literally: to be a turkey

3 examples

  • No seas pavo, el museo cierra a las seis.Don't be clueless, the museum closes at six.
  • Fui tan pava que me subí al bus equivocado.I was so clueless I got on the wrong bus.
  • Mi hermano es pavo con la tecnología.My brother is clueless with technology.

Gentle teasing among friends; don't use it to criticize strangers.

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.

Domingo en el parque (Principiante · Beginner)

Two friends, Catalina and Benjamín, make Sunday plans by phone in Santiago.

  1. Catalina:¡Hola, Benja! ¿Cómo estái?Hi, Benja! How are you?
  2. Benjamín:Bien, gracias. Hoy estoy en la casa. ¿Y tú?Good, thanks. I'm at home today. And you?
  3. Catalina:Bien. Hay un concierto gratis en el Parque Forestal. ¡Es bacán!Good. There's a free concert in Parque Forestal. It's awesome!
  4. Benjamín:¿Gratis? El domingo en la casa es muy fome.Free? Sunday at home is really boring.
  5. Catalina:Va mi pololo, Tomás. Después hay un carrete en su departamento.My boyfriend Tomás is going. Afterwards there's a party at his apartment.
  6. Benjamín:Ya, voy al tiro. Pero vuelvo temprano, mañana trabajo, ¿cachai?Okay, I'm coming right away. But I'm going home early, I work tomorrow, you know?
  7. Catalina:¡Perfecto! Te espero en la entrada del parque.Perfect! I'll wait for you at the park entrance.

Lunes en la oficina (Intermedio · Intermediate)

Coworkers Javiera and Matías talk about their weekend at an office in Valparaíso.

  1. Javiera:¿Qué tal el fin de semana, Matías?How was the weekend, Matías?
  2. Matías:Lo pasé chancho. Fuimos a la playa en Viña del Mar.I had a great time. We went to the beach in Viña del Mar.
  3. Javiera:¡Qué bueno! Yo no salí. Estoy pato hasta fin de mes.Great! I didn't go out. I'm broke until the end of the month.
  4. Matías:Yo también gasté mucho. Solo me quedan diez lucas.I spent a lot too. I only have ten thousand pesos left.
  5. Javiera:Además, mi hermana tuvo una guagua el sábado.Also, my sister had a baby on Saturday.
  6. Matías:¡Felicitaciones! ¿Vas a visitarla?Congratulations! Are you going to visit her?
  7. Javiera:Sí po, el viernes después de la pega.Yes, of course, on Friday after work.
  8. Matías:Sal temprano. Los viernes hay un taco terrible en la avenida España.Leave early. On Fridays there's a terrible traffic jam on Avenida España.
  9. Javiera:Buena idea. Voy a pedir permiso hoy.Good idea. I'm going to ask for permission today.

La entrevista de trabajo (Avanzado · Advanced)

University friends Fernanda and Diego talk over coffee in Concepción about Diego's job interview.

  1. Fernanda:¿Y? ¿Cómo te fue en la entrevista de ayer, Diego?So? How did yesterday's interview go, Diego?
  2. Diego:Me mandé un condoro: llegué tarde porque me equivoqué de edificio.I made a big blunder: I arrived late because I went to the wrong building.
  3. Fernanda:¡Qué lata! Pero no creo que eso lo decida todo.What a drag! But I don't think that decides everything.
  4. Diego:Ojalá tengas razón. Fue cuático: tuve que explicar todo corriendo.I hope you're right. It was intense: I had to explain everything in a rush.
  5. Fernanda:Igual eres seco para el diseño. Si ven tu portafolio, te contratan.Still, you're brilliant at design. If they see your portfolio, they'll hire you.
  6. Diego:Mi primo dice que debería buscar un pituto en la empresa.My cousin says I should look for an inside contact at the company.
  7. Fernanda:Yo preferiría que te eligieran por tu trabajo, no por contactos.I'd prefer they chose you for your work, not for connections.
  8. Diego:Tienes razón. No quiero que piensen que soy pavo.You're right. I don't want them to think I'm clueless.
  9. Fernanda:Si fuera tú, les mandaría un correo hoy mismo para agradecer.If I were you, I'd send them an email today to say thank you.
  10. Diego:Buena idea. Y si me llaman, te invito a almorzar.Good idea. And if they call me, lunch is on me.

Paso 5 · Apply it

Habla y escribe: Un mensaje para un amigo

Record a voice note or write a text to a friend from Chile. 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 Chile 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 Chile today, checked against the sources below. Heard something different? Tell me.