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🇲🇽 Jerga · Practice & Play

Jerga de México

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

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Paso 1

Las 20 · The 20 words and phrases

Mexico has the largest Spanish-speaking population in the world, and Mexican films, TV and music have spread many of its expressions across the Americas. Many everyday words come from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, such as 'cuate' (buddy) and 'mecate' (rope).

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 México exactly.

chido, chida/CHEE-doh/cool, great; nice-looking

wordcasual [chi-do]

3 examples

  • ¡Qué chido tu skate nuevo!Your new skateboard is so cool!
  • Los tacos de este puesto están bien chidos.The tacos at this stand are really great.
  • La clase de hoy estuvo muy chida.Today's class was really cool.

Marked as Mexican in the Diccionario de americanismos; probably the most iconic Mexican slang word.

padre/PAH-dreh/great, awesome (as an adjective)

wordcasual [pa-dre]

Literally: father

3 examples

  • ¡Qué padre tu casa!Your house is awesome!
  • El concierto en el Zócalo estuvo muy padre.The concert in the Zócalo was awesome.
  • Mi maestra de inglés es muy padre.My English teacher is really great.

Same form for masculine and feminine: 'una fiesta muy padre'. Stronger version: padrísimo.

neta/NEH-tah/the truth; ¿neta? = for real?

wordcasual [ne-ta]

3 examples

  • ¿Neta? ¿Ganaste el concurso de baile?For real? You won the dance contest?
  • La neta, no me gusta la comida picante.Honestly, I don't like spicy food.
  • Neta, el examen de mate estuvo fácil.Seriously, the math test was easy.

'La neta' = 'honestly / the truth is'. Also heard in Guatemala and El Salvador.

chamba/CHAHM-bah/job, work

wordcasual [cham-ba]

3 examples

  • Mi hermano encontró chamba en Monterrey.My brother found a job in Monterrey.
  • Hoy tengo mucha chamba en la oficina.I have a lot of work at the office today.
  • ¿Cómo te va en la chamba nueva?How's it going at the new job?

Used in many Latin American countries, but it is the everyday Mexican word for 'job'.

cuate, cuata/KWAH-teh/buddy, close friend

wordcasual, affectionate [cua-te]

Literally: twin

3 examples

  • Él es mi cuate desde la primaria.He's been my buddy since elementary school.
  • El sábado voy al cine con unos cuates.On Saturday I'm going to the movies with some friends.
  • Mi cuata me prestó su libro de inglés.My friend lent me her English book.

From Nahuatl. In Mexico it can also mean 'twin'. Also used in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

lana/LAH-nah/money, cash

wordcasual [la-na]

Literally: wool

3 examples

  • No tengo lana para el concierto.I don't have money for the concert.
  • Ese coche cuesta mucha lana.That car costs a lot of money.
  • Ahorré lana para el viaje a Oaxaca.I saved money for the trip to Oaxaca.

The RAE lists 'lana' = money as colloquial; in Mexico it is the classic everyday word for cash.

ahorita/ah-oh-REE-tah/in a moment, in a bit (sometimes much later!)

wordcasual [a-ho-ri-ta]

Literally: little now

3 examples

  • Ahorita te llamo, estoy manejando.I'll call you in a bit, I'm driving.
  • Mamá, ahorita lavo los platos.Mom, I'll wash the dishes in a minute.
  • —¿Ya vienes? —Ahorita voy.—Are you coming? —Be right there.

In Mexico it usually means 'in a little while', not 'right now'; tone and context decide. Its meaning varies from country to country.

chafa/CHAH-fah/cheap, poor quality; lame

wordcasual [cha-fa]

3 examples

  • Estos audífonos son muy chafas.These headphones are really cheap.
  • La película estuvo bien chafa.The movie was really lame.
  • No compres ese reloj, se ve chafa.Don't buy that watch, it looks cheap.
gacho, gacha/GAH-choh/mean, not cool; bad, ugly

wordcasual [ga-cho]

Literally: drooping

3 examples

  • No seas gacho, préstame tu cargador.Don't be mean, lend me your charger.
  • ¡Qué gacho! Se canceló el partido.What a bummer! The game was canceled.
  • Está gacho el clima hoy.The weather is awful today.

'¡Qué gacho!' = 'That's so not cool! / What a bummer!'

cruda/KROO-dah/hangover

wordcasual [cru-da]

Literally: raw

3 examples

  • Mi tío amaneció con cruda después de la boda.My uncle woke up with a hangover after the wedding.
  • Dicen que los chilaquiles son buenos para la cruda.They say chilaquiles are good for a hangover.
  • Hoy no vino a trabajar; anda crudo.He didn't come to work today; he's hungover.

'Estar crudo/cruda' = to be hungover. Elsewhere the standard word is 'resaca'.

chavo, chava/CHAH-boh/kid, young guy or girl

wordcasual [cha-vo]

3 examples

  • Los chavos de la prepa juegan fútbol en el parque.The high school kids play soccer in the park.
  • Esa chava canta muy bien.That girl sings really well.
  • Cuando era chavo, vivía en Puebla.When I was a kid, I lived in Puebla.

In Mexico it can also mean boyfriend/girlfriend ('mi chava'). In Puerto Rico 'chavos' means money.

¡órale!/OH-rah-leh/OK, deal!; come on, hurry!; wow!

wordcasual [ó-ra-le]

3 examples

  • —¿Vamos por unos elotes? —¡Órale!—Shall we get some corn on the cob? —Deal!
  • ¡Órale, que se va el camión!Come on, the bus is leaving!
  • ¡Órale! ¡Qué bonito dibujas!Wow! You draw so well!

Comes from 'ora' (ahora). Also heard in Central America. In Mexico 'camión' = bus.

¡híjole!/EE-hoh-leh/oh wow!; oh no!, yikes!

wordcasual [hí-jo-le]

3 examples

  • ¡Híjole! Olvidé mi tarea en casa.Oh no! I left my homework at home.
  • ¡Híjole, qué caro está el boleto!Yikes, the ticket is so expensive!
  • ¡Híjole, qué rápido creció tu hijo!Wow, your son grew up so fast!

A family-friendly way to show surprise or worry. The h is silent and the j sounds like English h.

¿qué onda?/KEH OHN-dah/what's up?; what's going on?

phrasecasual [qué on-da]

Literally: what wave?

3 examples

  • ¿Qué onda, Luis? ¿Cómo estás?What's up, Luis? How are you?
  • ¿Qué onda con la tarea de historia?What's the deal with the history homework?
  • ¿Qué onda? ¿Vamos al partido el sábado?What's up? Are we going to the game on Saturday?

Super common greeting among friends; use a more formal greeting with teachers or bosses.

¡aguas!/AH-gwahs/watch out!; heads up!

phrasecasual [a-guas]

Literally: waters!

3 examples

  • ¡Aguas! Viene un coche.Watch out! A car is coming.
  • ¡Aguas con la sopa, está muy caliente!Careful with the soup, it's really hot!
  • ¡Aguas! El piso está mojado.Heads up! The floor is wet.

Also used in Guatemala and El Salvador.

¡no manches!/noh MAHN-chehs/no way!; you're kidding!

phrasecasual [no man-ches]

Literally: don't stain!

3 examples

  • ¡No manches! ¿Ya llegaste a Cancún?No way! You're already in Cancún?
  • ¡No manches, sacaste diez en el examen!No way, you got a perfect score on the test!
  • ¡No manches, qué rico está este mole!Wow, this mole is so delicious!

A softened (euphemistic) version of a vulgar phrase. Fine with friends and family, but avoid it in presentations, interviews or formal emails.

¿mande?/MAHN-deh/pardon?; yes? (a polite 'what?')

phraseneutral, polite [man-de]

Literally: command (me)

3 examples

  • —¡Ana! —¿Mande, mamá?—Ana! —Yes, Mom?
  • ¿Mande? No escuché la pregunta, profe.Pardon? I didn't hear the question, teacher.
  • ¿Mande? Se está cortando la llamada.Sorry? The call is breaking up.

Very Mexican and very polite: used instead of '¿qué?' when you didn't hear or someone calls you.

¡qué oso!/KEH OH-soh/how embarrassing!

phrasecasual [qué o-so]

Literally: what a bear!

3 examples

  • ¡Qué oso! Me caí enfrente de todos.How embarrassing! I fell in front of everyone.
  • Le dije 'mamá' a mi maestra. ¡Qué oso!I called my teacher 'Mom'. So embarrassing!
  • ¡Qué oso! Mandé el mensaje al grupo equivocado.How embarrassing! I sent the message to the wrong group chat.

Related: 'hacer el oso' (to embarrass yourself).

buena onda/BWEH-nah OHN-dah/nice, cool (of a person); a good vibe

phrasecasual [bue-na on-da]

Literally: good wave

3 examples

  • Tu prima es muy buena onda.Your cousin is really nice.
  • El profe de química es buena onda.The chemistry teacher is cool.
  • Fue muy buena onda que nos ayudaras.It was really nice of you to help us.

Opposite: 'mala onda' (mean, unkind). Used in much of Latin America, but a Mexican favorite.

a todo mecate/ah TOH-doh meh-KAH-teh/awesome, top-notch; at full speed

phrasecasual [a to-do me-ca-te]

Literally: with all the rope

3 examples

  • La boda de mi prima estuvo a todo mecate.My cousin's wedding was awesome.
  • Iba a todo mecate en la bici.He was going full speed on his bike.
  • Nos atendieron a todo mecate en el restaurante.They treated us like royalty at the restaurant.

'Mecate' (rope) comes from Nahuatl. The phrase is also heard in Central America.

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 de Coyoacán (Principiante · Beginner)

Friends Diego and Sofía run into each other at the Coyoacán market in Mexico City.

  1. Diego:¡Sofía! ¿Qué onda?Sofía! What's up?
  2. Sofía:¡Hola, Diego! Estoy con mi cuate Beto. Buscamos tostadas.Hi, Diego! I'm with my buddy Beto. We're looking for tostadas.
  3. Diego:Aquí hay unas tostadas muy chidas.There are some really great tostadas here.
  4. Sofía:¿Cuánto cuestan? No tengo mucha lana.How much are they? I don't have much money.
  5. Diego:Cuestan treinta pesos. ¡Aguas! Viene una bici.They're thirty pesos. Watch out! A bike is coming.
  6. Sofía:¿Mande? No te escucho, hay mucho ruido.Pardon? I can't hear you, it's really noisy.
  7. Diego:¡Que viene una bici! Ven, vamos a comer.I said a bike is coming! Come on, let's eat.

Un fin de semana en Guanajuato (Intermedio · Intermediate)

Classmates Valeria and Mateo talk at school in Guadalajara about Valeria's weekend trip to Guanajuato.

  1. Mateo:¿Qué tal tu viaje a Guanajuato?How was your trip to Guanajuato?
  2. Valeria:¡Muy padre! Fuimos al Callejón del Beso y comimos enchiladas mineras.Awesome! We went to the Alley of the Kiss and ate enchiladas mineras.
  3. Mateo:¿Neta? Yo quería ir, pero tuve que estudiar.For real? I wanted to go, but I had to study.
  4. Valeria:Mi tío nos llevó en su coche. Es muy buena onda.My uncle took us in his car. He's really nice.
  5. Mateo:¿Y compraste algún recuerdo?And did you buy any souvenirs?
  6. Valeria:Una playera, pero salió muy chafa. Se rompió el primer día.A T-shirt, but it turned out really cheap. It ripped the first day.
  7. Mateo:Bueno, el sábado vamos a ir al cine. ¿Vienes?Well, on Saturday we're going to the movies. Are you coming?
  8. Valeria:¡Órale! Ahorita te confirmo; primero termino la tarea.Deal! I'll confirm in a bit; first I'll finish my homework.
  9. Mateo:Por cierto, ayer le dije 'mamá' a la maestra. ¡Qué oso!By the way, yesterday I called the teacher 'Mom'. So embarrassing!
  10. Valeria:¡Ja, ja! A todos nos ha pasado alguna vez.Ha ha! It's happened to all of us at some point.

Después de la boda (Avanzado · Advanced)

Cousins Ximena and Rodrigo chat on the phone the morning after a family wedding in Puebla.

  1. Ximena:¡Híjole, Rodrigo! Todavía no puedo creer lo que pasó anoche.Oh wow, Rodrigo! I still can't believe what happened last night.
  2. Rodrigo:¿Lo del pastel? ¡No manches! Se cayó enfrente de todos.The cake thing? No way! It fell in front of everyone.
  3. Ximena:Sí, pero fuera de eso, la fiesta estuvo a todo mecate.Yes, but apart from that, the party was awesome.
  4. Rodrigo:Mi papá amaneció con cruda, así que le preparé chilaquiles.My dad woke up with a hangover, so I made him chilaquiles.
  5. Ximena:Oye, ¿y el chavo que tocaba la guitarra? Tocaba increíble.Hey, and the guy who played guitar? He played amazingly.
  6. Rodrigo:Es mi compañero de la universidad. Ojalá consiga chamba como músico.He's my classmate from college. I hope he gets work as a musician.
  7. Ximena:Si yo fuera él, subiría videos a redes. Seguro le iría bien.If I were him, I'd post videos online. I'm sure he'd do well.
  8. Rodrigo:Le dije lo mismo, pero le da miedo que lo critiquen.I told him the same thing, but he's afraid people will criticize him.
  9. Ximena:Sería muy gacho que alguien lo criticara; tiene muchísimo talento.It would be really mean if someone criticized him; he's super talented.
  10. Rodrigo:Le voy a sugerir que toque en la boda de mi hermana el próximo año.I'm going to suggest he play at my sister's wedding next year.
  11. Ximena:¡Perfecto! Siempre y cuando no se caiga otro pastel.Perfect! As long as another cake doesn't fall.

Paso 5 · Apply it

Habla y escribe: Un mensaje para un amigo

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