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🇵🇪 Jerga · Practice & Play

Jerga de Perú

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

← Jerga · All countries · Practice & Play

Paso 1

Las 20 · The 20 words and phrases

Peruvian Spanish, especially in Lima, has a lively jerga full of food words used figuratively, like 'palta' (avocado) for awkwardness and 'piña' (pineapple) for bad luck. It also carries many loanwords from Quechua, such as 'yapa', the little extra you get at the market.

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 Perú exactly.

chamba/CHAHM-bah/work, job

wordcasual [cham-ba]

3 examples

  • Conseguí chamba en un restaurante de Miraflores.I got a job at a restaurant in Miraflores.
  • Hoy tengo mucha chamba en la oficina.Today I have a lot of work at the office.
  • Mi hermano chambea los sábados en el mercado.My brother works on Saturdays at the market.

Verb: chambear (to work). Also heard in Mexico and other countries, but a Peruvian everyday staple.

pata/PAH-tah/buddy, friend; guy

wordcasual [pa-ta]

Literally: paw, (animal) leg

3 examples

  • Él es mi pata desde el colegio.He's been my buddy since school.
  • Un pata me ayudó con la mudanza.A friend helped me with the move.
  • Vamos al cine con unos patas.We're going to the movies with some friends.

'Mi pata' = my friend; 'un pata' = some guy.

jato/HAH-toh/house, home

wordcasual [ja-to]

3 examples

  • Vamos a mi jato a ver el partido.Let's go to my place to watch the game.
  • Mi jato queda cerca de la playa.My house is near the beach.
  • Llegué a mi jato muy cansado.I got home very tired.

Strictly informal; say 'casa' with teachers or in writing.

causa/KOW-sah/close friend, buddy

wordcasual, affectionate [cau-sa]

Literally: cause

3 examples

  • ¡Habla, causa! ¿Todo bien?Hey, buddy! All good?
  • Mi causa me prestó su bicicleta.My buddy lent me his bike.
  • Somos causas desde la universidad.We've been close friends since university.

Also the name of a famous Peruvian dish: 'causa limeña', layered yellow potato with fillings.

chévere/CHEH-beh-reh/great, cool

wordcasual [ché-ve-re]

3 examples

  • ¡Qué chévere tu polo nuevo!Your new T-shirt is so cool!
  • El viaje a Cusco fue chévere.The trip to Cusco was great.
  • Tu profesora es muy chévere.Your teacher is really nice.

Shared with Venezuela, Colombia and the Caribbean, but very common in Peru.

bacán/bah-KAHN/awesome, great, fun

wordcasual [ba-cán]

3 examples

  • La fiesta estuvo bacán.The party was awesome.
  • ¡Qué bacán que vengas a Lima!How great that you're coming to Lima!
  • Ese juego es bacán.That game is really fun.

Also very common in Chile.

roche/RROH-cheh/embarrassment, an embarrassing moment

wordcasual [ro-che]

3 examples

  • ¡Qué roche! Me caí en la entrada.How embarrassing! I fell at the entrance.
  • Me da roche cantar en público.Singing in public makes me embarrassed.
  • Fue un roche olvidar su nombre.It was embarrassing to forget her name.

Common pattern: '¡Qué roche!' or 'me da roche'.

chibolo, chibola/chee-BOH-loh, chee-BOH-lah/kid, youngster, teenager

wordcasual [chi-bo-lo, chi-bo-la]

3 examples

  • Cuando era chibolo, jugaba en la calle.When I was a kid, I played in the street.
  • Los chibolos están en el parque.The kids are at the park.
  • Mi sobrina todavía es una chibola.My niece is still a little girl.

Very common in everyday Lima speech and in the media.

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

wordcasual, neutral [ya-pa]

3 examples

  • Casera, ¿me da una yapa?Ma'am, can you give me a little extra?
  • Me dieron dos mandarinas de yapa.They gave me two tangerines for free.
  • El profe nos dio cinco minutos de yapa.The teacher gave us five extra minutes.

From Quechua 'yapa' (increase). Heard in markets all over the Andes.

bamba/BAHM-bah/fake, knockoff

wordcasual [bam-ba]

3 examples

  • Esas zapatillas son bamba.Those sneakers are fake.
  • Compré un cargador bamba y no funciona.I bought a knockoff charger and it doesn't work.
  • Cuidado con los billetes bamba.Watch out for fake bills.

Also used for something poor-quality or not genuine.

pichanga/pee-CHAHN-gah/casual soccer game among friends

wordcasual [pi-chan-ga]

3 examples

  • Los domingos hay pichanga en la losa.On Sundays there's a pickup game on the court.
  • Después de la chamba jugamos una pichanga.After work we play a friendly soccer game.
  • Mi papá todavía juega pichanga con sus amigos.My dad still plays pickup soccer with his friends.

Not a tournament — just friends playing for fun. A 'losa' is a concrete sports court. Also used in Chile.

misio, misia/MEE-syoh, MEE-syah/broke, short of money

wordcasual [mi-sio, mi-sia]

3 examples

  • Estoy misio, no puedo salir.I'm broke, I can't go out.
  • A fin de mes todos andamos misios.At the end of the month we're all broke.
  • Ella está misia por los libros de la universidad.She's broke because of her university books.

Listed among the peruanismos in the RAE dictionary.

chancón, chancona/chahn-KOHN, chahn-KOH-nah/studious, a hard worker at school; a grind

wordcasual, teasing [chan-cón, chan-co-na]

3 examples

  • Mi hermana es chancona, siempre saca veinte.My sister is a grind; she always gets top marks.
  • Los chancones estudian en la biblioteca.The studious kids study in the library.
  • No soy chancón, pero estudié para el examen.I'm not a grind, but I studied for the exam.

Friendly teasing; in Peru many schools grade from 0 to 20.

cachimbo, cachimba/kah-CHEEM-boh, kah-CHEEM-bah/university freshman

wordcasual [ca-chim-bo, ca-chim-ba]

3 examples

  • Los cachimbos tienen su fiesta de bienvenida.The freshmen have their welcome party.
  • Cuando era cachimba, me perdía en el campus.When I was a freshman, I got lost on campus.
  • Mi primo ya no es cachimbo, está en segundo año.My cousin isn't a freshman anymore; he's a sophomore.

In other countries 'cachimba' can mean a pipe — context is everything.

al toque/ahl TOH-keh/right away, in a flash

phrasecasual [al to-que]

Literally: at the touch

3 examples

  • Te llamo al toque.I'll call you right away.
  • El delivery llegó al toque.The delivery arrived in a flash.
  • Profe, le mando la tarea al toque.Teacher, I'll send you the homework right away.

Also common in Argentina and Uruguay; Chile says 'al tiro'.

¡qué palta!/KEH PAHL-tah/how awkward!, how embarrassing!; what a worry!

phrasecasual [qué pal-ta]

Literally: what an avocado!

3 examples

  • ¡Qué palta! Me olvidé su cumpleaños.How awkward! I forgot her birthday.
  • ¡Qué palta hablar en público!Speaking in public is so nerve-racking!
  • No te hagas paltas, todo va a salir bien.Don't worry, everything will be fine.

'Palta' is Peruvian for avocado. 'Hacerse paltas' = to worry or get flustered.

¡asu mare!/AH-soo MAH-reh/wow!, no way!

phrasecasual [a-su ma-re]

Literally: to his/her mother

3 examples

  • ¡Asu mare! ¡Qué rico está este ceviche!Wow! This ceviche is delicious!
  • ¡Asu mare! Perú metió el gol.No way! Peru scored the goal.
  • ¡Asu mare, qué tráfico hay hoy!Wow, the traffic is crazy today!

Shortened from 'a su madre'; a very common, mild exclamation of surprise, not an insult, and the title of a hit 2013 Peruvian comedy. Still slangy: keep it among friends.

hacer chancha/ah-SEHR CHAHN-chah/to pool money among friends

phrasecasual [ha-cer chan-cha]

Literally: to make a sow

3 examples

  • Hagamos chancha para la pizza.Let's pool our money for the pizza.
  • Hicimos chancha para el regalo del profe.We chipped in for the teacher's gift.
  • Si hacemos chancha, alcanza para el taxi.If we chip in, there's enough for the taxi.

'Chancha' (sow) recalls a piggy bank. Similar to 'hacer una vaca' elsewhere.

tirar arroz/tee-RAHR ah-RROHS/to ignore someone, give them the cold shoulder

phrasecasual [ti-rar a-rroz]

Literally: to throw rice

3 examples

  • Le escribí, pero me tiró arroz.I texted him, but he ignored me.
  • No le tires arroz a tu abuela.Don't ignore your grandma.
  • El jefe le tiró arroz a mi idea.The boss brushed off my idea.

One of many food-based Peruvian expressions.

¡qué piña!/KEH PEE-nyah/what bad luck!

phrasecasual [qué pi-ña]

Literally: what a pineapple!

3 examples

  • ¡Qué piña! Perdí el bus por un minuto.What bad luck! I missed the bus by one minute.
  • ¡Qué piña, llovió en la playa!What bad luck, it rained at the beach!
  • Estoy piña: otra vez no gané la rifa.I'm so unlucky: I didn't win the raffle again.

'Ser/estar piña' = to be unlucky.

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.

Pichanga en Miraflores (Principiante · Beginner)

Two friends, Diego and Renzo, make plans for a pickup soccer game in Miraflores, Lima.

  1. Diego:¡Hola, causa! ¿Qué haces?Hey, buddy! What are you doing?
  2. Renzo:Nada, estoy en mi jato. ¿Y tú?Nothing, I'm at my place. And you?
  3. Diego:Hay pichanga en el parque con unos patas. ¿Vienes?There's a pickup soccer game in the park with some friends. Are you coming?
  4. Renzo:¡Qué chévere! ¿A qué hora?How cool! What time?
  5. Diego:A las cuatro. Después comemos anticuchos.At four. Afterwards we'll eat anticuchos.
  6. Renzo:¡Bacán! Voy al toque.Awesome! I'm coming right away.
  7. Diego:Te espero en la esquina del Parque Kennedy.I'll wait for you at the corner of Parque Kennedy.

El regalo de Mateo (Intermedio · Intermediate)

University friends Lucía and Andrea plan a birthday gift while shopping at the Surquillo market in Lima.

  1. Lucía:Ayer conseguí chamba en una cafetería de Barranco.Yesterday I got a job at a café in Barranco.
  2. Andrea:¡Felicitaciones! Yo estoy misia este mes.Congratulations! I'm broke this month.
  3. Lucía:Entonces hagamos chancha para el cumpleaños de Mateo.Then let's pool our money for Mateo's birthday.
  4. Andrea:Buena idea. ¿Qué le vamos a comprar?Good idea. What are we going to buy him?
  5. Lucía:Unos audífonos, pero originales, no bamba.Some headphones, but real ones, not knockoffs.
  6. Andrea:Claro. Mateo es tan chancón que los usará para estudiar.Of course. Mateo is such a grind that he'll use them for studying.
  7. Lucía:Sí, desde que era cachimbo estudia todo el día.Yes, ever since he was a freshman he's studied all day.
  8. Andrea:Ahora compremos fruta. La casera siempre nos da yapa.Now let's buy fruit. Our regular vendor always gives us a little extra.
  9. Lucía:¡Perfecto! Esta noche envolvemos el regalo.Perfect! Tonight we'll wrap the gift.

La torta de la boda (Avanzado · Advanced)

Cousins Valeria and Martín chat at a Sunday family lunch in Arequipa about a wedding mishap.

  1. Valeria:¿Supiste lo que le pasó a Joaquín en la boda de mi prima?Did you hear what happened to Joaquín at my cousin's wedding?
  2. Martín:No. ¿Qué pasó? Cuéntame todo.No. What happened? Tell me everything.
  3. Valeria:Se le cayó la torta mientras la llevaba a la mesa. ¡Qué roche!He dropped the cake while carrying it to the table. How embarrassing!
  4. Martín:¡Asu mare! Si yo fuera él, me habría escondido toda la noche.Wow! If I were him, I would have hidden all night.
  5. Valeria:Y la novia le tiró arroz el resto de la fiesta.And the bride gave him the cold shoulder for the rest of the party.
  6. Martín:¡Qué palta! Pero dudo que haya sido su culpa.How awkward! But I doubt it was his fault.
  7. Valeria:No lo fue. Un chibolo corrió y lo empujó sin querer.It wasn't. A kid ran and bumped into him by accident.
  8. Martín:¡Qué piña! Ojalá que la familia lo perdone pronto.What bad luck! I hope the family forgives him soon.
  9. Valeria:Creo que sí. Mi tía ya se ríe de la historia.I think so. My aunt is already laughing about the story.
  10. Martín:Sería mejor que en la próxima boda él llevara las bebidas, no la torta.It would be better if at the next wedding he carried the drinks, not the cake.

Paso 5 · Apply it

Habla y escribe: Un mensaje para un amigo

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