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🇵🇷 Jerga · Practice & Play

Jerga de Puerto Rico

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

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Paso 1

Las 20 · The 20 words and phrases

Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory where Spanish is a primary language of daily life, with English as a co-official language. Its slang blends Caribbean Spanish, Taíno heritage ('boricua' comes from Borikén, the Taíno name for the island) and English loanwords like 'janguear' (from 'hang out').

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 Puerto Rico exactly.

boricua/boh-REE-kwah/Puerto Rican (person or culture)

wordneutral, proud [bo-ri-cua]

3 examples

  • Soy boricua y vivo en Ponce.I'm Puerto Rican and I live in Ponce.
  • La comida boricua tiene mucho sabor.Puerto Rican food is very flavorful.
  • En el desfile, todos llevan la bandera boricua.At the parade, everyone carries the Puerto Rican flag.

From Borikén (Borinquen), the Taíno name for the island. Used with pride, on the island and beyond.

¡wepa!/WEH-pah/Woo-hoo! Yay! (joy, excitement)

phrasecasual [we-pa]

3 examples

  • ¡Wepa! ¡Ganamos el partido!Woo-hoo! We won the game!
  • ¡Wepa! Hoy hay pernil para la cena.Yay! There's roast pork for dinner tonight.
  • Cuando empezó la salsa, todos gritaron: ¡wepa!When the salsa started, everyone shouted: woo-hoo!

Heard at parties, dances and games.

chévere/CHEH-beh-reh/cool, great, nice

wordcasual [ché-ve-re]

3 examples

  • La playa de Luquillo está chévere.Luquillo beach is great.
  • ¡Qué chévere tu bicicleta nueva!Your new bike is so cool!
  • La profe es bien chévere con nosotros.Our teacher is really nice to us.

Also very common in Venezuela, Colombia and Cuba, so it's an easy word to use around the Caribbean.

janguear/hahn-geh-AHR/to hang out, to go out and have fun

wordcasual [jan-gue-ar]

Literally: from English 'hang (out)'

3 examples

  • Vamos a janguear en el Viejo San Juan.Let's hang out in Old San Juan.
  • Después del trabajo, janguié con mis compañeros.After work, I hung out with my coworkers.
  • Mis abuelos no janguean mucho, prefieren ver novelas.My grandparents don't go out much; they prefer watching soap operas.

Noun: 'el jangueo' (going out with friends). Also spelled 'hanguear'.

guagua/GWAH-gwah/bus

wordneutral (everyday) [gua-gua]

3 examples

  • La guagua para Río Piedras se tarda mucho.The bus to Río Piedras takes a long time.
  • Fuimos de excursión en una guagua escolar amarilla.We went on a field trip in a yellow school bus.
  • Me bajo de la guagua frente al hospital.I get off the bus in front of the hospital.

Same in Cuba, the Dominican Republic and the Canary Islands. False friend: in the Andes (Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia) 'guagua' means 'baby'.

chavos/CHAH-bohs/money; (un chavo) one cent

wordcasual [cha-vos]

3 examples

  • No tengo chavos para el cine.I don't have money for the movies.
  • Estoy ahorrando chavos para un viaje a Culebra.I'm saving money for a trip to Culebra.
  • Ese celular cuesta muchos chavos.That phone costs a lot of money.

'Un chavo' = one cent. False friend: in Mexico 'chavo' means a kid or young guy.

zafacón/sah-fah-KOHN/trash can

wordneutral (everyday) [za-fa-cón]

3 examples

  • Echa la botella en el zafacón, por favor.Throw the bottle in the trash can, please.
  • El zafacón de la cocina está lleno.The kitchen trash can is full.
  • En la playa hay zafacones para reciclar.At the beach there are bins for recycling.

Also used in the Dominican Republic. Elsewhere you'll hear 'basurero', 'papelera' or 'bote de basura'.

nítido/NEE-tee-doh/great, perfect, awesome

wordcasual [ní-ti-do]

Literally: sharp, clear

3 examples

  • ¿Cómo quedó el proyecto? ¡Nítido!How did the project turn out? Perfect!
  • La fiesta estuvo nítida.The party was awesome.
  • Tu español está nítido, ¡felicidades!Your Spanish is great, congratulations!

In standard Spanish 'nítido' means 'sharp, clear' (like a photo). In Puerto Rico it's also a big compliment.

corillo/koh-REE-yoh/your group of friends, your crew

wordcasual [co-ri-llo]

3 examples

  • Voy a la playa con el corillo.I'm going to the beach with the crew.
  • Todo el corillo vino a mi graduación.The whole crew came to my graduation.
  • En la escuela, mi corillo almuerza junto.At school, my crew eats lunch together.
pana/PAH-nah/friend, buddy

wordcasual, friendly [pa-na]

3 examples

  • Él es mi pana desde que éramos niños.He's been my buddy since we were kids.
  • Gracias, pana, te debo una.Thanks, buddy, I owe you one.
  • Mi pana vende frituras en Piñones.My buddy sells fried snacks in Piñones.

Also common in Venezuela and Ecuador. In Puerto Rico, 'pana' is also the name for breadfruit!

revolú/reh-boh-LOO/mess, chaos, commotion

wordcasual [re-vo-lú]

3 examples

  • ¡Qué revolú hay en tu cuarto!What a mess your room is!
  • Con la lluvia, se formó un revolú en el tráfico.With the rain, traffic turned into chaos.
  • Hubo un revolú en la tienda por las ofertas.There was a commotion at the store over the sales.

Similar to 'lío' or 'desorden' in other countries.

brutal/broo-TAHL/awesome, amazing

wordcasual [bru-tal]

Literally: brutal

3 examples

  • El concierto de anoche estuvo brutal.Last night's concert was awesome.
  • Tu mofongo te quedó brutal.Your mofongo turned out amazing.
  • ¡Brutal! Sacaste A en el examen.Awesome! You got an A on the exam.

False friend: in standard Spanish 'brutal' means 'cruel, violent'. In Puerto Rican slang it's usually positive.

chulería/choo-leh-REE-ah/something lovely, cute or great; a delight

wordcasual, affectionate [chu-le-rí-a]

3 examples

  • ¡Qué chulería de vestido!What a gorgeous dress!
  • El atardecer en Rincón es una chulería.The sunset in Rincón is beautiful.
  • Tu perrito es una chulería.Your puppy is adorable.

False friend: in Spain 'chulería' means cockiness or insolence.

china/CHEE-nah/orange (the fruit)

wordneutral (everyday) [chi-na]

3 examples

  • Quiero un jugo de china, por favor.I'd like an orange juice, please.
  • En la finca de mi abuelo hay árboles de china.There are orange trees on my grandpa's farm.
  • Pela la china para el bizcocho.Peel the orange for the cake.

Almost everywhere else the fruit is 'naranja'. Ask for 'jugo de china' in Puerto Rico and you'll get orange juice.

acho/AH-choh/man!, dude!, wow! (adds emphasis or surprise)

wordcasual [a-cho]

Literally: short for 'muchacho' (boy)

3 examples

  • Acho, ¡qué calor hace hoy!Man, it's so hot today!
  • Acho, se me olvidó la tarea.Dude, I forgot the homework.
  • ¡Acho! ¿Viste ese jonrón?Wow! Did you see that home run?

Also 'chacho'. Use it with friends.

¡ay bendito!/EYE behn-DEE-toh/Aww!; Oh no!; Poor thing! (sympathy, surprise or frustration)

phrasecasual, affectionate [ay ben-di-to]

Literally: oh, blessed

3 examples

  • ¡Ay bendito! Se te cayó el helado.Oh no! You dropped your ice cream.
  • Mi abuela dice «¡ay bendito!» cuando ve las noticias.My grandma says 'oh dear!' when she watches the news.
  • ¡Ay bendito, qué bebé tan lindo!Aww, what a cute baby!

Tone changes the meaning: sympathy, tenderness, surprise or frustration. Also just '¡Bendito!'.

al garete/ahl gah-REH-teh/out of control, gone wild, off the rails

phrasecasual [al ga-re-te]

Literally: adrift

3 examples

  • Sin maestro, la clase estuvo al garete.Without a teacher, the class went wild.
  • Mis planes se fueron al garete por la lluvia.My plans went off the rails because of the rain.
  • Ese chofer maneja al garete.That driver drives recklessly.

'Irse al garete' (to go to ruin) is known in other countries too, but Puerto Ricans use 'al garete' a lot for wild, reckless behavior.

estar en la brega/ehs-TAHR ehn lah BREH-gah/to be hard at work, working hard day after day

phrasecasual [es-tar en la bre-ga]

Literally: to be in the struggle

3 examples

  • No puedo hablar ahora, estoy en la brega.I can't talk now, I'm busy working.
  • Mi mamá siempre está en la brega por la familia.My mom is always working hard for the family.
  • Estuvimos en la brega toda la semana con el proyecto.We worked hard all week on the project.

Verb: 'bregar' (to work hard at something, to deal with it).

eso es un mamey/EH-soh ehs oon mah-MAY/that's easy, a piece of cake

phrasecasual [e-so es un ma-mey]

Literally: that's a mamey (tropical fruit)

3 examples

  • ¿El examen de mate? Eso es un mamey.The math test? That's a piece of cake.
  • Arreglar la bicicleta es un mamey.Fixing the bike is easy.
  • Para mi abuela, hacer arroz con gandules es un mamey.For my grandma, making rice with pigeon peas is easy.

The mamey is a sweet tropical fruit.

¡ea, diache!/EH-ah DYAH-cheh/Gosh! Darn it! (surprise or annoyance)

phrasecasual, mild [e-a dia-che]

3 examples

  • ¡Ea, diache! Se fue la luz.Darn it! The power went out.
  • ¡Ea, diache, qué tapón hay en la autopista!Gosh, what a traffic jam on the highway!
  • ¡Ea, diache! Dejé las llaves en el carro.Darn! I left the keys in the car.

'Diache' is a softened form of 'diablo' (devil). The short form '¡Diache!' is also used in the Dominican Republic.

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.

Un jugo en Luquillo (Principiante · Beginner)

Two cousins buy drinks at a beach kiosk in Luquillo.

  1. Ana:¡Acho, qué calor! ¿Quieres un jugo de china?Man, it's hot! Do you want an orange juice?
  2. Luis:Sí, ¡qué chévere! Pero no tengo chavos.Yes, how nice! But I don't have any money.
  3. Ana:Tranquilo, yo pago. Soy tu prima favorita.Relax, I'll pay. I'm your favorite cousin.
  4. Luis:¡Wepa! Gracias, prima.Yay! Thanks, cuz.
  5. Ana:¿Cómo vuelves a San Juan hoy?How are you getting back to San Juan today?
  6. Luis:En guagua. Sale a las cuatro.By bus. It leaves at four.
  7. Ana:Mira, ese carro tiene la bandera boricua. ¡Qué linda!Look, that car has the Puerto Rican flag. How pretty!

¿Qué pasó anoche? (Intermedio · Intermediate)

Two friends talk on a bench in Old San Juan the morning after a night out.

  1. Carla:¿Qué tal anoche? ¿Fueron a janguear al Viejo San Juan?How was last night? Did you go hang out in Old San Juan?
  2. Javier:Sí, fui con todo el corillo. Estuvo nítido.Yes, I went with the whole crew. It was great.
  3. Carla:¡Qué bueno! ¿Y por qué no me llamaste?Great! And why didn't you call me?
  4. Javier:Te llamé dos veces, pero no contestaste.I called you twice, but you didn't answer.
  5. Carla:¡Ay bendito! Estaba cuidando a mis hermanitos y dejaron la casa en un revolú.Oh no! I was babysitting my little siblings, and they left the house a mess.
  6. Javier:Ja, ja. ¿Y qué pasó?Haha. And what happened?
  7. Carla:Jugaron con pintura y todo se fue al garete. Limpié hasta medianoche.They played with paint and everything went off the rails. I cleaned until midnight.
  8. Javier:¡Uf! ¿Y dónde echaste la pintura vieja?Ugh! And where did you throw out the old paint?
  9. Carla:En el zafacón de afuera. El próximo viernes salgo con ustedes, ¡seguro!In the trash can outside. Next Friday I'm going out with you, for sure!

El festival del barrio (Avanzado · Advanced)

Two coworkers at a café in Ponce finish planning a neighborhood festival.

  1. Marisol:¿Crees que el festival estará listo el sábado?Do you think the festival will be ready by Saturday?
  2. Andrés:Si todo sale bien, sí. He estado en la brega toda la semana.If all goes well, yes. I've been working hard all week.
  3. Marisol:Se nota. ¿Y montar las mesas es difícil?It shows. And is setting up the tables hard?
  4. Andrés:No, eso es un mamey. Lo difícil es conseguir músicos.No, that's a piece of cake. The hard part is finding musicians.
  5. Marisol:Mi pana Rafa toca el cuatro. Quizás pueda venir.My buddy Rafa plays the cuatro. Maybe he can come.
  6. Andrés:¡Ea, diache! ¿Por qué no me lo dijiste antes?Gosh! Why didn't you tell me before?
  7. Marisol:No sabía que necesitabas músicos. Le escribo ahora mismo.I didn't know you needed musicians. I'll text him right now.
  8. Andrés:Si él viniera, la gente bailaría toda la tarde.If he came, people would dance all afternoon.
  9. Marisol:Sería brutal. Además, su hija pinta caritas para los niños.It would be awesome. Plus, his daughter does face painting for the kids.
  10. Andrés:¡Qué chulería! Ojalá que no llueva.How lovely! I hope it doesn't rain.
  11. Marisol:Ojalá. Vamos a confirmar todo esta noche.Let's hope so. Let's confirm everything tonight.

Paso 5 · Apply it

Habla y escribe: Un mensaje para un amigo

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