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🇺🇾 Jerga · Practice & Play

Jerga de Uruguay

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

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Paso 1

Las 20 · The 20 words and phrases

Uruguayan Spanish shares Rioplatense features with Argentina, such as voseo (often mixed with 'tú', as in 'tú tenés') and the 'sh' sound for 'll' and 'y'. It also has its own signature words like 'ta' and 'bo', plus terms from Guaraní such as 'gurí'.

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 Uruguay exactly.

ta/TAH/OK; alright; got it

wordcasual [ta]

Literally: (short for 'está')

3 examples

  • —¿Nos vemos a las cinco? —Ta.—See you at five? —OK.
  • Ta, mañana te devuelvo el libro.Alright, I'll give you the book back tomorrow.
  • Ponele dulce de leche a los panqueques, ¿ta?Put dulce de leche on the crêpes, OK?

Uruguay's signature word. 'Ta, ta' can sound impatient ('OK, OK'); '¿ta?' at the end checks agreement.

bo/BOH/hey; dude (to call or address a friend)

wordvery casual [bo]

3 examples

  • Bo, ¿vamos a la rambla?Hey, shall we go to the waterfront?
  • ¿Qué hacés, bo? ¡Tanto tiempo!What's up, dude? Long time no see!
  • Bo, pasame la pelota.Hey, pass me the ball.

Uruguay's version of Argentina's 'che'; usually explained as coming from 'vos'. Keep it for friends.

gurí, gurisa/goo-REE, goo-REE-sah/kid, boy; girl

wordcasual, affectionate [gu-rí, gu-ri-sa]

3 examples

  • Los gurises juegan en la plaza.The kids are playing in the square.
  • Mi gurisa empieza la escuela en marzo.My little girl starts school in March.
  • Cuando era gurí, iba a Piriápolis en verano.When I was a kid, I went to Piriápolis in summer.

From Guaraní (often traced to 'ngirí', little boy). Plural: gurises. Recorded by the Academia Nacional de Letras. Also heard in Argentina's Litoral region; most Argentines say pibe/piba.

botija/boh-TEE-hah/kid, youngster

wordcasual, affectionate [bo-ti-ja]

Literally: clay jug

3 examples

  • Ese botija juega muy bien al fútbol.That kid plays soccer really well.
  • Los botijas de la escuela fueron al museo.The schoolkids went to the museum.
  • Desde botija me encanta el dulce de leche.I've loved dulce de leche since I was a kid.

Same form for boys and girls (el/la botija). The Academia Nacional de Letras lists it as a synonym of gurí.

bárbaro/BAHR-bah-roh/great; awesome; fine

wordcasual [bár-ba-ro]

Literally: barbaric

3 examples

  • —Llego a las ocho. —¡Bárbaro!—I'll get there at eight. —Great!
  • El concierto en el Teatro Solís estuvo bárbaro.The concert at the Solís Theater was awesome.
  • Tu profesora es una persona bárbara.Your teacher is a wonderful person.

Its literal meaning is 'barbaric', but colloquially it means 'great'. Common in Argentina too.

championes/chahm-PYOH-nehs/sneakers; athletic shoes

wordneutral, everyday [cham-pio-nes]

3 examples

  • Me compré championes nuevos para correr.I bought new sneakers for running.
  • Sacate los championes antes de entrar.Take off your sneakers before coming in.
  • Llevá championes cómodos para caminar por Colonia.Bring comfy sneakers to walk around Colonia.

Singular: champión. Argentina says 'zapatillas'. Also used in Paraguay.

salado, salada/sah-LAH-doh, sah-LAH-dah/amazing, intense; tough, hard (context decides)

wordcasual [sa-la-do, sa-la-da]

Literally: salty

3 examples

  • El examen de matemática estuvo salado.The math test was tough.
  • ¡Qué salado tu dibujo!Your drawing is amazing!
  • El clásico fue salado, ¡qué partido!The derby was intense, what a game!

In Uruguay it often means 'incredible' or 'intense', or 'tough' about a problem; in both Uruguay and Argentina it can also mean 'pricey'.

una pila de/OO-nah PEE-lah deh/a lot of; lots of

phrasecasual [u-na pi-la de]

Literally: a pile of

3 examples

  • Había una pila de gente en la rambla.There were lots of people on the waterfront.
  • Tengo una pila de deberes para mañana.I have tons of homework for tomorrow.
  • Te quiero pila, abuela.I love you a lot, Grandma.

'Pila' alone as 'a lot' is very Uruguayan: 'me gusta pila' (I like it a lot).

¡pa!/PAH/wow; whoa (surprise or emphasis)

wordcasual [pa]

3 examples

  • ¡Pa, qué frío hace hoy!Whoa, it's so cold today!
  • ¡Pa, qué rico este chivito!Wow, this chivito sandwich is delicious!
  • ¡Pa, ganamos la final!Wow, we won the final!

Often stretched out: '¡Paaa!'. Also written 'pah' or 'pá'.

crá/KRAH/a star; an ace (someone very good at something)

wordcasual, affectionate [crá]

3 examples

  • Tu hermana es una crá en matemática.Your sister is a whiz at math.
  • Ese golero es un crá.That goalkeeper is a star.
  • ¡Sos un crá! Arreglaste la bici.You're a legend! You fixed the bike.

From 'crack', the sports word for a star player.

bondi/BOHN-dee/bus

wordcasual [bon-di]

3 examples

  • El bondi a Pocitos pasa cada diez minutos.The bus to Pocitos comes every ten minutes.
  • Me quedé dormido en el bondi.I fell asleep on the bus.
  • Te escribo cuando me suba al bondi.I'll text you when I get on the bus.

Shared with Argentina; the standard Uruguayan word is 'ómnibus'.

chiquilín, chiquilina/chee-kee-LEEN, chee-kee-LEE-nah/kid; (plural) the guys, your friend group

wordcasual, affectionate [chi-qui-lín, chi-qui-li-na]

3 examples

  • Esta noche salgo con los chiquilines.Tonight I'm going out with the guys.
  • La chiquilina de al lado toca la guitarra.The girl next door plays guitar.
  • Los chiquilines del liceo organizaron una feria.The high school kids organized a fair.

'Los chiquilines' can mean your friend group, like Argentina's 'los pibes'.

barra/BAH-rrah/group of friends; crew

wordcasual [ba-rra]

Literally: bar; rod

3 examples

  • Toda la barra fue al cumpleaños de Sofi.The whole crew went to Sofi's birthday.
  • Con la barra jugamos al fútbol los domingos.My friends and I play soccer on Sundays.
  • La barra del trabajo es muy divertida.My work crew is really fun.

'La barra del barrio' = the neighborhood crew. In soccer, 'barra' can also mean a fan group.

re-/REH/very, really (intensifier)

wordcasual [re]

3 examples

  • Este helado está re rico.This ice cream is really tasty.
  • La clase de hoy fue re fácil.Today's class was super easy.
  • Mi abuelo es re divertido.My grandpa is really funny.

Shared with Argentina; stronger: 'recontra'.

¡está de más!/ehs-TAH deh MAHS/it's awesome; it's great

phrasecasual [es-tá de más]

Literally: it's extra

3 examples

  • Esta playa en Punta del Diablo está de más.This beach in Punta del Diablo is awesome.
  • Tu canción nueva está de más.Your new song is great.
  • El helado de dulce de leche está de más.The dulce de leche ice cream is amazing.

Careful: in standard Spanish 'está de más' means 'it's unnecessary'. Context and an excited tone tell you it's a compliment.

¡mirá vos!/mee-RAH BOHS/well, look at that!; really? (mild surprise or interest)

phrasecasual [mi-rá vos]

Literally: look, you

3 examples

  • —Me mudé a Salto. —¡Mirá vos!—I moved to Salto. —Well, look at that!
  • Mirá vos, el museo es gratis los domingos.How about that, the museum is free on Sundays.
  • ¿Tu abuelo habla italiano? ¡Mirá vos!Your grandpa speaks Italian? Really?

'Mirá' is the voseo command form (= mira). Common in Argentina too.

garra charrúa/GAH-rrah chah-RROO-ah/fighting spirit; grit; never giving up

phraseneutral, proud [ga-rra cha-rrú-a]

Literally: Charrúa claw

3 examples

  • Ganamos con garra charrúa en el último minuto.We won with true grit in the last minute.
  • Estudió con garra charrúa y aprobó todo.She studied with real determination and passed everything.
  • Mi abuela tiene garra charrúa: nunca se rinde.My grandma has fighting spirit: she never gives up.

Named after the Charrúa, an Indigenous people of the region of present-day Uruguay; strongly tied to the national soccer team's spirit. Use it with respect.

¡dale!/DAH-leh/OK, sure; come on, hurry up

wordcasual [da-le]

Literally: give it

3 examples

  • —¿Tomamos un mate? —¡Dale!—Shall we have some mate? —Sure!
  • ¡Dale, que perdemos el ómnibus!Come on, we'll miss the bus!
  • Dale, contame cómo te fue.Go on, tell me how it went.

Used all over the Río de la Plata; constant in Uruguay.

a pata/ah PAH-tah/on foot

phrasecasual [a pa-ta]

Literally: by paw

3 examples

  • Fuimos a pata hasta la Ciudad Vieja.We walked all the way to the Old City.
  • Voy a pata al liceo, queda cerca.I walk to high school, it's close.
  • Sin ómnibus, volvimos a pata del partido.With no bus, we walked back from the game.

Playful: 'pata' is an animal's leg or paw.

¿todo bien?/TOH-doh BYEHN/all good?; how's it going?; (reply) all good

phrasecasual [to-do bien]

Literally: everything well?

3 examples

  • ¡Hola, bo! ¿Todo bien?Hey, dude! All good?
  • —¿Te gustó la comida? —Sí, todo bien.—Did you like the food? —Yes, all good.
  • Todo bien con el trabajo, gracias.Everything's fine at work, thanks.

Works as a greeting and as a reply; common across the Río de la Plata.

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.

Paseo por la rambla (Principiante · Beginner)

Friends Martina and Facundo meet on the waterfront (la rambla) in Montevideo.

  1. Facundo:¡Hola, Martina! ¿Todo bien?Hi, Martina! All good?
  2. Martina:Sí, todo bien. ¡Pa, qué lindo día!Yes, all good. Wow, what a nice day!
  3. Facundo:Bo, ¿caminamos por la rambla?Hey, shall we walk along the waterfront?
  4. Martina:¡Dale! Tengo championes nuevos.Sure! I have new sneakers.
  5. Facundo:Después tomamos el bondi a Pocitos, ¿ta?Then we take the bus to Pocitos, OK?
  6. Martina:Ta. Y comemos un helado en la playa.OK. And we have ice cream at the beach.
  7. Facundo:¡Perfecto!Perfect!

El campamento (Intermedio · Intermediate)

Siblings Lucía and Joaquín talk at home in Salto about his camping weekend.

  1. Lucía:¿Cómo estuvo el campamento con la barra?How was the camping trip with your crew?
  2. Joaquín:¡Salado! Llovió todo el sábado y la carpa se mojó.Intense! It rained all Saturday and the tent got wet.
  3. Lucía:¿Y qué hicieron?And what did you do?
  4. Joaquín:Fuimos a pata hasta el pueblo y compramos una pila de bizcochos.We walked to the town and bought a ton of pastries.
  5. Lucía:¿Fueron todos los chiquilines?Did all the guys go?
  6. Joaquín:Sí, y también el primo de Mateo, un botija de diez años.Yes, and also Mateo's cousin, a ten-year-old kid.
  7. Lucía:¿Se portó bien el gurí?Did the kid behave?
  8. Joaquín:Muy bien. Hasta nos enseñó a prender el fuego.Very well. He even taught us how to light the fire.
  9. Lucía:El próximo verano quiero ir con ustedes.Next summer I want to go with you.
  10. Joaquín:Dale, vamos a planear algo para enero.Sure, we'll plan something for January.

Después del partido (Avanzado · Advanced)

Coworkers Valentina and Diego chat at a café in Montevideo the morning after a Uruguay national-team match.

  1. Diego:¿Viste el partido de anoche? ¡Estuvo de más!Did you see last night's game? It was awesome!
  2. Valentina:Sí, aunque al principio pensé que íbamos a perder.Yes, although at first I thought we were going to lose.
  3. Diego:Yo también, pero el equipo jugó con garra charrúa hasta el final.Me too, but the team played with fighting spirit until the end.
  4. Valentina:El golero fue un crá. Atajó un penal re difícil.The goalkeeper was a star. He saved a really tough penalty.
  5. Diego:¿Sabías que es de Paysandú, como mi abuelo?Did you know he's from Paysandú, like my grandfather?
  6. Valentina:¡Mirá vos! No tenía idea.Well, look at that! I had no idea.
  7. Diego:Si clasificamos al Mundial, me encantaría ir a verlo en persona.If we qualify for the World Cup, I'd love to go see it in person.
  8. Valentina:Sería bárbaro, pero dudo que consigamos entradas baratas.That would be great, but I doubt we'll get cheap tickets.
  9. Diego:Ojalá que hagan un sorteo en la empresa.I hope the company holds a raffle.
  10. Valentina:Si eso pasa, quiero que me avises enseguida.If that happens, I want you to tell me right away.
  11. Diego:Prometido. Y si ganamos, invito yo los chivitos.Promise. And if we win, the chivitos are 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 Uruguay. 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 Uruguay 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 Uruguay today, checked against the sources below. Heard something different? Tell me.