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🇻🇪 Jerga · Practice & Play

Jerga de Venezuela

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

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Paso 1

Las 20 · The 20 words and phrases

Venezuelan Spanish belongs to the Caribbean family of dialects, alongside the Spanish of Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and coastal Colombia. Its everyday slang mixes old Spanish words with borrowings (chamo is often traced to English 'chum', and bonche to 'bunch'), and food words like cambur (banana) and cotufas (popcorn) instantly mark a speaker as Venezuelan.

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 Venezuela exactly.

chévere/CHEH-beh-reh/great, cool

wordcasual [ché-ve-re]

3 examples

  • ¡Qué chévere tu camisa!Your shirt is so cool!
  • El profe es chévere: nos explica todo con paciencia.The teacher is great: he explains everything patiently.
  • Pasamos un fin de semana chévere en Mérida.We had a great weekend in Mérida.

Used across the Caribbean; iconic in Venezuela.

pana/PAH-nah/buddy, friend

wordcasual [pa-na]

3 examples

  • Él es mi pana desde el colegio.He's been my buddy since school.
  • Pana, ¿me prestas tu cargador un momento?Buddy, can I borrow your charger for a moment?
  • Mis panas del trabajo me organizaron una sorpresa.My work buddies planned a surprise for me.

Also common in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Ecuador. Mis panas = my friends.

chamo, chama/CHAH-moh/kid, young person; dude

wordcasual [cha-mo]

3 examples

  • ¡Épale, chamo! ¿Cómo estás?Hey, dude! How are you?
  • Mis chamos ya están en la escuela.My kids are already at school.
  • Esa chama canta bellísimo en el coro.That girl sings beautifully in the choir.

Also used for 'my kid': mis chamos.

burda/BOOR-dah/a lot; super, really

wordcasual [bur-da]

3 examples

  • La arepa estaba burda de buena.The arepa was super good.
  • Hoy hay burda de tráfico en la autopista.There's a ton of traffic on the highway today.
  • Te extrañé burda en las vacaciones.I missed you so much during the vacation.

Patterns: burda de + adjective (burda de bueno) or burda de + noun (burda de gente).

vaina/BAI-nah/thing, stuff; situation

wordcasual [vai-na]

Literally: pod, sheath

3 examples

  • ¿Qué es esa vaina?What's that thing?
  • Pásame esa vaina que está en la mesa.Hand me that thing on the table.
  • ¡Qué vaina! Se fue la luz otra vez.Ugh, what a pain! The power went out again.

Can sound rude in some countries; very common in Venezuela.

bonche/BOHN-cheh/party, get-together

wordcasual [bon-che]

3 examples

  • El sábado hay un bonche en casa de Ana.There's a party at Ana's house on Saturday.
  • Después del examen hicimos un bonche en el salón.After the exam we had a little party in the classroom.
  • Mi abuela siempre arma un bonche en Navidad.My grandma always throws a get-together at Christmas.

Usually traced to English 'bunch'.

coroto/koh-ROH-toh/thing; belongings (usually plural)

wordcasual [co-ro-to]

3 examples

  • Recoge tus corotos, que nos vamos.Grab your stuff, we're leaving.
  • Me mudé y todavía tengo los corotos en cajas.I moved and my things are still in boxes.
  • ¿Para qué sirve este coroto?What's this thing for?

Most often plural: mis corotos = my stuff.

chimbo/CHEEM-boh/bad, poor quality, fake

wordcasual [chim-bo]

3 examples

  • Este cargador es chimbo; ya no sirve.This charger is junk; it doesn't work anymore.
  • El wifi de este café es chimbo; no carga nada.This café's wifi is bad; nothing loads.
  • Ese billete parece chimbo. Revísalo bien.That bill looks fake. Check it carefully.

Careful: in Colombia the related word 'chimba' is crude slang, so don't carry this word over there.

cotufas/koh-TOO-fahs/popcorn

wordneutral [co-tu-fas]

3 examples

  • ¿Hacemos cotufas para ver la película?Should we make popcorn for the movie?
  • En el cine compré unas cotufas con mantequilla.At the movies I bought buttery popcorn.
  • Los niños comieron cotufas en la fiesta del colegio.The kids ate popcorn at the school party.

Other countries: palomitas, canchita, pochoclo.

cambur/kahm-BOOR/banana

wordneutral [cam-bur]

3 examples

  • Me comí un cambur de merienda.I had a banana as a snack.
  • Señor, ¿a cómo está el kilo de cambur?Sir, how much is a kilo of bananas?
  • Mi mamá hace un batido de cambur delicioso.My mom makes a delicious banana shake.

Slang sense in Venezuela: a cushy job, often in government.

ratón/rrah-TOHN/hangover

wordcasual [ra-tón]

Literally: mouse

3 examples

  • Amanecí con un ratón horrible.I woke up with a terrible hangover.
  • Mi tío dice que una sopa quita el ratón.My uncle says a soup cures a hangover.
  • Hoy no voy al gimnasio; tengo ratón.I'm not going to the gym today; I'm hungover.

Other countries: resaca, cruda, guayabo.

¡naguará!/nah-gwah-RAH/wow! (surprise)

wordcasual [na-gua-rá]

3 examples

  • ¡Naguará, qué calor!Wow, it's so hot!
  • ¡Naguará! ¿Sacaste veinte en el examen?Wow! You got a perfect score on the exam?
  • ¡Naguará, qué cola tan larga en el banco!Wow, what a long line at the bank!

Especially associated with Lara state.

chalequear/chah-leh-keh-AHR/to tease, to make fun of

wordcasual [cha-le-que-ar]

3 examples

  • Mis amigos me chalequean por mi acento.My friends tease me about my accent.
  • No chalequees a tu hermano por su corte de pelo.Don't make fun of your brother's haircut.
  • En la oficina me chalequearon por llegar en pijama a la videollamada.At the office they teased me for joining the video call in pajamas.

Playful teasing among people who know each other.

pavoso, pavosa/pah-BOH-soh/someone who brings bad luck; a jinx

wordcasual, teasing [pa-vo-so]

3 examples

  • No seas pavoso, no digas eso antes del partido.Don't jinx it, don't say that before the game.
  • ¡Qué pavosa eres! Dijiste que iba a llover y llovió.You're such a jinx! You said it would rain and it did.
  • No veas el penal conmigo, que eres pavoso.Don't watch the penalty kick with me, you're bad luck.

From pava = bad luck.

¡Épale!/EH-pah-leh/Hey! (greeting or surprise)

wordcasual [é-pa-le]

3 examples

  • ¡Épale, Luis! ¡Tanto tiempo!Hey, Luis! Long time no see!
  • ¡Épale! Casi se me cae el café.Whoa! I almost dropped my coffee.
  • Le escribí a mi prima: ¡Épale! ¿Cómo va todo?I texted my cousin: Hey! How's everything going?
echar broma/eh-CHAHR BROH-mah/to joke around, to kid

phrasecasual [e-char bro-ma]

Literally: to throw a joke

3 examples

  • Tranquilo, te estoy echando broma.Relax, I'm just kidding you.
  • En la playa pasamos toda la tarde echando broma.At the beach we spent all afternoon joking around.
  • Deja de echar broma y termina la tarea.Stop fooling around and finish your homework.
dar la cola/DAHR lah KOH-lah/to give someone a ride

phrasecasual [dar la co-la]

Literally: to give the tail

3 examples

  • ¿Me das la cola hasta el metro?Can you give me a ride to the metro?
  • Mi vecina me dio la cola al trabajo porque llovía.My neighbor gave me a ride to work because it was raining.
  • Si quieres, te doy la cola después de la fiesta.If you want, I'll give you a ride after the party.

Careful: 'dar la cola' can be vulgar in some countries.

echarle pichón/eh-CHAHR-leh pee-CHOHN/to give it your all, to put in effort

phrasecasual [e-char-le pi-chón]

3 examples

  • Hay que echarle pichón a este proyecto.We have to give this project our all.
  • Échale pichón al entrenamiento y vas a ganar.Give your training everything and you'll win.
  • Mi papá le echó pichón y abrió su panadería.My dad worked hard and opened his bakery.
a juro/ah HOO-roh/no matter what; necessarily; by force

phrasecasual [a ju-ro]

3 examples

  • Tengo que ir a juro a esa reunión.I have to go to that meeting, no way around it.
  • No me quería poner la vacuna, pero me la pusieron a juro.I didn't want the shot, but they made me get it.
  • ¿Hay que llevar uniforme a juro?Do we absolutely have to wear a uniform?
¡Qué molleja!/KEH moh-YEH-hah/Wow! How amazing!

phrasecasual [qué mo-lle-ja]

Literally: What a gizzard!

3 examples

  • ¡Qué molleja de gol!What an amazing goal!
  • ¡Qué molleja de vista tiene este hotel!This hotel has an amazing view!
  • ¿Te ganaste la beca? ¡Qué molleja!You won the scholarship? That's amazing!

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.

Compras para el bonche (Principiante · Beginner)

Two friends run into each other at a neighborhood bakery in Caracas.

  1. Luis:¡Épale, chamo! ¿Cómo estás?Hey, dude! How are you?
  2. Gabriel:Bien, pana. ¿Qué haces aquí?Good, buddy. What are you doing here?
  3. Luis:Compro pan para el bonche del sábado.I'm buying bread for Saturday's party.
  4. Gabriel:¡Qué chévere! ¿Hay comida?How cool! Is there food?
  5. Luis:Sí, hay tequeños y arepitas.Yes, there are tequeños and little arepas.
  6. Gabriel:¿Y esa vaina grande en la bolsa?And that big thing in the bag?
  7. Luis:Es un quesillo de mi mamá. ¡Está burda de bueno!It's my mom's flan. It's super good!

El lunes después del bonche (Intermedio · Intermediate)

Two coworkers chat on Monday morning at an office in Maracaibo.

  1. Mariela:Andreína, ¿cómo te fue en el bonche?Andreína, how was the party?
  2. Andreína:Bien, pero hoy amanecí con un ratón terrible.Good, but I woke up with a terrible hangover today.
  3. Mariela:¡Ay, no! ¿Y cómo llegaste a tu casa?Oh no! And how did you get home?
  4. Andreína:Mi primo me dio la cola en su carro.My cousin gave me a ride in his car.
  5. Mariela:Qué suerte. Yo tuve que cargar todos mis corotos y caminar.Lucky you. I had to carry all my stuff and walk.
  6. Andreína:Oye, los chamos me chalequearon toda la noche por mi baile.Hey, the guys teased me all night about my dancing.
  7. Mariela:Seguro estaban echando broma. ¡Tú bailas bien!They were surely just kidding. You dance well!
  8. Andreína:Y el parlante era chimbo: se apagó dos veces.And the speaker was junk: it shut off twice.
  9. Mariela:Toma, te traje un cambur y agua. Eso ayuda.Here, I brought you a banana and water. That helps.
  10. Andreína:¡Gracias, amiga! El próximo bonche lo vamos a hacer en mi casa.Thanks, friend! We're going to have the next party at my place.

Noche de béisbol en Barquisimeto (Avanzado · Advanced)

Two friends watch a Cardenales de Lara baseball game on TV at home in Barquisimeto.

  1. Carlos:¡Naguará, qué juego tan apretado! Si los Cardenales ganan, pasan a la final.Wow, what a close game! If the Cardenales win, they go to the final.
  2. Daniela:No cantes victoria todavía. No seas pavoso.Don't count your chickens yet. Don't jinx it.
  3. Carlos:Tranquila, no creo que mis palabras cambien el resultado.Relax, I don't think my words will change the score.
  4. Daniela:Igual, prefiero que no digas nada hasta el noveno inning.Still, I'd rather you not say anything until the ninth inning.
  5. Carlos:Está bien. ¿Me pasas las cotufas?Fine. Can you pass me the popcorn?
  6. Daniela:Toma. Oye, mañana tengo que ir a juro a la oficina, aunque sea feriado.Here. Hey, tomorrow I absolutely have to go to the office, even though it's a holiday.
  7. Carlos:¿Otra vez? Tu jefe debería darte un aumento.Again? Your boss should give you a raise.
  8. Daniela:Ojalá. Pero el proyecto es importante y hay que echarle pichón.I wish. But the project is important and we have to give it our all.
  9. Carlos:Tienes razón. Si yo fuera tú, haría lo mismo.You're right. If I were you, I'd do the same.
  10. Daniela:¡Mira, mira! ¡Jonrón!Look, look! Home run!
  11. Carlos:¡Qué molleja de batazo! ¿Ves? No fui pavoso.What an amazing hit! See? I didn't jinx it.
  12. Daniela:Bueno, lo admito… ¡pero espera a que termine el juego!Okay, I admit it… but wait until the game is over!

Paso 5 · Apply it

Habla y escribe: Un mensaje para un amigo

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