ese mexican term

Translations dictionary

or esse [ es -ey] or [ ey -sey]

What does ese mean?

Ese , amigo , hombre . Or, in English slang, dude ,  bro , homey . Ese is a Mexican-Spanish slang term of address for a fellow man.

Related words

Where does ese come from.

Ese originates in Mexican Spanish. Ese literally means “that” or “that one,” and likely extended to “fellow man” as shortened from expressions like ese vato , “that guy.”

There are some more elaborate (though less probable) theories behind ese . One goes that a notorious Mexican gang, the  Sureños  (“Southerners”), made their way from Mexico City to Southern California in the 1960s.  Ese is the Spanish name for letter S , which is how the gang members referred to each other. Or so the story goes.

Ese is recorded in English for a “fellow Hispanic man” in the 1960s. It became more a general term of address by the 1980s, though  ese remains closely associated (and even stereotyped) with Chicano culture in the US.

Ese is notably found in the Chicano poetry of José Antonio Burciaga and Cheech & Chong comedy routines (Cheech Marin is Mexican-American.)

White confusion over ese was memorably parodied in a 2007 episode of the TV show South Park . On it, the boys think they can get some Mexican men to write their essays , but them men write letters home to their eses .

Examples of ese

Who uses ese?

For Mexican and Mexican-American Spanish speakers,  ese has the force of “dude,” “brother,” or “man,” i.e., a close and trusted friend or compatriot .

I needa kick it wit my ese's its been a minute — al (@a1anxs) February 1, 2019

It’s often used as friendly and familiar term of address…

Always a good time with my ese. 😎 pic.twitter.com/xxM4YroWDV — | Y | G | (@yg_monroe) January 12, 2019

…but it can also be more aggressively and forcefully.

Cypress Hill 2018: Who you tryin' ta mess with, ese? Don't you know I'm seeking professional help for my deep rooted emotional problemsssssss?!? — JAY. (@GoonLeDouche) June 30, 2018

“You’d have to be crazy to swipe left.” Who you tryna get crazy with, ese? Don’t you know I’m loco? Sorry, always wanted to say that. Anyway, swipe left. Might actually be crazy. — Why I Swiped Left (@LeftyMcSwiper) December 17, 2018

Ese is associated with Mexican and Chicano American culture, where it can refer to and be used by both men and women. The term is also specifically associated with Mexican-American gang culture.

What's up ese? pic.twitter.com/0vAQxZZ6SO — AlesiAkiraKitsune© (@AlesiAkira) January 21, 2019

It is often considered appropriative for people outside those cultures to use ese , especially since some non-Mexican people may use  ese in ways that mock Mexicans and Mexican-American culture.

This is not meant to be a formal definition of ese like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of ese that will help our users expand their word mastery.

• By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy policies.
• Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Other categories

• Famous People
• Fictional Characters
• Gender & Sexuality
• Historical & Current Events
• Pop Culture
• Tech & Science
• Translations

What Does "Ese" Mean? Spanishdict lesson.

What does "ese" mean .

Ese = dude, bro, homie.

Ese Is also the singular masculine form of the Spanish demonstrative pronoun meaning this as well as a letter in the Spanish alphabet

As a term of address, this term was popularized in Spanish-speaking regions of the United States. The word on the street is that it came about as a shorthand way for speakers of Mexican Spanish to say ese vato or ese guy (that dude )

While not commonly used in Mexico, you're quite likely to hear it in California, for example. But ¡aguas ! (be careful ) In some parts of California ese is used by members of certain gangs to self-identify. Most of the time, though, it just means dude or bro.

Check out these examples of Ese . ¿Qué onda, ese?

What's up, bro?

• No manches, ese, ¿dónde conseguiste esa carcacha?

Jeez, dude, where'd you get that old wreck?

Try a few examples in both languages using ese.

Estoy harta de las mocosas esas.

I’ve had it up to here with those kids.

off topic but ........

El coche iba haciendo eses por la carretera.

The car zigzagged along the road.

I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Cruzaré ese puente cuando llegue a ese lugar.

Making educational experiences better for everyone.

Immersive learning for 25 languages

Marketplace for millions of educator-created resources

Fast, easy, reliable language certification

Fun educational games for kids

Comprehensive K-12 personalized learning

Trusted tutors for 300+ subjects

35,000+ worksheets, games, and lesson plans

Adaptive learning for English vocabulary

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

Mexican Slang: 90+ Spanish Slang Words and Expressions to Sound Like a Local (with Audio and a Quiz)

Looking to have a huge head start when you travel to Mexico?

You’ve gotta learn the slang.

In this post, I’m going to give you a brief introduction to the country’s unique version of Spanish—and by the time we’re done, you’ll be better prepared to navigate a slang-filled conversation with Mexicans!

The Most Common Mexican Slang Words and Expressions

1. ¡qué padre — cool, 2. me vale madre — i don’t care, 3. poca madre — really cool, 4. fresa — preppy.

• 5. ¡Aguas! — Watch out!

6. En el bote — In jail

7. estar crudo — to be hungover, 8. ¡a huevo — **** yeah, 9. chilango — someone from mexico city, 10. te crees muy muy — you think you’re something special, 11. ese — dude, 12. metiche — busybody, 13. pocho / pocha — a mexican who’s left mexico, 14. naco — tacky, 15. cholo — mexican gangster, 16. güey — dude, 17. carnal  — close friend, 18. ¿neta — really.

• 19. Eso que ni que — I agree

20. Ahorita — Right now

21. ni modo — whatever, 22. no hay tos — no problem, 23. sale — okay, sure, 24. coda / codo — someone who’s cheap, 25. tener feria — to have money/change, 26. buena onda — good vibes, 27. ¿qué onda — what’s up, 28. ¡viva méxico — long live mexico.

• 29. Pendejo — Jerk
• 30. Cabrón — Mean, not very smart, awesome
• 31. Pedo — Drunk, problem
• 32. Pinche — Ugly, cheap

33. Verga — Male genitalia

34. chingar — to f***, 35. ¡no manches / ¡no mames — no way, don’t mess with me, 36. está cañón — difficult, 37. chido — nice, cool, 38. chulo / chula — good-looking person, 39. ¿a poco — really, 40. ¡órale — right on, 41. chela — beer, 42. la tira — the cops, 43. ¿mande — what, 44. suave — cool, 45. gacho — mean, 46. ándale — hurry up, 47. chale — give me a break, 48. chamba / chambear — work, 49. bronca — problem, 50. paro — favor, 51. chido / chida — cool, 52. padre — awesome, 53. chingón — badass, 54. chamba — job, 55. vato — guy, 56. morro — kid, 57. jefa / jefe — mom/dad, 58. vieja / viejo — girlfriend, wife/boyfriend, husband, 59. carnalito — little brother, 60. chiquitín — little one, 61. chavito / chavita — young guy/young girl, 62. camión — bus, 63. chulear — to show off, 64. chingar — to bother, 65. estrenar — to wear or use something for the first time, 66. guacala — yuck, 67. huevón — lazy person, 68. jato — car, 69. mamacita — attractive woman, 70. pisto — money, 71. ¿que pex — what’s up, 72. rola — song, 73. ¿sapbe — what’s up , 74. valedor — friend, 75. vato loco — crazy guy, 76. wacha — look / watch, 77. ¡ya nos cargó el payaso — we’re in trouble, 78. cuate — buddy, 79. jeta — face, 80. madrazo — a strong hit, 81. nalga — buttocks, 82. ñero — dark-skinned person, 83. pacheco — drunk, 84. pirata — fake, 85. relajo — mess, 86. riata — belt, 87. sobres — okay, got it, 88. tapado — conceited, 89. troca — truck, 90. zarape — blanket or shawl, what you need to know about mexican spanish, resources for learning more mexican slang, quick guide to mexican slang, na’atik language and culture institute, why you should learn mexican slang, mexican slang quiz: test yourself, and one more thing….

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Mexican slang could be a language of its own. 

Just a word of warning: some terms on this list may be considered rude and should be used with caution.

This phrase’s literal translation, “How father!”, doesn’t make much sense at all, but it can be understood to mean “cool!” or “awesome!”  

¡Conseguí entradas para Daddy Yankee! (I got tickets for Daddy Yankee!)

¡ Qué padre , güey! (Awesome, dude!)

This phrase is used to say “I don’t care.”  It’s not quite a curse, but it can be considered offensive in more formal situations.

If used with the word que  (that), remember you need to use the subjunctive . 

Me vale madre lo que haga con su vida. (I don’t care what he does with his life).

Literally translated as “little mother,” this phrase is used to describe something really cool.

Once again, this phrase can be considered offensive (and is mostly used among groups of young men).

Esta canción está poca madre . (This song is really cool).

Literally a “strawberry,” a fresa is not something you want to be.

Somewhat similar to the word “preppy” in the United States , a fresa is a young person from a wealthy family who’s self-centered, superficial and materialistic.

Ella es una fresa. (She’s preppy/rich/stuck up).

5. ¡Aguas! —  Watch out!

This phrase is used throughout Mexico to mean “be careful!” or “look out!”

Literally meaning “waters,” it’s possible that this usage evolved from housewives throwing buckets of water to clean the sidewalks in front of their homes.

¡Aguas!  El piso está mojado. (Be careful! The floor’s wet).

The word  bote  means “can” (as in a can of soda).

However, when a Mexican says someone is  “en el bote,”  they mean someone is  “in the slammer,” “in jail.”

Adrián no puede venir, ¡está en el bote ! (Adrian can’t come, he’s in jail!)

Estar crudo  means “to be raw,” as in food that hasn’t been cooked.

However, if someone in Mexico tells you they’re crudo, it means they’re hungover because they’ve drunk too much alcohol. 

Estoy muy crudo hoy. (I’m really hungover today).

Huevos (eggs) are often used to denote a specific part of the male anatomy —you can probably guess which—and they’re also used in a wide variety of slang phrases.

¡A huevo! is a  vulgar way to show excitement or approval. Think “eff yeah!” without the self-censorship.

¡Ganamos el partido! (We won the game!)

¡A huevo! Me alegra. (**** yeah! I’m glad)

This slang term means something, usually a person, who comes from Mexico City.

Calling someone a chilango is saying that they’re representative of the culture of the city.

¿Eres chilango ? (Are you from Mexico City?)

This literally means “you think you’re very very” but the slang meaning is more of “you think you’re something special,”  or “you think you’re all that.”

Often, this is used to power down someone who’s boastful or thinks they’re better than anyone else.

Te crees muy muy desde que conseguiste ese trabajo. (You think you’re all that since you got that job).

Supposedly, in the 1960s members of a Mexican gang called the Sureños  (“Southerners”) used to call each other “ese” (after the first letter of the gang’s name). 

However, in the ’80s, the word ese  started to be used to refer to men in general, meaning something like “dude” or “dawg”.

It’s also possible  ese  originated from expressions like  ese vato (“that guy”), and from that, the word  ese started to be used to refer to a man.

“¿Qué pedo, ese ?” “What up, dawg?”

Metiche is a slang word for someone who loves to get the scoop on everyone’s everything. 

Some people would refer to this sort of person as a busybody!

¿De qué hablaste con tu amiga? (What did you talk about with your friend?)

Nada, ¡no seas tan metiche ! (Nothing, don’t be such a busybody!)

This Mexican slang term refers to a Mexican who’s left Mexico or someone who’s perhaps forgotten their Mexican roots or heritage.

It can be used as just an observatory expression, but also as a derogatory slang word used to point out that someone’s at fault for not remembering their heritage.

Mis primos pochos vienen a visitar este fin de semana. (My  pocho cousins are coming to visit this weekend).

Naco is a word used to describe  someone or something poorly educated and bad-mannered.

The closest American equivalent would be “tacky” or “ghetto.”

The word has its origins in insulting indigenous and poor people, so be careful with this word!

Me parece un poco naco . (It seems a bit tacky).

Although the word  cholo  can have several meanings, it often refers to Mexican gangsters, especially Mexican American teens and youngsters who are in a street gang.

Vi unos cholos en la esquina. (I saw some gang members on the corner).

This one is pronounced like the English word “way” and it’s one of the most quintessential Mexican slang words.

Originally used to mean “a stupid person,” the word eventually morphed into a term of endearment similar to the English “dude.”

¡Apúrate, güey ! (Hurry up, dude!)

Carnal  comes from Spanish  carne  (meat).

It’s perhaps for this reason that carnal  is used to describe a close friend who’s like a sibling to you, carne de tu carne  or flesh of your flesh. 

Allí está mi carnala Laura . (There’s my close friend Laura).

“Truth?” or “really?” is what someone’s saying when they use this little word.

This popular conversational interjection is used to fill a lull in the chatter or to give someone the opportunity to come clean on an exaggeration.

Oftentimes, though, it’s just said to express agreement with the last comment in a conversation  or to clarify something. 

¿ Neta ? Pero ¿qué pasó? (Really? But what happened?)

19. Eso que ni que —  I agree

Don’t try to translate this literally—just know that this convenient phrase means that you’re in agreement with whatever’s being discussed. 

Es muy bueno para bailar. (He’s really good at dancing).

Sí, baila mejor que todos, eso que ni que . (Yes, he dances better than everyone, no doubt about it).

This translates as “little now” but the small word means right now, or at this very moment.

¡Tenemos que irnos ahorita ! (We have to leave right now!)

Ni modo , which can be literally translated as “not way” or “either way,” is possibly one of the most popular Mexican expressions. 

It’s generally used to say “eh, whatever” or “it is what it is.”

Ni modo  can also be used with  que  (that) and a present subjunctive to say you can’t do something at the moment or there’s no way you’d do it.

It’s like saying “there’s no way” or “are you nuts?” in English.

Ni modo , hay mejores chicas/chicos en el mundo. (Oh well, there are better girls/guys in the world)

Ni modo que conteste, güey. (There’s no way I’m answering, man).

No hay tos  literally means “there’s no cough,” but it’s used to say “no problem” or “don’t worry about it.”

Lo siento, me olvidé mi billetera. ¿Tienes plata? (Sorry, I forgot my wallet. Do you have cash?)

No, pero no hay tos , comamos en la casa. (No, but no problem, let’s eat at home).

Sale  means “okay,” “sure,” “yeah” or “let’s do it,”  so it’s normally used in situations when someone suggests doing something and you agree.

It can also be used as a question tag when you want someone’s opinion or to see if they’re on the same page as you.

¿Vamos al concierto? (Shall we go to the concert?)

Sale , pero tendrás que prestarme lana. (Sure, but you’ll have to lend me some money.)

Codo literally means “elbow” in English but Mexican slang has turned it into a term used to describe someone who’s cheap.

It can be applied to either gender, so pay attention to the -a or -o ending of this descriptive noun.

¡Ese codo ni pagó la cena! (That cheapskate didn’t even pay for dinner!)

Feria means “fair” so the literal translation of this expression is “to have or be fair.”

However, feria also refers to coins when it’s used in Mexico. So, the phrase basically means “to have money” or “to have pocket change.”

¿Tienes feria ? (Do you have money?).

Buena onda literally translates to “good wave” but it’s used to indicate that there are good vibes or a good energy present.

Tienes buena onda . (You give off good vibes). 

This slangy Mexican expression translates to “what wave?” but is a cool way to ask “what’s up?”

It’s another feel-good, casual conversational expression that really adds a lot of good feelings to any chat.

¿ Qué onda ? ¿Cómo has estado? (What’s up? How have you been?)

¡Viva México! literally means “long live Mexico!”

It’s the unifying phrase that says the country should grow, prosper and see happy times for its citizens and visitors.

It’s often shortened to “¡viva!” which means the same as the full phrase .

¡Ganamos el mundial! ¡ Viva México ! (We won the world cup! Long live Mexico!)

29. P endejo — Jerk

Pendejo is one of those magical words that appear in almost every Spanish variety but have a different meaning depending on where you are.

In Mexico, it has a rather rude meaning: “unpleasant or stupid person,” “jerk.”

No me hables, pendejo . (Don’t talk to me, jerk).

30. C abrón — Mean, not very smart, awesome

While technically cabrón means “big [male] goat,” it has plenty of other meanings.

Used as a rude word its meaning is quite similar to pendejo, but cabrón  is higher in the rudeness scale: meaning unpleasant, mean or not very bright.

But change the tone a bit and you might, instead, be saying someone is  awesome!

The word can even be used in place of the f-bomb, very often following bien— very, to mean you’re really awesome at doing something.

Soy bien cabrón jugando a Minecraft. (I’m friggin’ awesome at playing Minecraft).

31. P edo — Drunk, problem

A  pedo  is a fart, literally. 

This word has lots of different meanings, depending on how you say it and the situation:

• Estar pedo — to be drunk
• Peda — drinking session
• Ser buen pedo — to give off good vibes
• Ser mal pedo — to be unfriendly or hostile
• ¿Qué pedo? — what’s up?
• Pedo  — problem or argument
• Ponerse al pedo — to want a fight, or to have an attitude of defiance
• ¿Qué pedo contigo, cabrón? (What’s your problem, man?)

Here’s Mexican actress Salma Hayek explaining qué pedo  and other Mexican slang:

32. P inche — Ugly, cheap

The word  pinche  may sound quite unproblematic for many Spanish speakers because it literally means “kitchen helper.”

However, when in Mexico, this word goes rogue and acquires a couple of interesting meanings.

It can mean “ugly,” “substandard,” “poor” or “cheap,” but it can also be used as an a ll-purpose enhancer, much like the meaner cousin of “hecking” is used in English.

Eres un pinche loco . (You’re effing crazy).

Originally, the  verga  was the horizontal beam from which a ship’s sails were hung, but this word has come to mean a man’s schlong in Spanish nowadays.

You can also use this word as a standalone exclamation with the meaning of the f-bomb. 

Here are a few more uses of the word:

• Creerse verga — to think you’re all that
• Valer verga — to be worthless
• Irse a la verga — a “lovely” way of telling someone to eff off
• Tus palabras me valen verga . (Your words mean nothing to me).

Chingar  means “to do the deed.” It’s Mexico’s version of the f-word. Simple. 

Chingar is a word that’s prevalent in Mexican culture in its various forms and meanings. 

¡Deja de chingar ! (Stop f***ing around!)

These two phrases are essentially one and the same, hence why they’re grouped together.

Literally meaning “don’t stain!” and “don’t suck,” these are used to say  “no way! You’re kidding me!” or  “don’t mess with me!”

No manches is totally benign, but no mames is considered vulgar and can potentially be offensive.

¡No manches!   ¿Pensé que habían terminado? (No way! I thought they had broken up?)

Here are actors Eva Longoria and Michael Peña explaining  no manches  and other Mexican slang words:

When you say that something is está cañón  (literally, “it’s cannon”), you’re saying “it’s hard/difficult.”

Some believe that the phrase arose as a more polite euphemism for está cabrón.

As a Spaniard, I find this meaning quite funny, because  estar cañón  means “to be very attractive” in Castilian Spanish.

El examen estuvo bien cañón . (The exam was very difficult).

This word is simply a fun way to say “nice” or “cool” in Mexican Spanish.

Despite its status as slang, it’s not vulgar or offensive in the least—so have fun with it!

It can be used as both a standalone exclamation (¡qué chido! — cool!) or as an adjective.

Tienes un carro bien chido. (You have a really cool car). 

When it comes to Mexico, chulo  is used as an adjective to refer to people you find hot, good-looking or pretty.

You can also use it to refer to things with the meaning of “cute,” however if you travel to Spain, don’t use this word to refer to people—since a chulo  is “a pimp.” 

¿Viste ese chulo en la panadería? (Did you see that hot guy in the bakery?)

There’s no way to translate this one literally, it just comes back as nonsense. Mexicans, however, use it to say “really?” when they’re feeling incredulous.

Ale dijo que ganó la lotería! (Alex said that he won the lottery!)

¿ A poco ? ¿Lo crees? (Really? Do you believe him?)

This exclamation basically means “right on!” or in some situations is used as a message of approval like “let’s do it!”

Órale is another Mexican slang word that’s considered inoffensive and is appropriate for almost any social situation. 

It can be said quickly and excitedly or offered up with a long, drawn-out “o” sound.

Creo que te puedo ganar. (I think I can beat you). 

¡Órale! A ver. (Bring it on! Let’s see).

Simple enough, chela is a Mexican slang word for  beer.

In other parts of Latin America, chela is a woman who’s blond (usually with fair skin and blue eyes).

No one is quite sure if there’s a link between the two, and it seems unclear how the word came to mean “beer” in the first place.

¿Quieres tomar unas chelas ? (Do you want to have a few beers?)

A tira  is a “strip,” but when you use it as a Mexican slang word, you mean  the cops.

¡Aguas! ¡Ahí viene la tira ! (Watch out! The fuzz are coming!)

This is used in Mexico in place of ¿qué? or ¿cómo? to respond when someone says your name.

Luis, ¿estás allí? (Luis, are you there?)

¿ Mande ? ¿Me llamaste? (What? Did you call me?)

Technically, suave  translates to “soft,” but  suave  is a way to say “cool.”

¡Ese mural es suave ! (That mural is cool!)

This literally means “slouch,” but it’s used to say something is mean or ugly . 

Enrique es gacho . (Enrique is mean.)

Andar  means “to walk,” so  ándale  is a shortened version of the verb combined with the suffix “- le ,” a sort of grammatical placeholder that adds no meaning to the word.

Use this to tell someone to hurry up . 

¡ Ándale ! Necesitamos estar ahi a las 8. (Hurry up! We need to be there at 8.)

Chale  doesn’t really have a clear literal translation, but it’s most often used to show your annoyance. 

It’s similar to the English “give me a break.”

Su coche tardará dos semanas en arreglarse. (Your car will take two weeks to fix.)

¡Chale!   (Give me a break!)

Chamba and chambear mean “work”  and “to work,” respectively.

No me gusta mi chamba. (I don’t like my job.)

The word bronca means “problem,” and it’s used in expressions like no hay bronca (“no problem”) and tengo broncotas (“I’m in big trouble”).

Mi familia tiene broncas con mi hermano. (My family has problems with my brother.)

Though the official word for “favor” in Spanish is the cognate favor, paro is another way of referring to a favor in Mexico.

Hazme el paro means “do me a favor.”

Puedes hacerme el  paro ? (Can you do me a favor?)

Though “cool” in Spanish is commonly expressed as genial , chido is a colloquial way of describing something as cool or awesome in Mexican slang.

Esa película estuvo bien chida . (That movie was really cool!)

Similar to chido , padre is another slang term used to convey that something is awesome or great.

¡La fiesta estuvo bien padre ! (The party was really awesome!)

Chingón is an informal term used to describe something or someone as extraordinary, impressive, or badass.

¡Ese tatuaje está bien chingón ! (That tattoo is really badass!)

Chamba is a slang term used to refer to work or a job.

Tengo mucha chamba esta semana . (I have a lot of work this week.)

Vato is a slang term for a guy or dude.

Ese vato es muy amable . (That guy is very friendly.)

Morro is an informal term for a young boy.

Mi hermanito es un buen morro . (My little brother is a good kid.)

Jefa and jefo, which both mean “boss” are just informal terms for “mom” and “dad.”

Mi jefa siempre cocina delicioso . (My mom always cooks deliciously.)

Vieja and viejo , which technically mean “old,” are similar to the English saying of “old man,” referring to a boyfriend, or “old lady,” referring to one’s girlfriend or wife.

Salí con mi vieja al cine . (I went to the movies with my girlfriend.)

Carnalito is a diminutive form of carnal , referring to a younger brother.

Mi carnalito siempre quiere jugar . (My little brother always wants to play.)

Chiquitín is an affectionate term for someone small or younger.

¡Hola, chiquitín ! ¿Cómo estás? (Hi, little one! How are you?)

These are affectionate slang terms for a young man or young woman.

Ese chavito es muy talentoso . (That young guy is very talented.)

Camión which literally means “truck,” is a colloquial term for a bus.

Voy a tomar el camión a la escuela . (I’m going to take the bus to school.)

Chulear  literally means “to pimp,” but in Mexico, it’s a verb used to describe showing off or flaunting something.

Deja de chulear tu nuevo auto . (Stop showing off your new car.)

Here’s a great explanation of  chulear  (in Spanish):

Chingar is a versatile verb with various meanings, but it can be used to express annoyance or bother.

No me chingues , estoy ocupado . (Don’t bother me; I’m busy.)

Estrenar is a verb used when someone wears or uses something for the first time.

Voy a estrenar mis zapatos nuevos hoy .

This expression is an informal way to express disgust or dislike, similar to saying “yuck” in English.

¡ Guacala ! Esta comida no tiene buen sabor . (Yuck! This food doesn’t taste good.)

Used to describe someone who is lazy, this term is derived from the word huevo, meaning “egg,” which is associated with laziness.

Mi amigo es muy huevón , siempre está descansando . (My friend is very lazy, he’s always resting.)

While the standard term for “car” is coche , jato is a slang word used in Mexico to refer to a car or automobile.

Vamos en mi jato al cine esta noche . (Let’s go to the movies in my car tonight.)

Used as a term of endearment, mamacita refers to an attractive or beautiful woman.

¡Ay, mamacita , estás muy guapa hoy! (Oh, beautiful, you look very pretty today!)

This slang term is used to refer to money, similar to saying “cash” in English.

Necesito un poco de pisto para el transporte . (I need some cash for transportation.)

An informal and colloquial way of asking “what’s up?” or “what’s going on?”

¿ Qué pex, cómo estás? (What’s up, how are you?)

Used to refer to a song or piece of music, rola is a common slang term in Mexican Spanish.

Esta rola es mi favorita. (This song is my favorite.)

An alternative and informal way of asking “what’s up?”

Sapbe , nos vemos en el centro . (What’s up, see you downtown.)

Literally meaning “brave,” this slang term simply means “good friend.”

Mi valedor siempre está allí para ayudarme . (My friend is always there to help me.)

Describes someone as a crazy or wild guy, often used in a lighthearted or affectionate manner.

Mi amigo es un vato loco , siempre hace cosas divertidas . (My friend is a crazy guy, always doing funny things.)

Wacha , which is taken from the English “watch,” is an informal and colloquial way of saying “look” or “watch.”

Wacha esa película, está buenísima . (Look at that movie, it’s really good.)

This expression is used to convey that a difficult or troublesome situation has arisen. It literally means “the clown has already killed us.”

Se nos olvidaron las entradas, ya nos cargó el payaso . (We forgot the tickets, we’re in trouble.)

An informal term used to refer to a friend or buddy, indicating camaraderie.

Ese cuate siempre me ayuda cuando lo necesito . (That buddy always helps me when I need it.)

Used to refer to someone’s face, especially when expressing a negative emotion. It’s just like the English “mug.”

No me gusta su jeta , siempre está enojado . (I don’t like his face, he’s always angry.)

This slang term is used to describe a strong hit or punch.

Le di un madrazo al balón y entró en la portería . (I gave the ball a strong hit and it went into the goal.)

This slang term, literally “cheek,” is used informally to refer to this part of the body.

Le dieron un golpe en la nalga . (They gave him a hit on the buttocks.)

Although “dark-skinned person” is a direct translation, ñero is a colloquial term used in some regions to describe someone with a dark complexion. Be careful not to offend with this one.

No importa si eres ñero o güero, todos somos iguales . (It doesn’t matter if you’re dark-skinned or fair-skinned, we are all equal.)

Pacheco is often used in Mexico to describe someone who is intoxicated or inebriated.

No puedo hablar con él cuando está pacheco . (I can’t talk to him when he’s drunk.)

Go deeper into  pacheco  here:

Literally meaning “pirate,” this term is often used in Mexican slang to describe counterfeit or knockoff items.

No compres ese reloj, es pirata . (Don’t buy that watch, it’s fake.)

This literally means “relax,” but in Mexican slang, it means a mess, or a chaotic or disorderly situation.

No quiero más relajo en casa . (I don’t want more mess in the house.)

This slang term for a belt is often used in casual or regional contexts.

Me apreté la riata para que no se me cayera el pantalón . (I tightened the belt so my pants wouldn’t fall.)

Literally meaning “envelopes,” this term means “I got it,” a casual way of expressing understanding or acknowledgment.

—¿Vamos al cine mañana? —¡ Sobres ! (Are we going to the movies tomorrow? – Okay, got it!)

While “covered” is the direct translation, tapado is a slang term used in some regions to describe someone who is arrogant or full of themselves.

No me gusta hablar con él, está muy tapado . (I don’t like talking to him, he’s very conceited.)

Instead of the standard camión , troca is commonly used in Mexico to refer to a pickup truck or a large vehicle.

Vamos a cargar la troca con las cosas para la mudanza . (Let’s load the truck with the things for the move.)

Zarape specifically refers to a colorful Mexican blanket or shawl often used for warmth or decoration.

Me envolví en el zarape porque hacía frío . (I wrapped myself in the blanket because it was cold.)

Check out this video to hear some of these Mexican slang words in context:

Here’s some good things to know about Mexican Spanish:

• In Mexican Spanish, the pronoun t ú is used for the second-person familiar form.  Mexicans don’t use v os . 
• The pronoun vosotros isn’t used in Mexican Spanish. Mexicans use ustedes even in informal settings.
• Mexican Spanish features more loanwords from English than other national dialects.  You will hear a lot more English words in Mexican Spanish than other dialects.

This is a compact volume filled with definitions, example sentences, online links and lots of relevant information about Mexican Spanish.

There are more than 500 words and phrases included in this book. 

“Mexislang” is the end result of a blog that was intended to teach readers about Mexican slang. 

It offers insight into the history of slang expressions  and tips for how to use each word or phrase.

The option to stay with Mexican families to immerse in the language is a great way to learn about culture—including slang!

But if you’re not up for traveling, courses are also available in online one-on-one or small group format.

Online classes focus on grammar and conversational skills, so you’re sure to pick up plenty of slang along the way.

Also, they have a fantastic blog that’s both informative and entertaining.

Like with English, Spanish is spoken differently depending on the country—in fact, you could argue that Spanish differs even more than English!

In order to understand and be understood in Mexican Spanish, it’s pretty essential that you learn some common Mexican slang. 

If you’re not convinced, here are some reasons you might want to learn the lingo:

• To avoid awkward situations.  Don’t count on every Spanish word being transferable from place to place—something that is perfectly polite in Spanish from Spain could be considered rude in Mexican Spanish.
• If you’re learning Spanish in the United States. Considering that the States has such a huge Mexican population, chances are that you’ll encounter lots of Mexican Spanish speakers!
• For travel in Mexico.  For both safety reasons and to ensure smooth travels, it’s a good idea to brush up on your slang.
• To sound more fluent.  Of course, learning slang words is one of the surest ways of making your Spanish sound more natural and fluent!

Slang is perfect for instantly turning “program” Spanish into street Spanish.

More importantly, they offer insight into some cultural nuances that language learners don’t always get to see.

Use slangy terms to power up conversations and go from basic to vivid in a heartbeat!

If you've made it this far that means you probably enjoy learning Spanish with engaging material and will then love FluentU .

Other sites use scripted content. FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the Spanish language and culture over time. You’ll learn Spanish as it’s actually spoken by real people.

FluentU has a wide variety of videos, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive transcripts. You can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used. If you see an interesting word you don’t know, you can add it to a vocab list.

Review a complete interactive transcript under the Dialogue tab, and find words and phrases listed under Vocab .

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU’s robust learning engine. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you’re on.

The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you’re learning, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. Every learner has a truly personalized experience, even if they’re learning with the same video.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

Enter your e-mail address to get your free PDF!

We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe

• Add a definition
• User settings

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Translation of ese – Spanish-English dictionary

(Translation of ese from the PASSWORD Spanish–English Dictionary © 2014 K Dictionaries Ltd)

Word of the Day

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

peanut butter (= a soft food made from crushed peanuts) and jam (= a soft sweet food made from fruit and sugar), or a sandwich with these inside. PB&J is short for peanut butter and jelly.

Sitting on the fence (Newspaper idioms)

Learn more with +Plus

• Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
• Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
• Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
• Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
• English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
• English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
• English–Dutch Dutch–English
• English–French French–English
• English–German German–English
• English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
• English–Italian Italian–English
• English–Japanese Japanese–English
• English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
• English–Polish Polish–English
• English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
• English–Spanish Spanish–English
• English–Swedish Swedish–English
• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
• PASSWORD Spanish–English    Adjective Pronoun
• All translations

Add ese to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.

107 charming, weird and wonderful Spanish terms of endearment

Marco Monroy

You simply cannot communicate with Spanish speakers without using terms of endearment in Spanish.

If you’ve been learning Spanish for a little while, you’ve probably noticed that Spanish speakers love their terms of endearment. Spanish and Latin American cultures tend to be much warmer than those that speak Germanic languages , so this may come as a bit of a culture shock to you if you’re a native English speaker.

Terms of endearment are so important, in fact, that not using one can be considered rude in certain contexts. Learning a language also involves understanding the cultural sensitivities as well as norms and traditions, so this vocabulary list will give you many insights into Spanish speaking cultures.

And the best part? Affectionate words in Spanish are extremely customizable . In fact, we’ll teach you a couple of ways to turn any Spanish word into a term of endearment at the end of this blog.

Ready to get started? ¡Vamos, mis amores!

Terms of endearment in Spanish

Learning the terms of affection and fondness will take some practice, but you can master them in no time with enough perseverance. Just make sure you know when and with whom to use each term and you’ll be on your way to native fluency!

We’ll include some context for each term of endearment so you don’t have to worry about making a faux-pas. The last thing you want is to call your real mom your mamacita or something that would seem off-putting!

General terms of endearment

Spanish speaking cultures tend to be very indirect. That is, instead of showing their affection directly, they will show their love and affection through roundabout ways.

One of the most common ways to show love in Spanish is by referring to someone with an adjective. Things like “hey beautiful” or “hi cutie” can sound a little corny in English, but in Spanish, they’re totally acceptable ways to refer to a close friend or a romantic interest without telling them directly that you like them (romantically or not).

Check out the words below and feel free to combine them with a Spanish greeting or an adiós in Spanish .

Terms of endearment in Spanish for boyfriend, girlfriend and romantic interests

Many people choose to learn Spanish in order to communicate with their partner. Others choose to learn Spanish so they can live in Spanish speaking countries . And if you’re single and move to a Spanish speaking country, you’ll very likely want to mingle!

Below, we’ll show you a few dozen cute names you can call your significant other, a person you’re seeing, or even someone you’re trying to woo. Many of these are terms of affection in Spanish for boyfriend or girlfriend, whereas others are only appropriate for casual encounters, so save the drama and make sure you read the context column!

Terms of endearment in Spanish for family

Just as in English, you can very well refer to your family by their names in relation to you. However, what fun is there in that? Family is extremely important in Spanish speaking countries, so calling your family by their proper name may come across as cold and distant.

Instead, use some of these affectionate terms to sound like a true Spanish native speaker and nurture your relationships with your family!

Terms of endearment in Spanish for friends

If you’ve just arrived in a Spanish speaking country, you may be surprised to find out just how many different Spanish terms of endearment for friends there are. The quintessential amigo will only get you so far, so make sure to learn a few more terms of affection in Spanish for friends to switch it up!

Many of these are not just reserved for friends, and even strangers could use some of these with you on the street. This is because, in many Spanish speaking countries, the standard rule is to treat everyone as if they were your friends. So don’t be surprised if a complete stranger calls you one of these!

Terms of endearment in Spanish for children

Children are often the most common receivers of terms of endearment. Even their names are often modified with a diminutive to show warmth and friendliness towards them. Even if you’ve never met the child before, you can use these terms for children without issue.

There’s no context column in this section because all of these can be used with children. Yes, you can call a child mijo even if he is not your son! Just keep an eye out for gender distinctions with children, as they’ll surely correct you if you don’t use the correct gender!

How to use diminutives as terms of endearment in Spanish

One of the most popular ways to show endearment is through the use of diminutives. These can even be used on inanimate objects, so you can show endearment towards a thing just by turning the word into a diminutive!

This is one of the easiest ways to turn any word you’d like into a diminutive. If you have a special person in mind and want to call them by something other than the words outlined above, you can easily do so by turning any word into a diminutive.

How to turn a word into a diminutive in Spanish

Turning Spanish words into diminutives is incredibly easy. All you need to do is add a suffix to your Spanish word to turn it into an affectionate diminutive.

All diminutives end in one of the following:

To know which one to use, simply take a look at the following table:

Of course, there are some exceptions (as is usually the case with Spanish!), but the table above should help you get started with turning regular nouns into diminutives! Now you can turn almost any word into a term of endearment in Spanish by turning it into a diminutive.

How to use possessive pronouns as terms of endearment in Spanish

Another common way to show warmth and appreciation is to use a possessive pronoun ( mi , tu , nuestro ). If you’re not familiar with Spanish pronouns , feel free to check out our exhaustive guide on the topic before you keep scrolling!

Using possessive pronouns before your term of endearment can be a great way to show closeness to someone (not necessarily possession !). This can work with most nouns and virtually all the terms of endearment in this blog. Here are some examples:

You can even turn people’s names into terms of endearment by adding a mi in front of their name! So instead of saying “ Hola, George ” you can say “ Hola, mi George ” to show warmth and appreciation!

Terms of endearment in Spanish FAQs

Why do latinos nickname everyone.

Most Latin American countries are very warm. As such, words of endearment are not only common, but almost expected. You can even use words of endearment when talking to strangers or people you just met.

Another reason why words of affection and fondness are so common is that you can turn almost any word into a term of endearment in Spanish. Just make it a diminutive or use a possessive pronoun to turn your favorite noun into a term of endearment!

What is ese in Spanish?

Ese is a term of endearment used mostly by Chicanos in the United States to refer to friends or acquaintances. It is used very similarly to English words like “dude” or “bro” or even “homie.”

The word ese literally means “that one,” so by calling someone ese you’re essentially calling them the one!

How do you say bae in Spanish?

While there is no direct translation of bae in Spanish, there are many different terms of endearment that can fit the bill just as well! Next time you want to use a cutesy term of endearment for your bae in Spanish, try using one of the following words:

Gender neutral:

¡Adiós, mis amores!

If you’ve made it to the end of this blog, you’re now more than ready to strengthen your relationships with your Spanish speaking friends, family, and even romantic interests!

If you’re a native English speaker, introducing these words of endearment into your daily life might take a little bit of getting used to. Just remember that terms of endearment are a part of everyday life for most Spanish speakers, so don’t be shy in using them!

After all, getting out of your comfort zone is the best way to learn a new language. Whether you’re still a beginner at Spanish or are working your way to intermediate Spanish , you’re gonna have to learn to adjust your personality somewhat when you speak a different language.

That’s why Charlamagne, the former Holy Roman Emperor who reigned in the 9th century, said, “ To have another language is to possess a second soul. ” And who doesn’t need a little extra soul in their life?

If you enjoyed this blog, feel free to check out the rest of our wonderful (and free!) content in our Spanish blog ! And if you really liked this blog, make sure to bookmark our Spanish blog as we upload new content every month.

Related Articles

April 13, 2022

A ridiculously helpful guide to 9 types of Spanish pronouns

March 25, 2022

80 authentic ways to say thank you and you're welcome in Spanish

March 11, 2022

142 romantic ways to say I love you in Spanish + love quotes

1-866-423-7548, find out more.

Fill in the form below and we’ll contact you to discuss your learning options and answer any questions you may have.

I have read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

• Privacy Policy
• Terms Of Use

• 1.1 Alternative forms
• 1.2 Etymology
• 1.3 Pronunciation
• 1.4.1 Usage notes
• 1.5 See also

Spanish [ edit ]

Alternative forms [ edit ].

• ese ( The unaccented form can function as a pronoun if it can be unambiguously deduced as such from context. )

Etymology [ edit ]

Inherited from Latin ipse .

The slang sense to refer to a person is, allegedly from urban legend, from South Mexico and became popular slang in pachuco culture [1940s] .

Pronunciation [ edit ]

• IPA ( key ) : /ˈese/ [ˈe.se]

Pronoun [ edit ]

ése ( demonstrative , feminine ésa , neuter eso , masculine plural ésos , feminine plural ésas )

• that one (near you)
• ( Mexico , Chicano , slang , vocative ) dude , guy , pal , man , buddy

Usage notes [ edit ]

The slang sense can be used in any connotation, from affectionate to neutral or pejorative.

See also [ edit ]

• Spanish terms inherited from Latin
• Spanish terms derived from Latin
• Spanish 2-syllable words
• Spanish terms with IPA pronunciation
• Spanish lemmas
• Spanish pronouns
• Mexican Spanish
• Spanish slang

Navigation menu

20 Mexican Slang Terms That Are Funny as Hell

Published on 4/8/2022 at 12:00 PM

Mexicans are known for our food, music, incredible beaches, rich traditions, and beautiful history. But when it comes to our culture, one of the things I love the most is our colorful colloquialisms. It doesn't take much time around Mexican-Americans to notice that there is a whole different set of terminology on top of the already beautiful and rich traditions that make up Mexican cultura . Like most Latin American countries, a lot of our terms and slang come from observing nature and Indigenous languages. And similar to Dominican and Puerto Rican slang , Mexicans love to play on words.

We say things like "buena onda," which means "good deep" but also describes someone easygoing and cool. We say things are "gacho" when they're bad and "chafa" when something is of bad quality. Not to mention, there are way too many terms that have to do with farts and sex organs. Here are 20 Mexican slang words that you may have heard and should definitely know.

Mexican Slang Word: Mames

What it means: "Mamar" means "to suck." "No mames" is generally a response, like "stop messing around," "stop messing with me," and "quit bullsh*tting."

In a sentence: "My friend told me she's dating J Lo. I told her, '¡No mames!'"

Mexican Slang Word: Pedo

What it means: Pedo translates to "what fart." It's a way of saying "no way," "what's up?" or "what's the problem?" You can also jazz it up by saying "puro pedo," or "pure farts." It means "you're full of sh*t" or "you're lying."

In a sentence: "Why are you giving me attitude? Que pedo?"

Mexican Slang Word: Cabron

What it means: Technically a cabron is a male goat. It can also mean "assh*le" and "dumb*ss." But when Mexicans say that a situation is a male goat, they typically mean that it's difficult or "that sucks."

In a sentence: "Comadre my sister is getting evicted."

"No pos wow, esta cabron."

Mexican Slang Word: Ahuevo

What it means: "Huevo" means "egg" or "testicle" depending on the context. You're basically saying "egg/balls" as a way of saying "hell yeah," "of course," or "for sure." It can also be used as a way of expressing you're being forced to do something.

In a sentence: "The medicine was gross but I had to take it. ¡Ahuevo!"

Mexican Slang Word: Órale

What It means: "Órale" is a way of expressing many emotions. It can be celebratory. It can indicate surprise or discomfort. It can be used as encouragement or as in "hurry up." It can also be used to agree with someone.

In a sentence: "¡Órale mija! I've been waiting for 15 minutes."

Mexican Slang Word: Pendejo/a

What it means: Stupid person.

In a sentence: "¡Eso es lo que te pasa por pendeja!"

Mexican Slang Word: Güey

What it means: "Güey" literally means "ox" or "slow and stupid." But it's basically Mexico's version of "dude."

In a sentence: "Ese güey me cae gordo."

Mexican Slang Word: Morra/o

What It means: "Morro/a" can mean "buddy" or "dude," or it may refer to a small child.

In a sentence: "Me gusta la camisa que trae esa morra."

Mexican Slang Word: Cruda/o

What it means: "Crudo/a" means "raw." It also means "hungover."

In a sentence: "I only had three drinks last night. ¡Me siento bien cruda!"

Mexican Slang Word: Aguas

What it means: It literally translates to "waters" but is often used to mean "watch out" or "be careful."

In a sentence: "¡Aguas! Don't fall down."

Mexican Slang Word: Chiflado/a

What it means: "Chiflar" means "to whistle." A chiflado is someone who is always calling attention to themselves by showing off, bragging, or being conceited.

In a sentence: "No quiero salir con Rudy, es bien chiflado el güey."

Mexican Slang Word: Fresa

What it means: Strawberry, but also a rich, spoiled girl/child.

In a sentence: "¿Qué quiere la niña fresa?"

Mexican Slang Word: Neta

What it means: "Seriously," "real talk," or "the truth is."

In a sentence: "La neta, I don't like exercising. Let's go eat!"

Mexican Slang Word: Padre

What it means: It means father but also means cool.

In a sentence: "Gas esta carsimo, que padre que vivo cerca del centro commercial."

Mexican Slang Word: Chorro

What it means: "Chorro" refers to a jet of water. It can mean "a lot," "a ton," or "a bunch."

In a sentence: "Ese morro me gusta un chorro."

Mexican Slang Word: Pinche

What it means: It can mean "damned," "sh*tty," or "f*cking."

In a sentence: "¡No encuentro mis pinches llaves!"

Mexican Slang Word: Chula/o

What it means: Cute, pretty, or attractive.

In a sentence: "Te ves bien chula."

Mexican Slang Word: Chamba

What it means: Job or work.

In a sentence: "Ya me voy a poner a chambear."

Mexican Slang Word: Gacho

What it means: "Gacho" can mean "awful," "bad," "ugly," or "mean," depending on the context.

In a sentence: "¡No seas gacho!"

Mexican Slang Word: Me Vale Verga

What it means: "Verga" refers to the male genitalia. "Me vale" means "it's worth to me." "It's worth d*ck" is a way of saying "I don't care" or "I don't give a damn."

In a sentence: "Me vale verga si no quieres salir. ¡Nos llama la calle!"

Not sure which program to pick? Compare programs

LIST: The Most Common Spanish Terms Of Endearment

Get our free email course, Shortcut to Conversational.

Have conversations faster, understand people when they speak fast, and other tested tips to learn faster.

Whether you are speaking with your partner, a family member, or even with close friends, learning the most common Spanish terms of endearment will allow you to sound more like a native speaker.

Most of the following endearment terms in Spanish have a literal translation, or even an English equivalent that you’ve probably heard, so knowing when and how to use them should be intuitive.

However, there are still some common terms that will likely confuse non-native Spanish speakers when it comes to knowing what the term means and the context in which it’s ok to use that term.

This post is going to clear up any potential confusion so that you can master the Spanish terms of endearment like a native speaker.

The Most Common Spanish Terms Of Endearment

Watch this video on youtube.

Usually used with the possessive pronoun mi meaning my , mi amor is probably the most commonly-used term between romantic partners.

• Feliz cumpleaños mi amor – Happy Birthday my love
• Amor,  quieres ir al cine esta noche? – Love,  do you want to go to the movies tonight?

Cariño can be translated into English in many ways, but the most common and accurate ones are dear , honey , and sweetie . Once again, this is almost exclusively used for a romantic partner.

• Gracias cariño , la cena estaba deliciosa – Thank you honey , dinner was delicious
• Hola cariño , cómo dormiste? – Hi my dear , how did you sleep?

Literally translated as my life , mi vida is clearly used to express how important someone is to you.

• Hola mi vida , cómo estás? – Hello my love  how are you?
• Gracias por el regalo mi vida , me encantó – Thank you for the gift my life , I loved it

4. Mi cielo

We all love a beautiful sky, and that’s what this phrase expresses: my sky or my heaven .

• Luces hermosa esta noche mi cielo – You look beautiful tonight my sky
• Hola mi cielo, te extraño mucho – Hello my heaven , I miss you so much

Corazón translates as heart , so this one is pretty self-explanatory. If someone is your corazón , then you’ve probably found love and a person who you cannot live without.

• Hola corazón , me alegra verte – Hello love , I’m glad to see you
• Vienes a la fiesta mañana? No puedo corazón , debo trabajar – Are you coming to the party tomorrow? I can not my love , I have to work

Bebé translates as baby , and is used with a romantic partner the same way you would use it in English.

• Bebé , llegaré tarde a la casa, tengo mucho trabajo – Baby , I’ll be late home, I have a lot of work
• Hola bebé , llevaré pizzas para cenar – Hello baby , I’ll take pizzas for dinner

Up until now, most of the words we covered are also commonly used in English. While some of the next few words may seem a little corny, they are widely used as terms of endearment in Spanish.

Mi rey translates as my king , and is normally used with a male partner.

• Qué quiere desayunar mi rey  en su cumpleaños? – What does my king  want to have for breakfast on his birthday?
• Do you want to visit your mother tomorrow my king ? – Quieres visitar a tu madre mañana mi rey ?

8. Príncipe

Your prince may refer either to a romantic male partner, or a younger loved one (maybe a son, nephew, or little cousin).

• My prince  practices soccer every day after school – Mi príncipe  practica fútbol todos los días después de la escuela
• Hello prince , I did not expect you today – Hola príncipe , no te esperaba hoy

9. Mi reina

You can probably guess that calling someone your queen  likely refers to a romantic female partner.

• Cómo estás mi reina , tiempo sin verte – How are you my queen , long time no see
• I will give my queen  a birthday surprise – Le daré una sorpresa de cumpleaños a mi reina

10. Princesa

The term princess can be used with your female partner, daughter, niece, or little cousin.

• My princess  has a sleepover with her friends – Mi princesa  tiene una pijamada con sus amigas
• Princess , do you want to go to the beach on the weekend? – Princesa , quieres ir a la playa el fin de semana?

Now you know the most common Spanish endearment terms for showing affection towards a partner or loved one.

Next, we’re going to explore terms that require a little more mastery in order to use them correctly. We should preface the next section by saying that showing affection in Spanish can sometimes sound quite unusual, and even insulting at times.

For example, in the United States, you would never walk into your local convenience store and greet the cashier (who you know) with: Good morning, fatty !

However, in the right context, this term (and similar ones) can be used in an affectionate way to express endearment.

The key is knowing which context you can use this kind of term and also using the correct tone – otherwise, you could easily land yourself in trouble.

Unsure what to learn next?

Download the exact curriculum that thousands of BaseLang students have used to become fluent in Spanish.

11. Gordo / Gorda

As mentioned above, in most places it would be offensive to call someone else fat or fatty . And still, be careful here, because it is also offensive in Latin America if your intent is malicious.

On the other hand, it is also one of the most commonly used words to express affection.

Native Spanish speakers use it for family, friends, and in certain cases, casual acquaintances (perhaps the person introduced themselves as gordo or gorda ).

One quirky thing to note is that a person doesn’t need to be physically fat to receive this label. It can be used with a person who has big cheeks that people like to grab, or something like that.

• Es un día especial, es el cumpleaños del gordo – It’s a special day, it’s Carlos ’s birthday (Carlos is the person who’s being called fat )
• Este es tu hijo? que gordo  tan bello – Is this your son? what a beautiful baby (“what a cute little fatty “)

12. Flaco / Flaca

Flaco is the opposite of the previous term, meaning skinny .

However, never call an obese person flaco to express sarcasm, as it’s seen to be completely disrespectful (strange rules, I know).

• Mi flaca (mi hija) aprobó primer grado, estoy muy feliz – My skinny (my daughter) passed first grade, I am very happy
• Flaco te llamé ayer para ir a la fiesta – Skinny (Man), I called you yesterday to go to the party

13. Negro / Negra

This might seem like a controversial term, especially from an English speaker’s perspective.

It should be emphasized that this is not the equivalent to the n-word in English.

The meaning is closer to blackie or sweetheart , and for this reason, you’ll notice that native Spanish speakers use it casually.

Of course, once again, depending on the tone and context, it can be said as a term of endearment or as an insult.

It’s common for native Spanish speakers, in the right context, to use it freely with family, friends, and acquaintances. It’s not always used to refer to people with a particular color of skin, but is also used with a person that you care about, or you’re really attached to in general.

• Luces hermosa con ese vestido mi negra – You look beautiful in that dress my girl
• Lo logramos negro , compramos nuestra casa – We did it honey , we bought our house

14. Viejo / Vieja

Viejo and vieja are used to express affection for our elders (mom, dad, grandma, etc), while also giving some respect and understanding that they have much more experience and knowledge than us.

• My old man  is the best, he would do everything for him – Mi viejo  es el mejor, haría todo por él
• Hello old lady , over the weekend we will visit you – Hola vieja , el fin de semana iremos a visitarte

15. Mijo / Mija

Mijo is a Spanish contraction of the words mi hijo , meaning my brother , while mija is short for mi hermana meaning my sister . These Spanish terms of endearment are used on kids, between romantic partners, and even among close friends. This is such a popular term that we even have a dedicated post explaining mijo and mija in Spanish .

• Wake up honey , it’s time to get ready for school – Despierta mija , es hora de prepararse para la escuela
• Come and give your grandma a hug, boys – Vengan y denle un abrazo a su abuela, mijos

Latin America Endearment Terms

Most of the Spanish terms of endearment we’ve covered so far are used in both Latin America and Spain. However, there are some terms that you will only find in certain Spanish speaking countries . Let’s look at these local terms by country. We also include links to our dedicated posts on each country’s best slang!

This one is definitely Venezuelan slang .

These are good examples of Colombian slang .

These terms are Chilean slang that, despite their similarity to “pollo,” have nothing to do with chicken!

Spanish slang from Spain is often very different from Latin America.

Here are a couple of examples of Argentinan slang , including flaco that we saw above.

• ¡Che! ¡Esa mina es re linda! – Dude! That girl is really beautiful

If you ever hang out with Mexicans, you’ll surely recognize these Mexican slang terms !

Combining Spanish Endearment Terms And Diminutives

Learning how to use Spanish diminutives is a fun way to expand your vocabulary, and make you sound like a fluent speaker.

Native speakers normally use diminutives to indicate a small size, youth, or affection.

For example, carro , meaning car , when used as a diminutive becomes carrito , which means little car , or possibly even a toy car .

Although there are some exceptions, a quick rule for forming diminutives is that for masculine words, we drop the – o and add – ito  to the ending.

• Brother: Herman o
• Little brother: Herman ito

For feminine words, we drop the – a and add – ita  to the ending.

• House: Cas a
• Little house: Cas ita

As we said, Spanish diminutives are generally used to illustrate some extra sweetness or affection for something, or for someone being smaller or sweeter.

Although you could use the word little before or after a Spanish endearment term, it’s much more common to use diminutives.

Now let’s end with some diminutive examples of the Spanish terms of endearment we saw above:

• Amor cito – Little love
• Mi ciel ito – Little sky
• Corazon cito – Little heart
• Princes ita – Little princess
• Gord ito / Gord ita – Chubby little boy/girl
• Flaqu ito / Flaqu ita – Skinny little boy/girl
• Negr ito / Negr ita – Little honey
• Viej ito / Viej ita – Little old lady

__________________________

If you are serious about learning Spanish, then start taking classes today.

At BaseLang, you get unlimited one-on-one Spanish tutoring with professional teachers, over videochat, for just $179 a month.

Your first week is just $1. And we have a negative-risk guarantee: if at any point in the first month you don’t absolutely LOVE BaseLang, we’ll give you a full refund plus $20 extra for wasting your time.

You can sign up for BaseLang here .

Get our FREE 7-day email course, Shortcut to Conversational

The exact strategies you need to become conversational in Spanish this year. Join the course now, before we come to our senses and charge for it!

Break-up lines in Spanish: 20 phrases for ending a relationship

Camping in Spanish: Essential vocab for your outdoor adventure

Spanish Captions for Instagram: Level up your content en español

Download the exact curriculum that thousands of BaseLang students have used to become fluent in Spanish

Thanks for Signing Up!

We sent you an email with a link to download the guide

This blog is presented by BaseLang: Unlimited Spanish Tutoring for $179 a Month. Learn more here.

Your First Week Is Just $1.

After that, it’s just $179/mo for unlimited one-on-one tutoring.

Remember, the worst case scenario is you get a few free classes, don’t like it, and end up with an extra $20 in the bank.

Subscribe to BaseLang Bites

Supercharge your Spanish with our short weekly email, with bite-sized lessons and tips 🚀

BIENVIENDOS A BASELANG BITES!

Keep an eye out for the first lesson coming to your inbox shortly 🙌

Download BaseLang's Ultimate Guide to Spanish!

Get Access Now!

Sign up today so you can get instant access to this product bundle!

• Student Support
• StudentInfo

Office of the Registrar

Summer 2024 semester deadline dates, late registration fee of $30 will be assessed if initial registration is on or after the first day of the semester., last day deadlines are 5:00 pm. after these dates forms are required., breaks and holidays.

• Prospective Students
• Bursars Office
• Continuing Education
• Financial Aid
• Graduate Studies
• Scholarships Office
• UNM Directory
• Report a Broken Link

Physical Address: Main Campus

Mesa Vista Hall Enrollment Management One-Stop Main Campus

Physical Address: South Campus

Student Support & Services Center 1155 University Blvd, SE Albuquerque, NM 87106-4320

Office Hours

Monday - Friday 8:00AM to 5:00PM (MST) Phone No : (505)-277-8900 Toll Free #: 1-800-CALL UNM

Mailing Address:

MSC11 6325 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131

© The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131, (505) 277-0111 New Mexico's Flagship University

• UNM on Facebook
• UNM on Instagram
• UNM on Twitter
• UNM on YouTube

more at social.unm.edu

• Accessibility
• Contact UNM
• Consumer Information
• New Mexico Higher Education Dashboard

• International

March 27, 2024 - Baltimore Key Bridge collapse

By Kathleen Magramo , Antoinette Radford, Alisha Ebrahimji , Maureen Chowdhury , Elise Hammond , Tori B. Powell and Aditi Sangal , CNN

Our live coverage of the Baltimore bridge collapse has moved here .

Here's what you should know about the Key Bridge collapse

From CNN staff

Officials recovered the bodies of two construction workers who were on Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge when it collapsed early Tuesday morning after a 984-foot-long cargo ship collided into a pillar.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore called the collapse Wednesday " a global crisis ."

"The national economy and the world's economy depends on the Port of Baltimore. The port handles more cars and more farm equipment than any other port in the country," Moore said.

Here's what you should know:

• The victims: The six people who are presumed dead were from Mexico Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, according to Col. Roland L. Butler Jr, the superintendent of Maryland State Police. Two bodies were recovered and have been identified as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes from Mexico and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera from Guatemala. The two workers were filling potholes on the bridge and were later found trapped in a red pickup truck in about 25 feet of water, Butler said. The FBI is handling notifying the victims' families, Butler said.
• Recovery efforts: Authorities are pausing search efforts for the four other workers who are presumed dead, because additional vehicles are encased in concrete and other debris, making it unsafe for divers, Butler said. Once salvage operations clear the debris, divers will search for more remains, he said.
• The investigation: The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the fatal incident, according to the agency's chair Jennifer Homendy. During a Wednesday news conference, Homendy said there were 21 crew members and two pilots on board the Dali cargo ship when it crashed into the bridge. She also said a senior NTSB hazmat investigator identified 56 containers of hazardous material, and that some containers are in the water. The agency received six hours of voyage data from the ship and the investigation could take 12 to 24 months to complete, Homendy said. She emphasized that NTSB will not analyze information collected or provide conclusions while on scene of the collapse.
• Looking forward: Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said rebuilding the bridge will not be "quick or easy" but that it will get done. He said there are four main focus points ahead: reopening the port, dealing with supply chain issues until its reopening, rebuilding the bridge and dealing with traffic issues until the bridge is rebuilt. Biden  pledged the full support  of the federal government in the response and recovery efforts. His administration has already conveyed a sense of urgency to open up federal funding to remove debris and ultimately rebuild the bridge. Maryland has submitted a request to the Biden administration for emergency relief funds "to assist in our work going forward," Moore said Wednesday.

It's almost impossible to place people on the bow of ship due to the unstable structure, fire official says

 From CNN's Sarah Engel

Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace said Wednesday that the cargo ship's bridge structure and containers at the bow remain unstable.

"It's going to be very difficult, if not impossible, and very dangerous, to place people on the bow of that boat right now," Wallace told CNN's Kaitlan Collins.

"Naturally, we're still very cognizant of the fact that there are hazardous materials on board the vessel itself," Wallace said, alluding to the National Transportation Safety Board saying earlier that 56 containers were carrying hazardous materials.

Wallace said his team is relying heavily on aerial recognizance, including drones. "That's the only way we're able to see in," he said.  

He added that the aerial surveillance has "been able to really assure us right now we have no [chemical] reactions on board." 

"It's just utter devastation," NTSB chief says of the bridge collapse site

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, called the site of the Key Bridge collapse "devastating."

"It's pretty devastating, certainly, seeing not just what's going on with the cargo containers, but just looking at what was a bridge span — three bridge spans that is pretty much gone. It's just utter devastation," she said at Wednesday evening's news briefing.

She added that she is thinking of families who lost loved ones and those who are waiting to reunite with their lived ones.

NTSB interviewed the Dali's captain and some other crew members today, agency chief says

The National Transportation Safety Board has interviewed the ship's captain, his mate, the chief engineer and one other engineer today, according to Chair Jennifer Homendy.

The two pilots on board the Dali at the time of collision will be interviewed tomorrow, she added.

Cargo ship's voyage data recorder is basic when compared to an airplane's, NTSB chair says

From CNN's Tori B. Powell

The voyage data recorder on the cargo ship Dali was a "newer model" but is considered basic when compared to that on an airplane, according to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy.

"But it is very basic compared to say, a flight data recorder, where we would have 1,000 parameters," she said at a news conference on Wednesday.

The NTSB chief investigator Marcel Muise added:

"It's not a ship-wide system recorder, so most of the sensors that are being recorded are from the bridge. So things like GPS, the audio, rudder feedback, rudder commands are recorded on there. But not engineering, the temperature of each cylinder, power distribution sensors."

There were no tug boats with Dali at the time of the collision. That's normal, NTSB chief says

There were no tugs with Dali when the cargo vessel collided with Baltimore's Key Bridge, which is normal protocol, according to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy.

Remember: At 01:26:39 on Tuesday, Dali's pilot made a general very high frequency (VHF) radio call for tugs in the vicinity to assist, the NTSB investigator Marcel Muise had said.

"The tugs help the vessel leave the dock, leave the port and get into the main ship channel. And then they leave. Once it's on its way, it's a straight shot through the channel. So there are no tugs with the vessel at the time. So they were calling for tugs," she said.

NTSB chair says she saw some containers that were carrying hazardous materials in the water

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said she did see some of the 56 containers that were carrying hazardous materials in the water.

When asked how many

When asked how many containers of hazardous materials were in the water, Homendy said:

"I did see some containers in the water, and some breached significantly on the vessel itself," she said. "I don't have an exact number, but it's something that we can provide in an update."

Homendy said that a preliminary report should be out in two to four weeks.

This post has been updated with more quotes from Homendy.

Bridge did not have any redundancy, unlike the preferred method for building bridges today, NTSB chair says

Baltimore's Key Bridge did not have any redundancy, which is included in the preferred method of building bridges in the present day, according to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy.

"The bridge is a fracture critical," she explained. "What that means is if a member fails that would likely cause a portion of, or the entire bridge, to collapse, there's no redundancy. The preferred method for building bridges today is that there is redundancy built in, whether that's transmitting loads to another member or some sort of structural redundancy. This bridge did not have redundancy," Homendy said.

There are 17,468 fracture critical bridges in the United States out of 615,000 bridges total, she said, citing the Federal Highway Administration.

Please enable JavaScript for a better experience.