Are you learning Spanish, but you have tried to speak to a native speaker and have not fully understood the words? You may have a high level of Spanish but what you need is to learn Spanish slang, which will help you understand common expressions and words that people use daily.

If you have ever felt that you didn't understand Spanish despite all your knowledge, don't worry, in this donQuijote article we will teach you some Spanish slang words and common phrases that Spaniards use daily.

Spanish slang is used a lot, and this vocabulary will help you understand it better. So, if you want to learn Spanish like a native, knowing Spanish slang is a must.

Read here the article in Spanish.

What is Spanish slang?

Spanish slang refers to the set of words, expressions and turns of phrase characteristic of a language, in this case, Spanish. These terms may be specific to a social group, a profession, or a specific region in Spain.

This jargon may include words or expressions that are not common in your academic books and that are not taught in schools, so it can be difficult to understand for those who are not familiar with the language or who are learning Spanish in Spain. Spanish slang can vary widely depending on the cultural, geographical, and social context. In addition, this type of slang can be used to establish identity and membership in certain groups or communities.

Spanish slang words

Although colloquial slang may belong to a specific group, in this article you will find Spanish slang words that will help you understand most native Spanish speakers.

• Colega: is widely used and means friend. This is an exclusive word in Spain, as ‘colega’ means buddy in other Spanish-speaking countries.
• Tío/Tía: in Spain it is used all the time to refer to a man or a woman; it is similar to saying ‘chico’ or ‘tipo’ when you are talking to someone. Not to be confused with the word ‘tío’ or ‘tía’, which refers to a relative, uncle or aunt.
• Molar: means that you like something or that it's cool.
• Guay: is a synonym for ‘molar’ and refers to something that is cool or you like.
• Flipar: this verb refers to when something blows you away or surprises you for good.
• Pasta: is a Spanish slang word meaning money, but you can also hear ‘guita’, ‘plata’ or ‘lana’, which refer to the same word.
• Puente: can be translated as a long weekend, that is, when there are days off in a city because it is a holiday and coincides with the weekend.

• Chulo: this word can have several meanings. The first can be translated as ‘pimp’, especially in Latin American countries. However, in Spain, this term is also used to describe something or someone who is attractive or beautiful.
• Chaval: is a Spanish slang word to refer to children or young people.
• Empollar: is a term that refers to studying intensely.
• Joder: undoubtedly, a word widely used in Spanish slang by everyone and that you have probably heard in many places. It is a vulgar word to express surprise, anger or to emphasize something.
• Currar: this Spanish slang word means to work.
• Cutre: this word is very common in Spanish slang when you want to refer to something that is not pleasing to the eye or when something is of poor quality.
• Tapeo/terraceo: in Spain going out for tapas is very popular, so in the same line you will find the word ‘terraceo’, which derives from ‘terraza’. This term is used when you want to go with friends to have a drink on a terrace.
• Liarse: refers to when you go out for a drink, or ‘terraceo’, and you end up going out partying, although the first intention was to go home early.
• Vaina: this word is used to refer to a specific thing you don't know the name of or when you don't remember how to say something.

Examples of sentences with the above-mentioned Spanish slang words:

• Me flipó la última película de Scorsese (I love Scorsese's last movie)
• Te ves muy bien, tío, te queda genial ese corte de pelo (You look great, man, you look great with that haircut)
• Aprovechamos el puente para ir a la playa (We took advantage of the long weekend to go to the beach)
• Cómo mola el coche de tu padre (How cool is your father's car)
• Me liaron ayer y acabé de fiesta en una discoteca del centro (I got caught yesterday and ended up partying in a nightclub downtown)
• Esa camiseta es muy cutre, está rota por el cuello (That T-shirt is crappy, it's torn at the neck)
• Qué chula tu nueva cazadora (How cool is your new jacket)
• Me toca currar el fin de semana (I must work on the weekend)

Spanish slang expressions

In addition to Spanish slang words, you can also find some Spanish slang expressions that are used daily and have a peculiar meaning:

• Dar palo: it means that you are lazy or don't feel like going somewhere or doing something specific; it also refers to when it bothers you to do something. Example: ‘Me da palo ir hasta el centro a ver a María, podría venir ella a casa’ (I don't want to go to the center to see Maria, she could come home').
• Estar como una cabra: refers to when someone is crazy or behaving strangely. For example: ‘Tu primo está como una cabra, el otro día se fue sin pagar’ (Your cousin is crazy, the other day he left without paying).
• Me sabe mal: is an expression of apology or regret for something that has been said or done. Example: ‘Me sabe mal haberte hecho esperar tanto tiempo’ (I'm sorry I kept you waiting so long).
• Por la cara: means to get something for free or without effort. For example: ‘Conseguí las entradas del concierto por la cara’ (I got the concert tickets for free).
• Ir a tu bola: means to do what you want without worrying about others. For example: ‘Siempre va a su bola, no le hace caso a su madre’ (He always goes his own way, he doesn't even pay attention to his mother).
• Mala pata: this expression in Spanish means to have bad luck or misfortune.
• Qué corte: it is used when something embarrasses you or when you are in an embarrassing situation.
• Dejar plantado: refers to when you don't keep an appointment or commitment with someone. Example: ‘Me dejó plantado en el restaurante en nuestra primera cita’ (He stood me up at the restaurant on our first date).

These are just some of the most popular Spanish slang words and expressions in Spain, but there are certainly many more. If you want to learn to speak with a native speaker and get to know all these colloquial slang terms, sign up for a Spanish course in Spain and learn firsthand the Spanish slang of cities like Madrid or Barcelona.

Spanish may be considered one of the easiest languages to learn, especially if your mother tongue is French or Italian, which is why it is one of the most spoken languages in the world. But the truth is that this language has its difficulties and, from donQuijote Spanish schools as experts in teaching Spanish, we bring you 7 tips to learn Spanish fast.

Improve your knowledge and discover how to learn Spanish fast with these simple but effective tips. Also, you can try our Spanish test and discover your level, then, you can join one of our Spanish courses in Spain or ty to read this article in Spanish to practice your reading skills.

1. Practice every day

Consistency is the key to improving your level of Spanish fast and daily practice makes your knowledge expand rapidly. Although you may think it sounds obvious, practicing a language every day is a challenge that not everyone is willing to take on.

Practice Spanish a few minutes a day for a week, either by reading, writing, or listening Spanish songs to learn Spanish, even a language app on your mobile phone can be very useful for this purpose. After that, increase the time you spend practicing and studying the language. You will see that, over time, your knowledge will continue to grow.

Be patient with yourself and celebrate your progress, however small it may be, this will motivate you to continue studying Spanish.

2. Sign up for Spanish classes

This may seem like an obvious tip, but not all students put it into practice. Taking Spanish classes will allow you to strengthen your foundation and continue to improve under the guidance of professionals. Spanish teachers can guide you on your way to becoming a fluent Spanish speaker so that your pronunciation, vocabulary, and fluency improve quickly.

A teacher can provide personalized guidance and correct your mistakes. In addition, you will be able to meet more people with the same level of Spanish as you and practice with them so that your communication becomes fluent. Whether it's native teachers or your classmates, speaking Spanish will build your confidence and allow you to let go more and more.

3. Travel to Spanish-speaking countries

Try to immerse yourself in Spanish by traveling to Spanish-speaking countries. If you have the opportunity to learn Spanish in Spain or any other country such as Mexico, Argentina or Peru, don't miss the opportunity.

Being surrounded 24 hours a day by the language you are learning will make your senses expand and pick up all the information that surrounds them. You will be able to practice your knowledge of Spanish in everyday situations and learn new words all the time.

There is no doubt that one of the most effective and fastest ways to learn Spanish fast is to travel to a place where it is the official language.

4. Language immersion

If you don't have the opportunity to travel to a Spanish-speaking country like Spain to put your knowledge into practice, try language immersion at home. Listen to Spanish music or podcasts, watch Spanish tv series or movies, and read as much as possible in Spanish.

You can do the same with podcasts and songs, start with short and easy to understand audios, and then move on to longer and more complex podcasts. Also, you can try to repeat what you are listening to so that your pronunciation and fluency improve at the same time.

5. Don't be afraid to make mistakes

Mistakes are part of the learning process, so don't beat yourself up when you make them. In addition, you will be able to take the good out of mistakes: learn how to say or write a word correctly and practice it until the mistake becomes an anecdote.

Everyone learns at their own pace, and everyone is better at some aspects than others. If grammar is more difficult for you, review it daily; and if your weak point is reading, read in Spanish a little every day.

6. Learn Spanish fast with interesting vocabulary 

Another useful tip is to start learning vocabulary on topics that interest you or are related to your field of study. For example, if you are going on vacation, prioritize words that can be useful for your trip.

Make a list of new words about your field of study, for example, medicine, and review them regularly. Try to introduce them into your daily Spanish study and practice them in your conversations in class or with friends - anything goes to learn Spanish quickly!

7. Immerse yourself in the culture

Learn as much as you can about the Spanish culture to better understand the context behind your readings or the Spanish songs you listen to. This will motivate you to keep learning and discovering things about the language.

All this will also help you to enjoy even more your trips to countries like Spain or Mexico, where you will discover firsthand everything you have learned. The culture and traditions of Spanish-speaking countries will help you want to immerse yourself in the Spanish language and learn to speak Spanish quickly.