Spanish slang you'll hear in Spain

You've done the textbook. You know your verbs, you can order a coffee, you can talk about your weekend. Then you sit with a group of Spaniards and suddenly half the words make no sense. Someone says a film molais coolFrom molar, Spain slang for to be cool., someone calls their friend tíodudeLiterally uncle. In Spain, a casual word for a guy., and someone else is flipandofreaking out, amazedFrom flipar, to be blown away.. None of it was in chapter six.

That's slang, and in Spain it's everywhere. It isn't rude or "bad Spanish". It's simply how people talk when they're relaxed. In this post I'll walk you through the Spanish slang you'll actually hear in Spain, grouped by what you'd use it for, with real examples. Everything here is clean and safe to use with friends, colleagues your age and your host family. At the end there's a set of flashcards and a short quiz.

One quick note: this post is about Spain. Slang changes a lot from country to country, and a cool word in Madrid can mean nothing at all in Mexico City. If you're curious about those differences, I've written a whole post on Spain Spanish vs Latin American Spanish.

What counts as slang in Spain (and when can you use it?)

Spanish has a word for it: la jergaslangThe informal words a group of people uses.. You'll also hear people describe a word as coloquialcolloquialInformal, used in everyday speech., which means "fine for a chat, not for an essay".

Here's my simple rule for using slang as a learner:

• With friends, classmates and people your age: go for it. It makes you sound warm and natural.
• At work: it depends on the office. Listen first, then copy what your colleagues do.
• In writing, exams and formal situations: leave it out. In the DELE exam, for example, you want clear, standard Spanish.

The trick is to recognise lots of slang and use a few words you're comfortable with. You don't need to sound like a teenager in Madrid. You just need to understand one.

Words for "cool" in Spain: guaycoolThe classic Spain word for cool or great., molait's coolFrom molar. Me mola means I like it. and friends

If you learn only one group of slang words, make it this one. Spaniards use them all day.

GuaycoolSpain slang for cool, great or nice.

GuaycoolSpain slang for cool or great. means cool, great, nice. It's probably the most famous piece of Spain slang, and you'll hear it from kids and grandparents alike. The most common way to use it is ¡Qué guay!How cool!Everyday Spain slang for something awesome., "How cool!"

• Tu casa es muy guay.Your house is really cool.Guay as a normal adjective.
• ¡Qué guay!How cool!Everyday Spain slang for something awesome. Said when a friend tells you good news.

You can even make it stronger with topesuperSpain slang that makes the next word stronger.: tope guaysuper coolA playful, slightly old-school way to say very cool.. It sounds a bit playful, like "totally awesome".

Molarto be coolSpain slang. Works like gustar: me mola means I like it.

This one confuses learners because it works like gustarto likeLiterally to please. The thing you like is the subject.. You don't say "I molais coolWrong here: the thing you like does the verb.". You say the thing molais coolFrom molar. to you.

• Me mola tu camiseta.I love your T-shirt.Literally, your T-shirt is cool to me.
• Me molan tus zapatillas.I like your trainers.Molan, plural, because zapatillas is plural.
• Esta canción mola mucho.This song is really cool.Molar used on its own.

If you already know me gustaI like itLiterally, it pleases me., you already know how me molaI like it, it's coolThe slangy version of me gusta. works. Just swap the verb.

Chulocool, nice-lookingIn Spain, nice or cool for things. For people it can mean cocky.

Chulocool, niceUsed for things you like the look of. is great for things: ¡Qué chulo!How cool!Often said about clothes, places or photos. about a new jacket or a nice photo. Be careful with people, though. If you say someone is un chuloa show-offFor a person, chulo can mean cocky or arrogant., you mean they're a bit of a show-off.

Una pasadaamazingSpain slang for something incredible.

When something is really impressive, it's una pasadaamazingSomething incredible or over the top.. ¡Qué pasada!That's amazing!A big reaction to something impressive. after a concert, a view, a great meal. It's stronger than guaycoolEveryday cool..

Talking about people: tíodudeLiterally uncle. A casual word for a guy or mate., tíagirl, mateLiterally aunt. A casual word for a woman or friend., majonice, friendlySpain slang for a kind, pleasant person. and more

TíodudeLiterally uncle. and tíagirl, mateLiterally aunt.

Yes, literally "uncle" and "aunt". But between friends in Spain, tíodudeA casual word for a guy. and tíamate, girlA casual word for a woman. mean "dude", "mate" or "man". You'll hear them constantly.

• ¡Tío, qué fuerte!Dude, no way!Tío used to call a friend.
• Hay un tío en la puerta.There's some guy at the door.Tío meaning a man you don't know.

Hindi speakers will smile at this one. It works a lot like यार, a friendly word you throw into a sentence with a mate. Just remember it's very informal. Don't call your boss tíodudeToo casual for a boss..

Majonice, friendlySpain slang for a kind, likeable person. and majanice, friendlyThe feminine form of majo.

This is one of my favourite Spain words. Someone majoniceKind and easy to like. is friendly, kind, easy to get along with. Tu hermana es muy maja.Your sister is really nice.Maja, feminine, to match hermana. It's a lovely compliment and perfectly polite.

Chavalkid, ladSpain slang for a boy or young person. and chavalagirlThe feminine form of chaval.

Chavalkid, young ladAn informal word for a boy or young man. means a kid or a young person. Older people use it a lot: Cuando era un chaval…When I was a kid…A very common way to start a story about childhood.

Guiriforeign touristSpain slang for a foreigner, often a tourist. Teasing but usually not mean.

You'll definitely hear this one in Madrid or on the beaches. A guiriforeign touristA playful word for a foreigner on holiday. is a foreigner, usually a tourist who very obviously looks like one. It's teasing, but usually friendly. Spaniards even joke about being guiristouristsPlural of guiri. themselves when they travel abroad.

Pijoposh, snobbySpain slang for someone rich and a bit stuck-up.

PijoposhUsed for people, places or clothes that look expensive and snobby. means posh or snobby. A barrio pijoposh neighbourhoodA rich, fancy area of a city. is a fancy area. It can be a gentle tease, so use it with friends, not about people you've just met.

Everyday reactions: valeokayThe everyday okay in Spain., ¡Qué fuerte!No way!A reaction to surprising or shocking news. and fliparto be amazedSpain slang for being blown away.

Conversations in Spain are full of little reactions. These are the ones that make you sound like you're really listening.

ValeokaySpain's everyday word for okay, sure, fine.

You can't spend a day in Spain without hearing valeokayThe Spain okay.. It means "okay", "sure", "fine", "got it". ¿Quedamos a las siete? Vale.Shall we meet at seven? Okay.A typical quick plan between friends. Strictly speaking it's not slang, but it's so typical of Spain that people in Latin America often spot a Spaniard by it. I talk about it more in my post on Spanish filler words.

¡Qué fuerte!No way!Literally how strong. A reaction to surprising news.

Literally "how strong!", but it really means "No way!" or "That's crazy!". You say it when someone tells you surprising, shocking or juicy news. ¿Se casan? ¡Qué fuerte!They're getting married? No way!A typical reaction to big news.

Fliparto be amazedSpain slang for being blown away or shocked.

Fliparto be amazedTo be blown away, in a good or bad way. means to be amazed or shocked. Estoy flipandoI can't believe itLiterally, I'm flipping. Total disbelief. is "I can't believe this!" and ¡Vas a flipar!You're going to love it!Literally, you're going to flip. is a great way to hype up something you're about to show a friend.

Ni de bromano wayLiterally not even as a joke. A firm no.

When the answer is a firm no: ni de bromano wayNot even as a joke.. ¿Correr a las seis de la mañana? Ni de broma.Run at six in the morning? No way.A clear, funny refusal.

¡Qué morro!What a cheek!Morro means snout. Having morro means being cheeky.

MorrosnoutIn slang, cheek or nerve. means an animal's snout, but tener morroto have a nerveTo be cheeky or take advantage. means to be cheeky. If your flatmate eats your last biscuit and doesn't replace it, ¡Qué morro!What a cheek!Said about someone taking advantage.

Work and money slang: currarto workSpain slang for working., pastamoneyLiterally pasta or dough. and pavoseurosSpain slang for euros, like bucks.

Currarto workSpain slang for to work. and currojobSpain slang for a job.

In Spain, people don't always trabajarto workThe standard verb.. They curranworkFrom currar.. Mañana curroI'm working tomorrowCurro here is the verb currar. and Tengo un curro nuevoI've got a new jobCurro here is a noun, job. are both everyday Spanish. Currarto workSlang for work. also has a feel of hard work: ¡Cómo curras!You work so hard!Said with admiration.

PastamoneyLiterally pasta. Slang for money.

La pastamoneyLike dough or cash in English. is money, just like "dough" in English. Ese coche cuesta mucha pasta.That car costs a lot of money.Pasta meaning money.

PavoseurosSlang for euros, like bucks.

Literally "turkeys", pavoseurosLike saying bucks. is a casual word for euros. Me ha costado veinte pavos.It cost me twenty euros.Pavos used for the price.

Estar sin blancato be brokeA Spain expression for having no money.

At the end of the month, many of us are sin blancabrokeHaving no money at all.. Este mes estoy sin blanca.I'm broke this month.A very common Spain expression. In Hindi you might say "जेब ख़ाली है". Same feeling.

Feelings and moods: hecho polvoexhaustedLiterally made into dust., de bajónfeeling lowA Spain expression for being down. and buen rollogood vibesSpain slang for a good atmosphere.

Estar hecho polvoto be exhaustedLiterally to be turned to dust.

After a long day, you're hecho polvoexhaustedLiterally made into dust., or hecha polvoexhaustedThe feminine form. if you're a woman. "Turned into dust" is a pretty good picture of how a twelve-hour day feels!

Estar de bajónto feel downSpain slang for a low mood.

A bajóna slumpA drop in mood or energy. is a dip, so estar de bajónto feel downTo be in a low mood. means you're feeling low or a bit sad. Hoy estoy de bajón.I'm feeling a bit down today.A gentle way to say you're not great.

Estar mosqueadoto be annoyedSpain slang for being irritated or suspicious.

If you're mosqueadoannoyedIrritated, sometimes a little suspicious., you're irritated with someone. Está mosqueada conmigo.She's annoyed with me.Mosqueada, feminine.

Dar la varato pesterLiterally to give the stick. To nag someone.

Dar la varato pesterTo keep nagging or bothering someone. means to nag or go on and on. Mi hermano me está dando la vara con el móvil.My brother keeps bugging me about his phone.A classic family complaint.

Rolloa drag, a vibeA very flexible Spain slang word.: buen rollogood vibesA friendly, easy atmosphere. and mal rollobad vibesAn awkward or tense feeling.

Rollovibe, dragA word with many slang uses in Spain. is a word with lots of jobs. Two you'll hear all the time:

• ¡Qué rollo!What a drag!Said about something boring or annoying.: what a pain, how boring. La reunión fue un rollo.The meeting was so boring.Un rollo, a drag.
• Buen rollogood vibesA nice, friendly atmosphere. and mal rollobad vibesA tense or uncomfortable feeling.: good and bad vibes. En mi clase hay muy buen rollo.My class has a really good vibe.Buen rollo, good atmosphere.

Saying "a lot" in Spain: mogollónloadsSpain slang for a huge amount. and un montóna tonEveryday Spanish for lots.

Why say muchoa lotThe standard word. when you can say mogollónloadsSpain slang for a huge amount.? Había mogollón de gente.There were loads of people.Mogollón de, loads of. It's fun, very Spain, and a little bit cheeky.

A safer, everyday option is un montóna tonLiterally a pile. Lots, used everywhere.: Tengo un montón de trabajo.I've got a ton of work.Un montón de, lots of. This one works across the Spanish-speaking world.

Spanish slang in a real conversation

Here's how a quick chat between two friends in Madrid might sound. See how many words you recognise now.

Laura: ¡Tía! ¿Qué tal el curro nuevo?Hey! How's the new job?Tía as a friendly hello, curro as job.

Ana: Mola mucho. La gente es muy maja y hay muy buen rollo.It's really cool. The people are really nice and there's a great vibe.Three slang words in one breath.

Laura: ¡Qué guay! ¿Y el sueldo?How cool! And the salary?Sueldo means salary.

Ana: Bueno… no es mucha pasta, pero vale.Well… it's not much money, but okay.Pasta, money.

Laura: Pues esta noche invitas tú.Well, tonight you're paying.Invitar here means to treat someone.

Ana: ¡Qué morro! Ni de broma.What a cheek! No way.Two slang reactions together.

Quick review: Spain slang flashcards

Flip through these and try to say the meaning before you turn each card.

How to use Spanish slang without sounding strange

Slang is fun, but it's easy to overdo it. A few tips to keep it natural:

1. Start with the safe ones. ValeokayThe everyday okay., ¡Qué guay!How cool!Everyday Spain slang for something awesome., majoniceA kind compliment. and un montóna tonLots. are fine almost anywhere. Begin there.
2. Listen before you use. If your Spanish friends say tíodudeVery informal. all the time, you can too. If they don't, skip it.
3. Match the grammar. Slang still follows the rules. MajaniceFeminine. for a woman, molanthey're coolPlural. for plural things, hecha polvoexhaustedFeminine form. if you're a woman.
4. Don't stack it. One slang word per sentence sounds natural. Five sounds like you swallowed a dictionary of slang.
5. Keep it out of exams and emails. For formal Spanish, see my post on writing a formal email in Spanish.

Test yourself: Spain slang quiz

Five quick questions. No peeking at the flashcards!

Keep going

Slang is where Spanish stops feeling like a subject and starts feeling like a language people actually live in. You don't have to use every word in this post. Pick three you like, listen out for them in series, songs and videos, and the rest will follow. Poco a pocoLittle by littleProgress comes step by step..

If you're at the stage where real conversations are your goal, my B1 batches are built for exactly that. We meet live on Google Meet, groups have up to 5 students, and you'll practise speaking the way people really speak in Spain. Curious about everyday Spanish beyond slang? Read how Spaniards actually say hello next. ¡Venga!Come on!A friendly push to get going.