60 Mexican Slang Words You’ll Actually Hear Every Day
Mexican slang is everywhere — and if you’re visiting Mexico, you’ll hear it constantly. This guide covers the most common slang words and expressions used in everyday Mexican Spanish.
From markets and street food stands to taxis and everyday conversations, Mexican slang words are used far more than “textbook” Spanish. And if you translate them literally, most won’t make any sense.
I’ve lived in Mexico for over 10 years, and these are the most common Mexican slang words and expressions I hear in real life – the kind of everyday Mexican Spanish locals actually use.
If you’re curious about the more explicit side of Mexican Spanish, watch my Top 100 Mexican Slang Words on YouTube (Swear Words Included) on YouTube 🎥
👉 Check out 50 Mexican Idioms: So Bizarre, So Useful, So Mexican.
Family-Friendly Mexican Slang Words
These can be used with anyone and everyone. The old lady at the tienda, kids, your grandmother. Nothing offensive here.
Aguas!!
Look out!! If you hear this, something is about to hit you, or you need to quickly get out of the way. An important one to know 😜
Ahorita
This should mean ‘soon’, but can also mean right now, or some time in the future… you could even be waiting a lifetime…
Ándale
Means to either Hurry Up or to confirm/agree. Ándale!! – Alright!! Ándale, tenemos que irnos – Hurry up, we need to leave
A poco!
No kidding! That’s unbelievable! Wow, you don’t say! Are you serious?
Buena onda
When someone or something is cool, nice, has good vibes. She’s cool – Ella es buena onda. The opposite to this is mala onda
Chisme
The gossip. What’s the gossip? Cúales son los chismes? To gossip is to chismear. Someone who is the gossiper, is known as chismoso
Fresa
Fresa is used to describe a person who is a snob, stuck-up and basically, thinks that they are better than everyone else. They’ll likely speak with a distinct accent – which may or may not be fake. Also to describe a luxury item or fancy object. It’s a very common term
Híjole!
Used to convey surprise, amazement, or disbelief. It’s very commonly used how someone might use ‘wow,’ ‘oh my,’ or ‘oh gosh’
La Banda
A funny way to say a group of friends, the crew, the gang. Voy a salir con la banda esta noche – I’m going to go out with the crew tonight
Mande?
Is asking someone to repeat what they just said, if you didn’t hear them properly or just didn’t understand
Ni modo
Is used a lot and means ‘it doesn’t matter’ or ‘it can’t be helped’. Ohh we just missed the bus, ni modo, we’ll get the next one
No manches
One of the most used slang words in Mexico. Used as a reaction to surprising information… No Manches!! – No Way!! or Come on!! The vulgar way to say this is No Mames!! Head down to Mexican Slang curse words below for more on this 👇
Órale
Has a load of meanings, depending on how you express it (see pic above). Go for it! or Right on! Also used to agree: Let’s do it! Let’s go! Or it can express excitement, like Wow, amazing!
Porfis
The playful and cute way to say Por Favor – Please. Used a lot with kids
Que padre
That’s awesome / really good! If someone tells you some good news or shows you something good, you can reply Que Padre. With friends you’d also say Que Chido.
Qué onda?
Is asking how’s it going? or how something is going? What’s up my friend? – Qué onda amigo? What’s up with your car? – Qué onda con tu carro?
Que oso!
How embarrassing!! How shameful!!
Sale
An agreement word. like saying ‘got it’, or ‘ok’, You can also add in and say Sale vale.
La Sopa
The gossip
Mexican Slang Words To Use With Friends
Here’s some Mexican Slang words used with friends and in informal situations.
Wey / Güey
Means dude or bro. This is hands down the most used Mexican slang word. You’re going to hear it flat out, everywhere you go. Weeeeey, no manches! Sí wey, vamos por unas chelas wey.
Ahuevo!
Awesome! For sure! Used to express agreement, enthusiasm, emphasis, or determination. It’s often used to signify ‘absolutely’ or ‘definitely,’ while also conveying excitement or approval.
A su mecha!
Expression of surprise. A su mecha, OMG, I cant believe that just happened. Or, shit, we’re in a bit of a sticky situation.
Caer gordo
to dislike someone, to annoy. I don’t like him or he annoys me would be Él me cae gordo.
Cámera
‘I agree’ or ‘It’s a deal’
Chafa
Something that is of poor quality. E.g. things generally made in china are chafa. I like using this word!
Chale
Used as a saying when something bad happens to express empathy, lamentation, or regret. The best translation would likely be, ‘That sucks’
Chamaco
Used to refer to a child or teen
Chambear
Is the informal way to say ‘to work’ instead of trabajo. Chamba = Work, job. Estoy en la chamba, I’m working. No tengo chamba, I don’t have any work.
Chido
Straight up, chido means something or a situation is cool
Chueco
Means something is bent or not straight. In slang, means ‘crooked’. Dodgy business would be negocio chueco. Can also mean someone is gay, not straight.
Chulo / Chula
Beautiful or Sexy. Can be used with a person or thing.
Chavo
Referred to a young guy. Chava for girl. Funnily enough, a chavo chava means a trans person, a bit of both.
Chingón
Used to describe – or to assign elevated status to – a person, place, thing or action and to convey an element of impressive dominance or mastery. The best of the best.
Codo / Coda
A tight ass, cheap or stingy person. It’s a funny one this, because codo literally means elbow. So to gesture that someone is cheap, you would just tap your elbow a few times 🤣
Cochino
Used to describe someone as a pig, dirty, disgusting or rude.
Crudo / cruda
To be hungover. Estoy crudo – I’m hungover.
Desmadre
A few meanings both positive and negative. Very common slang word. A disaster/mess/chaos/wild. Everything is going wrong, Es un desmadre. The fiesta last night was awesome, un desmadre. Your room is an absolute mess, tu cuarto es un desmadre.
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Guapo / Guapa
A good looking person.
Güero / Güera
This is Mexican slang for a white person, or someone with light skin and/or light colored hair. Pronounced wero or wera.
Huevón / Huevóna
An extremely lazy person. No seas huevón! Don’t be so lazy!
Jefe / jefa
Is translated to Boss. But very often used to talk about your parents. Mi jefe – My father. Mi jefa – My mother
Mala copa
This is the person who can’t handle their booze. The one that gets drunk, then loses control, cries, gets dramatic, might start fights. Literally translated as ‘Bad Glass’.
Metiche
A person who sticks their nose in everybody’s business
Morro / Morra
A very slang word to describe a young man or woman. Can be used to say someone’s boyfriend/girlfriend. Ya viene tu morra – Here comes your girlfriend.
Mota
Is a slang term used for marijuana.
Naco
A naco is like a low-class person, tacky, not well educated and/or vulgar. It has nothing to do with money, and all about their behavior.
Neta
An informal way to say Really? For real? Or for confirmation that something is the truth.
No hay bronca
No problem! It’s a casual way of saying that something isn’t a big deal, it’s no issue or isn’t worth getting worked up over.
Panzon / Panzona
A playful word to say someone has a big stomach/belly. Or a woman is pregnant.
Pinche
Pinche is mostly used to describe something or someone as miserable, worthless, or lousy. Mainly used like darn, damn or goddamn. But be careful, because context is key here. If it’s used strongly, replace the lighthearted ‘damn’ with ‘fucking’. Pinche car wont start. Pinche Juan isn’t coming tonight.
Ratero
Is a thief or criminal. Comes from the word rata – rat.
Rola
Songs are rolas. The slang way to say a cool song(s) instead of the formal canción.
Simón
Affirmation meaning ‘yes’. As in ‘sí, man’
Un chingo
A popular slang word to explain that there is a lot of or an excessive amount of something. Hay un chingo de gente – There’s a lot of people. Él tiene un chingo de dinero – He has a lot of money. Me duele un chingo – It hurts a lot.
Mexican Slang for friends
Instead of using amigo, use these for your closest best friends – Carnal – Compa – Cuate – Tío.
Mexican Slang for beer
Chela – Cheve – Caguama (big bottle of beer) – Unas frias (a few cold ones)
Mexican Slang for money
Lana and Plata are used for money. Varos is used for bucks. Like when something costs 100 varos.
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👉 Want even more real Mexican Spanish? Check out 50 Mexican Idioms: So Bizarre, So Useful, So Mexican.
And there it is my friends!! If you have some more Mexican Slang words you’d like to see added in, just let me know down in the comments 👌
👉 50 Best things to See, Do and Eat in Oaxaca City
Thank you
Hijo de puta….will sound as “hi de pu”….so importante to practice listening to the spoken slangs,otherwise you won’t catch them in normal interactions.
Thanks mate 👍
Yeah spot on!! It’s one thing to learn Spanish, then the Mexican Slang… then trying to understand it all when it’s spoken so quickly haha. And all the doble sentidos tambien! It’s good fun.
Chinguen a su puta madre pinches pendejos hijos de la verga váyanse a la chingada