Words and definitions Johanabra30 has contributed to the street dictionary.
To chip in or pool money together by asking for contributions from others. It is very common among coworkers or students to pay for a shared expense like food or drinks.
We need to hacer vaca for the beers this weekend. / Let's hacer vaca to have a barbecue on game day.
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Used mostly by teenagers to describe making out or intense French kissing.
Do you have to jamonearse right here, can't you go somewhere else? / The party is the perfect spot to jamonearse the hottest girl.
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This expression refers to someone who has broken a fundamental agreement or messed with something highly personal and off-limits to another person. (The pesebre is a traditional Christmas nativity scene, which is considered a sacred and fragile display in Venezuelan homes.)
I fell in love with your sister... Dude, you messed with the corotos del pesebre. / You scratched your mother's car! You have messed with the corotos del pesebre!
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A deep, passionate kiss involving the tongue, similar to a French kiss.
I am going to give Natalia a Latazo that will leave her breathless. / Girl, he gave me a Latazo that I will never forget.
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An exclamation used to express surprise, awe, or the sudden realization that something has been forgotten (it is a mild, non-vulgar interjection popularized by the TV show El Chavo del Ocho).
Chanfle, that hurricane is huge. / Chanfle, I forgot I had an exam today.
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The delusions or false ideas someone has that lead them to act a certain way or put on airs, often based on an inflated ego or an inaccurate belief about themselves (literally referring to having a turd in one's head).
She has the mojon in her head that she is gorgeous. / That guy has the mojon in his head that he is a know-it-all and never loses.
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Means to sleep, used as a cutesy or affectionate way of saying the word, often mimicking how young children speak.
Let's go mimir, it is already late kids. / I do not want to mimir yet, Mom.
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A vulgar interjection used to express shock or amazement, or to react when suddenly realizing you have forgotten something. (In Venezuela, this is a shortened, street version of an insult referring to someone's mother).
Sumadre! Girl, look at that crash. / Ahh sumadre, I forgot the car keys.
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A bullshitter, or someone who is arrogant and acts like a know-it-all. (The term is derived from the word for a piece of excrement).
I do not like that jerk because he is way too much of a mojonero. / David is so annoying, he never stops being such a mojonero.
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A common insult used primarily between men to call someone a jerk, an idiot, or a loser (literally meaning calf, it suggests the person is foolish or easily manipulated).
Don't be such a becerro, man. / What is your problem, becerro? We can fight right here if you want.
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Used to express that something is incredibly attractive, impressive, or exciting, effectively saying it is to die for or breathtaking.
Me mata that man with that skin tone. / Did you see that dress? Me mata!
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An expression used as an insult or a joke to describe someone as lazy, slow to act, socially awkward, or having too much nerve. (The term is a contraction of pedazo de gallo or piece of rooster, where gallo refers to someone who is clumsy or uncool.)
Who does this piazo e'gallo think he is? / Don't be such a piazo e'gallo, go and ask her out.
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An insult used to call someone a bastard or a jerk, also used as an exclamation of frustration when realizing a mistake or that something was forgotten (this is a phonetic contraction of hijo de madre).
You are a hijo e'madre, how dare you. / Hijo e'madre! I left my work on the table.
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A massive or heavy-handed slap to the face.
I am going to give you a Cachetaon you will never forget if you keep being so intense. / Damn dude, did you see that Cachetaon they gave him!
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To be stunned, speechless, or shocked by news or a situation, often to the point of drawing a blank or being deeply affected by what you see or hear.
I Quedé lelo with the final grades. / Girl, I am lela with that huge news.
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A multi-purpose expression used to negate, disagree, or dismiss a point. It often functions as a conversational filler to reassure the listener or downplay a concern, similar to saying 'no way' or 'not at all'.
No vale, relax, everything will be fine. / No vale, I know the surgery will go well.
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To be completely overwhelmed with work or responsibilities to the point of extreme stress. It is also used to describe being very frightened or on edge.
I do not like to andar de pelos because I do a bad job: this week has been one of being andar de pelos every day: this financial situation has me andar de pelos.
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To play dumb, to pretend not to notice, or to look the other way to avoid a problem or responsibility.
Hazte la wili, it does not matter, just do not say later that I did not try to talk. / Stop trying to hazte la wili with that work because you have to finish it.
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Used to express agreement or as a verbal filler to emphasize a statement when talking to someone. (In Venezuela, it is a ubiquitous speech habit used to stress an idea or show familiarity, often functioning like man or hey).
Vale, I will go visit you tomorrow. / Of course vale, everything will be fine.
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A multi-purpose exclamation used for complaints, strong denial, or disagreement. It functions similarly to saying no way, not a chance, or whatever to dismiss what someone else said.
Que va, that kid just won't get his act together. / Nah que va, if you do not like what I am saying, then leave. / Que va, it was not like that.
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A homemade herbal liqueur from the Venezuelan Andes, traditionally consumed to stay warm while traveling through the high-altitude moorlands known as the paramo. It is called calentaito because it warms the body up in the middle of such intense cold. (The paramo is a cold, high-altitude ecosystem found in the northern Andes).
Son, come here and let's have a calentaito now that the cold has arrived. / This calentaito is the best thing for the cold so I don't get altitude sickness.
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To take an excessive amount of time to do something, acting entitled and showing a lack of respect for other people's schedules.
My sister takes such a postin to shower that I can't stand her. / Don't let her in there because she takes all the postín she feels like.
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To take a nasty fall and get seriously messed up or broken. In local slang, to get absolutely fucked up.
Watch out dude, getting esguañingarse these days is way too expensive (referring to the high cost of medical care and supplies). / Kid, stop running so much or you are going to esguañingar.
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A smack or hit delivered with a flip-flop or sandal, commonly used as a form of discipline or sometimes jokingly (in Venezuela, flip-flops are also known as cotizas).
Look here kid, I am going to give you a chancletazo. / You earned a chancletazo for being so rebellious.
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To be unable to handle a responsibility or finish a task because you lack the courage or ability to meet the requirements. It describes a situation where a person is in over their head or cannot fill the shoes required for the job.
Dude, te quedaron los pantalones grandes or what? You did not even finish the construction work. / Girl, this is not working, te quedaron los pantalones grandes, I have to fire you, I am sorry.
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Used to describe the person in authority in a specific setting, the leader, the boss, or the one who makes the decisions and has the money. (While the word literally means the law, in this context it refers to anyone in charge of a group).
La ley is here, run man. / Get to work fast because La ley just arrived.
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To leave a place quickly, bolt, or split. It describes heading out in a hurry or vanishing from a scene.
We got to the party but we have to pirarse at 11. / Heads up, if the police (gobierno is a slang term for authorities in Venezuela) show up we have to pirarse right away.
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A synonym for a problem, issue, or drama. It is very common to use this word instead of saying you have a problem.
I have a rollo with the math teacher, I do not understand his class. / I had a rollo with my boyfriend and we are not speaking.
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Being head over heels, totally smitten, or crazy in love with someone.
Girl, I can see you are empepada over that guy (pana is a common term for a friend). / Dude, you are empepado with Maria, do not deny it (marico is a common, casual way to address friends in Venezuela).
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A way to describe someone or something passing by or leaving a place at high speed or in a great hurry.
That car sped past volao. / My buddy Juan went home volao.
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Used for someone who looks well-fed and healthy with a good complexion, falling between thin and fat (it is usually a compliment implying the person looks robust or well-cared for).
Hey Eduardo, that vacation did you good, you're looking rellenito. / You look so pretty my love, you're getting rellenita.
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A way to describe something as very cool, awesome, or top-notch (it is a shortened version of the word calidad, meaning quality).
This really is calida', my friend. / Dude, your car is calida'.
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Used to say to top it all off or as if that weren't enough. It describes an unexpected addition to a situation, usually making a bad situation worse. (The word ñapa refers to the small extra amount a vendor traditionally gives a customer for free).
I was running and I fell, and pa' más ñapa, there was a ton of mud. / I failed two subjects and pa' más ñapa, I won't be able to apply for the conference because of it.
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Used to express that something is fishy or that someone is clearly hiding something. It suggests there is a hidden catch or a secret motive behind a situation. (The term encerrao is a common regional shortening of encerrado, meaning locked up or trapped).
Tell me the truth because I can tell that aquí hay pájaro encerrao'. / I do not know, something about the story does not add up, aquí hay pájaro encerrao'.
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A term used, either jokingly or seriously, for someone who frequently says or does foolish, nonsensical, or exaggerated things. (In Venezuela, this is a common part of jodedera, the local culture of constant teasing and joking).
You are loco e'remate, how could you put gum on the teacher's chair. / You are so loco e'remate, stop talking so much nonsense, buddy.
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Used when something is just about to start, a new event is about to occur, a baby is due, or a goal is nearly reached. (The phrase refers to the exact moment cooked sugar reaches the caramel stage, meaning it is at its peak or just right).
My graduation is a punto de caramelo. / That lovely belly is a punto de caramelo.
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A repetitive, annoying lecture or nagging where someone tells you the same thing over and over. It is that broken record feeling when someone keeps harping on you about what you need to do.
Mom is on a real cantaleta today. / Alright, stop the cantaleta, I already know everything I have to do.
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Used to describe someone who always brings bad news, has a negative attitude, or carries bad energy. It refers to a person whose negative predictions often come true, or someone who is considered a jinx who brings bad luck.
That guy is a pájaro de mal agüero. / I do not like that girl in the group, she is a pájaro de mal agüero.
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Refers to a state of hectic hustle or chaos caused by high stress, heavy workloads, overcrowding, or traffic congestion.
Let's go, there is way too much Tragin in this mall. / Today the Tragin at the office will be off the charts.
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To have one's hair become completely messed up or disheveled, typically by the wind or moving air (in Venezuela, this is a common complaint when riding in public buses, known as camionetas, which usually have open windows).
Close the window because I am going to espelucar. / I cannot go in the bus because I am going to espelucar.
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A legend from the Venezuelan plains dating back to the 19th century, meant to punish unfaithful men. It tells of a son who murdered his father and was cursed by his grandfather to a gruesome death. He wanders the region whistling a musical scale: if the sound seems close, he is actually far away, but if it sounds distant, he is right next to you. (Los Llanos refers to the vast tropical grasslands of the region).
Dude, I heard El silbón last night and I shit my pants. / I am scared to go to the plains because I do not want to hear El silbón.
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A legendary spirit from the Venezuelan plains, specifically the Apure region, who haunts unfaithful men. Cursed for murdering her mother over a false suspicion of an affair with her husband, she appears as a beautiful woman to lure men into isolated areas before revealing her true, deadly form (the name comes from the sayon, a traditional smock she is said to wear).
You better treat your wife right, son, unless you want La Sayona to come for you. / I am not going out to the plains at night, I do not want to run into La Sayona today.
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A sharp outfit or a specific set of clothes chosen for a party, a night out, or any event where someone needs to dress to impress.
How do you like my Pinta for tonight? / I have to pick out my Pinta for the wedding.
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A legend from the Venezuelan plains (los llanos) about a ghost woman wandering in grief. In the most common version, she killed her newborn daughter after being abandoned by her husband and not knowing how to raise the child alone. Her wailing haunts those who hear it, and parents often tell children that La Llorona will take them away if they do not behave.
There is no way I am going to grandma's house at this hour, it is so dark and La Llorona might jump out at me. / Did you hear La Llorona wandering all over the neighborhood last night?
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A boogeyman figure used to scare children into behaving by telling them that he will come to take them away or eat them, instilling fear from a young age (this mythological being is a common parental tool used to enforce obedience across Latin America).
1. I don't want to eat, Mom! If you don't eat, El coco will come and take you away. 2. You can't stay home alone, you little brat, don't you see El coco will come and eat you!
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A lifestyle where a couple consensually swaps sexual partners with another couple without emotional involvement. The exchange can involve all four people in the same room or couples swapping and going to different locations. It is strictly based on mutual consent: if one person says no, it does not happen. (Some believe the practice originated during the World Wars, when soldiers would leave their wives with another man in case they were widowed).
Let's go to the swinger club to meet a couple tonight. / We are going to meet a swinger couple to fulfill one of our sexual fantasies.
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This is the name for the small geckos commonly found in Venezuelan homes. These reptiles are harmless to humans and are actually welcomed by many because they eat flies and mosquitoes, acting as a natural form of pest control. They are also known as Tuteque.
The tuqueques came out to eat tonight. / We need tuqueques in this house, there are too many pests.
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A common name for lizards typically found in gardens or tropical climates. They can be large or small and are usually green or gray (in Venezuela, this is the standard colloquial term for these reptiles).
Hey! there are a lot of machorros in the garden. / Look at the beautiful colors that machorro has.
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