Words and definitions La Jarocha has contributed to the street dictionary.
Used to describe a person who acts dishonestly or fraudulently. It refers to someone involved in scams or shady business who cannot be trusted to keep their word (literally meaning crooked or bent).
Don't trust that guy to buy the car, he is known for being very Chueco and he is definitely trying to rip you off.
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A colloquial term used in Mexico to describe a man who is very attractive, handsome, or well-built. It is used to praise a man's physical appearance with a tone of admiration or playfulness (the term is a flirtatious variation of papa, meaning dad).
Look at what a papucho your cousin has become now that he is going to the gym!
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A common slang term for a thief, crook, or robber, especially someone who makes a living by stealing from others.
Be very careful when walking down that alley because they say there is always a caco hanging around waiting for someone who is not paying attention.
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A derogatory term referring to a significant physical or mental defect, usually one that is congenital or hereditary. It implies the person has a natural flaw or is somehow broken, preventing them from being fully sound or healthy.
They say everyone in that family has a mental tara because they have acted very strangely since they were little kids.
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Refers to a woman who is being very flirtatious or acting seductively to get attention. It describes an attitude of wanting to be liked and being in a flirting mood.
Did you see Juan's cousin, she is being really arrecha with everyone on the team and won't stop smiling at them.
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Used in Mexican colloquial speech to describe someone with a dark or very brown skin tone. It is a common way to refer to skin color in everyday situations (in Mexico, the term is frequently used to describe darker skin, often as a familiar descriptor or nickname).
My cousin is the most prieto of all of us, but he is the one who dances best at parties.
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An adjective used in Mexico to describe a person with curly or very wavy hair. It is the standard, everyday way to refer to curls, replacing more formal words like crespo. (While the word usually means Chinese, in Mexico its primary colloquial use describes hair texture).
I hate it when the humidity makes my chino hair go wild and there is no way to control it.
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A popular exclamation used to express bewilderment or shock when something unexpected happens. It is mostly used when something causes amazement or catches someone off guard (popularized by the iconic Mexican comedian Chespirito in his television shows).
Chanfle! I completely forgot today was my mother-in-law's birthday.
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Used to refer to a petty thief or low-level crook who typically mugs people on the street or breaks into homes. It is a common way to talk about small-time criminals, who are sometimes called caquitos.
Be careful about leaving the window open, you don't want some caco to break in and empty out the living room.
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A small mammal with dark fur that lives underground in tunnels it digs itself. It is nearly blind but has a sharp sense of smell and strong claws used for excavating its burrow.
No way, a topo left my whole yard full of dirt mounds in a single night.
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A common Mexican slang term for cocaine, referring to the drug by its physical appearance as a powder.
Watch out for that guy, you can tell he's already on too much polvo and he's getting violent.
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Filler, fluff, or padding used in speech or writing to occupy space without adding substance. It refers to unnecessary verbiage used when someone has nothing relevant to say (literally meaning straw, the waste product of grain).
Your essay has good ideas, but you added too much paja at the end and ended up confusing the professor.
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Used to indicate that an event just happened, is happening right now, or was finished moments ago. It confirms that a situation is settled or that an action was carried out right before mentioning it.
Tell your mom that the plane Ya landed and that I am heading out to the taxi area.
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A small wooden block or piece fastened to the legs of fighting roosters to protect them while they are tethered. In the cockfighting world, it can also refer to the specific area or pit where the birds are kept or fought (cockfighting is a traditional, though controversial, practice in various Mexican regions).
Put the traba on that giro rooster properly, so he does not get hurt before entering the ring.
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An iconic city in the state of Hidalgo that houses one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. It is world-famous for the Atlantes: giant stone statues representing Toltec warriors.
What do you think about heading to Tula this Sunday to visit the town and take photos with the Atlantes?
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A vulgar and direct term for semen used in everyday speech.
Careful, I got Leche on my pants.
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Refers to the electronic device used to watch shows or movies, as well as the entire media industry and broadcast system. It is the word used for the physical set in the living room or the content on local channels.
My brother bought a huge televisión to play video games in the living room.
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Used to describe someone who is exceptionally stupid or has shown a monumental lack of judgment. It is the superlative form of pendejo, highlighting an extreme degree of clumsiness or naivety (the suffix -azo is an augmentative used in Mexico to intensify insults, making this equivalent to calling someone a massive dumbass).
That pendejazo lost all the car keys right before leaving for vacation.
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The long, green stalk or leaves extending from certain vegetables, specifically spring onions. It is the part typically chopped and used to flavor dishes (in Mexico, the term literally means tail and refers to the green tops of scallions).
Wash the rabo of the spring onions well because I am going to use it to make the salsa.
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A common Mexican word for a baseball cap or a hat with a visor used to block the sun. It is the standard everyday term for this type of sporty headgear.
Don't forget to bring your cachucha for tomorrow's game, we are going to be under the sun all day.
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A bluish-white metallic element that shines brightly when polished and is highly resistant to high temperatures and corrosion. It is commonly used to plate other metals to protect them, and for creating pigments for dyes and paints.
The mechanic recommended putting a layer of cromo on the truck bumper so it doesn't rust in the rain.
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A common term used to refer to bananas. In some parts of Mexico, it is a casual way to name the fruit, often used to specify varieties that are less common or of foreign origin (while platano is the standard word in most of the country, GUINEO is typical in southern and coastal regions).
I went to the market and bought some really sweet GUINEOS to make today's dessert.
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A saludo is any gesture or expression used to acknowledge someone when you run into them or when you are leaving. It is the fundamental way to show politeness and pay attention to friends or strangers alike.
It was such a bummer that your cousin did not even return my saludo when he walked into the house.
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The violent expulsion of stomach contents through the mouth, usually preceded by intense nausea. It is the physical act of throwing up when food disagrees with you or you feel sick.
Oh man! Just smelling those spoiled shellfish made me really want to let out the vomito.
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A word for a female dog, used to describe an aggressive or difficult woman. The variation chucha cuerera is used to recognize someone who is exceptionally skilled or a seasoned expert in a specific craft or task.
My aunt is a chucha when you disagree with her, but she is a chucha cuerera in the kitchen and no one beats her.
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A close male friend or a brotherly way to address another man, signaling loyalty and trust (originally the specific bond between a father and his child's godfather).
Long time no see, compadre! Come on in, we are already starting up the grill.
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An adjective used for four-legged animals that are missing a front leg or have one that is completely unusable. In a livestock context, it refers to cows with damaged udders or those that no longer produce milk due to a non-functional teat.
That horse is manco in its right front leg and can no longer carry much weight, so you should let it rest in the corral.
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A large, heavy duty sack or bag made of cloth or woven plastic used to store and transport bulk goods. In commercial contexts, it serves as a unit of measurement for products like grains, seeds, and produce.
It took three of us to unload all the bultos of oranges they took off the truck.
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Describes ideas or objects that are highly similar or closely linked. It is used to point out that two elements share common features or are essentially identical in nature (the term is derived from the word for neighbor, indicating that two things are close or related).
I feel like our musical tastes are very vecinos, because you love old-school cumbias too.
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A vulgar expression used to abruptly and aggressively shut down a situation or topic because one is completely fed up. It signals that you want nothing more to do with the matter (it refers to a figurative place of ruin or dismissal unique to Mexican profanity).
If you are going to keep nagging me about yesterday, then to hell with it, a la chingada with dinner and I am going home!
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Any social gathering or get-together where people meet up to have a good time, dance, and eat, ranging from private parties to official, religious, or national celebrations. (In Mexico, these can range from small home gatherings to massive public festivals).
Yesterday a really great fiesta got started at the office because it was the boss's birthday and they even brought in a mariachi band.
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The network of people or the activity of scheming and informal lobbying to manipulate political or institutional situations. It refers to behind-the-scenes maneuvering and questionable tactics used to gain power or force changes within an organization (common in Mexican political and workplace culture).
In the office, the grilla has already started to try and get rid of the department head by taking advantage of the upcoming annual evaluations.
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A thorough, preventive inspection of a person or a machine to ensure everything is working correctly. It is the check-up a doctor or mechanic performs to catch a potential illness or mechanical fault early before it becomes a serious problem.
Tomorrow I am going to take the truck to the shop so they can give it a CHEQUEO before I hit the road.
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A reckless, aggressive driver who completely ignores traffic laws and endangers others. It describes someone who drives like a maniac or in a dangerous, erratic way (in Mexico, it is a label famously applied to bus drivers who drive aggressively).
Be very careful crossing the street because that bus driver is a cafre and he blew through the red light at full speed.
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An iconic nickname for the public transport taxis that roamed Mexico City in the mid-twentieth century, recognized by their green paint and white triangles on the sides that resembled a crocodile's jaws. (These taxis were a staple of the capital's urban landscape from the late 1940s through the 1960s).
My grandfather told me that in his time it was very common to flag down a Cocodrilo to cross the city quickly.
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An informal, shortened term for a potty, the small container used by toddlers during potty training. It is common in family settings. (It is a shortening of the Spanish word bacinica).
Make sure to wash the nica well after the child finishes using it.
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A type of cactus that grows several meters high and branches from the base. It has long white flowers and egg-shaped fruits protected by many spines (in Mexico, this name refers to specific columnar cacti and is derived from their slimy or mucilaginous sap).
We had to go around the hill because it was full of babosos and we did not want to end up covered in thorns.
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Refers to any living being, whether a person or an animal, considered in direct relation to the parents who conceived it. It is the immediate offspring of a father, a mother, or both.
Doña Lupe is very proud because her youngest hijo just graduated from college (Doña is a respectful title used for an older woman).
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The division of the nervous system that operates automatically and controls involuntary functions. It consists of nerve networks and ganglia located along the spine that regulate heart rate and organ activity.
In anatomy class they explained to us how the sistema simpático activates when you get a scare and your pulse speeds up.
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