Words and definitions Lara has contributed to the street dictionary.
While it typically refers to the staple Mexican flatbread, in youth slang this word is used to mean lesbian (the term refers to the hand-clapping motion used to make corn tortillas by hand, which is a visual metaphor for lesbian sex).
'That girl is a tortilla, a friend told me' and 'If you are a tortilla, you got the wrong idea about me.'
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While it is not a phrase you want to hear, it can help you avoid embarrassing moments because it means your armpits smell bad or you have B.O. (In Mexican slang, the squirrel is a metaphor for the armpit).
Take a shower, te chilla la ardilla. With this heat, te chilla la ardilla.
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A mean, malicious, or ill-intentioned person who looks to cause harm to others.
You are a canijo, I do not deserve what you are doing. That canija is going to have to answer to my dad.
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To be completely stunned, shocked, or paralyzed by a piece of news or someone's actions.
I found out what that guy was doing and me quedé de a seis. Me quedé de a seis when they called to threaten me.
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Used when someone crosses the line, is being unfair, or is trying to take advantage of a person or a situation. It describes behavior that is out of order, cheeky, or exploitative.
'Don't do that, te pasas de lanza.' 'With that price, te pasas de lanza.' 'You want to pasarte de lanza with the school project.'
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A long-standing slang term meaning to look at, watch, or check something out (it is a phonetic adaptation of the English word 'watch').
"wacha how I do this" and "wacha so you learn how to do it"
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To arrive just in the nick of time or to barely make it by the skin of your teeth. It describes showing up at the very last second before being officially late or missing an opportunity. (The term comes from panza, meaning belly, like sliding in on your stomach at the last moment).
I arrived de panzazo, the plane almost left without me. Don't show up de panzazo, get organized!
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A common informal greeting in Mexico used to ask how someone is doing or how their day has been, similar to asking what is up or what is the deal.
'Que rollo buddy?' 'No shit dude, Que rollo?'
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A slang expression used to indicate that there is no problem or nothing to worry about. It is often used to show resignation, like saying it is what it is or oh well. (In Mexico, while pedo literally means fart, it is used in many slang phrases to mean problem or issue).
Whatever, Ni pedo, just leave that problem as it is; Ni pedo man, everything is cool.
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A vulgar or crude way to tell someone to chill out or relax. (The word raja literally refers to the butt crack, making the phrase similar to telling someone to chill their ass.)
Go to sleep already, relaja la raja. Relaja la raja, we are here now.
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A crude slang expression used to describe someone who is scared or chickening out. It implies that a person is losing their nerve or getting cold feet in a vulgar way.
I am not going, se me arruga la verruga. Are you going to arrugar la verruga? It is just a game.
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A person who is rude, foul-mouthed, or unrefined. It refers to someone with bad manners who uses vulgar language.
Don't even invite that pelada to the house. You're a pelada, aren't you ashamed?
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A pickup truck or any large vehicle used for hauling cargo. (This term is a phonetic adaptation of the English word truck and is particularly common in Northern Mexico and border regions).
Let's go in the troca so we have more space. That troca is awesome.
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To be Tronco is to be stressed out, anxious, or tense. (The term refers to the rigidity of a tree trunk, describing someone stiff with stress).
This non-stop work has me Tronco: My wife is Tronca because of the kids.
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A casual greeting used among young people. It is a playful, softened version of the phrase que pedo, meaning what's up, how is it going, or what's the deal (the word pex is used to avoid the vulgarity of the word pedo, which literally means fart).
Que pex dude. Hey, que pex, what's up with you?
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A person who shows up to a place or event without an invitation: a moocher, freeloader, or gatecrasher.
I'm not going to go as a gorrón. That dude is a gorrón, I see him at every party. Let's go as gorrones, they don't know us anyway.
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An informal way to tell someone to keep their word and not chicken out or back out of a plan. (In Mexican culture, this expression is a common appeal to one's courage and reliability).
We are going to the club, so no te rajes. / I rajo, my mom is going to catch me. / You always te rajas, it is better if we do not even tell you.
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To treat someone or pick up the tab, usually for food, drinks, or small expenses.
"Pichame some beers" : "I am going to pichar you some tacos" : "I am going to ask my dad to pichar me some pesos"
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Something chafa is crappy, of poor quality, or a letdown. Depending on the context, if a person is chafa, it means they are lame, they do things poorly, or they are boring.
That shirt is chafa, I prefer brand name ones. If you are chafa, the teacher is going to give us a bad grade. I do not like chafa cars, I prefer sports cars.
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A person who is tacky, trashy, or uncouth, lacking style or refinement (it is a common Mexican term that often carries classist overtones, used to mock someone for their perceived lack of social grace).
"That girl is a naca" "I do not hang out with nacos" "You look so naca!"
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A vulgar expression used to convey extreme frustration, stress, or the feeling of being completely screwed. It is used when a situation is unbearable or when someone is being constantly bothered. (Cultural note: The phrase invokes La Chingada, a complex Mexican concept of a symbolic violated mother, used here as a powerful intensifier for bad luck or failure).
'Me carga la chingada with this job'; 'Ya se te cargó la chingada because of that guy'; 'I have to call the insurance, me carga la chingada!'
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To chip in, pay your share, or cough up money for a collective expense.
mochate for the check. We are going out, but you have to mochate. That guy never mocha, better not to invite him, he is so stingy.
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To do someone a solid, help them out, or cover for them regarding a task or situation.
Hazme el paro at the office so I can go out to eat: I will do the Hazme el paro for you, but bring me a soda.
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Verga refers to the male sexual organ, the penis. It is a common and highly vulgar slang term.
'My Verga hurts' and 'That Verga is very small'
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Describes a person who is mean, unkind, or a jerk. The term refers specifically to a person's unpleasant behavior or character rather than their physical appearance.
You are so gacho, we do not want to hang out with you. That guy is so gacho, I did not think he was like that. He treated her really gacho.
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An asshole or a mean-spirited person who only thinks of themselves and hurts others.
That guy is an ojete, nobody hangs out with him. I think that girl is an ojete.
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A Marica is a coward or a pussy (man or woman), referring to someone who is fearful or does not dare to do anything.
Am I a Marica about iguanas? / You are a Marica, we are not taking you to the fair.
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A very common and versatile vulgarity in Mexico, usually meaning to annoy, bother, or fuck with someone.
"Stop chingar and get to work"; "My boyfriend is chinga y chinga about the same topic"
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Being caught off guard or blindsided by a situation, leaving you unsure of how to react or answer (the expression refers to a driver being surprised by a sharp curve in the road).
Me agarraste en curva, I have no idea. That exam me agarró en curva, oh well, let's see what I can do. The boss's question me agarró en curva.
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A chavo is a young guy, kid, or teenager. The female version is chava. (This is the standard informal term for youth in Mexico, similar to kid or youngster).
The chavos are going to high school. Those chavos make a good team. Honestly, that chava is beautiful.
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This term describes a mood. When you are agüitado, you feel sad, down, or bummed out, lacking the motivation to do anything.
Leaving that girl has me agüitado. My girl is agüitada, I think it is because of school.
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A common Mexican exclamation used to express shock, surprise, or awe at something that just happened.
¡A la bestia!, that guy actually did it: ¡A la bestia!, that roller coaster is incredible.
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This is a common slang term used as a filler or to emphasize that something is the absolute truth. It functions like saying honestly or the truth, and it is often used to ask For real? to confirm someone is not joking.
'Is it neta? Did you win the game?' 'The neta is that car is really good.' 'That song is neta cool.'
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Used to describe something that is free or given away at no cost. (This is a playful variation of the more common Mexican slang term de grapa).
"We are giving you these cookies de agrapa" "Let's go to the supermarket, they are giving things away de agrapa this weekend" "You got it de agrapa, how lucky!"
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To persistently tease, mock, or give someone a hard time. It is a form of relentless ribbing, often among friends or family (in Mexico, this is a common way for people to bond through mutual mockery).
"That guy just keeps on echa y echa carrilla" / "My sister's brats spend all their time echando carrilla"
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To hang in there or endure a long wait, usually when someone is testing your patience or making you wait for a long time. It can be used by the person stuck waiting or by the person apologizing for the delay. (The term literally refers to withstanding the rod, implying one must be tough enough to take it).
I am still aguantando vara for that girl; Sorry, I made you aguantar vara; I am tired of aguantando vara.
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To check someone out or enjoy some eye candy. (The expression literally means to have a little eye taco, implying that looking at an attractive person is like treating yourself to a delicious snack).
Let's go to the beach to echarnos un taquito de ojo. We are echándonos un taquito de ojo at this party.
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A severe scolding or a massive ass-chewing. It is most commonly used to describe the intense verbal lashing parents give their children for misbehaving.
I got a Cagotiza for getting home late last night. That kid deserves a Cagotiza for being a brat.
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A slang expression used by teenagers as a blunt and crude invitation to have sex. The term literally means to nail, providing a very direct and unsubtle proposition.
I like you, vamos a clavar. I really want to go clavar with that girl.
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A joto is a gay man. This slang term is used exclusively for men and is generally considered an offensive slur. (The term comes from the J-wing of the Lecumberri prison in Mexico City, where gay prisoners were once segregated).
I think that guy is a joto. My neighbor is a joto, he goes out with different men every day.
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To be a mal tercio is to be a third wheel or an unwanted extra. It describes a person who is out of place in a social setting, creating an awkward situation for everyone involved.
If we go to that party we are going to be a mal tercio. / This is a total mal tercio, we better leave.
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Someone who loves to show off and always wants to be the center of attention in a group (the word literally means lantern or street lamp).
The farol just arrived, now the party is finally getting lively. I am the farol of my house.
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A PuTAZo is a heavy blow, a hard hit, or a nasty fall. It is a vulgar term used to describe physical strikes in a fight or forceful impacts in accidents. (In Mexican Spanish, the suffix -azo is often added to words to indicate a strike or blow).
I took a nasty PuTAZo on the door. I gave that guy a PuTAZo so he would leave me alone. We got hit hard, we took a hell of a PuTAZo on the highway.
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In Mexico, calling someone a Mamón is an insult. It describes someone who is stuck-up, conceited, and obnoxious: a person that few people can tolerate. (The term güero refers to a fair-skinned or blonde person).
"You are a Mamón, dude." "That blonde guy is a Mamón, we better not even invite him."
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To go to a gig or an informal party. This is a common phrase among young people used when heading out to a social gathering, typically one involving music or drinking. (The term comes from the verb tocar, meaning to play an instrument, and originally referred specifically to a small live music performance).
Let's Ir a un toquin, there will be a lot of girls. Do you want to Ir a un toquin? Let's go drinking.
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An expression used to indicate that one does not know the answer to a question or has no idea about a situation, often with a tone of indifference. (In Mexico, 'la bola' historically referred to the unorganized masses during the Revolution, suggesting that if everyone was involved, no one specific person knows what happened).
'Sepa la bola who sent that money.' 'Do you know where the dog is? Sepa la bola.'
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To whistle. In Mexico, this is the common, everyday term used instead of the more formal verb silbar.
I was chiflando at you and you would not turn around. I still have not learned how to chiflar.
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A Chela is a beer, the standard slang term for the drink in Mexico.
Let's go grab some Chelas. Those Chelas are nice and cold to take to the beach. I'll bring the Chelas.
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