Chichón
A bump or knot on the skin caused by a hard blow, typically on the head.
Hey, what happened to the kid, why does he have a chichón?
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PanamáMetele valor
To put more energy, intensity, or effort into a task. It is often used to tell someone to turn up the volume or give something more oomph.
Hey, métele valor to that music, I can't hear a thing.
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Cañón
A small, bar-shaped pastry roll filled with jam (commonly guava paste in Panama).
The kid wants a cañón, go buy it for him.
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De alante
Something very stylish, flashy, or of top-tier quality.
Hey, those shoes are De alante, man.
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Estar en bosnia
To be completely out of it, clueless, or spaced out while performing a task or being told something.
I told you, the thing is that you did not listen to me because you were Estar en bosnia, man.
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Comiste en paila
A question used to call out someone who is talking way too much or being a chatterbox. (Refers to a folk belief that eating directly from the cooking pot makes a person talkative.)
Why are you talking so much? Comiste en paila today or what?
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Comer en paila
To eat a massive amount of food or pig out. (A paila is a large metal cooking pan common in Panamanian households, so the phrase suggests someone eating enough to fill the entire pot).
Jorge? That kid has been known to comer en paila since he popped out of his mom's belly.
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Cucurucho
A shack or house in such poor condition that it is falling apart or about to collapse.
She studied hard to get her family out of that cucurucho.
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Cuatro gatos
An expression used to indicate that there are very few people present at a place or event.
Only cuatro gatos showed up to that party, man.
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Raspadura
Unrefined cane sugar sold in hard blocks, produced by boiling down sugarcane juice and letting it solidify in molds.
Put a little piece of raspadura in the chicha (a traditional fruit or grain-based drink), it is healthier than sugar.
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Jumarse
To get wasted or hammered, either to drown one's sorrows or to have fun with friends.
That guy got dumped by his girlfriend, so he is in the mood to jumarse.
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Keton
A pack of cigarettes.
Hey, man, pass a Keton.
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Is
The word sí (yes) spelled backwards. It is a slang way to agree or say yes (reversing words or syllables is a common practice in Panamanian slang).
Is, let's go there right away.
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Lírica
A compelling story, tale, or piece of news worth listening to.
Hold on, I am going to drop a lírica that you are going to love.
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Pinchi pinchi
Inseparable friends who are always together, thick as thieves.
My son is pinchi pinchi with your nephew.
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La pacheca
A minor scam or letdown that, while not a major crime, leaves a person feeling frustrated or screwed over. It usually describes someone flaking on a commitment or failing to finish a task they were supposed to do.
Joselito pulled la pacheca on me. Look at how he left this work half-done and never came back to finish it.
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Nueve letras
A nickname for Panama's most popular brand of sugarcane spirit, Seco Herrerano. It is called this because the word Herrerano contains nine letters (Seco is a clear, high-proof spirit and is considered the national liquor of Panama).
For that party we gotta buy 6 cases of nueve letras.
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Garra
A soul brother or a ride-or-die friend. Someone who sticks by you through thick and thin.
Hey, Garra, lend me 20 bucks and I will pay you back tomorrow, friend.
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Desguañangao
In terrible condition, falling apart, or completely busted. It describes a physical object that is so worn out or damaged that it needs to be thrown out or replaced.
That chair is way too desguañangá for your grandma to sit in. Find her another one.
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En bosnia
Clueless, spaced out, or completely out of the loop. It describes someone who is too mentally lost or disconnected to notice what is happening around them.
No, dude, you are en Bosnia. That bar closed a long time ago, man.
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Petatearse
To kick the bucket or croak (derived from the traditional practice of wrapping a corpse in a woven straw mat, or petate, for burial).
Oh, Julia, Don Jorge petateó on us. Now who are we going to ask for store credit, girl?
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Pilinki
A cheapskate or stingy person who cuts corners even on the bare essentials.
My boyfriend is such a pilinki, girl. I am so embarrassed to go out with him...
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Lokoide
A nutjob or a crackpot. Used to describe someone who says things so nonsensical or hilariously absurd they sound like they are coming from someone who is not mentally sound.
That lokoide Jairo told me he was going to China in a little fishing boat.
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cataño
Old, elderly, or past one's prime. Used to describe people or animals that are getting up there in years.
Aw, look at that beautiful dog... but he is already cataño...
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Recula
Moving in reverse or backing up. It is specifically used when talking about parking or maneuvering a vehicle.
Back in de recula so you are lined up right! Go ahead, I will let you know!
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Cómico
A person or situation that is extremely funny or hilarious.
Oh, that joke they told me yesterday was so cómico!
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Churrusco
A term used to describe very curly, kinky, or tightly coiled hair (synonymous with the Panamanian term cus cus).
Pepe's kid came out with churrusco hair, you should see how beautiful he is.
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Emparapetao
An object that has been patched up or fixed in a makeshift, sloppy way using whatever materials were available.
Listen, throw out that emparapetao umbrella and buy yourself a new one. Aren't you embarrassed?
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Chicha de caña
A refreshing drink made from fresh sugarcane juice, often served with lime. (In Panama, the word chicha refers to any non-alcoholic fruit juice or sweet beverage rather than the fermented corn drink found in other regions).
We brought some chicha de caña for lunch.
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Palanquear
To pull strings or use one's influence and connections to help someone get a favor or a job. (The term refers to using a lever, or palanca, as social leverage).
I am just waiting for my cousin to palanquear for me to get into that company.
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Piñatero
A label for a baseball player who is incapable of hitting a pitch. The term comes from comparing their swing to the way a blindfolded person tries to hit a piñata at a birthday party (baseball is a major sport in Panama).
Nah, what a trash piñatero. That is why we always lose.
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doble cara
A two-faced person or a hypocrite who acts inconsistently with their supposed moral standards or principles.
Felipe is a doble cara, that is why everyone dislikes him
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Raspaito
Scratch-off lottery tickets that reveal winning or losing numbers when the surface is scraped away (they are a popular form of instant gambling in Panama).
Mrs. Mary bought a raspaito the other day and, boom, fifty thousand dollars, girl. Can you believe it?
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Vende Patria
A sellout or a flake who initially agrees with a plan or a person but then switches sides without feeling any guilt. (In Panama, this term meaning 'traitor to the homeland' is often used jokingly among friends when someone changes their mind or flakes on a plan).
Vende patria! You said we were going to drink beer, not hard liquor!
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La maria
The domestic worker or cleaning lady. This specific name is used as a generic term because it is so common that people assume the maid will likely be named Maria.
We are going to have to get ourselves a Maria because with so many kids I am already going crazy.
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Cómo ñinga no
A rhetorical expression used to aggressively insist that something must be done or to question why it has not been done yet. (In Panama, ñinga is a vulgar intensifier similar to fuck or hell).
Cómo ñinga no are you going to buy the soap if I gave you the money?
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Hijo de la luna
An indigenous person born with albinism (specifically common among the Guna people of Panama, where they hold a special mythological status).
In that indigenous territory there are many hijos de la luna. Why do you think that is?
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Oye eso
An ironic expression used to show disbelief or skepticism toward a story or a boastful claim, similar to saying 'Listen to this guy' or 'Yeah, right'.
A: At that party yesterday I hooked up with four girls, man. B: Four girls? Oye eso!
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Tas creyendo
A rhetorical question used to boast, suggesting that the listener is impressed, fascinated, or even falling for the speaker's skills or charms.
Ah, did you see how I dance salsa? Tas creyendo, or what?
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Pelar el bollo
A slang expression used to say that someone has died, equivalent to kicking the bucket. (A bollo is a traditional Panamanian corn dough roll wrapped in corn husks.)
"Neighbor Josefa peló el bollo early this morning. She was already very old."
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ñaño
A gay man (in Panama this term refers to a homosexual man, whereas in other regions it usually means brother or close friend).
Did you know that Mauricio's brother is a total ñaño?
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Desguañangao
Used for an object that is in bad shape or falling apart. When describing a person, it means they are dressed poorly, looking disheveled, or like a total mess.
Look, what happened to your wife wearing that desguañangao dress? Don't you give her money to buy clothes?
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Cocodrila
An unattractive or ugly woman.
No, do not introduce me to that cocodrila, I already have a girlfriend.
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Come arroz
A slang term for children, characterizing them as extra mouths to feed (rice is a fundamental dietary staple in Panama).
Use a condom, son, because you are not ready to be raising come arroz yet.
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Chuchita
A person who is constantly taken advantage of by others, like a doormat or a pushover. (This term is vulgar as it is derived from a slang word for female genitals used to imply submissiveness).
The thing is that Julio is his wife's chuchita.
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Culona
A woman with a large backside or a big ass.
Damn mami, you are so Culona, won't you give me a little piece?
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Culatrona
A person, typically a woman, with a large and attractive backside.
Mario's sister is such a fine Culatrona...
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Gargola
A very ugly woman. So hideous she would scare the shit out of you.
That gargola comes out at night and kills you, man.
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