Street words and phrases used in Chile, with definitions and examples written by their people.
A shady deal, scam, or rigged maneuver done under the table to gain an unfair advantage. It describes a dirty trick or backroom arrangement used to cheat others and favor a specific person.
That public bid was pure trinquete: everyone knew beforehand that the boss's brother-in-law's company was going to win.
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A term for someone who is extremely spacey, slow to react, or clumsy. It describes a person who seems lost or struggles to grasp what is happening around them (referring to a mole, an animal that is practically blind).
That topo guy, I told him three times the key was hanging behind the door and he is still looking for it!
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Used to describe something that is overpriced or way more expensive than expected. It is commonly used when a bill or a purchase is much steeper than you planned for.
I went to get the car fixed at the shop and the bill ended up being pretty SALADO, I did not think the spare parts would be that price.
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A term for someone who is extremely unpleasant, boring, or hard to tolerate. It is used when someone is such a drag that their presence or attitude ends up annoying everyone else.
I can't stand Cata's cousin, the guy is a manteca and he always ends up ruining the party.
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Used to describe something as excellent, high quality, or very impressive. It is a common way to say that a thing or situation is cool or great (short for professional, used to indicate high skill or quality).
Hey, the video you edited for the university project turned out so P.R.O!
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A slang adjective used to describe something of high quality, impressive, or very well-made. It is used when a situation or object exceeds expectations and is considered top-tier or cool.
Hey, the video you edited for work turned out so P.R.O.
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Used in rural settings to describe a horse in very poor physical condition, especially if it is extremely thin or weak. It is a derogatory way to refer to a low-quality animal that is unfit for work or riding. (In Chile, this term refers to livestock that lacks the stamina needed for farm labor).
That manco cannot even handle a kilometer at a trot because he is so malnourished, better let him rest.
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A derogatory way to describe a person who lacks influence or authority and is only there to do other people's errands or follow their whims. It refers to the typical low-level subordinate who gets stuck with the most tedious or basic grunt work.
The new guy has been at the office for two months and they still have him as a goma, going out to buy lunch for everyone.
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Used to describe something extraordinary or admirable, blending the words fantastic and fabulous. It is an enthusiastic way to say something is awesome or exceeds expectations (an asado is a traditional barbecue and social event).
Yesterday's barbecue was fantabuloso, you really outdid yourself with the meat seasoning!
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Used in Chilean street slang for a violent punch or hit delivered with the fist. It is a synonym for a combo (the common Chilean term for a punch) or a strike used in a fight.
They started arguing over a fender bender and the driver got out to land a clean coleto right in the other guy's face.
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A private party or gathering where several people participate in group sex without exclusive partners.
Did you hear that the party at the country house ended in one hell of an orgia and everything turned into a total mess?
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Someone who is very sharp, street-smart, and clever at finding ways to get ahead. It describes a person who is always one step ahead and will not let others take advantage of them.
Don't trust that innocent look on his face, the guy is really pillo and he already knows how he is going to win the bet against us.
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Used to describe someone who is totally smitten or hooked on a romantic interest. It refers to a state of intense infatuation where the person is completely captivated by someone else.
Nacho is super agarrado with his new girlfriend, he doesn't talk about anything else all day.
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To be in a committed relationship or date someone exclusively. It describes the stage where a couple is officially together (in Chile, this term is the standard way to say someone is your boyfriend or girlfriend, whereas the word novio usually implies being engaged).
We have been pololeando for almost a year and we have already met each other's families.
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To woo or flirt with someone using sweet talk and charm to win them over. It refers to the initial phase of trying to attract someone you like (in Chile, a pololo or polola is a boyfriend or girlfriend).
Nacho spent the whole party pololeando the new girl to see if he could get her to go out with him.
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A high-energy party or wild celebration with friends that stretches late into the night or until sunrise. It describes an intense bash that lasts all night long.
Get ready because the jarana on Saturday is going to be insane and we will be getting home in the broad daylight.
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A traditional drink made from the pulp of the chirimoya (a creamy fruit often called custard apple). It is a natural juice or smoothie served very cold to enjoy its sweet flavor.
I went to the street market and bought a giant champola to beat the afternoon heat.
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A derogatory and mocking slur used in Chile based on a popular prejudice that these people hunt and eat pigeons (this is a xenophobic stereotype specifically targeting Bolivian immigrants).
That kid looks like a boliviano, look at how he is eyeing the pigeons in the plaza like he wants to throw them in the pot.
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An ironic nickname for someone who has never seen the ocean in person. The joke implies their only knowledge of the sea comes from an old, small television (this refers to Bolivia being a landlocked country that lost its access to the sea to Chile).
Damn, that guy is so lame: he is thirty years old and he is still boliviano because he has never been taken to the beach.
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A derogatory adjective used to insult someone as ignorant, destitute, or stupid. It is specifically used to mock people who blame their poor financial or social status on a lack of access to the sea (referring to the historical conflict where Bolivia lost its coastline to Chile in the 19th century).
That guy is a boliviano who can barely read and swears he is poor because he does not have a beach.
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Someone who fakes interests or an artificial personality to fit in or get attention. It refers to a person who pretends to be a fan or adopts a specific style just to follow a trend, without it being an authentic part of their identity.
Don't buy that guy's story, he is a total POSERO and only wore that Metallica t-shirt (polera is the standard Chilean term for t-shirt) so people would pay attention to him at the party.
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Used to confirm that someone is spot on or has understood a situation perfectly. It is an informal, enthusiastic way to say exactly or bingo.
If we leave now we avoid the whole afternoon traffic jam, right? ecole cua, that is the idea!
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Used to describe someone who is exceptionally sharp, cunning, or quick-witted. This is an individual who is always alert to opportunities and won't let anyone push them around or take advantage of them.
Be careful when negotiating with the sales manager because he is a diablo and he will end up talking you into anything.
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The term for a drinking straw. It is the thin plastic tube used to sip liquids from a container, commonly requested in Chile when ordering a soda or juice. (Note: While this is a standard, polite word in Chile, it is a vulgar slang term for masturbation in many other Spanish-speaking countries).
Waiter, could you bring me a pajita for the little girl's drink, please?
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Used to describe someone with a slight build or very little body fat. It is the go-to term in Chile for someone who is skinny or has no meat on their bones.
My cousin is so flaco that you can see all his ribs when he takes his shirt off.
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A drinking straw. This is the common Chilean term for the thin, hollow tube used to suck liquids from a glass or bottle, known in other Spanish-speaking countries as a sorbete or pitillo.
Can you hand me a pajita for my drink? I do not like drinking straight from the can.
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In Chilean slang, this refers to someone's face or facial expression. It is an informal way to talk about a person's look or features in everyday speech.
You had such a tired facha that you were completely wiped out when you got back from work. (Pega is a Chilean term for work).
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A hardcore fan of Japanese animation and culture who covers their clothes and backpack with pins, patches, and accessories of their favorite characters. They are known for hanging out at places like Eurocentro (a downtown Santiago mall popular with alternative subcultures) and for their encyclopedic knowledge of shows, though they are often teased as nerds or virgins.
My cousin became a total otaku, now he spends his whole allowance on posters and is always at Portal Lyon (a mall in Santiago known for its geek shops) looking for stuff from new series.
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A derogatory term used for a man with an excessive and ridiculous obsession with anime and Japanese culture. It is used to mock someone who never stops talking about or consuming nothing but cartoon nonsense. (In Chile, people often dismissively refer to any anime as monitos chinos, or Chinese cartoons, regardless of its actual origin).
Don't be such an otaku and stop buying those Chinese cartoon figures that cost a fortune.
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Someone with an excessive obsession with Japanese animation and comics, often called monitos chinos (literally Chinese cartoons, a common local term for any East Asian animation). It applies to those who spend most of their time and money on this hobby with near-religious devotion.
Look at Pipe, he spent all his internship money on a collectible figure because of how otaku he is.
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An extremely vulgar term used in Chile to refer to semen or sperm. It is a crude and colloquial way to describe the fluid expelled during ejaculation.
Watch out for the bedsheet because it got all stained with moca.
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Refers to a real solid person who is always willing to do favors or lend a hand. It is a positive way to describe someone who is helpful, kind, and generous with their time.
My neighbor was a real paleta and helped me change the tire when my car broke down.
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A formal or ironic term for a kiss. It is used to sound mock-sophisticated or to tease friends with pretentious, old-fashioned vocabulary.
Come on, give me an ósculo goodbye before I get on the micro (the standard name for a city bus in Chile).
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Refers to a sudden fainting spell, collapse, or a nervous fit triggered by intense stress or shocking news. It describes that sudden feeling of being unwell that makes you lose consciousness or almost drop to the floor.
My mom almost had a PATATUS when she saw the massive cell phone bill she got!
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A slang term used to describe someone dropping dead suddenly or suffering a fatal health episode, like a heart attack. It refers to an unexpected and immediate death.
We were all having a really quiet lunch when grandpa got the PATATUS and died right there at the table.
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A text-messaging shorthand for the word weon, used to refer to a friend, a random guy, or someone acting like an idiot. It is used constantly in Chile to address or describe someone, with the specific meaning shifting between friendly and insulting based on tone and familiarity.
Did you see what that won did at the party? He fell down all by himself for trying to be funny.
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A vulgar and extremely popular term in Chile used to refer to the dick. It is the most common informal word for the penis (while in other Spanish speaking countries the word means beak or peak, in Chile it is a strong profanity).
The guy got so drunk at the party that he ended up showing his pico to all the guests.
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A common Chilean slang term for a person's buttocks or rear end. Used in informal contexts, it often emphasizes the size or shape of the glutes (the word literally means cake or pound cake).
Those pants look incredible on her because they really show off her whole queque.
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An adjective used to describe something of excellent quality or that is very impressive. It also refers to things that stand out because of their massive size or abundance.
The concert was caballo, I was surprised by the technical setup they put on stage.
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An offensive and vulgar Chilean slur used to mock gay men. The term draws a derogatory comparison between the animal and a passive sexual role, implying the person is meant to be mounted.
Watch out for that guy, people say he is a total Caballo.
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A Chilean slang term for a busybody who habitually interferes in conversations or matters that are not their business. It is used to describe someone who butts in where they are not invited.
Hey, do not be such a colale and stop listening to what I am talking about on the phone with my mom!
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An informal and often vulgar way to refer to a woman's breasts in Chilean slang. It is commonly used as a harsher alternative to pechugas (a standard informal term for breasts).
Josefa bought a padded bra so her tetas look bigger.
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A colloquial and blunt way to refer to a woman's breasts. In everyday Chilean speech it is the standard term, though it is considered vulgar depending on the social setting.
Josefa got her tetas done and now says she feels much more comfortable with her body.
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Informal and direct way to refer to a woman's breasts in everyday Chilean speech. It is the most common term for them and can be considered vulgar or just familiar depending on the context.
Josefa bought a swimsuit that is tight on her tetas.
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In Chilean slang, this term refers to a horse, specifically a fast and well-trained racehorse. It is widely used among horse racing enthusiasts and in rural settings.
Look at how that pingo runs: I am sure he will cross the finish line first by several lengths.
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Someone obsessed with cumbia villera music who usually comes from working-class or marginalized areas, often linked to the flaite identity. They are seen as the cultural successors of the former fans of sound music in Chile. (Cumbia villera is a subgenre of cumbia originating in Argentine slums, flaite is a Chilean term for a street-oriented subculture, and sound is a local 1990s style of cumbia).
That kid went totally Villero, now he never takes off his soccer jersey and spends all day listening to Pibes Chorros.
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Used to describe an extremely bold and determined guy who does not back down from anything. It highlights the bravery of a man who faces difficult situations with a lot of guts.
He did not care that it was three against one and he stood his ground anyway, the kid turned out to be really mampo.
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An old, beat-up car in terrible mechanical condition that barely functions. It is the typical word for a jalopy or clunker that looks like it is going to fall apart on the road.
I do not think we will get very far in that cacharro, better call a taxi to get to the party.
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