Street words and phrases used in Colombia, with definitions and examples written by their people.
To stuff one's face or chow down. It refers to the act of eating, especially in large amounts or with a huge appetite. It is a very common, informal way to say someone is digging into a big meal.
Come on, sit down at the table already, lunch is served and it is time to jartar.
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This refers to the human buttocks or an animal tail. In Colombia, it is a very common and informal way to refer to someone's backside or butt.
Walk faster and move that rabo, we are already late for the party.
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Used to describe someone who shows exceptional guts and is not intimidated by tough or dangerous situations. It refers to a person who faces challenges with great grit and willpower (drawing on the image of a bull's strength and bravery).
That kid is such a Toro, he went into that sketchy neighborhood all by himself to get back the bike they stole from him.
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A sarcastic jab or indirect remark meant to needle or provoke someone. It is a form of passive-aggressive criticism used to attack someone without being blunt (the word literally refers to the sharp point of a goad used to provoke bulls).
Stop throwing puyas at me and tell me once and for all what bothers you about my work.
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A person who is dressed up very elegantly or formally, typically for a special event or party. It describes someone looking sharp and wearing their best clothes.
What is with that piruca look? It is not like you are getting married today in that suit.
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An informal and often derogatory slang term used in Colombia to refer to a police officer. It is commonly used in street language to identify uniformed members of the police force.
As soon as they saw the pocholo get out of the patrol car, everyone who was on the corner scattered.
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An informal term used to refer to a single peso. It is typically used in phrases to emphasize that a person is completely broke, equivalent to saying they do not have a single cent.
That business ruined me and now I do not have even one manco for lunch.
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Informal Colombian slang for the head. It is frequently used in casual contexts or to describe hits to the head (in standard Spanish, the word refers to an animal gizzard).
That kid hit himself against the door frame and now he has a huge bump right on his molleja.
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A street slang term used in Colombia for a police officer. It is typically used in informal settings to alert others that the cops are nearby.
We have to leave the corner now because that guineo has been staring at us for a while and he is going to ask for our papers.
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The common word for banana in several parts of the country, especially along the Caribbean Coast. It refers to both the ripe fruit and the green ones meant for cooking (in the Caribbean region of Colombia, this term is standard instead of the word banano).
Do you want me to bring you a GUINEO for breakfast or would you rather have another fruit?
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A derogatory term used in Colombia to describe a woman considered extremely ugly or unattractive. The word refers to a small species of caiman, comparing the person's appearance to that of the reptile (the Spectacled Caiman is common in Colombian wetlands).
That guy is way too good-looking to be dating such a babilla, they really do not match at all.
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A collective betting pool or pot organized among friends or colleagues to predict sports results, usually soccer matches. Participants contribute a set amount of money, and whoever guesses the scores correctly wins the jackpot.
The World Cup is about to start, so pass the paper around to write down the predictions for the office polla.
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A common Colombian term for a mustache. It refers to any facial hair on the upper lip, ranging from a teenager's first peach fuzz to a full, thick mustache.
That man has such a long bozo that it almost gets in his soup when he eats.
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A term for a noble, helpful, and pure-hearted person. This describes someone you can trust completely because they will never let you down.
My neighbor is a plancha, the other day he helped me fix the plumbing and did not want to charge me a single cent.
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The person someone sees for a secret romantic or sexual relationship behind their partner's back. It is the side piece or the third person in an act of infidelity. (In many Spanish-speaking countries this word means waiter or young man, but in Colombian slang it specifically refers to a clandestine lover).
That guy got kicked out of the house because his wife found some really steamy messages he was sending to his moza.
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To get into a mess or a complicated situation. It also means to get hyped up, to rush, or to be high on stimulants. Additionally, it is used when someone talks you into a shady situation or a scam that ends up causing you trouble.
That buddy embaló me with the story that the business was a sure thing, and now I am the one stuck paying back all that money.
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To pierce the skin or a surface with a sharp or pointed object. It is the common way to describe getting an injection or a shot, or accidentally getting stuck by something sharp.
My nephew has to go to the hospital so they can pinchar him since that infection won't go away.
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To throw someone in jail or put them behind bars. It describes the act of the police taking someone into custody and sending them straight to a cell or prison.
Be very careful with what you are doing, because if the cops catch you they are going to end up ENCHUSPAR you.
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A traditional dish made of white corn kernels slow-cooked until tender. It is usually served in a bowl with fresh milk and sweetened with shaved panela (unrefined cane sugar) or a piece of bocadillo (thick guava paste).
After that heavy stew, the only thing I have room for is a bowl of ice-cold mazamorra.
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These are the tiny fragments or crumbs that fall off bread, cookies, or any baked goods when broken or eaten. It is the small residue typically left on a plate, clothing, or the table after eating.
Wipe the table with a cloth, you left it covered in boronas after eating that pan de bono (a traditional Colombian cheese bread).
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A popular slang term for cash, moolah, or money in general. It usually refers to the paper bills or funds someone has ready to spend.
If you did not bring the billullo, we are not going to be able to buy the beers for the barbecue.
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An expression used to confirm that an instruction or idea has been perfectly understood. It is a direct way of saying that the message was received without any confusion.
I already understood all the steps to set up the equipment, it is nítido to me.
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A phonetic variation of the word hombre (man), extremely popular in the Caribbean region of Colombia. It is used to address a friend or as an interjection to add emphasis to any emotion within a conversation (it is a staple of the coastal Costeño dialect and vallenato music).
Aw ombe, do not tell me you forgot the keys at the house again!
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A versatile filler word used to add emphasis to any sentiment or idea during a conversation. It functions as a linguistic bridge that changes meaning based on the context, often expressing frustration, surprise, or simple resignation (it is a phonetic shortening of the word hombre, or man, but is used regardless of the gender of the person being addressed).
Stop nagging about the same thing, ombe, I already told you I am not going!
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An expression used to tell someone to be alert, pay attention, or be careful. It acts as a warning to stay sharp and avoid mistakes or dangerous situations.
Pilas with the suitcase, do not leave it unattended or someone will swipe it!
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A vulgar Colombian slang term for the penis. It is based on the physical resemblance between the male anatomy and the root vegetable of the same name (the yuca is a long, thick tuber widely eaten in the region).
You could see that guy's whole YUCA through those tight pants he wore.
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A colloquial and somewhat old-fashioned term used to refer to a domestic worker or maid who handles household chores.
The coima who works at my aunt and uncle's house cooks the best beans in the whole region.
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Used to describe someone very shrewd, sharp, and impossible to fool. It refers to a person who is always one step ahead because they possess street smarts and know how to handle themselves (malicia indigena is a Colombian term for a specific type of intuitive cunning or wit).
Don't try to scam my uncle with that business deal, the old man is very jodido and will catch on immediately.
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Refers to someone's nerve, gall, or shamelessness. It describes the excessive audacity of a person who takes advantage of others or a situation without feeling any embarrassment.
What a concha that neighbor has, he mooches off my wifi and then has the nerve to complain that the signal is slow!
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In Colombian street slang, a small dose or portion of basuco (a cheap, crude form of cocaine paste). It is the common term used by addicts for their hit or daily dose. (Basuco is a highly addictive, low-cost drug prevalent in Colombian cities).
The homeless man was begging for coins at the traffic light to see if he could get enough for a confite.
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Used to describe a chaotic situation or a place in total disarray. It refers to the kind of mess that breaks out when things get out of hand and nobody knows what is going on.
I got to the office and it was a real despelote because the system went down and all the customers were yelling.
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A popular Colombian insult used to call someone stupid, clueless, or prone to doing absurd things. It describes someone who is acting like a total idiot (the term is a vulgar contraction of dickface).
Stop being such a careverga and pay attention to what you are doing, you almost broke the tool!
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Refers to a person who acts clumsily, lacks common sense, or is overly naive. It is also used for a suck-up or brown-noser who behaves servilely to gain favors. (The term literally means calf, suggesting someone who is simple-minded or easily manipulated).
That guy is such a becerro, he is always running errands for the boss to see if he can get that promotion.
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Refers to the strong, repulsive odor coming from the armpits when a person has sweated a lot or lacks good hygiene. It is that pungent stench that typically appears when deodorant wears off.
Hey, son, put something on those pits because you have a grajo that would make anyone dizzy!
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A slang adjective for someone who has lost their mind or acts erratically. It is used to describe a person who is totally nuts or out of touch with reality.
Watch out for that neighbor because he went totally cocodrilo and started throwing rocks at the cars.
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The standard Colombian term for the sweet, yellow fruit eaten fresh and raw. It is distinct from the plátano, which is a starchy plantain that requires cooking (in Colombia, banano refers exclusively to the soft fruit eaten as a snack, while plátano is a starchy cooking staple).
Put a banano in your bag in case you get hungry on the way to work.
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A vulgar Colombian slang term for the anus or the butt. It is a crude way to refer to that part of the body in everyday conversation.
Hurry up and stop complaining, you act like your fundillo is on fire!
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A popular and informal slang term used to refer to a person's buttocks or rear end. It is widely used in everyday Colombian speech to talk about the backside with a touch of humor or familiarity.
Hey, walk fast because that dog is going to bite you in the fundillo!
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A person who is extremely annoying, a nuisance, or who constantly whines about trivial things. It is used to describe someone whose attitude is exhausting and exasperating for others.
Don't invite that guy to the party, he's such a chupon and ends up ruining everyone's time with his complaining.
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A very vulgar and explicit slang term for a woman's genitals in Colombia. It is used in informal or street contexts as a direct equivalent to pussy (the word cuca is another common Colombian slang term for this).
That dress is so short that when she sits down you can see her whole chocha.
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In Colombian street and criminal slang, to be murdered or whacked. The expression refers to placing a checkmark next to a target on a hit list once they have been eliminated (a checkmark is known as a chulo in Colombia).
They chuliaron that kid on the corner yesterday because he started owing money to the wrong people.
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Colombian street slang used to indicate that someone has been murdered. It is a blunt and raw way to say someone was taken out, very common in criminal contexts. (The term likely refers to being checked off a list, like a checkmark).
Be careful over there, they chuliaron a young man in front of the butcher shop last night.
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Refers to the absolute nerve or audacity of a person who acts with total shamelessness and feels no embarrassment for their actions. It is that excessive gall shown when doing something wrong without flinching.
That guy has some serious cachaza, he has owed me money for six months and today he comes to ask me to lend him more for a beer!
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Refers to a person who tries to get in good with superiors or authority figures through exaggerated flattery and unnecessary favors. It is a common term for a brown-noser or kiss-ass who attempts to gain special treatment by being a total suck-up.
That Ricardo is a total lambon, he is always offering to do the boss's work so he gets promoted fast.
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A physical fight or brawl, also used to describe a very rowdy or lively party (in Colombian slang, terms for chaotic scenes often apply to both fights and celebrations).
That gathering got out of hand and ended in a massive jerga when the neighbors showed up to complain about the noise.
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A colloquial name for the ruana, a rustic, square wool cloak worn for warmth in rural areas. It is a traditional peasant garment with a slit in the middle for the head (a poncho-like wrap typical of the Colombian highlands).
Put on your jerga before heading out, because the cold in these mountains shows no mercy.
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A physical beating or thrashing given as punishment or a reprimand. It is most commonly used when an adult disciplines a child with a sharp strike, either by hand or using an object like a belt.
Keep misbehaving and as soon as we get home I am going to give you a pela you will never forget.
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A colloquial Colombian expression used to suggest that a man is gay or is starting to show interest in other men. It is used in informal settings to hint at someone's sexual orientation indirectly.
Looking at the way my cousin is acting, I think se le moja la canoa for a while now and he still hasn't told us anything.
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