Street words and phrases used in Perú, with definitions and examples written by their people.
One of the most intense and common insults in Peru, this phrase crudely refers to the genitals of a person's mother. It is typically used during moments of extreme anger or confrontation to verbally attack someone. (The word concha literally means shell, but in this context, it is a vulgar term for the vulva.)
I am fed up with your lies, la concha tu madre, I do not want to see you ever again!
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To eat, chow down, or grab a meal. It is an extremely common Peruvian slang term used as a direct synonym for having lunch or dinner.
I am starving because I have not been able to jamear anything all day, so let's get to the restaurant fast.
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A vulgar and direct term for male genitals, specifically the testicles. It is the everyday slang for a man's balls.
Poor kid, he fell off his bike and hit his cojones on the crossbar (chibolo is a Peruvian term for a young boy).
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A common Peruvian slang term for a fart. It is used in casual conversation but is generally viewed as crude or vulgar.
Open the window right now because the dog let out a CUESCO and the room already stinks.
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A slang term used to describe very thick or prominent lips, frequently associated with the facial features of people of African descent. It is also used more generally to refer to any large mouth.
That striker has such a big Bemba that he always stands out in the team photos.
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Peruvian street slang for cocaine, named for the similarity between the white color of the drug and bleach. It is widely used in criminal environments and the party scene.
That crazy guy's brain is already fried from doing so much cloro.
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A vulgar and crude term used in informal Peruvian Spanish to refer to the penis. It is typically used among close friends in blunt or coarse contexts (the word literally means mushroom, which is the origin of the slang).
The striker took a direct hit from the ball to the callampa and had to leave the field rolling in pain.
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Used to describe someone who is a total pest or a situation that is unbearable. It refers to a person who is constantly annoying or who becomes a huge nuisance because of how pushy and clingy they are.
I can't stand my neighbor anymore because he is a ladilla, he's always asking for my tools and never returns them.
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Used to describe someone with absolute nerve who feels zero remorse about taking advantage of others. It refers to a person who is incredibly shameless when dodging responsibilities or asking for excessive favors (in Peru, the term implies having a thick shell or skin that makes a person immune to shame).
Your cousin is such a conchuda! She stays at my house for three days, eats all the food, and cannot even be bothered to wash a dish.
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A highly offensive and derogatory slur used to call someone stupid, slow, or brainless. It is a harsh insult that attacks a person's intelligence (originally derived from an ableist term for Down Syndrome).
Be for real, don't be a mongolo and stop saying stupid things in front of everyone.
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A derogatory term used to call someone completely stupid or extremely clumsy. It is used as a harsh insult to highlight a person's lack of awareness or common sense in a clear situation (the word is a slur that originates from an outdated medical term).
Hey, don't be such a mongolo and watch where you're going, you almost missed the entrance!
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A highly offensive slur used to insult someone by suggesting they lack intelligence or are acting clumsy, based on a derogatory reference to people with Down syndrome.
Hey, stop acting like a mongolo and pay attention to what I am explaining to you.
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A term used in Peru to refer to a drinking straw made of plastic or paper. It is the local equivalent of words like pajilla or popote used in other Spanish-speaking regions.
Get me an ice-cold soda and do not forget to bring a sorbete so I can drink it without any trouble.
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A traditional tavern or informal establishment where chicha de jora is brewed and sold. It serves as a popular social hub, usually rustic, and is common in rural areas and older urban neighborhoods. (Chicha de jora is a fermented corn beer that has been a staple in the Andes since the Inca Empire).
After the pickup soccer game, we went to the Chichero on the corner to quench our thirst with a pitcher of ice-cold jora.
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A term for a person who has almond-shaped eyes, typically resulting from a mix of Andean and Asian physical traits. It is very common in everyday speech to describe someone with indigenous-mestizo roots who has slanted eyes (in Peru, this is often used as a casual nickname or descriptor regardless of whether the person actually has Chinese ancestry).
Hey, tell the chino to hurry up with the order because we have to leave now.
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Used in games or physical activities to request a temporary pause or a breather. It functions like a timeout, shouted when someone needs to stop the action to rest or handle a minor issue (common in traditional street games).
Hey, chepa! Wait for me a second, my sneakers came untied.
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In Peruvian slang, this refers to someone clumsy, dim-witted, or lacking finesse. It defines a person who makes obvious mistakes by acting with brute force or without thinking about the consequences (literally horse, implying a lack of grace).
You are such a Caballo, you just knocked all the paint onto the floor because you weren't looking where you were going!
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A slang term for a very close friend, sidekick, or someone you trust completely. It describes an inseparable companion with whom you share a bond of brotherhood and loyalty (the word literally refers to a pair of oxen joined by a yoke).
Don't worry about the move, my yunta is going to lend me his truck to carry all the boxes.
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It refers to any drug, substance, or even food used to boost a man's erection. Peruvians use this term for anything that guarantees the mast stays firm and ready for action during intimacy.
Kid, that black clam ceviche is pure viagra: you are going to show off all night with your girl (black clam ceviche is a dish from the Peruvian coast widely considered a powerful aphrodisiac).
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In Peruvian slang, this term refers to a person's buttocks. It is typically used in an informal or cheeky manner to describe someone who has a large or impressive rear end (literally, queque means cake or sponge cake).
Hey, look at the great queque on that guy who just walked past!
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A colloquial and somewhat vulgar term used to refer to a woman's panties or underwear. It specifically describes the garment when it is small or visible through other clothing.
That dress is way too sheer, your whole forro shows through every time the sun hits you.
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A traditional stall or shop where chicha is made and sold (chicha is a traditional Andean fermented beverage, usually made from corn).
Let's go down to the Chichero near the plaza to have a really cold pitcher of fermented corn beer.
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Someone who is completely shameless and takes advantage of others' trust or kindness for their own gain. It refers to a person who acts with pure nerve, dodging responsibilities or asking for favors without the slightest bit of embarrassment.
Carlos is so conchudo, he shows up to the party without contributing a single sol (the currency of Peru) to the pot and then he is the first one to finish all the food.
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A vulgar and offensive slang term for the penis. It is widely used in informal Peruvian Spanish to refer to the male sexual organ in a crude or blunt way.
That drunk guy pulled out his verga in the middle of the party to start taking a piss, how disgusting.
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A vulgar term for the female genitals. In a Peruvian social context, it also refers to the nerve or audacity of a shameless person who takes advantage of situations or others without embarrassment.
What a Concha your cousin has, he showed up at the party without an invitation and on top of that finished all the beer.
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A die-hard fan of chicha music, a popular Peruvian genre that blends tropical cumbia with Andean sounds. It refers to people who love the music and frequent the venues where it is played (chicha music is a symbol of identity for Andean migrants in big cities like Lima).
My uncle is a total Chichero, he is always blasting his Chacalon albums on the weekends (Chacalon was a legendary singer known as the Pharaoh of Chicha).
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A constant pest or annoying person whose persistence is exhausting. It describes someone who is a total nuisance and won't leave others alone. (The word literally refers to a crab louse, suggesting someone who sticks to you and causes irritation).
That guy is a ladilla, he showed up at my house without calling and won't leave even though I told him I am busy.
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Used to describe someone who is extremely annoying, persistent, or who won't stop bugging you about the same thing. It refers to a person who wears out your patience by being way too pushy (literally: a pubic louse).
My cousin is a ladilla, he kept calling me all afternoon just so I would lend him my console.
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A die-hard fan of chicha music, a popular Peruvian genre that blends Andean folk melodies with tropical rhythms and cumbia. (Chicha music is a cultural symbol of the working-class Andean migrants who moved to Peru's coastal cities).
My cousin goes crazy when he hears Chacalón because he has been a total chichero since he was a little kid.
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Used to describe something extremely funny, excellent, or wild. While the word literally refers to a mess or a screw-up, in this context it means something is incredible or intense, depending on the speaker's tone and emphasis.
The trip to the jungle was de la cagada, seriously we had an incredible time.
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This is the essential Peruvian term used to show agreement, accept a proposal, or confirm that a message has been understood. It functions like saying OK, sure, or got it in English.
Do you want to go eat some anticuchos (grilled beef heart skewers) after work? Ya, that sounds like a great idea.
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A colloquial and direct slang term for an act of intercourse. It is frequently used to refer to a single sexual encounter or hookup.
After so much time without seeing each other, they ended up having a good Polvo in the first hotel they found downtown.
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A term used by Peruvian children to call for a timeout or declare surrender during a game. It allows a player to immediately stop the action if they need a breather or want to quit.
Hey, chepa!, no pushing allowed, I am not playing anymore.
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A slang term for a man who is completely whipped or under his partner's thumb, lacking any personal will. He acts submissively or foolishly because he allows his woman to dominate him entirely.
Do not even bother inviting him to the pre-game because that guy is totally amemao and won't even go out if his girlfriend does not give him permission.
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Used to describe the strong, stinking smell of alcohol on someone's breath, especially the morning after heavy drinking. It refers to that heavy hangover breath that is very noticeable when a person talks.
Don't get so close to me, you have a TURRO that can be smelled from the corner, you'd better go have some coffee.
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A colloquial term used in Peru for people with East Asian features, regardless of their actual country of origin. It is a common way to refer to descendants of Asian immigrants in everyday conversation (Peru has significant Chinese and Japanese-descended populations).
I went to the party with my cousin and his girlfriend, a very friendly chinita who is in my department at the university.
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It refers to a baked sponge cake made with flour, eggs, butter, and sugar. It is a simple and fluffy dessert that Peruvians eat at any time of day, especially during lonche (a light afternoon meal or snack time similar to tea time).
Pass me a slice of that vanilla queque you made, it looks great to go with the coffee.
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A situation of absolute chaos, disorder, or an out-of-control ruckus. It is the go-to term for moments of intense noise and confusion where everything becomes a total mess.
A huge despelote broke out on the avenue because the traffic lights broke down and the cars would not stop honking.
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A common Peruvian slang term for cocaine. It is used in street and recreational circles to refer to the drug due to its white color, comparing it to bleach.
That guy spent all his cash buying Cloro for the party on Saturday.
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A derogatory slang term for a gay man, specifically one perceived as effeminate or flamboyant. It is commonly used as a mocking insult.
He had to be a total Rosca to talk like that in front of everyone.
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Used to describe someone fake who lacks authenticity, pretending to have certain interests or lifestyles just to fit in or look cool. It refers to a person who acts like they are part of a scene or culture they do not actually understand or care about.
That guy is such a POSERO, he bought a professional skateboard and does not even know how to stand on the board.
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Used to describe an object of extremely poor quality, mediocre work, or something that just does not work. It is a strong, vulgar expression highlighting how useless or broken something is.
Don't waste your money buying those sneakers on the street because they will fall apart after the first wash: they are a cagada.
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A severe, vulgar insult used to offend someone by slandering their mother. It is one of the most direct ways in daily speech to attack a person's honor through their parent.
That hijo de puta stiffed me on the rent and now he is not answering my calls!
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Refers to a person's physical appearance or outward look, specifically based on how they are dressed or groomed. It is essentially the vibe or outfit someone is projecting at any given moment.
With that athlete facha you have going on, nobody would think you spend all day sitting in front of the computer.
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An affectionate nickname used in parts of Peru to refer to any dog whose name is unknown. It is a common way, especially for children, to call out to a dog, often using the diminutive pichichito for smaller animals.
Look at that pichicho wagging its tail, it looks like he wants us to give him some food.
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A colloquial adjective formed by merging the words tarado (moron) and estupido (stupid). It is an insult for someone whose lack of intelligence or clumsiness seems to embody the worst parts of both descriptions.
Hey, do not be such a tarúpido and watch where you are walking, you almost fell in the hole!
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A slang term for drinking alcohol, usually in large amounts during a social gathering or party. It is specifically used when the main goal of the outing is to get drunk with a group of friends.
What time are we meeting to start to pistear? I already bought two cases of beer and they are ice cold.
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Used to refer to the buttocks or the rear end. It is a common, informal term for a person's backside.
Hey, clean your fundillo well because you sat on the dirty grass!
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