Fetiche
any object believed to bring good luck.
he always wears that ring as a fetiche for his exams.
Automatically translated from Spanish
Tag: suerte
Definitions tagged suerte in the street dictionary.
República DominicanaPURA CONCHA
An expression used to describe when someone gets everything through sheer luck or a fluke, rather than through their own effort or merit (in Bolivia, concha refers to nerve or luck, whereas in other Spanish-speaking countries it can be a vulgarity).
Daniel's house is PURA CONCHA, he does not even work.
Automatically translated from Spanish
BoliviaRaspaito
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?
Automatically translated from Spanish
PanamáConcha
Extreme, incredible, and irrational luck.
"The world continues to exist out of pure concha."
Automatically translated from Spanish
Chiripa
This word refers to a stroke of luck or a fluke that someone has in a specific situation.
Sergio Andres won the lottery by pure chiripa.
Automatically translated from Spanish
ACHUNTE
To hit the mark or get an answer right by pure luck or a lucky guess, rather than through skill or knowledge.
I am going to take my exam al achunte since I did not study even a little bit.
Automatically translated from Spanish
Chingia
A compulsive obsession or addiction to gambling.
A: Bro, stop the chingia, you are wasting your whole paycheck on that. B: Man, I try, but there is no way around it.
Automatically translated from Spanish
Será
An affirmative response used when a proposal is not very appealing, but one feels obligated to agree. It expresses reluctant acceptance or resignation, similar to saying, I guess so, or, If I must.
A: Honey, are you coming shopping with me? B: Será
Automatically translated from Spanish
Toca
A phrase used for a reluctant affirmative response, meaning there is no other choice or one simply has to deal with the situation.
A: So, do you have to retake the entrance exam? B: Well, yeah. Toca.
Automatically translated from Spanish
Pájaro de mal agüero
Used to describe someone who always brings bad news, has a negative attitude, or carries bad energy. It refers to a person whose negative predictions often come true, or someone who is considered a jinx who brings bad luck.
That guy is a pájaro de mal agüero. / I do not like that girl in the group, she is a pájaro de mal agüero.
Automatically translated from Spanish
VenezuelaBfm
Short for 'bien focking mal' (fucking terrible). Used mainly in texting (the word 'focking' is a Panamanian adaptation of the English profanity used as a vulgar intensifier).
A: 'Dude, how is work going?' B: 'BFM, dude. Things are tough.'
Automatically translated from Spanish
yeta
A person, object, or place that brings bad luck. A jinx. (In Argentina, this is commonly used to describe someone who supposedly brings bad luck to a sports team).
Don't come to my house during the match because you are a yeta.
Automatically translated from Spanish
Argentinacabulero
A person who is obsessed with superstitions and specific rituals to attract good luck or ward off bad luck (in Argentina, these rituals are called cabalas).
Mostaza Merlo is so cabulero that he jinxes his rivals by making the horns sign (Mostaza Merlo is a famous Argentine soccer coach known for his extreme superstitions).
Automatically translated from Spanish
El diablo metió la cola
An expression used when bad luck or an unexpected setback ruins a moment of peace or prosperity. It suggests that a malicious twist of fate spoiled a good situation.
We were having a beautiful vacation, but el diablo metió la cola, I twisted my ankle and we had to come back.
Automatically translated from Spanish
como anillo al dedo
An expression used to indicate that a situation or object fits a person's needs or desires perfectly, or comes at the exact right moment.
- I have an extra planner, do you want it? - Awesome. It's como anillo al dedo. I was just about to buy one.
Automatically translated from Spanish
Opi
A polite or softened way of saying orto (ass) when referring to someone having great luck or fortune (in Argentina, the word for backside is a common slang term for luck).
- Did you win at bingo? - Yes. - What an opi!
Automatically translated from Spanish
mal de ojo
A curse or negative energy directed from one person to another, believed to cause sickness or misfortune (Commonly known as the evil eye, it is a widespread folk belief often involving protection via amulets or red ribbons).
That old woman is a witch, I think she gave me the mal de ojo. / The little girl is catching such strange fevers, friend. Could it be they gave her the mal de ojo?
Automatically translated from Spanish
Con treinta y tres en mano
Describes a very favorable situation where success is practically guaranteed. It refers to the traditional Argentine card game Truco, where holding thirty-three points is the highest possible score for the envido bet, making a win almost certain.
- Yeah, luckily, some good news. Con treinta y tres en mano, nobody can stop me.
Automatically translated from Spanish
Leche
Refers to luck. It is most often used to describe bad luck, though it can occasionally refer to good luck. (In Argentina, this term is frequently used in sports to describe a streak of misfortune).
What Leche we have! We cannot win one fucking match.
Automatically translated from Spanish
tuje
Slang for the buttocks or ass. It is used to describe a person's luck, often implying a fluke or a lucky break. (The term is a loanword from the Yiddish tuchus, common in the Buenos Aires region).
They beat us by pure tuje.
Automatically translated from Spanish
mufar
To jinx or bring bad luck to another person or organization. To mufar, one might use specific words or hand gestures like the horns sign, made by extending the index and pinky fingers (superstitions to hex opponents are common in Argentine sports).
At a soccer match: - Make the horns sign: we have to mufar these faggots.
Automatically translated from Spanish
Guaraguao
A climbing vine (Mucuna rostrata) with long stalks and bright orange, butterfly shaped flowers. It is native to the banks of the Rio Grande in the regions of Sacupana and Curiapo (areas within the Orinoco Delta). Its seeds are widely believed to bring good luck.
That man is so lucky in business, he must be carrying nothing but Guaraguaos in his pockets.
Automatically translated from Spanish
Mala leche
Used to express bad luck or a tough break. (In Panama, this specifically means misfortune rather than having bad intentions or being in a bad mood, as it does in other regions).
A: Buddy, I forgot my money, can you give it to me like this and I will pay you tomorrow? B: Mala leche, buddy. No money, nothing.
Automatically translated from Spanish
Chancera
A street vendor who sells lottery tickets or fractions known as chances. (In Panama, these sellers are also called billeteros and are a common sight on busy street corners).
Mrs. Tomasa is a chancera, did you not know? | That corner is full of chanceros, they do not even let you walk.
Automatically translated from Spanish
One-two
A practice in street lottery sales where vendors force customers to pay an extra fee or buy additional tickets just to get a specific number they want. (In Panama, official lottery tickets are sold by street vendors who often illegally surcharge for popular numbers).
"They should ban that one-two thing, girl. What a hassle with those people!" : "I don't buy from that lady because she wants to sell everything with a one-two, it's such a drag."
Automatically translated from Spanish
De a vaina
An expression meaning barely, by a miracle, or by the skin of one's teeth. It describes something achieved against all odds or through a stroke of luck that almost seems supernatural.
I have enough to eat, de a vaina. | I was able to arrive on time, de a vaina.
Automatically translated from Spanish
Chinguear
To gamble or play games of chance.
'Sis, we are going to the casino to chinguear on Saturday, what do you think?' | 'My grandma loves to chinguear and then gets mad when she loses.'
Automatically translated from Spanish
Batoso
A person who has incredibly good luck.
That Batoso Pedro won the lottery | He found a $100 bill in the parking lot, what a Batoso!
Automatically translated from Spanish
champa
A stroke of luck or a fluke, especially when something is achieved by chance rather than skill.
They won that match by pure champa.
Automatically translated from Spanish
PerúSalao
Someone who is jinxed or having a run of bad luck (derived from the word for salted, based on the superstition that salt causes misfortune).
My son, you are just straight up salao. Let me know when you are no longer so salao.
Automatically translated from Spanish
SALADO
Someone who is jinxed or has a streak of bad luck (literally meaning salted).
"I am SALADO" and "You just can't catch a break, you are SALADO."
Automatically translated from Spanish
Chepa
A stroke of luck or a fluke, usually referring to something good that happens by pure accident.
What a Chepa!
Automatically translated from Spanish
Para-para
A black seed used as a good luck charm or amulet (in Venezuela, these seeds are often carried or worn to ward off the evil eye).
'I have had this para-para since I was 10 years old' and 'The para-para always stays with me'
Automatically translated from Spanish
De chiripa
Refers to a lucky fluke, a stroke of pure chance, or a narrow escape where something happened by accident or just barely.
I made it to class de chiripa. I did not get robbed de chiripa.
Automatically translated from Spanish
salami
A very lucky person who effortlessly obtains what others have to struggle for, or who consistently escapes difficult situations unscathed.
Did you hear? Luis got himself an American girl and she is taking him to the United States! What a salami!
Automatically translated from Spanish
lechúo
A person who is extremely lucky. (In Venezuela, the word leche, literally milk, is a common slang term for luck).
My friend, I won the lottery. : Man, you really are lechúo. The car flipped and I walked away unhurt. : Pedro, you are so lechúo...
Automatically translated from Spanish
puchita
An affectionate nickname or term of endearment used to address someone, especially to cheer them up or make them smile.
When a girl is sad her mother comes and says: what is the matter, my candy puchita?
Automatically translated from Spanish
HondurasPapelazo
A major embarrassment or a total fail. It describes a situation where someone makes a fool of themselves or is involved in a deeply humiliating blunder.
The company made a massive papelazo with that power outage in the middle of the investors meeting.
Automatically translated from Spanish
Pelao
A losing lottery number or an entry in a drawing that does not win a prize. (Cristian Casablanca is a well-known media personality in the Dominican Republic who gives out lottery predictions).
Cristian Casablanca hits some numbers, but on how many of them does he end up Pelao?
Automatically translated from Spanish
Oreja
1. A hot tip or rumor about a winning lottery number. 2. An accidental or revealing flash of a woman's underwear or body from under her skirt.
The lottery seller gave me an oreja for Wednesday and it was a bust (a fracatanero is a vendor for the Fracatan lottery). That woman does not stop giving oreja when she is on camera.
Automatically translated from Spanish
Chepa
A stroke of luck or a fluke, used when something is achieved by pure chance rather than skill or merit.
I won by pure chepa.
Automatically translated from Spanish
Chiripa
By chance, a total fluke, or a stroke of luck.
I caught up to him by pure chiripa.
Automatically translated from Spanish
MéxicoCuleitor
A lucky bastard: someone who has extreme luck in gambling or in life. It is an informal, vulgar term derived from the Spanish word for butt.
You are such a culeitor, you won the quiniela again. (The quiniela is a popular daily lottery game).
Automatically translated from Spanish
DESGRACIADO
Used to describe a person who is chronically unlucky, specifically in their romantic relationships and their professional life.
Listen brother, Jose is a total DESGRACIADO, the guy just cannot catch a break. (The term 'salao' in the original refers to the Dominican concept of being 'salted' or jinxed).
Automatically translated from Spanish
Sortudo
A lucky person, someone who has good fortune.
I am a Sortudo guy.
Automatically translated from Spanish
Chepa
A fluke or a stroke of luck. It refers to an accidental success or something that occurred by pure chance rather than skill.
We beat them in the last game by pure chepa. We almost lost a case of beer. (Betting a case of beer on local sports matches is a common social custom).
Automatically translated from Spanish
Chepa
A fluke or a stroke of luck. It refers to something that happens by pure chance, especially when it was unexpected or when someone barely succeeds against the odds.
I passed the exam by Chepa, I got a 65. One point less and I would have flunked. You have all the luck.
Automatically translated from Spanish