meaghanbeatley Last updated: February 22, 2023

22 Top Chilean Slang Words to Chat Like a Chileno

If you’re years deep into studying Spanish but still can’t grasp what the characters in your favorite Chilean telenovela are saying, it’s likely because you aren’t yet familiar with Chilean slang.

This blog post will introduce you to 22 Chilenismos—words and expressions exclusively used in Chile. Plus, examples that show how to use them.

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22 Chilean Slang Words You Need to Know

1. Cachai

Meaning: you know?

Chileans often end their sentences with cachai to make them casual or friendly. It means “You know?” or “You get me?”—very similar to the Candian “eh?”

Ya no quiero salir esta noche, ¿cachai?
I don’t want to go out tonight anymore, you know?

You’ll hear this -ai sound at the end of many other verbs, too. That’s because Chileans often replace the usual tú (you) endings with –i. For example:

Tú hablas (You speak) → tú hablai
Tú sabes (You know) → tú sabí
Tú quieres (You want) → tú querí

2. Sí Po/No Po

Meaning: yes/no

In Chile, you’ll hardly ever hear sí (yes) and no (no) by themselves. Instead, get used to hearing “sí po” and “no po.”

Po, which evolved from pues (well), is a common add-on to words and phrases.

Quieres ir a Chile conmigo? Sí po!
Do you want to go to Chile with me? Yes (of course)!

3. Pololo/Polola

Meaning: boyfriend/girlfriend

Novio or novia—the terms used in the rest of the Spanish-speaking world for “boyfriend/girlfriend”—in Chile refer to highly serious relationships like engagements and marriages.

Anything else, even year-long commitments, are pololo-worthy.

Mi pololo vive en Chile.
My boyfriend lives in Chile.

You can also use it as a verb, pololear, as in, “Estoy pololeando” (“I am dating”).

Estamos pololeamos.
We are going out/dating.

4. Engrupir

Meaning: to flirt (usually, successfully)

This slang word doesn’t just mean to hit on someone. It typically implies that the flirtatious person was successful.

Me engrupí esa minaI got that girl.

5. Gorrear

Meaning: to cheat (on someone)

El gorrea a su polola todo el tiempo.He always cheats on his girlfriend.

6. Jote

Meaning: player

No está realmente interesado en ti, solo es un jote. He’s not actually into you, he’s just a player.

7. Mina

Meaning: (attractive) young woman

Mira la mina alláCheck out that girl over there.

8. Tocar el Violin

Meaning: to third wheel

Toque el violin anoche.I third-wheeled last night.

9. Cuico/Cuica

Meaning: upper-class

Cuico is both a noun and an adjective. It’s someone who comes from an upper-class background, and when used as an adjective, it describes someone who knows it and acts the part.

Es demasiado cuica para mi.She’s too upper-class/preppy for me.

10. Pierna Peluda/Pierna Suave

Meaning: boyfriend/girlfriend

Another (rather astounding) way of referring to your male significant other, pierna peluda literally translates to “hairy leg.”

Female significant others can be called pierna suave which means “smooth leg,” since ladies tend to shave their legs.

Donde está tu pierna peluda?Where’s your boyfriend

Donde está tu pierna suave?Where’s your girlfriend?

11. Caña

Meaning: hangover

Ay, que caña que tengo.I have the worst hangover.

Be sure not to confuse carrete with the next slang word, carretear. This one is the noun rather than a verb, so you’d use it to refer to an actual party (otherwise known as a fiesta in standard Spanish).

Vamos a salir de carrete esta noche.We’re going to party tonight.

13. Carretear

Meaning: to party (verb)

Carretee todo el fin de.I partied all weekend.

14. Flaite

Meaning: trashy

Que flaite este disco.This club is so trashy.

15. Fome

Meaning: lame

Anímate, no sea fome.Come on, don’t be lame.

16. Bacán

Meaning: awesome/cool

El carrete estuvo bacán.The party was awesome.

17. Taco

Meaning: traffic jam

Taco is a short and sweet version of the longer trafico, which means “traffic jams.” Something you’ll likely encounter on your way to work—especially if you’re in Santiago.

Hay muchos tacos en Santiago.
There are lots of traffic jams in Santiago.

18. Al Lote

Meaning: “a hot mess,” disorderly or chaotic

El proyecto está al lote.The project’s a mess.

19. Al Tiro

Meaning: right now/immediately

Mi jefa necesita que haga este proyecto al tiro.My boss needs me to work on this project immediately.

20. Harto

Meaning: much/many

Hay harta gente en esta oficina.There are so many people in this office.

21. Luca

Meaning: 1,000 pesos

Since Chilean money is counted in thousands, an easier way of talking about 10,000 pesos (the rough equivalent of $20 USD) is saying “10 lucas.”

El boleto cuesta una luca.
The ticket costs 1,000 pesos.

22. La Pega

Meaning: job

Me toca la pega.I have to go to work.

Why Learning Chilean Slang Will Improve Your Fluency

The real-world conversations you’ll have in Chile will be full of colloquialisms—something your Spanish textbooks can’t quite prepare you for.

From the moment the nosy taxi driver asks if you’re in Chile to visit a pololo or polola, to your first night out in Santiago enjoying a carrete (and waking up with a caña). You’ll be prepared to respond confidently, now that you’re well-versed in Chilean slang.

Until then, continue to practice Chilenismos and explore more by immersing yourself in Chilean content and talking to native speakers from home.

You can do so by using FluentU—a language learning website and mobile app that lets you binge-watch compilations of authentic Spanish videos with interactive subtitles.

Any time you come across a word you suspect is Chilean slang, you can click on it and instantly find the definition, example sentences and other videos that use the word in context.

The speaking feature you’ll also find useful, as it lets you practice new words before using them with a native speaker.

And now you’re set to go out into the world. Spread your wings and hablai Chileno.