{"id":135456,"date":"2024-03-05T22:13:44","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T03:13:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/chilean-spanish-slang-words-phrases\/"},"modified":"2024-11-21T09:36:37","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T14:36:37","slug":"chilean-spanish-slang-words-phrases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/spanish\/chilean-spanish-slang-words-phrases\/","title":{"rendered":"29 Chilean Slang Words You’ll Hear in Chile"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

This blog post will introduce you to 29 C<\/em>hilenismos<\/em> \u2014 words and expressions exclusively used in Chile. Plus, examples that show how to use them.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. Cachai<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> you know?<\/p>\n

Chileans often end their sentences with\u00a0cachai <\/em>to make them casual or friendly. It means “You know?” or “You get me?”\u2014very similar to the Canadian “eh?”<\/p>\n

Ya no quiero salir esta noche, \u00bfcachai?<\/em>
\nI don’t want to go out tonight anymore, you know?<\/p>\n

You’ll hear this\u00a0-ai<\/em> sound at the end of many other verbs, too. That’s because Chileans often replace the usual\u00a0t\u00fa\u00a0<\/em>(you) endings with –i<\/em>. For example:<\/p>\n

T\u00fa hablas<\/em> (You speak) \u2192 t\u00fa hablai<\/strong><\/em>
\nT\u00fa sabes<\/em> (You know) \u2192 t\u00fa sab\u00ed<\/strong><\/em>
\nT\u00fa quieres<\/em> (You want) \u2192 t\u00fa quer\u00ed<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

2. S\u00ed Po\/No Po<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> yes\/no<\/p>\n

In Chile, you\u2019ll hardly ever hear s\u00ed\u00a0<\/em>(yes) and no\u00a0<\/em>(no) by themselves. Instead, get used to hearing \u201cs\u00ed po”<\/em> and “<\/em>no po.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Po<\/em>, which evolved from pues<\/em> (well), is a common add-on to words and phrases.<\/p>\n

Quieres ir a Chile conmigo? S\u00ed po!<\/em>
\nDo you want to go to Chile with me? Yes (of course)!<\/p>\n

3. Pololo<\/em>\/Polola<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> boyfriend\/girlfriend<\/p>\n

Novio<\/em> or novia<\/em>\u2014the terms used in the rest of the Spanish-speaking world for “boyfriend\/girlfriend”\u2014in Chile refer to highly serious relationships like engagements and marriages.<\/p>\n

Anything else, even year-long commitments, are pololo<\/em>-worthy.<\/p>\n

Mi pololo vive en Chile.<\/em>
\nMy boyfriend lives in Chile.<\/p>\n

You can also use it as a verb,\u00a0pololear,<\/em>\u00a0as in, \u201cEstoy pololeando<\/em>\u201d (\u201cI am dating\u201d).<\/p>\n

Estamos<\/em> pololeamos<\/em>.
\nWe are going out\/dating.<\/p>\n

4. Engrupir<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> to flirt (usually, successfully)<\/p>\n

This slang word doesn’t\u00a0just<\/em> mean to hit on someone. It typically implies that the flirtatious person was successful.<\/p>\n

Me engrup\u00ed esa mina.
\n<\/em>I got that girl.<\/p>\n

5. Gorrear<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> to cheat (on someone)<\/p>\n

El gorrea a su polola todo el tiempo.
\n<\/em>He always cheats on his girlfriend.<\/p>\n

6. Jote<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> player<\/p>\n

No est\u00e1 realmente interesado en ti, solo es un jote.
\n<\/em>He\u2019s not actually into you, he\u2019s just a player.<\/p>\n

7. Mina<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> (attractive) young woman<\/p>\n

Mira la mina all\u00e1
\n<\/em>Check out that girl over there.<\/p>\n

8. Tocar el Violin<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> to third wheel<\/p>\n

Toque el violin anoche.
\n<\/em>I third-wheeled last night.<\/p>\n

9. Cuico<\/em>\/Cuica<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> upper-class<\/p>\n

Cuico<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n

Es demasiado cuica para mi.
\n<\/em>She\u2019s too upper-class\/preppy for me.<\/p>\n

10. Pierna Peluda<\/em>\/Pierna Suave<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> boyfriend\/girlfriend<\/p>\n

Another (rather astounding) way of referring to your male significant other, pierna peluda<\/em> literally translates to \u201chairy leg.\u201d<\/p>\n

Female significant others can be called pierna suave<\/em> which means “smooth leg,” since ladies\u00a0tend to shave their legs.<\/p>\n

Donde est\u00e1 tu pierna peluda?
\n<\/em>Where\u2019s your boyfriend?<\/p>\n

Donde est\u00e1 tu pierna suave?
\n<\/em>Where\u2019s your girlfriend?<\/p>\n

11. Ca\u00f1a<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> hangover<\/p>\n

Ay, que ca\u00f1a que tengo.
\n<\/em>I have the worst hangover.<\/p>\n

12. Carrete<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> party (noun)<\/p>\n

Be sure not to confuse\u00a0carrete<\/em> with the next slang word,\u00a0carretear<\/em>. This one is the noun rather than a verb, so you’d use it to refer to an actual party (otherwise known as a\u00a0fiesta\u00a0<\/em>in standard Spanish).<\/p>\n

Vamos a salir de carrete esta noche.
\n<\/em>We\u2019re going to a party tonight.<\/p>\n

13. Carretear<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> to party (verb)<\/p>\n

Carretee todo el fin de.
\n<\/em>I partied all weekend.<\/p>\n

14. Flaite<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> trashy<\/p>\n

Que flaite este disco.
\n<\/em>This club is so trashy.<\/p>\n

15. Fome<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> lame<\/p>\n

An\u00edmate, no sea fome.
\n<\/em>Come on, don\u2019t be lame.<\/p>\n

16. Bac\u00e1n<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> awesome\/cool<\/p>\n

El carrete estuvo bac\u00e1n.
\n<\/em>The party was awesome.<\/p>\n

17. Taco<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> traffic jam<\/p>\n

Taco<\/em> is a short and sweet version of the longer\u00a0trafico<\/em>, which means “traffic jams.” Something you’ll likely encounter on your way to work\u2014especially if you’re in Santiago.<\/p>\n

Hay muchos tacos en Santiago.<\/em>
\nThere are lots of traffic jams in Santiago.<\/p>\n

18. Al Lote<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> “a hot mess,” disorderly or chaotic<\/p>\n

El proyecto est\u00e1 al lote.
\n<\/em>The project\u2019s a mess.<\/p>\n

19. Al Tiro<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> right now\/immediately<\/p>\n

Mi jefa necesita que haga este proyecto al tiro.
\n<\/em>My boss needs me to work on this project immediately.<\/p>\n

20. Harto<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> much\/many<\/p>\n

Hay harta gente en esta oficina.
\n<\/em>There are so many people in this office.<\/p>\n

21. Luca<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> 1,000 pesos<\/p>\n

Since Chilean money is counted in thousands, an easier way of talking about 10,000 pesos (the rough equivalent of $20 USD) is saying \u201c10 lucas.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

El boleto cuesta una<\/i> luca.<\/em>
\nThe ticket costs 1,000 pesos.<\/p>\n

22. La Pega<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> job<\/p>\n

Me toca la pega.
\n<\/em>I have to go to work.<\/p>\n

23. Achacarse<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> to be sad<\/p>\n

Pablo se achac\u00f3 cuando su novia rompi\u00f3 con \u00e9l.<\/em>
\nPablo was sad when his girlfriend broke up with him.<\/p>\n

24. Al toque<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> right away<\/p>\n

Like a few other Chilean slang words, this is also a slang word in Peru.<\/p>\n

El taxista se fue al toque.<\/em>
\nThe taxi driver left immediately\/right away.<\/p>\n

25. Buena onda<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> nice<\/p>\n

Something is\u00a0buena onda<\/em> when it has a nice, good vibe.<\/p>\n

Estoy conociendo a una chica, es buena<\/em> onda.<\/em>
\nI’m getting to know a girl, she’s very nice.<\/p>\n

26. Chato<\/em> \/ Chata<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> tired, fed up<\/p>\n

Estoy chata de tus excusas.<\/em>
\nI’m tired of your excuses.<\/p>\n

27. Gallo<\/em> \/ Galla<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> guy\/girl<\/p>\n

Ese gallo no sabe nada.<\/em>
\nThat guy doesn’t know anything.<\/p>\n

28. La micro<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> bus<\/p>\n

La micro<\/em> refers to public transportation in Chile, which is a bus or metro.<\/p>\n

\u00bfC\u00f3mo vamos al<\/em> aeropuerto?<\/em>
\nHow are we getting to the airport?<\/p>\n

Vamos a tomar la micro.<\/em>
\nWe’re going to take the bus.<\/p>\n

29. Pasarlo chancho<\/em><\/h2>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> to have fun<\/p>\n

Voy al cine con mi amiga en una hora.<\/em>
\nI’m going to the movie theater with my friend in an hour.<\/p>\n

\u00a1Genial, p\u00e1salo<\/em> chancho!<\/em>
\nGreat, have fun!<\/p>\n

Why Learning Chilean Slang Will Improve Your Fluency<\/h2>\n

The real-world conversations you’ll have in Chile will be full of colloquialisms\u2014something your Spanish textbooks can’t quite prepare you for.<\/p>\n

From the moment the nosy taxi driver asks if you’re in Chile to visit a\u00a0pololo<\/em> or\u00a0polola<\/em>, to your first night out in Santiago enjoying a\u00a0carrete<\/em> (and waking up with a\u00a0ca\u00f1a<\/em>). You’ll be prepared to respond confidently, now that you’re well-versed in Chilean slang. You can learn even more slang by using this Chilean slang dictionary<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Until then, continue to practice Chilenismos<\/em> and explore more by immersing yourself in Chilean content and talking to native speakers from home.<\/p>\n

You can do so by using a program like FluentU<\/a>.<\/p>\n

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n \"FluentU\r\n

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