{"id":138329,"date":"2024-02-13T13:44:56","date_gmt":"2024-02-13T18:44:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/uruguayan-spanish\/"},"modified":"2025-02-21T08:49:26","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T13:49:26","slug":"uruguayan-spanish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/spanish\/uruguayan-spanish\/","title":{"rendered":"25 Uruguayan Slang Words and Expressions (With Audio)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Uruguay is a Latin American paradise: It\u2019s socially appealing and visually stunning\u2014and if that isn\u2019t enough, the cuisine<\/a> is incredible.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no surprise, then, that Uruguay is a heaven for expats and magnet for travelers.\u00a0Whatever your reason for getting that Uruguay stamp in your passport, be sure to talk like a local with these Uruguayan Spanish words and popular local expressions.<\/p>\n

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

<\/p>\n

1. Salado<\/em> \u2014 Amazing, Awful (Lit. Salty)<\/h2>\n

The literal translation of this expression might be all about salt, but depending on the context, this expression can mean” tough,” “great,” or even “awful”! Definitely not the way an English-speaker might use “salty” as an expression<\/a>!<\/p>\n

The word is used to emphasize an attribute, either because it is extremely positive or extremely negative. Context will be key in order to understand the way this word is being used.<\/p>\n

\u00a1Tu hermano es un salado<\/strong>!; nos divertimos much\u00edsimo con \u00e9l.<\/em> \u2014 Your brother is amazing! We had a lot of fun with him.<\/p>\n

\u00a1La pel\u00edcula estuvo salada<\/strong>! No me gust\u00f3 nada.<\/em> \u2014 The movie was awful! I didn’t like it at all.<\/p>\n

2. B\u00e1rbaro<\/em> \u2014 Great (Lit. barbaric)<\/h2>\n

Barbarians don\u2019t generally get good reputations, but saying \u00a1B\u00e1rbaro!<\/em>\u00a0in Uruguay means you\u2019re in agreement with or in awe of something.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the equivalent to \u201cGreat!\u201d and it’s mostly used in Uruguay, though you’ll also hear it in parts of Latin America close to the country like certain provinces of Argentina.<\/p>\n

\u00bfQuieres ir a cenar a ese nuevo restaurante? <\/em>\u2014 Do you want to go eat dinner at that new restaurant?<\/p>\n

\u00a1S\u00ed, b\u00e1rbaro!<\/strong><\/em> \u2014 Yes, great!<\/p>\n

3. Ta<\/em> \u2014 Yes, Okay<\/h2>\n

Ta<\/em> comes from est\u00e1,<\/em> which means “it is.”<\/p>\n

In this case, ta<\/em> equals the American expression “okay.”<\/p>\n

It\u2019s just a general, all-purpose acknowledgement.<\/p>\n

Traeme un caf\u00e9, por favor. <\/em>\u2014 Bring me a coffee<\/a>, please.<\/p>\n

Ta. <\/em><\/strong>\u2014 Okay.<\/p>\n

4. Nabo<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Turnip<\/h2>\n

Nabo<\/em> is a fun word to use as a mild insult that implies stupidity. In other words, you’re saying someone has the brains of a turnip (or lack thereof!).<\/p>\n

It\u2019s very common and is meant as a light-hearted pseudo-insult, not a mean or offensive one. Even young children use this word in jest!<\/p>\n

\u00bfNo ves que est\u00e1s parado en un charco? \u00a1Nabo!<\/strong><\/em> \u2014 Don\u2019t you see you\u2019re standing in a puddle? Turnip!<\/p>\n

5. \u00a1Bo!<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Hey!<\/h2>\n

There’s no absolute literal translation for this common expression. It\u2019s similar to saying \u201cHey!\u201d in English but only to the extent that it\u2019s intended to get someone\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n

Imagine you\u2019re in a crowded bar<\/a> and want to get a cerveza<\/em>\u00a0(beer). You\u2019ve been waiting for 10 minutes but the bartender hasn\u2019t seen you.<\/p>\n

What to do?<\/p>\n

Hold up your cash, raise your voice a bit and call, \u00a1Eh, bo!<\/em><\/p>\n

This word actually comes from vos<\/em> (you), which makes sense when you think about it: In this case, \u00a1Eh, bo!<\/em> can be seen as a close equivalent to “Hey, you!”<\/p>\n

6. Gur\u00ed<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Child<\/h2>\n

Gur\u00ed<\/em> is a Uruguayan slang term for “child” that comes from the Guaran\u00ed language, which is spoken by native Paraguayans.<\/p>\n

When it\u2019s used in reference to an actual youngster, it\u2019s fine. But when gur\u00ed<\/em>\u00a0refers to an adult, it\u2019s an insult. And a pretty insulting one, at that! It basically means that the adult is acting childish.<\/p>\n

And none of us want to hear we\u2019re acting childish, do we? So while this one seems bland, it actually packs quite a wallop.<\/p>\n

Vi a unos gurises<\/strong> jugando.<\/em> \u2014 I saw some children playing.<\/p>\n

No seas gur\u00ed<\/strong>; act\u00faa como adulto. <\/em>\u2014 Don’t be a baby, act like an adult.<\/p>\n

7. Botija<\/em> \u2014 Child, Boy, Girl<\/h2>\n

Just like gur\u00ed<\/em>, botija<\/em> is used for youngsters and children, so make sure not to use it to refer to adults!<\/p>\n

However, unlike our previous word, which changes depending on the child’s gender (gur\u00ed<\/em> for a boy, gurisa<\/em> for a girl), botija<\/em> stays the same for both boys and girls\u2014just don’t forget to add an extra -s (botijas<\/strong><\/em>) if you’re talking about more than one kid.<\/p>\n

Un botija<\/strong> est\u00e1 extraviado en el parque. <\/em>\u2014 A kid is lost in the park.<\/p>\n

8. Bondi<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Bus<\/h2>\n

In Uruguay, you won\u2019t be waiting for el autob\u00fas<\/em>\u00a0(the bus). Instead, you\u2019ll be checking your watch and\u00a0staring into traffic waiting for el bondi<\/em>\u2014the slang term for bus.<\/p>\n

So if you\u2019re looking for directions to the nearest bus stop, remember that very few locals actually say el autob\u00fas.<\/em>\u00a0Let them know you\u2019re looking for el bondi<\/em> and you\u2019ll fit right in!<\/p>\n

\u00bfD\u00f3nde se para el bondi?<\/strong><\/em> \u2014 Where does the bus stop?<\/p>\n

9. Chau<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Goodbye<\/h2>\n

Chau<\/em> is derived from the Italian word ciao<\/em>, meaning “goodbye.”<\/p>\n

The fact that chau<\/em> is used so widely in Uruguay shows that there was a significant effect on the country by Italian immigrants. Some even go so far as to say Italians helped found Uruguay<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There’s a surprising amount of culture and history behind this small word!<\/p>\n

Me voy a trabajar. \u00a1Chau!<\/strong> <\/em>\u2014 I\u2019m going to work. Goodbye!<\/p>\n

10. Fachero\/Fachera<\/em> \u2014 Good-looking\/Stylish<\/h2>\n

Fachero<\/em>\/fachera<\/em> is often used in Uruguay to describe someone as “good-looking.” It can also mean \u201cstylish” in terms of fashion.<\/p>\n

Mi amiga es muy fachera<\/strong>. Siempre sigue las \u00faltimas tendencias de moda.<\/em> \u2014 My friend is very stylish. She always follows the latest fashion trends.<\/p>\n

11. Boludo\/Boluda<\/em> \u2014 Idiot\/Stupid<\/h2>\n

Like in Argentinian Spanish, boludo\/boluda<\/em><\/a> is most commonly used in Uruguayan slang to mean “idiot” or “stupid.”<\/p>\n

\u00a1Qu\u00e9 boludo<\/strong>! Anoche sali\u00f3 y dej\u00f3 su celular en el auto. <\/em>\u2014 What an idiot! Last night he went out and left his cell phone in the car.<\/p>\n

12. Turro\/Turra<\/em> \u2014 Idiot\/Stupid<\/h2>\n

Another very Uruguayan way to suggest a person isn’t the sharpest tool in the box is turro<\/em>, which literally translates to “stupid” or even “jerk.” Use this word wisely to avoid running into trouble!<\/p>\n

\u00a1Tom\u00e1s es un turro<\/strong> mentiroso! <\/em>\u2014 Tom\u00e1s is a lying jerk!<\/p>\n

13. Guita<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Money<\/h2>\n

In Uruguay,\u00a0guita\u00a0<\/em>is a slang term for “money.”<\/p>\n

No tengo guita<\/strong>. \u00bfMe prestas cincuenta pesos?<\/em> \u2014 I haven’t got any money. Can you lend me fifty pesos?<\/p>\n

14. Mango<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Money<\/h2>\n

In Uruguay and across the Spanish-speaking world, there are countless slang terms used for money<\/a>, as is the case in English.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As well as the term guita<\/em>,\u00a0mango\u00a0<\/em>is also commonly used to refer to the currency in Uruguay.<\/p>\n

Mi hermano va a ahorrar unos mangos<\/strong> para comprar un auto. <\/em>\u2014 My brother is going to save some money to buy a car.<\/p>\n

15. Laburar<\/em> \u2014 To work<\/h2>\n

If you’re looking for some\u00a0guita<\/em>, you’ll need to learn this verb. Like Argentina, Uruguay also uses\u00a0laburar<\/em> in place of trabajar<\/em>\u00a0(to work).<\/p>\n

Ma\u00f1ana tengo que laburar<\/strong>.<\/em> \u2014 Tomorrow I have work.<\/p>\n

16. Pibe\/Piba<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Boy\/Girl<\/h2>\n

In Uruguay, a young boy is commonly known as a pibe<\/em> and a young girl is referred to as a\u00a0piba<\/em>.<\/p>\n

In other Spanish-speaking countries around the world, the most common equivalents to these terms would be chico<\/em> and chica<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u00bfEse pibe<\/strong> va a tu escuela?<\/em> \u2014 Does that boy go to your school?<\/p>\n

17. Cheto\/Cheta<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Posh<\/h2>\n

Cheto\/cheta<\/em> is a slang word that is used in Uruguay to say “posh.” It’s important to be careful with this word as it’s often used negatively.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ese cheto<\/strong> no dej\u00f3 propina. <\/em>\u2014 That posh guy didn’t leave a tip.<\/p>\n

18. Cana<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Police\/Prison<\/h2>\n

Cana<\/em> is a slang term you should remember if you go to Uruguay, as it has two main meanings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The first meaning is “police,” as in both the force as a whole as well as an individual police officer, and the second meaning it can have is “prison.”<\/p>\n

The standard Spanish equivalents of\u00a0cana\u00a0<\/em>are polic\u00eda\u00a0<\/em>(police) and c\u00e1rcel<\/em>\u00a0(prison).<\/p>\n

\u00a1Bo, no te preocupes! \u00a1La cana<\/strong> ya est\u00e1 en camino!<\/em> \u2014 Hey, don’t worry! The police are already on their way.<\/p>\n

19. Chorro<\/em> \u2014 Thief\/Robber<\/h2>\n

Chorro<\/em> is a Uruguayan slang term for “thief,” which in standard Spanish is called a ladr\u00f3n<\/em>. If you ever come across one of these when you’re in Uruguay, you’ll want to make sure you call the cana<\/em>.<\/p>\n

El chorro<\/strong> se fue corriendo con el bolso de la mujer.<\/em> \u2014 The thief ran off with the lady’s purse.<\/p>\n

20. Punga<\/em> \u2014 Thief\/Pickpocket<\/h2>\n

This one is pretty similar to chorro<\/em>, except that punga<\/em> is more commonly used for pickpockets or people who commit non-violent theft.<\/p>\n

\u00a1Creo que un punga<\/strong> me rob\u00f3 el celular!<\/em> \u2014 I think a pickpocket took my cell phone!<\/p>\n

21. Tachero\/Tachera<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Taxi driver<\/h2>\n

In Uruguay, a colloquial term used to say taxista\u00a0<\/em>(taxi driver) is tachero\/tachera<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mi padre es tachero<\/strong> desde hace treinta a\u00f1os.<\/em> \u2014 My father has been a taxi driver for thirty years.<\/p>\n

22. Morfar<\/em> \u2014 To eat<\/h2>\n

In Uruguayan slang, morfar<\/em> is a verb used to say “to eat.” The standard equivalent of this verb would be comer<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00bfQu\u00e9 vas a morfar<\/strong>? Vamos a pedir unas empanadas. <\/em>\u2014 What are you going to eat? We’re going to order some empanadas.<\/p>\n

23. Morfi\/<\/em>Morfe <\/em>\u2014 Food<\/h2>\n

As you may notice, both morfi <\/em>and morfe <\/em>come from the Uruguayan slang verb morfar\u00a0<\/em>(to eat) and are used to refer to food.<\/p>\n

Juan me dijo que el morfi<\/strong> est\u00e1 listo.<\/em> \u2014\u00a0 Juan told me that the food is ready.<\/p>\n

24. Yeta<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Bad luck<\/h2>\n

Yeta\u00a0<\/i>is used to say “bad luck” in Uruguay and some other Spanish-speaking countries like Argentina and Chile.<\/p>\n

\u00a1Qu\u00e9 yeta<\/strong> que tengo!<\/em> \u2014 What bad luck I have!\u00a0<\/p>\n

25. Al toque<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Straight away<\/h2>\n

Al toque <\/em>is used in Uruguayan Spanish as slang for “straight away.” This is used in the same way as inmediatamente\u00a0<\/em>(immediately).<\/p>\n

La embajada me pidi\u00f3 que le enviara unos documentos para la visa y lo hice al toque<\/strong>.<\/em> \u2014 The embassy asked me to send them some documents for the visa and I did it straight away.<\/p>\n

Uruguayan Spanish:\u00a0What You’ll Hear in Uruguay<\/h2>\n

Although Spanish is the official language of the country, Espa\u00f1ol uruguayo<\/em>\u00a0(Uruguayan Spanish) is slightly different from what most of us learn through mainstream language study<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Uruguayan Spanish is also referred to as Rioplatense<\/em> Spanish,<\/strong> which is a\u00a0<\/strong>dialect spoken near the gorgeous\u00a0R\u00edo de la Plata<\/em> Basin\u00a0in Argentina and Uruguay.<\/p>\n

There are two distinguishing features of Uruguayan Spanish you’ll want to keep in mind if you’re studying the local lingo or planning to visit:<\/p>\n