{"id":143360,"date":"2023-04-10T18:27:32","date_gmt":"2023-04-10T22:27:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/cool-in-spanish-slang\/"},"modified":"2025-02-17T11:11:09","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T16:11:09","slug":"cool-in-spanish-slang","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/spanish\/cool-in-spanish-slang\/","title":{"rendered":"Ways to Say “Cool” in Spanish Around the World"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your Spanish skills are already pretty great if you’ve mastered Mexican slang<\/a> and tried learning and using colloquial words from Spain<\/a> and other Spanish-speaking countries.<\/p>\n

But now, it’s time to learn 30\u00a0<\/i>Spanish words for “cool.”\u00a0<\/strong>As we’ll see, there are plenty of ways to say “cool,” but some are decidedly less cool than others.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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

<\/p>\n

1. Bac\u00e1n<\/em> \/Bacano<\/em> <\/h2>\n

In Chile, Colombia, Peru and Cuba, bac\u00e1n<\/em> is used to describe something as cool.<\/p>\n

In Colombia in particular, it may sometimes appear as bacano<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Este hotel es bac\u00e1n <\/strong><\/em><\/em>\/bacano<\/strong>. <\/em><\/em>
\n(This hotel is cool.)<\/p>\n

Be careful with this one, though. In other parts of the Spanish-speaking world, this word can mean anything from “lover” to “boss” to “steep” to “posh” because we live in a strange and confusing world.<\/p>\n

2. B\u00e1rbaro<\/em> <\/h2>\n

This word literally means “barbarian” or “barbaric,” so you’d think it would be a negative. Indeed, it’s often used to describe something terrible. However, in Argentina, it’s frequently used to mean “cool.”<\/p>\n

\u00bfTe has comprado\u00a0un convertible?\u00a0\u00a1Qu\u00e9 b\u00e1rbaro<\/strong>! <\/em>
\n(You bought a convertible? How cool!)<\/p>\n

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

Onda<\/em> literally means “wave” or “ripple,” so buena onda\u00a0<\/em>is “good wave.”\u00a0Buena onda\u00a0<\/em>is used in Argentina, Chile and Mexico to mean “cool” or “good vibe.”<\/p>\n

Ella es buena onda<\/strong> porque siempre va a todas las fiestas. <\/em>
\n(She is cool because she always goes to all the parties.)<\/p>\n

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

Used in Ecuador, Costa Rica and Peru,\u00a0buenazo\u00a0<\/em>is the equivalent of “cool” or “really good.” It’s generally used to describe inanimate objects rather than people.<\/p>\n

Ese coche es buenazo<\/strong>. <\/em>
\n<\/em>(That car is cool.)<\/p>\n

It can be also used to speak about people, but in that case it can mean anything from “really good looking” to “kindhearted person who is a bit too soft,” so before using it, check its meaning in the country where you are.<\/p>\n

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

While cachete<\/em> literally means “cheek,” it’s used in Chile and Costa Rica to mean “cool.” It’s often used with a todo <\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u00bfVas a Chile?\u00a0\u00a1A todo cachete<\/strong>!<\/em>
\n(You’re going to Chile? How cool!)<\/p>\n

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

This word is used in Chile to mean “cool” or “nice.”<\/p>\n

Este lugar es muy cachilupi<\/strong>. <\/em>
\n(This place is really cool.)<\/p>\n

7. Calid\u00e1<\/em> <\/h2>\n

Calid\u00e1\u00a0<\/em>is Guatemalan slang for “cool” or “excellent.”<\/p>\n

Esta playa es calid\u00e1<\/strong>. <\/em>
\n(This beach is cool.)<\/p>\n

8. Ch\u00e9vere<\/em> <\/h2>\n

For Spanish students, this is probably one of the more familiar words for “cool.” It’s used throughout Latin America.<\/p>\n

Qu\u00e9\u00a0ch\u00e9vere,\u00a0<\/strong>no tenemos tarea. <\/em>
\n(How cool\/awesome, we don’t have homework.)<\/p>\n

9. Chido<\/em> <\/h2>\n

Chido<\/em>\u00a0is a Mexican slang term for “cool.”<\/p>\n

Las vacaciones estuvieron muy chidas. <\/strong><\/em>
\n<\/em>(Vacation was really cool.)<\/p>\n

10. Choy<\/em> <\/h2>\n

Choy\u00a0<\/em>is used as “cool” in Peru.<\/p>\n

\u00bfHas visto Machu Picchu?\u00a0\u00a1Es choy<\/strong>!<\/em>
\n(Have you seen\u00a0Machu Picchu? It’s cool!)<\/p>\n

11. Copado<\/em> <\/h2>\n

While it literally means “tufted,” c<\/em>opado\u00a0<\/em>is used to mean “cool” in Argentina and\u00a0Uruguay.<\/p>\n

La clase es muy copada<\/strong>. <\/em>
\n<\/em>(The class is very cool.)<\/p>\n

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

Descueve\u00a0<\/em>is used to mean “cool” or “fantastic” in Chile.<\/p>\n

El Valle de la Luna es el\u00a0descueve<\/strong>.<\/em>
\n<\/em>(The Valley of the Moon is very cool.)<\/p>\n

13. Es una pasada<\/em> <\/h2>\n

In Spain,\u00a0es una pasada\u00a0<\/em>is used colloquially as “cool” or “nice.” Hint: it stays feminine even if you’re using it to describe masculine nouns.<\/p>\n

Este art\u00edculo es una pasada<\/strong>.<\/em>
\n(This article is cool).<\/p>\n

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

This term is used widely throughout Spanish-speaking countries (though somewhat less often in Colombia and Ecuador). It literally means “great,” but it’s often used to mean “cool.”<\/p>\n

Ella es genial<\/strong>. <\/em>
\n(She is cool.)<\/p>\n

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

Guay\u00a0<\/em>is another common slang term that many Spanish students learn in school. It’s popular among children and teenagers in Spain.<\/p>\n

\u00a1Qu\u00e9 guay<\/strong>! <\/em>
\n(How cool!)<\/p>\n

16. Gufeao<\/em> \/Gufiao <\/em><\/h2>\n

This Puerto Rican term can be spelled either way. It can be used to describe people or objects.<\/p>\n

Tu tel\u00e9fono nuevo est\u00e1 gufeao <\/strong><\/strong><\/em>\/gufiao<\/strong><\/strong>. <\/em>
\n<\/em>(Your\u00a0new phone is cool.)<\/p>\n

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

While the noun\u00a0molar\u00a0<\/em>means “molar,” as in the tooth, the verb\u00a0molar\u00a0<\/em>means “to be cool” in Spain.<\/p>\n

La camiseta mola<\/strong>. <\/em>
\n<\/em>(The t-shirt is cool.)<\/p>\n

18. Mol\u00f3n<\/em> \/Molona<\/em> <\/h2>\n

This word is mostly used in Spain. It means “cool” or “neat.”<\/p>\n

Esta pel\u00edcula es molona<\/strong>. <\/em>
\n<\/em>(This movie is cool.)<\/p>\n

19. N\u00edtido<\/em> <\/h2>\n

While\u00a0n\u00edtido\u00a0<\/em>literally means “vivid” or “clear,” it’s used to mean “cool” in Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n

\u00bfArepas para el desayuno?\u00a0\u00a1Qu\u00e9 n\u00edtido<\/strong>! <\/em>
\n(Arepas for breakfast? Cool!)<\/p>\n

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

As you’ve probably already realized, this word literally means “father.” In Mexico, however, it’s also used to mean “cool.”<\/p>\n

Me encanta tu casa. \u00a1Est\u00e1 muy padre<\/strong>!\u00a0<\/em>
\n(I love your house. It’s very cool!)\u00a0<\/p>\n

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

Pichudo\u00a0<\/em>is commonly used by Costa Rican teenagers to mean “cool.”<\/p>\n

Tus gafas son pichudas<\/strong>. <\/em>
\n(Your glasses are cool.)<\/p>\n

22. Piola<\/em> \/Quedarse piola <\/em><\/h2>\n

Piola\u00a0<\/em>literally means “rope” or “string.” In Argentina and Chile, though, piola\u00a0<\/em>means “cool” as in “calm.”\u00a0Quedarse piola\u00a0<\/em>is “to stay\u00a0cool.”<\/p>\n

Ese invento est\u00e1 piola<\/strong>.<\/em>
\n(That invention is cool)<\/p>\n

\u00c9l solo quiere provocarte.\u00a0Qu\u00e9date piola<\/strong>. <\/em>
\n(He just wants to provoke you. Stay cool.)<\/p>\n

23. Estar de poca madre<\/em> \/A toda madre<\/em> <\/h2>\n

While poca madre<\/em> literally means “little mother” or “motherless,” in Mexico, estar de poca madre <\/em>can mean “to be cool.” Poca madre <\/i>can also be used to criticize someone, so be careful\u2014don’t direct it at a person.<\/p>\n

A toda madre\u00a0<\/em>is a slang expression often used in informal contexts in Mexico to say that something is “cool” or “awesome.”<\/p>\n

\u00a1Tu moto est\u00e1<\/strong> de<\/strong> poca madre<\/strong>! <\/em>
\n<\/em>(Your motorcycle is cool!)<\/p>\n

\u00a1La cena estuvo a toda madre<\/strong>! <\/em>
\n<\/em>(Dinner was awesome!)<\/p>\n

24. Pulento<\/em> <\/h2>\n

Mostly used by poor residents of downtown Santiago, Chile,\u00a0pulento\u00a0<\/em>means “cool.”<\/p>\n

Tus pantalones nuevos est\u00e1n\u00a0pulentos<\/strong>. <\/em>
\n<\/em>(Your new pants are cool.)<\/p>\n

25. Pura vida<\/em> <\/h2>\n

While it literally translates to “pure life,” this popular Costa Rican phrase more often means something similar to\u00a0“cool.”<\/p>\n

No hay problema. Todo pura vida<\/strong>.
\n<\/em>(There is no problem. Everything is cool.)<\/p>\n

26. Qu\u00e9 chilero<\/em> <\/h2>\n

This Guatemalan slang for “how cool” is so popular that a children’s show is named after it.<\/p>\n

\u00bfNo hay hurac\u00e1n?\u00a0\u00a1Qu\u00e9 chilero<\/strong>! <\/em>
\n<\/em>(There isn’t a hurricane? How cool!)<\/p>\n

27. Suave<\/em> <\/h2>\n

Suave <\/em>literally means “smooth,” but it can be used in some\u00a0Spanish-speaking countries to mean something similar to “cool.”<\/p>\n

George Clooney es muy suave<\/strong>. <\/em>
\n<\/em>(George Clooney is very cool.)<\/p>\n

28. Top\u00edsimo<\/em> <\/h2>\n

In Chile,\u00a0top\u00edsimo\u00a0<\/em>means “cool” or “hip.”<\/p>\n

El concierto fue top\u00edsimo<\/strong>. <\/em>
\n(The concert was cool.)<\/p>\n

29. Tuanis<\/em> <\/h2>\n

Tuanis\u00a0<\/em>is a term used in Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador. It’s very similar to pura vida<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Tu reloj es\u00a0bien tuanis<\/strong>. <\/em>
\n<\/em>(Your watch is cool.)<\/p>\n

30. Zarpado<\/em> <\/h2>\n

In Argentina,\u00a0zarpado\u00a0<\/em>is often used to mean “cool.” That being said,\u00a0zarpado\u00a0<\/i>can also refer to someone who has stepped out of line, so use it with caution.<\/p>\n

\u00bfFuiste a la fiesta? \u00a1Qu\u00e9 zarpado<\/strong>! <\/em>
\n(You went to the party? How cool!)<\/p>\n

If you’re craving even more Spanish slang, check out this blog post, which wraps up with a list of all our Spanish slang posts:<\/p>\n

Common Spanish Slang from Around the World (Audio Included)<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n