{"id":144976,"date":"2023-07-22T11:58:12","date_gmt":"2023-07-22T15:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/mexican-party-expressions\/"},"modified":"2025-06-02T08:06:10","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T12:06:10","slug":"mexican-party-expressions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/spanish\/mexican-party-expressions\/","title":{"rendered":"40 Mexican Words for Party Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’re going to a Mexican party, you can expect to hear lot of chit-chat that’ll go completely over your head.\u00a0Mexican party expressions\u2014like most of our slang<\/a>\u2014can be somewhat confusing if you’ve been learning a different Spanish variety.<\/p>\n

So if you’re headed to Mexico and love having a good time, or are going to be partying with some Mexican Spanish<\/a> speakers, be sure to familiarize yourself with these words that are all associated with parties in Mexico.<\/p>\n

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

<\/p>\n

Mexican Words for Party<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Party<\/a><\/p>\n

1. Una fiesta<\/em> (a party)<\/h3>\n

\u00bfD\u00f3nde es la fiesta?<\/em> (Where is the party?)<\/p>\n

2. Una p<\/em>arranda<\/em> (a party)<\/h3>\n

Though this word has no direct translation, in Mexican slang it refers to a night out of celebration and revelry\u2014often with loud music, dancing and drinking.<\/p>\n

Nos fuimos de parranda<\/em>. \u00a0(We went partying.)<\/p>\n

3. Una p<\/em>eda<\/em> (party)<\/h3>\n

“Peda” is literally the feminine version of “fart,” but don’t let that fool you. It’s also Mexican slang for a party.<\/p>\n

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La peda estuvo buen\u00edsima<\/em>. (The party was very good.)<\/p>\n

Note that la<\/em>\u00a0peda<\/em> tends to be a more vulgar expression and even though it’s widely used, you may want to be careful not to use it in a working or formal environment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

4. Unas c<\/em>opas<\/em> (a party)<\/h3>\n

Copas literally means “drinks” or “cocktails,” but the word can also be used to mean “party” or “going out.”<\/p>\n

Vamos a copas esta noche para celebrar el verano<\/em>. (I’m going out tonight to celebrate the summer.)<\/p>\n

5. Irse de fiesta<\/em> (going to the party)<\/h3>\n

To say you are “going to the party,” you just need to conjugate irse<\/em> and add the word you choose to use for “party.”<\/p>\n

So you might\u00a0say one of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Spanish conjugation<\/b><\/th>Translation<\/b><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Yo me voy de fiesta.<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>I'm going to the party.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
T\u00fa te vas de fiesta.<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>You're going to the party.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00c9l... Ella se va de fiesta.<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>He\/she is going to the party.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nosotros nos vamos de fiesta.<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>We are going to the party.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ustedes se van de fiesta.<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>You guys are going to the party.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ellos... Ellas se van de fiesta.<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>They are going to the party.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

6. Fiestear<\/em><\/strong> (partying)<\/h3>\n

As happens a lot in Spanish, new verbs are formed all the time, so even though your grandparents may have not known this verb (and the next two on the list), they’re generally accepted now.<\/p>\n

7. Parrandear<\/em> (partying)<\/h3>\n

8. Copear<\/em>\u00a0 (partying)<\/h3>\n

9. Precopeo<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(pre-gaming)<\/h3>\n

This word literally means pre-wineglassing or pre-cupping, but is translated as pre-drinking\u2014and is also a common expression among some groups. Some people use this term to refer to warm-up drinking before the real party.<\/p>\n

So, let’s say you are going de antro<\/em> (clubbing) at 11 p.m. but you decide to invite your friends over at your house at 9 p.m. to warm up and start drinking before going out. This is called precopeo<\/em><\/strong>. It actually makes no sense since you are already drinking, but you can still hear some people saying:<\/p>\n

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Vamos a las 11 al antro, pero puedes llegar a mi casa a las 9 al precopeo.<\/em> (We are going to the club at 11, but you can arrive to my house at 9 to pregame.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Where Do People Party in Mexico?<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

10. En un bar<\/em>\u00a0(in a bar)<\/h3>\n

11. En un concierto<\/em> (in a concert)<\/h3>\n

People either brincar<\/strong><\/em> (jump), bailar<\/strong><\/em> (dance) or bailar slam<\/strong><\/em> (mosh) at concerts. El slam<\/strong><\/em> (the mosh) is an expression that comes from the English verb “to slam” because when people dance this, they are slamming against each other. It usually happens at punk, rock or ska concerts.<\/p>\n

12. En una disco<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>(in a disco)<\/h3>\n

13. En un antro<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>(in a nightclub)<\/h3>\n

Disco<\/em><\/strong> and antro<\/em><\/strong> may not have the same origin, but they’re now used the same: as a dancing place. The word antro<\/em>\u2014which\u00a0in Latin and Greek means “cave”\u2014used to have a negative reference to a den or a dump.<\/p>\n

Before people used this term to talk about seedy joints <\/b>(antros de mala muerte<\/em>) (rundown bars and nightclubs) but now it’s very common to say antro<\/em> when talking about a club. You’ll hear, for example:<\/p>\n

“Vamos al antro<\/em>“ (Let’s to the club.)<\/p>\n

“Vamos de antro<\/em>“ (Let’s go clubbing.)<\/p>\n

“Ese antro es muy bueno<\/em>“ (That club is very good.)<\/p>\n

14. En una casa<\/em> (at a house)<\/h3>\n

15. En una cantina<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(in a cantina)<\/h3>\n

Cantinas <\/em><\/strong> in Mexico are a type of bar in which people go to drink and eat botanas<\/strong><\/em> (snacks), play cards, dominoes or other table games. Decades ago the entrance was forbidden for women. They even had signs in the door saying:<\/p>\n

Prohibida la entrada a mujeres, perros y uniformados<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(No entrance allowed to women, dogs and men in uniform\u2014meaning police officers or soldiers).<\/p>\n

Today in big cities or towns, women are allowed, but dogs and men in uniform are still not.<\/p>\n

In Mexico City, cantinas <\/em>take the botana<\/em> to a whole different level. After the second beer, you start getting a different dish with each beer you drink, and the food is always free. So you won’t be paying for it the food if you’re in a cantina<\/em> and the waiter asks you:<\/p>\n

“\u00bfQu\u00e9 le sirvo de comer?”<\/em> (What food can I offer you?)<\/p>\n

Mexican Words for Drinks<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Margaritas<\/a><\/p>\n

16. Chupar<\/em> (to drink)<\/h3>\n

This literally means “to lick or suck,” but Mexicans use it to mean drinking. Chupar<\/em> and chupe<\/em> are used in the center and south of Mexico<\/p>\n

17. Pistear<\/em> (to drink)<\/h3>\n

Pistear <\/em>and pisto<\/em> are more common in the north of Mexico.<\/p>\n

18. Un<\/em>\u00a0chupe<\/em> (a drink)<\/b><\/h3>\n

If drinking is\u00a0chupar,\u00a0<\/em>it only makes sense that this is the noun version of a drink.<\/p>\n

19. Un<\/em>\u00a0pisto<\/em> (a drink)<\/h3>\n

20. U<\/em>na copita<\/em> (a drink)<\/h3>\n

Literally a little cup, una copita<\/strong><\/em> is used to refer to most drinks that you drink from a glass\u2014except beer. In Mexico, people speak quite often in diminutives, but don’t expect anything small when you hear this one. If someone asks you this, they’re asking if you want something to drink, not if you want a little cup:<\/p>\n

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\u00bfQuieres una copita?<\/em> (You want a drink?)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

21. Un trago<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(a drink)<\/h3>\n

Literally meaning a gulp, un trago<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0has the same meaning as una copa<\/em> or una copita. <\/em>So if someone asks you this, they are not asking you if you want a gulp\u2014they are offering you a strong drink like whiskey or cognac:<\/p>\n

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\u00bfQuieres un trago?<\/em> (You want a drink?)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

22. Un caballito<\/em> (a type of shot)<\/h3>\n

Mezcal and tequila are usually served in a specific type of shot called caballito<\/strong><\/em> (literally: little horse). So when someone asks you this, they’re offering you either tequila or mezcal:<\/p>\n

\u00bfQuieres un caballito?<\/em> (You want a tequilla?)<\/p>\n

Mexican Words for Beer<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Beers<\/a><\/p>\n

23. Una c<\/em>hela<\/em> (a beer)<\/h3>\n

24. Una cheve<\/em> (a beer)<\/h3>\n

Cheve<\/em> is used more in the north of Mexico.<\/p>\n

25. U<\/span><\/em>na c<\/em><\/strong>aguama<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(a large bottle of beer)<\/h3>\n

A caguama<\/em><\/strong> is a larger bottle of beer that contains between 940 ml and one liter of beer, depending on the brewery.<\/p>\n

A caguama<\/em> is literally a loggerhead sea turtle. The family-size beer is named after the turtle because of its size and color. They probably thought calling a large beer a “family beer” was inappropriate.<\/p>\n

26. Una c<\/em>erveza de barril<\/em> (a draft beer)<\/h3>\n

Cerveza de barril<\/em><\/strong> is a draft beer that can be clara<\/em><\/strong> (light) or obscura\/oscura<\/strong><\/em> (dark).<\/p>\n

27. Una chelada<\/em> (beer with lemon and salt)<\/h3>\n

28.Una michelada<\/em> (beer with tomato juice and chili)<\/h3>\n

29. Un six<\/em> (a six-pack)<\/h3>\n

Un six<\/em><\/strong> refers to a six-pack of canned beers. Before a party, someone might say:<\/p>\n

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Vamos a comprar un six para la fiesta<\/em>. (Let’s buy a six-pack for the party.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

30. Una fr\u00eda<\/em> (a cold beer)<\/h3>\n

Una fr\u00eda<\/em><\/strong> (literally: a cold one) also refers to a beer. You may even hear:<\/p>\n

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Quiero una fr\u00eda bien fr\u00eda<\/em>. (literally: I want a very cold cold one.)<\/p>\n

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Quiero una fr\u00eda bien muerta. (literally: I want a very dead cold one.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

31. Una cubeta<\/em> (a bucket)<\/h3>\n

Una cubeta<\/em><\/strong> (a bucket) refers to a bucket full of beer bottles and some ice to keep them cold. In bars, if you order a bucket of beers, it’s usually cheaper than ordering the same number of beers separately. So if you hear your friends in a bar asking each other this, you’re going to get quite a few beers:<\/p>\n

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\u00bfPedimos una cubeta?<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>(Should we order a bucket?)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Mexican Words for Drinking and Hangovers<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Women<\/a><\/p>\n

32. Estar borracho… borracha<\/em> \u00a0<\/em>(to be drunk, m\/f)<\/h3>\n

33. <\/strong>Estar pedo… peda<\/em> (to be drunk, m\/f)<\/h3>\n

This literally means “to be a little fart,” but you can use it safely for saying someone is drunk.<\/p>\n

34. Estar jarra<\/em> (to be drunk)<\/h3>\n

This literally means to be a jar or pitcher. The day after a party, you may hear a friend say:<\/p>\n

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Ayer estaba muy jarra.<\/em> (Yesterday, I was very drunk.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

35. Estar tomado… tomada<\/em> (to be drunk, m\/f)<\/h3>\n

This literally means “to be taken.”<\/p>\n

36. Ponerse una peda.<\/em> (to get drunk)<\/h3>\n

Literally, “to put on a fart.” A person with a hangover may say:<\/p>\n

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Ayer me puse una peda<\/em>. (Yesterday I was (or got) very drunk.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

37. Ponerse una jarra<\/em>. (to get drunk)<\/h3>\n

Literally, “to put on a jar or pitcher.”<\/p>\n

38. Estar crudo… cruda<\/em> (to be hungover, m\/f)<\/h3>\n

And if ever drink so much that you’re hungover (which we totally don’t recommend!), you would say:<\/p>\n

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Estoy crudo.<\/em> (I’m hungover.)<\/p>\n

This literally means “I am raw,” but it refers to being hungover.<\/p>\n

Mexican Words for After the Party<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"Vacuuming<\/a><\/p>\n

39. Conductor designado… Conductora designada<\/em> (designated driver, m\/f)<\/h3>\n

This is the person that didn’t drink during the party who will drive everybody home. But since this person won’t be drinking, it’s very common to hear people calling him or her the Conductor resignado… Conductora resignada (resigned driver).<\/p>\n

40. Aqu\u00ed se rompi\u00f3 una taza<\/em>. (the party is over)<\/h3>\n

And finally, if you ever hear the host of the party saying “Aqu\u00ed se rompi\u00f3 una taza”<\/em><\/strong> (Here, a cup got broken), understand this as a subtle way to tell people the party is over.<\/p>\n

This is the first part of a phrase that’s almost never used in its entirety because people understand what it means. The whole phrase is:<\/p>\n

Aqu\u00ed se rompi\u00f3 una taza y cada quien para su casa<\/em>. (Here a cup got broken and everybody to their homes.)<\/p>\n

How Slang Can Help You Learn Spanish<\/h2>\n

No matter how advanced your Spanish level is, if it’s textbook and classroom Spanish it won’t always help you in the streets. You need to learn some local expressions,\u00a0some idioms<\/a> and definitely a lot of slang.<\/p>\n

People who know plenty of slang sound like natives, understand what’s going on around them and feel less excluded when hanging out with the locals.<\/p>\n

So how do you go about learning Spanish slang, if textbooks might not cut it and there\u2019s no Spanish speaker around to give you a hand?<\/p>\n

Consuming and learning with authentic Spanish content (the kind made for and by native speakers) can lead you to sounding, well, more authentic! Learning a language through music<\/a>, blogs<\/a>\u00a0and novels<\/a> are great ways to contextualize the local expressions, although they may not always tell you what those expressions mean. So keep notes on the expressions you hear and make sure you research them!<\/p>\n

You can also use certain language learning programs that utilize authentic media as a teaching tool. They can pair the content with learner-friendly features. For example, FluentU<\/a> uses a library of short videos that feature a range of dialects, including Mexican.

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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