{"id":145243,"date":"2024-03-05T09:59:34","date_gmt":"2024-03-05T14:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/funny-spanish-phrases\/"},"modified":"2025-02-24T00:32:36","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T05:32:36","slug":"funny-spanish-phrases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/spanish\/funny-spanish-phrases\/","title":{"rendered":"73 Funny Spanish Phrases Used by Natives"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spanish has some funny words and phrases that aren\u2019t at all uncommon to native speakers but may well surprise non-natives.<\/p>\n

So in this post, we will cover most common 73 funny Spanish words, phrases and sayings<\/strong> so you can use them yourself.<\/p>\n

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

<\/p>\n

Funny Spanish Phrases<\/h2>\n

1. Ponerse las pilas <\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>To put in your batteries<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>To look alive<\/p>\n

I heard this often when I was in high school. The teacher would walk by, see me gazing aimlessly into space and say “Ponte las pilas!”<\/em><\/p>\n

This phrase is used in both Latin America and Spain. However, I found that it’s more commonly used in Argentina<\/a>\u00a0and Mexico.<\/p>\n

Ponte pilas\u00a0<\/em>(note the missing\u00a0las<\/em>) is used in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.<\/p>\n

Yo s\u00e9 que es temprano, pero ponte las pilas<\/strong><\/em>. (I know that it’s early, but look alive.)<\/p>\n

2. Comer moscas <\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>To eat flies<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>To speak aimlessly<\/p>\n

We all have a friend that’ll start a story about going to the grocery store, but somehow manage to turn it into an hour long autobiography.<\/p>\n

A person who comer moscas<\/em> is a person who often goes off on tangents or speaks aimlessly.<\/p>\n

This phrase is also used in both Latin America and Spain.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sara siempre come moscas.<\/strong> <\/em>(Sara always goes off on a tangent.)<\/p>\n

3. Papar moscas <\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation:<\/strong> To eat\/gulp down flies<\/p>\n

English equivalent:<\/strong> To daydream<\/p>\n

Every single time I hear this phrase, I imagine Homer Simpson dreaming about a delicious donut.<\/p>\n

A daydreaming person can sometimes look quite similar to Homer, with their mouth open, and their thoughts far from where they actually are.<\/p>\n

And that is the moment when a fly will fly directly down your throat. Suddenly, you awake from your daydream and snap back to reality.<\/p>\n

\u00bfEst\u00e1s papando moscas<\/strong>? <\/em>(Are you daydreaming?)<\/p>\n

4. Buena onda <\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>Good wave<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>Good vibes<\/p>\n

This phrase is usually used when talking about a person that has a great aura or energy.<\/p>\n

Buena onda<\/em> is used more often in Spain than it is in Latin America, but it’s not uncommon to hear it there as well.<\/p>\n

Me da buena onda.<\/strong> <\/em>(He’s giving me good vibes.)<\/p>\n

5. Me pica el bagre <\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>The catfish is biting me<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>I am very hungry<\/p>\n

You know that feeling when you’re so hungry that your stomach starts to cramp or there’s a pinching feeling?<\/p>\n

In Spanish, we say that feeling comes from a catfish biting your stomach. Of course, this isn’t literal, but that’s how it feels!<\/p>\n

This phrase is most common in South America, especially Argentina.<\/p>\n

Me olvid\u00e9 de desayunar, me pica el bagre<\/strong>. <\/em>(I forgot to eat breakfast, I’m so hungry.)<\/p>\n

6. Ojo <\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>Eye<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>Watch yourself, I’m watching you<\/p>\n

When I lived in Spain, we had a woman come to our home to help my mom take care of the apartment.<\/p>\n

Whenever I was doing something naughty, she would pull down the skin beneath her eye and say, “Ojo, Devyn, ojo.”\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

This almost always stopped me in my tracks, since I knew she was watching.<\/p>\n

\u00a1Ojo<\/strong>! Viene un coche. <\/em>(Watch out! There’s a car coming.)<\/p>\n

7. Corto de luces <\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>Short of lights<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>Not the brightest bulb<\/p>\n

In English we say things like, “the lights are on, but nobody’s home” or “not the brightest bulb” to say someone might not be very smart.<\/p>\n

This phrase is the Spanish equivalent to say someone is ditsy or slow.<\/p>\n

You’ll hear this phrase more often on the streets of Mexico than you will on the streets of Spain.<\/p>\n

Soy corto de luces<\/strong>, olvid\u00e9 mis llaves. <\/em>(I’m not the brightest bulb, I forgot my keys.)<\/p>\n

8. Hablar del rey de Roma <\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>To speak\u00a0of the king of Rome<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>To speak of the devil<\/p>\n

Isn’t it amazing how as soon as you start talking about someone they manage to walk into the room?<\/p>\n

That’s what this phrase refers to!<\/p>\n

\u00a1Rafael! Hablando del rey de Roma<\/strong>, justo habl\u00e1bamos de ti. <\/em>(Rafael! Speak of the devil, we were just talking about you.)<\/p>\n

9. El mismo perro con diferente collar <\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation:<\/strong> The same dog with a different collar<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>People don’t change<\/p>\n

This phrase means that people don’t change or that a situation doesn’t change.<\/p>\n

You’ll hear this phrase often when elections come around. A new person is put into office, but\u00a0es el mismo perro<\/em>.<\/p>\n

This phrase is used a lot in Latin America, which is ironic because things are always changing down there.<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Los gentes tiene esperanzas, pero el presidente es el mismo perro con diferente collar.<\/strong> <\/strong><\/em>(The people are hopeful, but the president hasn’t changed.)<\/p>\n

10. M\u00e1s se perdi\u00f3 en Cuba <\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>More was lost in Cuba<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>It could be worse<\/p>\n

Looking at Cuba and their political climate over the last one hundred years, it’s clear that they’ve had it rough.<\/p>\n

It’s easy to see the reality of how minor a situation is when you compare it to what Cuba has been through.<\/p>\n

So maybe next time my young daughter comes to me wailing over a dropped toy I’ll just say, “m\u00e1s se perdi\u00f3 en Cuba.”<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Se te cay\u00f3 tu juguete? M\u00e1s se perdi\u00f3 en Cuba<\/strong>.<\/em> (You dropped your toy? There are worse things.)<\/p>\n

11. Ser pan comido <\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>To be eaten bread<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>To be a piece of cake<\/p>\n

If something is a piece of bread that was already eaten, that means there’s no further work that needs to be done.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In other words, something can be seen as easy as in it could’ve already been done.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In English, we’d call the same thing a piece of cake.<\/p>\n

No estoy preocupada del examen, es pan comido<\/strong>. <\/em>(I’m not worried about the exam, it’s a piece of cake.)<\/p>\n

12. Tener mala leche <\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>To have bad milk<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>To have bad luck<\/p>\n

If you happen to open your fridge and grab the milk, only to find that it smells sour, I’d venture to say that you’d consider yourself unlucky.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And that’s exactly what this phrase means in Spanish! To have bad milk is to have bad luck.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tenemos mala leche<\/strong>, llueve cada vacaciones. <\/em>(We have bad luck, it rains every vacation.)<\/p>\n

13. Estar como una cabra <\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>To be like a goat<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>To be crazy<\/p>\n

This phrase is extremely common in most, if not all, Spanish speaking countries.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Goats are known to be a bit temperamental or to do strange and crazy things. So if someone says you’re like a goat, they are saying you are crazy!<\/p>\n

Est\u00e1s como una cabra<\/strong> cuando est\u00e1s enojado. <\/em>(You are crazy when you’re mad.)<\/p>\n

14. <\/strong>Me importa un pimiento <\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>I care as much as a pepper<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>I don’t care at all<\/p>\n

This phrase originates from the notion that peppers hold minimal value in comparison to other type of produce. It means that you have lack of interest in something. Other funny variants of this expression include “me importa un r\u00e1bano<\/em>” (I care as much as a radish) or “me importa un pepino<\/em>” (I care as much as a cucumber).\u00a0<\/p>\n

Me importa un pimiento<\/strong>\u00a0lo que elija la gente para la cena.<\/em> (I don’t care what people choose for dinner.)<\/p>\n

15. Estar en las nubes<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>To be in the clouds<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>To be daydreaming<\/p>\n

When someone says they’re “en las nubes,” they\u2019re admitting to being lost in thought or daydreaming!<\/p>\n

This idiom paints a vivid picture of someone whose mind has drifted off into the clouds, far from reality.<\/p>\n

Perd\u00f3n,\u00a0estaba en las nubes<\/strong>. \u00bfQu\u00e9 dec\u00edas?<\/em> (Sorry, I was in the clouds. What were you saying?)<\/p>\n

16. <\/strong>Estar en las \u00faltimas<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>To be on the last ones<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>To be on one’s last legs<\/p>\n

When someone is “en las \u00faltimas,” it means they are on their deathbed. Make sure to use it carefully to avoid getting into awkward situations, though!<\/p>\n

Me dijo que su abuela est\u00e1\u00a0en las \u00faltimas.<\/strong><\/em> (She told me her grandma is on her last legs.)<\/p>\n

17.<\/strong> No hay tut\u00eda<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>There’s no remedy<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>It’s impossible<\/p>\n

“No hay tut\u00eda” is a Spanish phrase used to express disbelief or refusal, similar to the English expression “No way, Jose.” This idiom playfully suggests that there\u2019s no easy solution or favorable outcome.<\/p>\n

\u00bfCrees que podremos terminar este proyecto hoy?<\/em><\/p>\n

(Do you think we can finish this project today?)<\/p>\n

No hay tut\u00eda<\/strong>, eso tomar\u00e1 m\u00e1s tiempo.<\/em><\/p>\n

( No way, Jose, that will take more time.)<\/p>\n

18. <\/strong>Estar en las manos de Morfeo<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>to be in the hands of Morpheus<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>to be asleep<\/p>\n

When someone is “Estar en las manos de Morfeo,” they are surrendering themselves to the realm of sleep, as Morfeo is the Greek god of dreams.<\/p>\n

This poetic phrase beautifully captures the act of going to bed or falling asleep.<\/p>\n

Despu\u00e9s de un largo d\u00eda de trabajo, finalmente\u00a0estoy en las manos de Morfeo.<\/strong><\/em> (After a long day of work, I\u2019m finally hitting the hay.)<\/p>\n

19.<\/strong> Irse por las ramas<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>To go through the branches<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>To beat around the bush<\/p>\n

When someone “se va por las ramas,” they are avoiding the main topic of conversation and instead indulging in irrelevant details.<\/p>\n

Deja de\u00a0irte por las ramas<\/strong>\u00a0y dime lo que realmente quieres decir.<\/em> (Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you really mean.)<\/p>\n

20.<\/strong> Tirar la casa por la ventana<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>To throw the house out the window<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>To pull out all the stops<\/p>\n

“Tirar la casa por la ventana” is an expressive Spanish phrase that means to go all out or to spare no expense in a celebration or endeavor.<\/p>\n

Vamos a\u00a0tirar la casa por la ventana<\/strong>\u00a0en la fiesta de cumplea\u00f1os de Ana.<\/em> (We\u2019re going to pull out all the stops at Ana\u2019s birthday party.)<\/p>\n

21.<\/strong> Ir al grano<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>To go to the grain<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>To cut to the chase<\/p>\n

When someone “Va al grano,” they are getting straight to the point or addressing the issue without unnecessary explanations.<\/p>\n

Por favor,\u00a0ve al grano<\/strong>. No tengo todo el d\u00eda.<\/em>\u00a0(Please, cut to the chase. I don\u2019t have all day.)<\/p>\n

22.<\/strong> Ser m\u00e1s chulo que un ocho<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>To be cockier than an eight<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>To think to be God\u2019s gift to the world<\/p>\n

“Ser m\u00e1s chulo que un ocho” is a funny Spanish expression used to describe someone who is overly confident and thinks highly of themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pedro\u00a0se cree m\u00e1s chulo que un ocho<\/strong>\u00a0desde que consigui\u00f3 un nuevo coche deportivo.<\/em> (Pedro thinks he\u2019s God\u2019s gift to the world ever since he got a new sports car.)<\/p>\n

23. Creerse la \u00faltima Coca-Cola en el desierto <\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation: <\/strong>To think that you’re the last coke in the desert<\/p>\n

English equivalent: <\/strong>To think you’re the bee’s knees<\/p>\n

This phrase means that you think that you’re pretty darn cool or even God’s gift to humanity.<\/p>\n

We have a lot of phrases that say basically the same thing. “you think you’re the bee’s knees,” “the cat’s pajamas” or “all that and a bag of chips” are just a few examples.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This phrase is used more often in Latin America than in Spain.<\/p>\n

Pablo se cree la \u00faltima coca-cola en el desierto.<\/strong><\/strong> <\/em>(Pablo thinks he’s the bee’s knees.)<\/p>\n

24. Como el que oye llover <\/em><\/h3>\n

Literal translation:<\/strong> Like he who hears raining<\/p>\n

English equivalent:<\/strong> Like water off a duck\u2019s back<\/p>\n

There is now a tendency in our world to ignore what people say, to pretend that it doesn\u2019t affect us.<\/p>\n

This phrase is a metaphor for those words that we try to let past us without being too affected.<\/p>\n

Sus insultos son como el que oye llover<\/strong>. <\/em>(Your insults are like water off a ducks back.)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And we’re halfway through! Some of these phrases might sound a bit strange at first, but with time (and practice) they’ll start to feel more natural.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The best way to really understand how these phrases are used is to hear them be used in context, and to do this I recommend listening to native speakers and noting how they incorporate these phrases naturally.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Even if you can’t have a conversation with a native speaker, you can still find ways to hear these phrases from your home, whether it’s listening to Spanish music, watching Spanish movies or reading Spanish books.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Learning programs such as FluentU<\/a> are a great option to practice this as well.

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

\r\n