List of Puerto Rican slang words and phrases bambinoides

 

This article is a summary of common slang words and phrases used in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rican Spanish differs significantly from other dialects of Spanish because of the islands status as a commonwealth of the United States, which adds sizable English influences to the language. Puerto Ricans often use anglicisms and words made directly from English; for example, janguiar means to hang out. Puerto Rican Spanish also is influenced by the language of the Taíno original inhabitants of the islands, by those of the African slaves brought by colonial Spain, and by the Spanish dialects of immigrants from the Canary islands and Andalusia. An example of the latter is Puerto Ricans often 

leaving D sounds out of words, for instance the word arrancado (ripped out) is commonly pronounced and spelled arrancao. Idiomatic expressions may be difficult to translate fully and may have multiple meanings, so the English translations below may not reflect the full meaning of the expression they intend to translate.

 

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• A calzón quitao Calzón is the old Spanish for breeches. A calzón quitao literally means with pants off, it is used to express that something or someone have nothing to hide and can be trusted; bluntly honest. e.g. Hablemos a calzón quitao translate as lets have an honest conversation.
• A fuego Literally means On fire, but it refers to something being cool or good. Dont bother him, hes a good person. That activity was cool.
• Abombao Smellydamp cloth or fabric that smell for sitting out rotten. A very bad or putrid odor or something, namely food, that is spoiled.
• Abochornarse to blush. Comes from Bochorno, the Spanish Muslim womans veil.
• Atángana An interjection similar to In your face!.
• Achaques The aches and pains of growing old.
• Acho or Chacho the shortened form of the expression ¡Muchacho! (meaning Man!, guy or dude). Usually, its used as a Grammatical conjunction|conjunction to bridge between thoughts. Also, it can be

• Acho men or Chacho men Damn, dude!, or simply just Damn. Actually acho men as in Oh man! an expression of disappointment or surprise.
• Acho que fiebre What a fever, dude!, Hot or feverish for something, as in liking something so much that you have to do it or wear it every day.
• Adobao contraction of the participle tense adobado: to be seasoned with spices. Example: when you have been in the Puerto Rican heat and have been seasoned in your own sweat.
• Afrentao Contraction of the participle tense afrentado. An outrageously selfish person. A glutton. A person who wants it all; greedy.
• ¡A las millas de chaflán! Driving fast, speeding past someone, walking fast, or at the speed of the chamfer. Used as a criticism, such as There he goes, driving that car with hellish speed!. Chaflán means chamfer, as in chamfer street corners like streets in Barcelona, Spain and Ponce, Puerto Rico. Because you dont have to slow down as much going through a chamfered street corner as you would if it is a square corner.
• Aguacatao contraction of the participle tense aguacatado. From Aguacate or Avocado, which falls when a storm comes. A person waiting to see when things will get better. An intimidated person whose actions are very guarded and calculated, an insecure person; a lump on a log
• Agujita y Su Combo Little needle and her combo- A record player made to sound like a Latin group. Playing records in lieu of a live band.
• Ahora Right now. Equivalent to Ahorita in most of the rest of Latin America.
• Ajumao Contraction of the participle tense ajumado'; drunk. a cacophony of ahumado, as in fumed. Someone is drunk, besotted and smelly with the fumes of alcohol.

• Alcahuete Spainsh has 25000 direct and 80 indirect Arabic words. Alcahuete is the old Spanish Arabic word alqawwád. Its the gossip runner at the office or town. Also he matchmaker in illegal relations; also means to be extremely servile; also used to describe someone who spoils someone else too much.
• Al cantio de un gallo The distance a rooster can be heard when he crows. Used to insinuate it is close by. You have no idea how far they can be heard until you go to the place that is al cantio de un gallo
• Al garete Garete is the old rudder with shaft. Without direction or purpose. when the masts and oars broke in heavy seas and winds, the helmsman would use the garete the rudder as cumbersome propulsion. The expression is originally nautical, meaning adrift, as in el barco iba al garete but it is usually used to mean a lo loco. Many people in Puerto Rico think this is a local slang word and that it is just one word algarete but garete is a word appearing in Spanish dictionaries with the same meaning as above.
• A lo loco Literally like crazy. Done without much thought.
• Amargao Contraction of the participle tense amargado'; embittered. Someone that is constantly depressed; bitter
• A mí, plín equates to I dont give a hoot;
• Anda pal Is an abbreviation of Anda pal sirete or the bad word Anda pal carajo. Also it refer to one that may be stunned o amazed, also scared at the moment.
• Anda pal sirete Oh crap. Similar phrases include ¡Ea, rayo! and ¡Diablo!
• Anda pal carajo Translates as the astonishment expression get the hell out of here! carajo is the tip of the ships main mast, the post of the watcher. Its pendular motion makes it a very dangerous and uncomfortable post. it implies Oh shit.
• Aplatanao Contraction of the participle tense aplatanado. During the Renaissance (14921650) in PR there were some people who were loafing to the extent of not working nor farming. Theyd live in caves off natures plenty, off wild plantains and fruit. So its a loafer; a person without a passion for anything.
• Arrancao Contraction of the participle tense arrancado. Literally ripped out. he pulled on his money su much his pockets are ripped out. Without money, completely broke.
• Arrollao Contraction of the participle tense arrollado. Arollo is a creek. So, literally it means stranded at the creeks bank. Stranded or hanging, as in Te dejaron arollao. (They left you hanging.)
• Arranca en fa Comes from a music expression which means Start on Fa (the musical note or key). It eqiuates to Beat it!, Get lost!, Go to bed! (as from a parent to a child), or Take off!. Arranca en fa means to get going.
• Arrebatao Contraction of the participle tense arrebatado. Arrebato means spiritual rapture. It implies the rapture of the High (drug reference). Estoy bien arrebatao(Im very high)
• Arrempujate pa ca Come this way. Get closer.
• ¡Arroz, que carne hay! Having something and soliciting something else to compliment it, as in a flirty or sexual phrase: Wheres the rice to go with all that meat!; (We need) Rice, you have plenty of meat.
• Arroz con culo lots of trouble. Literally means rice with asshole. as in today in the office there was an arroz con culo; Debacle, Mix-up !!
• A ti te daban con la correa de Batman They hit you with Batmans belt (buckle); Implies your parents physically abused you.
• Atorrante Classical Spanish for a bum. A good for nothing loafer.
• Ah, pues bien ! literally Oh, well then -Oh, Ok!-
• Arao o arado Arado is the plough, the person is so dim-witted hes not even good to work the plough. An idiot or a dummy.
• Abochornao- Contraction of the participle abochornado: to have bochorno, from Latin Spanish vulturnus, the hot and humid east-wind. It means red-faced with shame or offence. to be ashamed or embarrassed.
• A ver si el gas pela- Lit. lets see if the gas peels equates to When push comes to shove. This can also used as a taunt to other person vamos a ver si el gas pela, lets see whos right. Lets see what happens when push comes to shove.

• Al revés de los cristianos- literally. The reverse way to Christians. Old Spanish expression from the times of the Moorish kings. Equates to the English reverse bizantine expression, and used to refer to something that doesnt make sense.
• ¡A juyir, Crispín!- Lit. Lets flee, Crispin! Juyir is a slang for huir to flee, to run away. It equates to lets get the heck out of here!-
• Así es el mambo or Así se baila el mambo- Literally means, Thats how you dance the mambo or thats how the mambo goes. It equates to Thats the nature of the beast. That´s how it is ; Así es la cosa = Thats that. It is how it is, whether we like it or not.

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• Bacalao sin cabeza a bastard child. It literally translates to a headless cod fish. The complete phrase could be watch those two going out alone, they are going to bring a bacalao sin cabeza
• Bambalan Lazy Bum
• Batata literally, sweet potato. Used to describe lazy, non productive employees. Usually in reference to government employees who got their unmerited post out of nepotism and/or political favors. Batata can also be used to describe other people that are not very good at what they do, such as boxers es un batata, he is not good at all worthless.
• Bendito -Contraction of Bendito sea Dios; Blessed be God. It equates to the English Good Lord to show sympathy or sorrow towards someone. Ay Bendito used to show frustration or exasperation, when complaining about something.
• Blanquito or Blanquita (Female); slang honky, cracker. Literally little white person or whitey. Sometimes used to refer to someone that comes from a higher social class or believes he does. It certainly has nothing to do with the color of the skin. Interestingly it opposes to negrito or negrita that literally means little black person and is indeed a term of endearment; the equivalent of sugar, honey, sweetie, or babe.
• Bombito al pitcher Fly ball to the pitcher. Implies something easy, as in a fly ball to the pitcher the hitter automatically is out.
• Bicho- it literally means bug in Spanish, but in Puerto Rico it is used as a slang word for penis.
• ¡Bicho es!- a very vulgar expression meaning My Dk!. it is used as an interjection meaning no way! or hell no!.
• Bichote- an anglicism from big shot, used to name a neighborhood drug kinpin.
• Bicha- A woman or young girl who behaves like a drama queen or who is rude and obnoxious.
• Bicijangueo- a corillo or group of Urban bike riders usually looking for or rather making their own environment. Also, jodiendo la pita while riding bicis and hanging out.
• Bildin Building
• Bizcocho e Titi- Aunties cake; means that something is very easy; easy as pie, Eso esta como bizcocho e titi = Thats super easy.
• Boa!- It is literally a reptile, but Puerto Ricans use it as a joke; to mock someone; when someone falls or trips.
• Bola hinchá!- To be upset/bothered. Bola means: ball. But in the context of this expression it stands for testicles. Hinchá is short for hinchada which means: swollen. Some expressions: Tengo una bola hinchá = Im upset. Me tienes una bola hinchá = You are bothering me. Women sometimes use this expression as well, but with bola standing in for an ovary.
• Bochinche, Bochinchoso, Bochinchosa Gossip, gossiper. Mijo, que bochinche so formo, Ese es un bochinchoso/bochinchosa.
• Bregar / Bregando dealing with something without affirmative commitment. It is the governments response for any problem in the island. Estamos bregando con eso.

• Bregaste Chicky Starr it translates as You dealt me a bad hand. Bregaste is 2nd person singular for bregar to toil in lifes travails, also the brega is the bullfighters dealing with the cape and bull. A humorous and negative phrase meaning to play dirty. Chicky Starr is a famous Puerto Rican professional wrestler. The phrase is said to someone who is not of good faith or who has betrayed or turned on you by playing a double-face.
• Bregaste cajita de pollo A humorous and negative phrase used in a similar manner as Bregaste Chicky Starr and meaning you acted in a cheap or wrong way. Cajita de pollo is a reference to a KFC-like chain of fast food restaurants in the 1980s called Fried Chicken Express, which sold 99 cent meals in small cardboard boxes that contained two or three very low quality chicken wings and soggy French fries.
• Brillando la hebilla Dirty Dancing. Literally means Polishing the belt buckle.
• Broki Buddy. It comes from Bro with a Spanish diminutive suffix added it.
• Bellaca/bellaco- Lit. Bellaco is a knave, a sly person. But the slang term is used in Puerto Rico to determine someone being in heat or having sexual desires. English slang term, Horny
• Brutal From the word BruteThe best or the worst of somethingCool, amazing.
• Bruto- brute, dumb, idiot i.e., ¡Que bruto!-,what a brute/ an idiot!

C

• Cabrón/Cabrona literally the ram, or male goat. It implies a cuckold, a person whose loved one is being unfaithful. A bad situation or object. Depending on the context, it is also used when something or someone is very good as the word Bad when you mean something is really cool. Its also a derogatory word you can use to insult someone, like for example: You bitch (so puta)so cabrona. Additionally the masculine term cabrón is commonly used by male teenagers and young men to refer to each other as dude.
• Caco Typically used derogatorily in reference to small-time thugs and people who listen to Reggaeton music. Originates from the Greek god of treachery and thieves, Cacus and much later in Spain was used to refer to a common thief and was thus spread to other Spanish settled countries in the New World. Might also imply the person in question is somewhat mentally challenged or who tries to look and act like a gangsta.

• Caco-móbil A car stereotypically driven by cacos (see above). Normally it is a heavily customized and decorated Japanese car with a bass sound-system, loud muffler and chrome-rims much like an American ricer or rice-rocket.
• Cafre Spanish Arabic for kfir, or non-Muslim. it denotes the person who is barbarous, uneducated, coarse, vulgar, bad manered and who knows it while reveling in his coarseness. A low class, tacky or ghetto. See Caco.
• C-á-g-a-t-e en tu m-a-d-r-e literally means Take a s-h-i-t on your m-o-t-h-e-r. A popular way of saying F-u-c-k you. See Me c-a-g-o en tu m-a-d-r-e.
• Cagar mas arriba del culo literally means Shitting above your asshole. A term used to describe and equates to a person who is doing something out of their league.
• Cállate la boca -Means shut your mouth
• Caquear See Caco above, it means to steal.
• Camina con los codos It means that the person is cheap. Trans Walks on the elbows. It is said because no mater how hard they hit them on the funny bone on the elbow, they wont let go the money in their hands.
• Cangriman the islanders anglicism for Congressman. A person who is corrupt, opportunistic, liar or bully. From the word congressman because that was the way this word sounded to the non-English speaking jibaros (islanders) back then, when the Americans had a military government on the island run by an American governor appointed by the president and congress. It equates to the Carpetbagger corrupt federal official of the post Civil War American South.

• Canto A piece of something. Mira canto de cabrón! (Hey, piece of shit!) Sexually speaking, canto refers to the reproductive organs. No te voy a dar el canto (Im not going to give my piece or Im not going to let you have sex with me) To get or give a piece.

• Carajo -Again carajo literally means the tip of the main mast. But it also means tons of things; i.e.: estás del carajo = youre too much, youre way out of line. vete pal carajogo to hell!! Again carajo, the true meaning in Spanish, was the worst place to be sent on an ancient ship(caravel). There are too many meanings to list here.
• Cáscara husk of a fruit Used to describe dumb person.
• Casqueta Refers to the action of masturbating.
• Catimba Refers to giving or taking a beating Te voy a dar una catimba Le dieron una catimba
• Culeca o Culeco Slang misspelling of clueca or clueco, broodyas in broody hen. A happy person who is excited with a gain or a good news long awaited.
• Cerrao Contraction of the participle tense cerrado'; dim-witted Used to describe dumb person, person lacking common sense some who is mentally closed
• Chacón reference to Iris Chacón, a voluptuous TV dancer of the 1960s and 1970s who iked to show her butt, when it was still not in fashion to do so.
• Cheche de la pelicula The guy who saves the day. Cheche is the mispronunciation of the Sheriff in the western movies who always saved the day.
• Champion Tennis shoes / sneakers.
• Chancletas or chanclas Any type of sandals, flipflops, etc.
• Chancletero This is a term used to refer to a man\woman whos offspring are only daughters. It derives from chanclas, that are the universally kind of house slipper shoes used by women inside houses, meaning as this people not working out
• Changuería This term is used to describe a kid that has a fit (rage): like after his parents do not buy him something he wanted, or he doesnt get to do something he wanted to do [like go out and play]. The term is also used to describe the behaviour of a kid that is exaggeratingly acting up (either for been very sad, not wanting to do something, or just too happy). A kid in this type of situations, is said to have changuería.
• Chapuseria Literally, something Hap-hazardly done, Completed, just to get it over with.
• Chapusero Said of someone who usually does this kind of hap-hazard or sub-standard work.
• Charlatán the same as the universal charlatan. Clown. Used when referring to someone that acts foolish or disorderly.
• Charro Charro is the name for the Old Castilian cowboys in Salamanca, Zamora and León, as well as the Mexican cowboy, The only difference being the hat. Their baroque attire derived into Unoriginal or whack appearance, as in Ese tipo es un charro; Hillbilly; out of style (That dude is whack.)
• Chavos A contraction of Old Spanish, ochavo'; one eighth. Its the famous pieces of eight. used for Money.
• Chavito Penny (One-cent coin). IN the Renaissance, the coin was the doblón in English doubloon. A thin and wide silver coin with notches which you could bend into 8 pizza like slices: piezas de a ocho, ochavos= pieces of eight. The Royal Treasury would account and re-smelt all the pieces at the end of the fiscal period, those that were not stolen by English pirates.

• Chévere Cool
• Chillo / Chilla In PR, can refer to red snapper fish, but also a lover or mistress.
• China An orange fruit. The term originated from a brand of oranges that came to Puerto Rico in the 19th century, advertised as names Naranjas de la China/Oranges from China China in PR is the color orange and the fruit. naranja, which is used for oranges in most Spanish speaking countries, only refers to the bitter orange in Puerto Rico. Chinita is used to describe the color orange. Chinese woman.
• Chinchorro In PR a small unassuming bar everyone hangs out at.
• Chinchorrear To go bar hopping. To hang out at bars.
• Chiringa-Kite, in other Spanish speaking countries is called cometa/ comet after the tail.
• Chiripa odd job, he/she had good luck during something. Que lo hizo suerte, por poco no lo logra.
• Chilin- from the English word chilling meaning to be or to feel cool or relaxed.
• Chingando to fuck or haveirty, nasty sex

• Chivo literally, billy goat, a mistake done while house painting the walls/ceiling/etc. When one finds a spot on the wall that was left unpainted (or missed a second coat), the spot itself is called a chivo.
• Chocha- its the lupine seed, but it is a very vulgarly word used to refer to the female genitalia. See also: Crica.
• Chota Snitch.
• ¡Chúpate esa en lo que te raspan (o mondan) la otra!- Suck on that one while they make the other one.How do you like them (those) apples.Comes from Piragua snow cones. Is used when someone is being disciplined (usually your sibling)o te mondan la otra referring to peeling an orange
• Chustro Old Car. Se refiere a un carro viejo deteriorado pero que funciona perfectamente. Es una forma de llamarle a un auto que no quieran deshacerse de el porque le guardan cariño.
• Cocolo! from 1500 to the 1950s a cocolo was the blacks from the Lesser Antilles, or British West Indies. During the British Slave trade, the slaves of the British and Dutch would flee to PR where by law, they were freed, given refuge and a 3939 sq.m. lot of land. Theyd come with their own music so today it implies Someone who listens to Salsa music, typically older Big-Band Salsa music. These listeners tend to be identify themselves a lot with this type of music.
• Cocotazo A hit to the center of the head that leaves a bump.
• Como amarrar los perros con longaniza- to do something stupid, it makes no sense, like tying dogs with sausage links
• Cerrero- Cerro means Hill. So cerrero pertaining to the hills. For people it equates to a well-meaning but rustic hillbilly. For an animal that has strayed away from humans, taken to the hills. Used to denominate a wild horse.
• Colgar Literally, it translates as to be hanged. equates to To fail/flunk in school.
• Colgar las tenis Refers to someone that has to die.
• Collera o Coyera Unknown origin. Generally used to describe an individual with bad intentions or of limited intelligence. Dumbass, good for nothing, Shady character.
• Capear literally to weather a storm, but slang for to buy drugs.
• Coger sereno Sereno or Serena is serene, but also the cold, damp, unhealthy night air, to catch the cold of the night
• Cogiste a pecho Literally means To take in the chest. equates take it to heart. It refers to someone who took something too seriously or who got easily offended by something,
• Come mierda Literally, it translates as eat shit. Its used when referring to a petulant know-it-all. A person who thinks or acts like he/she is all-knowing and/or all-deserving, also someone of a higher social status who prefers to not mingle with persons of perceived lower status. Essentially, it means snob or arrogant person.
• ¡Como alma que lleva el diablo! As if their soul was possessed by the devil. Used comically to describe someone who left either very fast or very angry. Also referred to someone who ran away very scared of something.
• Como el Rosario de la Aurora Lit. Dawns Rosary, it was an old Religious Confraternity in Cádiz, Old Spain, centuries ago. After so many prayers, when the time came for the Holy Week Procession, they argued the marching order down to fists and blows. They ended up wrecking everyones robes, tunics, statues, garments and ornaments hence wrecking the procession.
• Como la gatita de Dorita, si se lo sacan llora y si se lo meten grita A humorous phrase used to describe someone whos never satisfied. It literally translates as Like Doras kitty, if you take it out she cries and if you put in she screams. Equates to dammed if you do, dammed if you dont
• Como la puerca de Juan Bobo Juan Bobo, or John Ninny. It Originates from a popular Puerto Rican folktale a classical PR literary character. He was a dim-witted hillbilly. He wasnt allowed to take his sow (pig) to a party so he dressed it in full womans clothing and took it the party. The sow, being a pig, wreaked havoc at the feast. Used to refer to a woman that overdoes makeup and accessories to the point of looking ridiculous.
• Como pirata de parking- Used to describe a person with affection for the same sex.

• Complejar de alguien To have a delusion of being like someone else by adopting certain characteristics of that person. Cheo tiene complejo de Tarzán = Joey thinks hes Tarzan
• Coño Universal Spanish expression, said usually as an exclamation, sometimes when a person accidentally hurts themselves. Dammit Shit. It literally means a womans crotch. So use it carefully.
• Con las manos en la masa: equates to Hands in the cookie jar Means to be caught in the act
• Copao Used to call dibs on something you like even though you have no chance of owning it, as in I call it.
• Corazón de melón Literally Mellon Heart, the sweetest part of the fruit. It equates to Sweetie pie A term of endearment to or about someone with a big heart.
• Corillo- Corro with double r means A crew or a group of people with the same ideas and habits that hang together. Its a posse. With single r its means A small choir.
• Correrle la máquina or Seguirle la corriente To keep a joke going at someones expense, to follow someones lead incredulously, or to tell others to with the intention of laughing at them behind their back.
• Corneta Translates to horn, used as an adjective to imply some one is not the sharpest tool in th shed.
• Crica Vulgar noun for female genitalia. Me cago en la crica de tu madre is like saying to someone: Fuck you!, even though is far from being the same literally (it really means: I shit on your mothers crotch; its a common bad insult.)
• Cuando Colón baje el dedo translates into When Columbus puts his finger down. Equates to When H-e-ll freezes over, in reference to a sculpture of Christopher Columbus in Plaza Colon in Old San Juan. When the Christopher Columbus sculpture is viewed from distance it gives to the observer an optical illusion like a hand pointing towards the sky when actually the focus is a raised flagpole. In fact the statue of Columbus is not pointing at anything because one arm is holding a Spanish Flag meanwhile the other arm is just extended like giving thanks, The expression is used to signify that something will never happen. Ex.: ¿Cuando te vas a casar con esa mujer?(answer:)¡Cuando Colón baje el dedo! (When are you marrying that woman? When Columbus puts his finger down (when h-e-ll freezes over). Maybe turn actually to say Cuando Ponce de León baje el dedo a reference to the statue of Ponce de León in front of the old Church of San José.
• Cuando San Juan baje el dedo Same as above but refers to the statue of San Juan in front of the capitol building in which the right hand index finger points to the sky.
• Cuatro de Julio Literal for Fourth of July used to refer to a man/woman who thinks they are better than anyone else.
• Culan Literally meaning engine coolant, it refers to the female derrière due to its similarity with the synonymous culo. Popularized by entertainer Iris Chacón in a car commercial for Amalie Coolant.
• Culo Butt
• Culeo/Culear Mean dancing dirty Reggaeton or shaking that booty.
• Como Cabro de costa Like a goat from the coastal region which are very horny.
• Come gofio Gofio is the roasted cormeal. In the Spanish Canary islands they eat it dry and sweet, it sticks to the palate and one is unable to speak. It refers to someone whos not doing a whole lot, taking it easy, killing time, and talking nonsense while hes at it.
• Como el culo de la olla Literally like the Pots bottom, black
• Como becerro mongo Becerro is calf, mongo is flabby; lit. Like a newborn calf, flabby.
• Como el rabo de la cabra Crazy, like a goats tail
• Como el cabro de Minga horny like a billy goat
• Como las tetas del toro useless, like tits on a bull
• Comerte la mierda- eating your shit, wasting time

D

• Dale percha (pronounced pelcha) Literally put it on a hanger, it means take it off or dont wear it anymore. (See: Lo tienes quemao below.) Youre wearing the same item of clothing too often.
• Dar chinas por botellas Literally to exchange oranges for bottles, In the past, when returnable bottles were still in use, some merchants would give out oranges in exchange for empty bottles. Today it denotes an unfair trade or exchange. Like Comparing apples to oranges
• Dar culo Literally, to give ones ass [to someone else]. It means to not give ones best performance or to give up altogether, as in Nuestro equipo dió culo. (Our team sat on its ass. i.e. played poorly). Its also used when someone blows off plans at the last minute.
• Dar pabajo To have sex or to kill someone/something
• Dar un tumbe To steal something.
• De cualquier malla sale un ratón From any net a mouse might come running out. Implies dont be surprised if this happens.
• ¡Deja el tripeo! Literally translating as stop tripping!, it used to mean stop being a party-pooper or stop seeing only the worst-case scenario. 2 tripeo = relajo, in this phrase is closer to stop messing around, or stop fooling around. tripeo signifies more the act of having fun or fooling around.
• ¡Dejó los tennis en el piso! He ran so fast that his feet came out of his sport shoes!, as in a cartoonish way, without having to take them off.
• De rola or Irse de rolimpin Standard Spanish expression to keep rolling along. (from the English rolling pin or rodillo (bakers wooden roll) in Spanish) Keep it moving or go somewhere else. Example: Después del cine lo seguimos de rolimpin al Condado. (After the movies we keep it moving to Condado)
• Diablo Means devil but can be used like cool, or damn ex- ea diablo -would be like omg or holy shit.
• ¡Diantre! Expresses excitement, like wow. Probably from old French.
• Dron Garbage can.

E

• ¡Ea Diantre! Puerto Rican slang for Oh my God!, Wow!.
• Echa caldo Echar means to throw, to hurl. Used to say that something is cool. Ese carro esta que echa caldo. (This car is cool.). Literally means that gives broth.
• Echa pa ca Put it over here. Come over here. Used to call someone over to you.
• Echar leña al fuego To add to a controversy. Literally, it means to throw wood to the fire.
• Echar un polvo Lit. to throw dustBut used in Universal Spanish To have sex and ejaculate over somebody. Literally, it means to throw dust out. after the biblical passage, Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
• El Oso Blanco Literally The White Bear, it refers to the old Río Piedras State Penitentiary. The prison is nicknamed this because of its white color. The cement used to build it was from Venezuela and it was branded Oso Blanco (The White Bear).
• Embuste Embustero, Embustera Lie, Liar. Eso es embuste, Eres un embustero.
• Empache Standard Spanish for that overstuffed feeling from eating too much like on Thanksgiving. Related to: Empalagoso, (cloying) food that is too sweet, heavy or cloying that would give you un empache or someone who is extremely sweet.
• En la falda del piloto in the airplane pilots lap, meaning being screwed.
• En el carro de Don Fernando, un ratito a pie y otro andando Old Spanish Expression. Literally, it translates to Mr Fernandos car, some of the time on foot and the rest walking When you are going by foot. Used for comical effect when there is no car available to use.
• En el jurutungo viejo A placeholder name meaning somewhere far away which is hard or tiresome to get to, Timbuktu, or BFE. Example: Ella vive en el jurutungo viejo. (She lives in BFE.)

• En el mundo de la Farandula In celebrity land. Of the profession or having to do with Actors/Actresses, Teatre etc.
• En lo que el hacha va y viene Meanwhile
• En lo que el hacha va y viene, el palo descansa a rest period between bad situations.
• Enchismao Contraction of ensimismado Someone who is peeved or angry. Similar to being pissed off.
• Enñagotar To kneel down.
• ¡Es mas puta que las gallinas! -Very active sexually; slutty. Literally means More slutty than chickens, based on the amount of sexual activity evinced by chicken procreation.
• Esmonguillao Contraction of esmonguillado from mongo, flabby. Somebody who is in a very weak condition or something that is way softer that usual. i.e. Ese chamaco está esmonguillao, Estas galletas estan esmonguillás.
• Ése salió por lana y llegó trasquilao A comical phrase meaning that a person went for something and came back worse than when the person left. Literally, it translates to This one left for wool and arrived sheared.
• ¡Está que estilla! This phrase is used to describe a fine looking person He/She is fine or He/She is really hot this is also used to describe someone who is furious.
• ¡Está(s) brutal! Youre brutal! or Its brutal!, either as compliment or insult, depending on the situation.
• Esmandao going too fast
• ¡Esa es una píldora!  Usually, it is used as a compliment, like the English phrase Youre a beast!.

• Está de pelicula used when something was done or when someone acts like something from a movie. Usually when something dramatic occurs.
• ¡Esnu! (short for desnudo = Naked) Youre naked!
• Esos son otros veinte pesos Meaning that is an entirely different subject Thats a whole different ballpark.
• ¡Estás bueno/buena! (Flirty) Youre fine!
• Está como refajo de loca- Refajo is the old ladies undergarments, An unstable woman would show whats below the skirt. Meaning someone is very drunk.
• ¡Está pasao! Universal Spanish for Its the most fun or the greatest thing. Its awesome. It also used colloquially to say that someone has crossed the line by doing something that is not right, for example: ¡Muchacho, estas pasao! (Kid, you have crossed the line!)

• Está quemao Universal Spanish for hes or she is burnt up, in hot water, has done something wrong and was found out. Also, the dried out feeling of the mouth after a night of drinking.
• ¡Estás tenso, papá! A satirical phrase towards homosexuality popularized by actor and comedian Sunshine Logroño in his character of Vitin Alicea (a Gym personal trainer). Literally, it translates to Youre tense, daddyo!
• ¡Estás tripeando! Youre tripping!, when descriptive, as when someone is literally high, or You must be tripping!, when disbelieving, as when someones worldview at a particular time might be askew or comical as to differ from the norm, or you are totally out of line.
• ¡Estás tripeando en ketchup! Youre in a natural high, without the use of any substance.
• Estirar la pata Literally to stretch the leg Means to croack, to die.
• Esto es oro de la Palestina Literally This is gold from Palestine, it means that is something very high quality, hard to find, or the best thing in the market.
• Esto es oro del que cago el moro Lit. This is the gold that the Moor crapped In Mediaeval Spain only Jews and Muslims would deal in jewellery. So inexperience made Christians easy prey to unscrupulous non-Christian traders. the expression implies fantasy jewellery that looks like gold.
• Estoy pidiendo cacao Im asking for cocoa; What you say if you are hurt, drunk, or very tired after partying all night long. Almost like asking for forgiveness. Begging.
• Encojonao/a Contraction of encojoinado from cojones'; Your gonads are red in anger; Pissed off

• Estinche anglicism for stingy
• Está más perdido que el hijo de Lindberg Youre more lost than Lindbergs kid. Meaning you someone is lost forever. Originally based on the kidnapping of the aviator Charles Lindbergs son. It actually refers to being clueless rather than actually lost (as do the next two puerto-riquisms. The reference to Lindbergs son is very common in Venezuela as well).
• Estas mas perdido que Rolandito Literally means: You are more lost than Rolandito. Refers to a case abut a boy whos been lost since the early 1990s and hasnt been found.
  • Está más perdido que un juey bizco Literally means: Youre more lost than a cross-eyed crab. Its usually used to refer to someone whos confused and/or lost.

F

• Farandulero groupiea fan, someone who faithfully follows an artist or TV shows. It can also refer to someone who likes to gossip.
• Fajao Contraction of participle tense fajado. from Fajar making a grand effort as when a person is working hard, to really be sweating .
• Farfullero- from farfullar (to mumble). Mumbler, a show-off. No Good, Without Value, always speaking nonsense between his teeth.
• Fiebrú feverish, in fashion; a car enthusiast, hot-rodder, grease monkey, car freak. Also used to refer to someone who is very fanatical about something other than cars.
• Fiestal Slang for fiestar, irse de fiesta, partying vez que existe dani, jajaja
• Filotiao Coming from the slanged word filoteado that comes from the word filete witch means filet like a steak filet. Means to be dressed very sharp and all your clothes ironed.
• ¡Fo! means eww, gross, nasty or disgusting. For example: ¡Fo, que mal huele aqui! (Eww, it smells really bad in here!). This may be an anglicism derived from the English exclamation FAUGH! to express disgust (according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the first known use of faugh was recorded in the first half of the 16th century).
• Fófalo- small pillow for babies or small pillow for stress relief when squeezed.
• Fofo flabby, bland, has no substance. Used to talk about bland food or someone weak.
• Fostro Spanglish for foxtrot usually associated with a bad uncomfortable situation you want to get out of.

G

• Gafas universal Spanish for Sunglasses
• Galán Standard Spanish for a beau, Someone who looks elegant or dandy. It also means the lead actor.
• Guillao or Guille Prideful or Pride, respectively. The phrases Estar guillao and Tener guille both mean to have a lot of ego, to be prideful, or to be full of oneself. Tenerlo guillao keeping it to yourself.
• Guagua A city bus. A station wagon or small truck might be called guagüita
• Güebón/Huevón- Big-balled (testicled) meaning a total asshole or as in Argentina, Boludo.
• Gufiao Contraction from gufeadoAnglicism for goofy; Cool, or awesome. Example: ¡El show fue gufiao!

(The show was awesome!). Heard in the northern part of Puerto Rico

• Gufear To goof around, or to joke around. Example: ¡Acho, deja el gufeo! (Dude, stop goofing around!) Heard in the northern part of Puerto Rico
• Gusarapo Renacuajo is the proper Spanish word for the slang. It is tadpole in English. It also refers to the larval stage of mosquitoes or sea-monkeys.
• Gavette or Gabete Slang for Cabete, the shoelace. Una mujer suelta como cabete A woman as loose as a shoelace, a slut or promiscuous woman. The word in English would be as loose as a loose shoelace

• Germ-a street term used against Puerto Rican people with light skin. This term is short for German and is very derogatory.

H

• Hablas cuando las gallinas mean a phrase literally meaning when hens pee. It is used to tell someone to keep quiet or else. Tu hablas cuando la gallina mea
• Hacer de tripas, corazones Old Spanish expression to make something good out of a bad situation. Literally means To make from guts, hearts.
• Hacerse el loco Equates to play the fool., it means to try to ignore or distance oneself from a particular situation as if it never happened or to disassociate.
• Hangear Spanish version of the English to hang out (with someone), although the correct Spanish is pasar tiempo con alguien
• Hay que ver como se bate el cobre lit. To see how copper is beat To see how things turn out. Youre going to find out is not that easy
• Hijo de culebra no nace redondo Literally means the son of a snake in not born round, slang that refers to a person that is like their parents or to insinuate that a parent cannot ask their children to be different.
• Hijo de gato caza raton Son of a cat will hunt rats. Nature of the beast synonym.
• Hijo e puta Refers to a daring person, or the son of a whore or bitch.
• Hijo/hija del lechero Literally translating as son/daughter of the milkman, it describes a child who might not look much like his or her parents or might be lighter or darker skinned than his or her siblings. It is also used in jest in that the child might have been born from infidelity.
• Hijoueputa son of a bitch, (ke ijuelagran puta!)
• Horita (also spelt: Orita) Means Later on, not right now, but soon later. Not to be confused with the Ahorita used in most of Latin America which means right now.
• Hostia- Old Spanish quite vulgar curse: QUE HOSTIA!!! a word commonly used to curse by extreme anger and hate, the host is the body of Christ El cuerpo de Cristo in catholic church. Que Hostia, cabrón me tienes una bola hinchá!!!
• Huelebicho Literally: cock sniffer. A pejorative adjective for an insufferable person
• Huirle como el diablo a la cruz Literally: to run from it like the devil from the cross. It means to avoid something strongly.

• Incordio Really annoying. Que por el momento esta molestando.
• Insecto A traitor. Literally, insect.
• vete pa la carcel To go to jail
• Irse pa la isla To go to the countryside [of Puerto Rico].

J

• jaiva meaning a vagina or cunt, also a smart business person.
• Jamona describe a woman that never married. (also, La corrio La Chiva)
• javao term used to describe a white man with black man features. In US they just consider themselves black. Basketball player Delonte West is a typical example of a javao.

• Jincho/Jincha Slang for a person thats very white or has fair skin.
• Jincho papujo a person thats very white or has fair skin.
• Joyo Slang for hoyo, hole. Another term referencing to a body part, meaning butt butthole culo butt-crack

• Joyete Slang for the diminutive hoyete, little hole. And yet another term for butthole
• Janguiar Anglicism for Hanging out/To Hang out
• Jibaro-people from the countryside/ mountains of Puerto Rico. Puertorican equivalent of a highlander. If used in jibarito, its hillbilly. It also means when someone doesnt know something thats all on the news, that is sort of disconnected from the modern world. Eres un jibaro! (Youre uninformed/old tradition)
• Jiribiya (o) slang for a very active child who will just not stay relaxed
• Jurutungo A borough in the town of Jayuya, before cars and roads a very inaccessible place. (also, Jurutungo viejo) A place very far away and hard to get to
• Juyir- Slang for huir,to flee
• Juyilanga coger la juyilanga be gone for a while.
• Jalao como timbre de guagua- as pulled as a bus bell. Someone really thin
• Jamaquiar- Comes from the taino word hamaca whence the English hammock derives. Jamaquear means to grab somebody and sway and toss them around, and back and forth
• Jaleo Standard Spanish for a cheery atmosphere. To be sick to your stomach with the sensation of wanting to vomit, sometimes accompanied with dizziness.
• Jalcoal Anglicism slang for Hardcore used by teens to describe something extreme.
• Jampiarse Slang for Old Spanish Zamparse'; eat something whole. To eat a lot without decorum.
• Jienda To get drunk.
• Jediondo Slang for hediondo, foul smelling, stinking (apestoso) Bad smelled.
• Jodienda Comes from joder, to be screwing around. Something that bothers or annoys you.
• Jodiendo la pita messing around, continuous anoying action executed by an individual.
• Jorobar Euphemism for joder. To bother someone.
• Jorobeta Something that bothers or annoys you.
• Josear/Joseador Anglicism for hoser. To take advantage of something/someone/a situation.

L

• La piña está agria Literally translating as the pineapple is sour, it means times are tough or theres no money/resources.
• Lambe queso * Hit in the back of the head, from the bottom up.
• Lambón Brown-noser. Similar to Lambe-ojo: an ass-kisser
• La última coca cola de el desierto Literally means The last Coca-Cola available on the desert. Is used to refers to an arrogant person who thinks himself as indispensable one, more important than actually is.
• Las cosas se pusieron a chavito prieto, Las cosas se pusieron color de hormiga brava, Los huevos se pusieron a peseta, Los huevos se pusieron duros Phrases describing a serious situation. They mean things have gotten tense, (economically) tight, serious, or strict. They literally translate to things became a tight  penny, things turned the color of fire ants, eggs are worth a quarter each, and the eggs turned hard, respectively. The first, third, and fourth phrases have historical backgrounds and relate to the selling of eggs and other raw materials in a towns central plaza. When the eggs and other goods increased in price, it was difficult for people to get a hold of them.
• La Jara Police vehicle.
• Las Sínsoras A far off place. Similar to El Jurutungo Viejo
• Las Quimbambas Middle of nowhere. See Las Sinsoras, Jurutungo viejo.
• Las ventas de carajo in the vicinity of el carajo / hell. Anyone sending you there is not happy with you. Vayase a la ventas del carajo.
• Latejón Used to describe a big thing (Commonly used by people at barrio Charcas, Quebradillas)
• Le dieron como a pandereta Aleluya o Pentecostal They hit him/her like they do to a tambourine at a Pentecostal church. Its used to describe when someone caught a hard beating.

• Le supo a plato curtído Literally means It tasted like dirty dishes. He or she did not like the outcome of the situation.
• Limbel o limber From the English name Lindberg, the famous pilot who crossed the Atlantic ocean and also flew to Puerto Rico. The name of homemade Icees. Usually made from natural fruits, or sweet milk mixtures. Sold out of the homes and not in stores.
• Locón/locona Crazy. It can be also used as an equivalent to dude/chick or buddy. In West Coast communities, the word has been adopted by English speakers as loc.
• Lonchera Anglicism of Lunchbox
• Lo tienes quemao Youve burned it out, as in You like something so much that youre burning it out, for instance by wearing the same clothing too often or even every day.
• Lambeojo Literally means eye licker but used like suck up. Brown noserasskisser.
• Loco/Loca- Means crazy but can be used like dude, i.e.:Mira loco ven paca -stands for: hey dude, come here. Also, to call a male Loca implies that he is a homosexual.

• Longaniza-refers to a debt to be paid in installments and refers to the links in a long multiple-linked sausage.

M

• Maceta lit. a plant pot. Also the mallet in a mortar, therefore it implies its slang for penis, or A person that is cheap, stingy; frugal.
• Mafutera Mafu is slang for Marihuana, so mafutera is slang for pothead or stoner
• Mahones Mahón is the Capital of the Spanish Island of Minorca, how thejeans ended up being called Mahón is anybodys guessJeans
• Mai It comes from old Castilian Mai: Short for mami (which means and is pronounced the same as mommy). Also, it is a term of endearment for females.

• Majadero. From the verb majar, to mash. Standard Spanish for a fool who persists in his foolishmess; ¡No seas tan majadero!= Dont be a pest!
• Mamalón From mamar, to suckle; A large, dumb and clueless individual, a Mamas boy.
• Mamao A cock sucker. Also means wimp.
• Mamey The mammee fruit; easy stuff (mameyes grow in very tall trees; one has to wait for them to fall to be able to enjoy them).
• Mameyaso A hard hit.
• Mandulete Standard Spanish for a lazy and annoying useless man. Is similar to Manganzón but applies to all ages.
• Mangar From the Old Spanish Caló gypsy dialect, to catch someone doing something that is not right.
• Manganzón Standard Spanish for a grown-up man, usually of quite large body build, who behaves like a child and has to be looked-after. A man-child.
• Mango Bajito As in low hanging mango (fruit), Easy pickings, wuss, punkass person.
• ¡Mano! or ¡Si mano! Short for hermano (brother), it means Hey bro! or Yes bro.
• Mas abajo pisó Colón It literally translates to [Christopher] Columbus stepped lower than that. Its used when someone steps on your foot and you want to tell them that the ground is below your foot.
• Más claro no canta un gallo. Lit. A rooster doesnt sing as clear. Implies -Crystal clear It couldnt be any clearer or explicitly stated.
• Más fea que una mordida de un puerco A phrase to describe a really ugly person. Literally means uglier then a pigs bite. (Esa mujer esta mas fea que la mordia de un puerco.)
• Mas feo que Julito Lit. Uglier than Little Julius; a very ugly man.
• Ma jincho que un sobaco de monja More pale than a nuns armpit which obviously never sees the sun.
• Más lento que una caravana de cojos A phrase to describe something or someone that is very slow. Literally, it translates as Slower than an old wobbly people caravan.

• Más lento que una caravana de cobos Slower than a caravan of small crabs.
• Más lento que un suero de brea See above. Translates to Slower than a tar drip.
• Más perdido que un juey bizco More lost than a cross eyed land crab.
• Más papista que el Papa Literally means more popist than the Pope or more Christian than the Pope. Refers to someone who not being part of a situation, adamantly opines about it.

• Más pelado que la rodilla de un cabro- A phrase describing someone who is poor or who has no money at all. Literally, it translates as more peeled hair than a goats knee. Pelado/peeled means devoid of money of course.

• Mas trucos que la correa de Batman More tricks up his/her sleeves or Tricky Person. It literally translates as More tricks/gadgets than Batmans belt.
• Me c-a-g-o en tu m-a-d-r-e See C-á-g-a-t-e en tu m-a-d-r-e.
• Melaza lit. Molasses, pure sugar cane juice, it is used to say something, someone, or a situation is great or sweet.
• Me cago en la crica de martha-
• Melón means melon. There are more specific terms, such as sandia for watermelon, etc. Also said to denominate an Independentist (Green Party) who votes for the Popular Party (Red Party), meaning that the person gives the appearance of being green on the outside but is actually red on the inside.
• Me importa un bicho Lit. To care for a dick. equates to I dont give a rats ass.
• Me tienes una teta hinchada y la otra en proceso or me tienes un huevo hinchado. It literally means: Youve made my one tit inflamed and the other is in the process of becoming so too. Its used when someone is fed-up with a situation
• Me tienes un lado seco- Its used when someone is fed-up with a situation You are driving up the walls/crazy
• Me tienes un ojo hinchado- lit. Youve got me an eye swollen. Its used when someone is fed-up with a situation. You are driving me crazy.

• Me voy a caballo y vengo a pie. Literally I left on a horse and came back on foot, it is used to express dissatisfaction about a situation in which you might put maximum amount of effort for very little in return or about a situation where you were better off when you started than how you ended. Also, it can be used in place of old Spanish expressions ¡Me cago en tu padre/madre! or ¡Me cago en diez! (Goddammit!), which is, in turn, used as a minced oath of the sacrilegious ¡Me cago en Dios!, when someone does not want to curse, as when in front of children.
• ¡Mi amigo el pintor! Literally translating as my buddy the painter!, its used frequently to make fun of men that are unaware that they are cuckolds. It was popularized on a TV show called Desafiando a los Genios in which a naïve participant would always describe his best friend the painter as someone who always takes care of his wife. It was obvious to the viewer that the wife was being unfaithful with the painter, and eventually the phrase came to refer to infidelity outside of the show.
• Mijo / Mija Puerto Rican Slang Contraction for mi hijo, mi hija. Doesnt necessary have to relate to your son or daughter, just a simple conversation with a friend. Ay mijo, como estas las cosas!.
• Me saca Equates to Getting on my nerves'; annoying. Short for the Standard Spanish Me saca de quicio = he drives me crazy.
• Mira pescao Literally, look here, you fish!, usually to express disapproval to someone or from his or her actions, a way to respond to someone who is trying to play a trick or prank on you.
• ¡Miércoles! Literally Wednesday, its a Standard Spanish cacophonous euphemism for the word ¡Mierda! (Shit). Its English equivalent is Shoot! It starts sounding like the word you intend to say but at the end you say something thats not offensive. Popularized by Juanes with Tengo la camisa negra.
• Mimil Baby talk for dormir, to sleep. me voy a mimil, Im going to sleep.Mira Look, look here
• Mira loco or Mira locón/locona Look here, buddy or Whats up, crazy!

• Mistin Miss Thing, from American black slang, popularized in the 80s by Guille, a character from the show Entrando Por La Cocina featured by actor Victor Alicea
• Mona Marti Name used to sarcastically call someone an actor or actress. Someone who makes a big silly act (like someone making all kind of faces after tasting a food that he/she didnt like) is said to be such a Mona Marti. Mona Marti was a famous Puerto Rican (radio/TV/theater/movie) actress (19011985), who became a quintessential actress for her role playing characters of mothers, grandmothers and, suffering or selfless nannies on Spanish TV soaps.
• Mono sabe palo que trepa y no trepa palo de limones Literally means, Monkey knows what tree to climb and does not climb lemon trees because lemon trees have thorns. Refers to someone who avoids picking on stronger adversaries to abuse or take advantage of.
• Motín Standard Spanish for Mutiny, RiotRandom motion of a crowd or Rebel Fight, usually against constituted authority.
• Morena/Moreno From Old Spanish, Moro someone form north Africa, tawny skinned, dark skinned, or black
• Molesta Standard Spanish, Annoyed, mad
• Moyeto Lit. Old Spanish for a whole wheat/brown bread rolll. Therefore used as Slang for black person
• Mangao Contraction for mangado. Again, from mangar, old Spanish gypsy Caló dialect. Also from a mangue, or being caught cheating and under a sure accusation.
• Mamabicho- cocksucker

La Antigua Cafetera de la Bombonera en el Viejo San Juan

N

• Negrito/negrija It is used as a term of endearment for any shade of Puerto Rican. Its related to the Puerto Rican versions of Baby or Honey as in your mate which are Ay mi negra, Hola negro, Mira Negrita.
• No es fácil quitarle el cuchillo a Rambo, pero se puede- It is not easy taking Rambos knife away from him, but it can be done. Inspired by the film First Blood.
• No inventes Literally, stop inventing or dont make plans. Generally meant in the sense of, Quit making things up.
• No lo encuentran ni en los centros espiritistas Standard Spanish idiom. A phrase used to describe someone so lost that they, as it literally translates to, cant even be found in a Espiritismo center. In Puerto Rico, Espiritismo, which is similar to Spiritualism in the United States, was so important that its central beliefthat mediums are able to communicate with the deadbecame widespread. Using this phrase means that the person being described cannot even be found by a medium or by the spirits of the dead.
• ¡No seas insecto! Literally, it translates as Dont be an insect!. An insecto is a slang term for a Narcotics Agent or a police informant. It is most frequently pronounced with the last s in seas and the c in insecto muted for an accentuated slang effect.
• No te panikees Anglicism from Dont panic
• No te rochees Anglicism from Dont rush or dont worry.
• No Jé No Sé Means I Dont Know
• ¡No Jodas!- literally means dont fuck with me!, it is also used to say no way! In Old Spanish Joder, came from Jodio, a Jew. As Christians were not allowed by Rome to manage money and interest bearing finances, Jews managed Banking and Savings and Loans. Many unscrupulous bankers would loan on usury monthly interests of 35%+. So una jodida equated to being screwed by the Jewish bankers.
• No es fácil catchar sin careta- it aint easy to play catcher wothout a maskLerroy Lopez Morales expression of life is not easy.

Ñ

• Ñaqui a cacophony idiom a small bite. A kiss or nip. from ñaca, a bite.
• ¡Ñoña es! Literally means is shit implies No way, eh?!

O

• ¿Oíte? Did you hear? (Equivalent to ¿Oíste?; See: Puerto Rican accents)
• Orita (also spelt: Horita) Means Later on, not right now, but soon later. Not to be confused with the Ahorita used in most of Latin America which means right now.
• Otros 20 pesos Literal: another $20 Meaning: Thats another story

P

• Pato (male)/pata (female) Translated as Duck also used to call a person fag or lesbian as in homosexual, or gay.
• Pai Old Spanish for Papa, Short for papi (daddy). Also, its a term of endearment for males.
• Papisongo(male)o Mamisonga(female) Sexual symbol
• Paquete Lie Que paquete mas grande!.
• Paquetero(male)o Paquetera(female) Liar (mentiroso) Esteban
• Pasar el Niagara en bicicleta- Literally means to cross Niagara falls riding a bicycle. To overcome great obstacles. Popularized by Juan Luis Guerra with El Niagara en bicicleta
• Patatús Standard Spanish for a fita non-specific ailment that involves passing out, hot flashes, etc. that usually causes a commotion. Typically affects older Puerto Rican women in crowded places.
• Pataleta- Standard Spanish when a child repeatedly stomps the floor in anger, when someone is over-reacting or having a fit about something.
• Parkear- Anglicism for to park. The correct term in Spanish is estacionar.
• Parkeado/a means to be parked, derived from the Anglicism Parkear (see above). The word estacionado/a is the correct term that should be used.
• Pelado lit. peeled, implies being pennyless, or broke
• Pegandole cuernos Literally translating as giving him/her horns, it is used to describe someone who is being unfaithful or adulterous.
• Pellisco de ñoco Literally pinch from an amputee (ñoco), and impossibility, can never happen.
• Pendejeando or Pendejeria -from Pendejo, an insufferable fool, a jerk. Clowning around or wasting time. Examples: Dejate de estar pendejeando. (Stop wasting time. or Stop jerking around.); Deja la pendejeria. (Stop your clowning around.) Akin to matando tiempo (killing time).
• Peldona sae Sorry, eh?! Actually its said: Perdona, sabes? in correct Spanish.
• Pendejo/pendeja -jerk, Dumb, slow-witted, or easily taken advantage of. Examples: Te cojieron de pendejo. (They took you for a ride.); No seas pendejo. (Dont be a dumbass.); Ella es tan pendeja que no entendio. (She so slow-minded that she didnt understand.)
• Pensando en pajaritos preñados Literally thinking of pregnant little birds, its used to describe someone who has their head in the clouds or whos daydreaming.
• Peo Contraction for pedo, fart.
• Perro que huele carne Literally translating as dog that smells meat, it is used to describe a situation where a person might suspect something he or she wants is within reach.
• Peste a chinchorí del monte: very stinky
• pajaro, pajarito literally: bird, meaning: penis or little penis.
•  Pariguayo/a Standard Spanish, a simpleton. A person from the country or someone who has no education.
• Peste a Moscovito viejo: Stench of old Muscovite; very stinky.

• Pichear It actually means: to pitch. Hes looking to get something from someone or it could also mean To ignore. In addition, it could mean to ask someone to forget about something. For example: ¡Nena, picheale a ese tema! (Girl, just forget about that topic!)
• Pie en Polvorosa Standard Spanish Idiom, to flee in full speed raiding a dust cloud (polvorosa) To get out of somewhere very fast. Fleeing while leaving a trail of dust).
• Piragua While Piragua is the taino word for a canoe, A treat made from shaved ice and colored/flavored syrup. They are traditionally served in a paper cone. Its literally an ice cone.

• Piragüero/piragüera A piragua vendor. Also used to describe a player or person that uses many pick-up lines.
• Por un tubo y siete llaves Literally means Through a tube and seven faucets Abundance refers to an oversupply of things, usually food. At Thanksgiving or Christmas the hostess will tell you to take food home because theres food here por un tubo y siete llaves
• Pollo Noun whose literal meaning is chicken. It means to kiss in a pecking manner. Term usually used to describe kissing between a boyfriend and a girlfriend. Mano, ayer salí con mi hevo y chacho comí pollo. which literally translates to Man, yesterday I went out with my boyfriend and boy did I eat chicken.
• Pompeaera Anglicism for Pumped up
• Puñeta -Refers to wrist. In the old days made of lace, theyd fly when slapping the tale in anger. Could be used like the curse word Fuck! or Oh fuck!. Hacerme la puñeta Means masturbation and its derived from the word puño, specifically male masturbation(fist).
• Punto Carajo Someplace very far or out of the way. Sometimes campo carajo
• Por la maceta As maceta means a mallet, it implies approval by mallet blow. Something that you approved of, like great, or good deal, or awesome
• Por el techo A Standard Spanish idiom that literally means Through the roof. Refers to someone who is very mad.
• Pato e playa- a beach fag
• Patras como el cangrejo- to make no headway, or to refer to someone that will make no progress. Literally going backwards, like a crab
• Pelao como rodilla de cabra Literally bare like a goats knee, it means broke or lacking money.
• Por la puñeta Literally means at the fist,see also puñeta. Refers to a place that is located far away, see also jurutungo and sinsoras. For example: ¡Me tuve que estacionar por la puñeta! (I had to park very far away!)

    Perreo Perrear Dance regueton

Q

• ¿Qepota? Slang for Hello or Whats up?
• ¿Qué es lo qué esta pasando?, ¿Qué es lo qué hay?, ¿Qué es la qué?, Whats up?; wassapenin',¿Qué es la que hay?
• ¡Que fleje! Fleje is a fling, a floozy, it implies How ugly!
• ¡Que santo guatapanazo se metió! Getting hit really hard.
• ¿Qué pasa pai (or mai)? Whats up dude/girl?
• ¡Que peste a sicote! Sicote is the standard Spanish for the bodys filthy grime mixed with sweat, especially the feet. The idiom says What a bad feet smell!
• Que tronco de cancha or que tronco e batea : cancha is the basketball court and tronco means tree trunk meaning a huge piece of. Literally the idiom says what piece of a (playing) court! A way of saying that a girl has a big ass and associating it with a large gathering place that boys are fond of and like to frequent for play
• ¡Que guasón eres!, Guasón is Standard Spanish for joker, prankster. The idiom equates to You are such a prankster! .
•  Que fue? what happened?

• Que mal le va- When someone is doing something wrong it means it is going bad for them, or when things are not going so well.
• Que pao (que pasó) used to say what happened as in (Que pao quien carajo tu eres?) what happened, who the fuck are you?
• Quedar retratao Retrato means a picture, be it photograph or painting. The Standard Spanish idiom means to clearly be guilty after being caught in the act. Means to be exposed.
• Quedar en la página de Cheo like the phrase Quedar retratao. Is based on a editorial feature of El Vocero, a Puerto Rican daily newspaper where in the same page placed a cartoon named Cheo alongside with the editorial and readers section denouncing misbehavior or corruption of local politicians.
• Quien a buen árbol se arrima, buena sombra lo cobija An Old Spanish proverb. Literally translated means he who takes shelter under a good tree gets the best shade. Means that you will benefit by being close to someone who could give you what you want or need. If you want to succeed, you have to be close to successful people. If you hang around losers, youll end up being a loser.

R

• Rampletera(ro) Reference to a promiscuous person.
• Rampleteando See rampletera Esta rampleteando means going out to party to seek for a sex partner (one night thing).
• Rebellusca Someone who is angry or in a foul mood
• Rebuleo or rebuliar Acting like an experienced champion. A reference from the days when Michael Jordan was the MVP star of the NBA team Bulls of Chicago. Tanbien se refiere a una persona que esta buscando problemas o bulla.
• Revulú or revolu From the word revuelto messed-up or disaster. Used for a scandal, loud commotion or confusion too.
• Relajo Standard Spanish for Din or racket. The phrase ¡Deja el relajo! can be translated as Stop playing around! and is thus similar to ¡Deja el gufeo!
• Raitrú direct translation Right True used to show agreement
• Repeplé- when a real mess is created, also as when saying revolú.

S

• Sal Pafuera Literally to go outside A ruckus that continues outside causing the entire room to be vacated. Typically a fight that either continues outside or causes folks to run out of a place in fear.

• Salió el tiro por la culata. Standard Spanish idiom. Literally translating as the shot backfired, it is used when a plan backfires.
• Salpafuera a revolú or a real mess.
• Sanamagan (pronounced with a seseo) Bastard. The word is supposedly derived from the English phrase son of a gun
• Saramanbiche cacophony for the English Son of a bitch
• ¡Se formó un corre y corre! Standard Spanish idiom meaning a a melee or running around confused.
• ¡Se formó un sal pa fuera! A comical phrase describing a get-out-of-here-situation or a violent situation in which many ran from the scene. Similar to ¡Se formó un corre y corre!
• ¡Se jodió la bicicleta! A comical idiom literally translating as the bicycle got screwed!. It describes a situation that spiralled out of control and theres no place to run to.
• Se la/lo chupo la bruja Got sucked by the Witch. He or she got caught with no way out.
• ¡Se lució el chayote! Chayote is a tasteless tropical fruit, that tastes only as good as its seasoning. A criticism used for someone who is showing off in any way. Lucirse means to show off on its own as well.

• Se pusieron los huevos a peseta Things got really bad. Literally means An egg is now worth a quarter.
• Si eres mudo revientas Idiom meaning if you were mute, youd explode. When someone is bursting to say something.
• ¡Siéntate a esperar! Literally translating as sit down and wait!, equates to dont hold your breath in English, which is used when a person promises something while lying.
• Sipi Dame un sipi Cacophony of the English sip. Translates to: Let me have a sip of your drink, or, Can I have a sip of your drink.
• ¡So anormal! Youre so damned stupid/subnormal!
• ¡Socio! Equates to the America English term partner, a friend. e.g.: ¡Socio! ¿Como estas? translates to something like Partner! How are you?
• ¡Suelta como gabete! Translates to: Loose like a shoelace. Similar to the English Slang Shes easy, it implies that a female is free with her body and will have sex with just bout anyone. Sinvergüenza Standard Spanish. Literally means shameless. Someone who is good for nothing, a bum.

T

• ¡Tanto nadar para ahogarse en la orilla! A lamentation literally translating as so much swimming, to drown at the shore. It is used to describe someone who has come very close to completing something and yet failed.
• Tarantala Alas, Papi estoy esta bien tarantala. Another word cacos invented, to say this is suspicious or bizarre. Very similar to shady.
• Tarambana Standard Spanish for a person of poor judgement. A good for nothing. See also Bambalán or sinvergüenza
• Tato ¡Tato hablao!, short for Esta todo hablado = All is said. Everythings, cool. We have an understanding. Usually said at the end of a conversation right before each person goes their separate way. Okay, ustedes traen el pan y nosotro el queso. Tato. You gys bring the bread and we bring the cheese, all is said.
• ¡Te cagaste del miedo! You shit your pants from fright!
• ¡Te dieron chino! While choni is a Chinaman, chino is the slang for He humped your bump!
• Tecato/a- a drug-addict. Mostly junkies who use drugs intravenously. It also means an inferior copy of  something, i.e. a rip-off or a product of bad quality. Refers to manteca or heroin that tecatos inject to their veins.
• Te cogieron de mango bajito Literally means they took you for a low mango(if the fruit is positioned low in the tree, its easy to pick)they took you for a fool, its used when someone was easy to take advantage of.
• Te gua a dar un mamellazo!! = Im a hit you with a (big) mamey!
• TeVeGuia TV Guide
• Te lo metieron bien mongo-Its referring to having been screwed by someone with a limp penis Phrase used to express that someone took you as a fool.
• Tipeja Standard Spanish for a twerp of a woman. Slang for an inexistent girlfriend created in the mind of very jealous woman.
• Tipo/tipa Standard Spanish for type and for fellow. Equates to the American fella or guy. Dude/chick. Its used when someones name cannot not be remembered. I.e.: Ese tipo que vino a la fiesta. (That dude/fella/guy who came to the party); Ese tipo que es amigo tuyo (That dude/guy/fella whos a friend of yours). It can also be used for someone who might be familiar but not a friend. It has derogatory connotations.
• Tirar, Te tiraste a alguien When you make out with some one. Usually not your boyfriend/girlfriend.
• Tirar la pataEstirar la pata -Literally, to stiffen your leg Equates to to kick the bucket,to die
• Tiene mazamorra en los dientes!!. Mazamorra is Old Spanish for blancmange. It translates as he has blancmange/custard in his teeth.-
• Tirar al medio Tirar al medio significa delatar a alguien. También usan Chotear o Bocón (Boca Grade)
•  Te pones una plancha de zinc en la cabeza y eres una letrina ambulante!- Literally You place a zinc plank on your head and youre a walking latrine.- You stink big time!

• Toque Lit. Touch. Taking a hit of an illegal substance.
• Toribio The name of a TV character who was a cuckold, it has come to mean a cuckold in general. Toribio is derived from toro (bull) and thus implies being pegged with the horns of infidelity.
• ¡Tú eres bien fiebrú/fiebrua! From the word fiebrudo suffering from feverUsually used as a compliment when admiring someones passion for something, especially cars or car racing, it means youre really into that!.
• ¡Tú sí que eres presentado!, ¡Tú eres bien presentado!, or ¡So presentado! Presentado means presentee, to present oneself without invitation. A criticism meaning Youre very nosy, youre forcing your presence here, or Stop being nosy!.
• Tumbacoco- A very loud vehicle-mounted with heavy loudspeaker system. Refers to both knocking down coconuts with the noise and to doing damage to the political party symbolized by the coconut palm.
• Tu tío corre bicicleta sin sillín Tu imply your uncle is gay. Literally means,your uncle rides a bike without the seat, alas with the stick up his anus.
• Tumbar Literally to knock down. Slang for to steal something: ¿Te tumbaste eso? (Did you steal that?)
• Toto tota, totito A non offensive slang for vulva, vagina. more likely, pussy. Mostly used to reference the female genitalia when speaking generally to your children. Vete y lavate el toto. A person who is a pussy.
• Tráfala Adjective Similar to cafre. It describes a person that was not well brought up, has very bad manners, dresses really bad or is considered trashy. The English equivalent term would be Riff-raff, ghetto person
• Truckiar Verb that means to have an intense kiss with someone who was just met. Example, Fuí pa un party, y mientras bailaba con una nena linda, terminamos truckiado. Which translates to I went to a party yesterday, and while I danced with a pretty girl, we ended up making out

La 22 en el 1952

U

• ¡Uva!- Often used when good news are received, literally means Grape. Está como uva refers to a person deeply asleep. They also use the phrase as Uva Thats Cool, Groovy.
• ¡Un muerto hablando de un ahorcao! literally means a dead man talking about a hanged man. Used when a person is talking about someone who is on his same situation.
• ;Una paja- Masturbation.

V

• Vela Güira- An opportunistic person. Usually used to describe a man/woman who preys on someone elses romantic partner or a basketball player who just wants to score the easy layups.
• ¡Vete pal carajo!- It means Go to HELL!
• ¡Vete pal Caribe Hilton! A minced oath for ¡Vete pal carajo! (the Puerto Rican version of ¡Vete al carajo!, meaning Go to hell! or Fuck you! or fuck off!). The Caribe Hilton is a hotel in the San Juan area. Note: When ¡Vete pal carajo! is used, it is sometimes accompanied by so cabrón/cabrona (you damned asshole/bitch) right after it.
• Viejo verde Literally means green old man. Refers to a horny/dirty old man.
• ¿Viste? -Equates to See?! Did you see? Meant to challenge or prove someone wrong.(Equivalent to ¿Viste?)
• ¡Volando bajito! Literally flying low, Keeping a low profile or usually used to describe speeding drivers or people who try to commit a given act without anyone else finding out. Driving very fast.

W

• Wepa A word of jubilation that is uttered by mainly Hispanics, especially within the Puerto Rican community. It normally is yelled at high volumes in a nasal manner, especially after something that is celebrated. Wepa normally means, All right! Good job! Congratulations! Yeah! When saying, Wepa!, you must hold the e for the longest amount of time, and a for just as long. Variations are also acceptable. Pronounced: Weh pah; you must say it nasally or there is no true jubilant effect. Student 1: I just a 98 on my Chemistry final! Student 2: All right, man! WEPA! Puerto Rican singer: ¿Estamos listos? (Are we ready?) Audience: WEPA!!!! Priest:     I     now     pronounce     you     husband     and     wife.     You     may     kiss     the     bride.     Attendee: WEEEEEEEPAAAAAAAAAAAAA! (applauding the couple as he says it) (credit Urban Dictionary)

Y

• ¿Y qué? Literally And what!? Equates to So what? or, depending on the context, So whats up?
• ¡Y se le(s) está haciendo tarde! Literally And its becoming too late already! equates to Time is running out! Its a sports phrase used when an individual or team is far behind on scoring as the event nears its conclusion.
• Yuca Literally, cassava or yuca root. When used as slang term, it can be used to mean jerk, dork, (as in ¡Tú eres tan yuca!, meaning Youre such a jerk/dork). It could also refer to a penis as in pelar la yuca, meaning to peel the foreskin back, and rasca yuca referring to scratch the penis to provide pleasure. Other terms using the word yuca are: Cayó como yuca that translate literally as Fell as yuca and means that someone has fallen deeply asleep; Tienes yuca conmigo that translate as You have a yuca with me and means that somebody is in bad terms or angry against you; Saca la yuca that translates as Get the yuca out is an expression used to motivate someone to be in peace and put an end to any anger; Le dió yuca hasta el ñame translate to He/she gave him/her/it yuca up to the ñame (another edible root) and it would means to hit hard to knock out or in a vulgar form to penetrate the penis inside a vagina or anus.

• Yo sé como bate el cobre Translates as I know how to beat the copper and basically means I know whats going on here, and its usually used whenever someone is being lied to or told a fib.

Z

• Zafacón Zafacón is Spanish for waste basket. Many in Puerto Rico believe the word is derived from the English phrase safety can, other believe is derived from is Arabic zafaka.
• Zángano From the name of the male bee (Zangano), whose only duty for the beehive is to breed the queen. So it denotes a worthless idiot. Used to describe a female or male that is acting stupid or foolish. A lazy man. Another word similar in Spanish is boba/bobo ninny, sod. It also means a coward or a weakling akin to the word, wuss or wimp. No te hagas la zángana translates to Dont pretend you are stupid.
• Zarrapastroso Standard Spanish tor someone whos a ragamuffin, a tramp.

List of Puerto Rican slang words and phrases  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=458402020  Contributors: AVM, Abrito, Aitias, Aldelvalle, Amarela, Anievestor, AntonioMartin, Arjayay, Arosa1966, Aruton, Asaadmau, Atif.t2, Auntof6, Basilisk4u, Bernise33, Biaya, Bletch, Bob Lored, Busyjangueo, Cajandro, Caspertheghost, Charleenmerced, Charles Matthews, Closedmouth, Cmdrjameson, Colonies Chris, Courcelles, Crusoe8181, Davidisaak2011, Dckas, Docuteca, Dominic, DoradoPR, Dpbsmith, Drampolla, ElBorikano, Elagatis, Elmedio, EoGuy, Erri4a, Eugene-elgato, Fatedbreath, Franco203, GTKZ, Genhalftrack, GoingBatty, Haroldomil, Heryroman, Hijodelarevolucion, Iohannes Animosus, J carrillo vii, JesseW, Jimbobeatty, Jmoliver, Jncraton, Joeflux, Joey0xx, John of Reading, JuanCha, Juanita Angulo, Juracan1, Kaal, Kaoba1964, Kbailey1, Kingpin13, Lev, LilHelpa, LuiJoD13, MJPE, MadMax, Man vyi, Mandarax, Marine 69-71, Mariorat, Maximus Rex, Menor75, Mercy11, Michael Devore, MichaelLau, Mild Bill Hiccup, Mistman123, MonoAV, Mosemamenti, Mtmelendez, My fresh tendrils, N5iln, NJN0000, Nabikilr, Nick Number, Nosferican, Nummymuffin, OlEnglish, Omarnirv, Orphan Wiki, PR Belle, Pegship, Philip Trueman, Quazgaa, Queson, Richwales, Rjwilmsi, Rob Scrivener, SWAdair, Sam Hocevar, Sean.hoyland, Seaphoto, Soyboricuaenva43, Stillwaterising, Sugarbat, SyL64, Tikigawd, Tumacho17, Victoriarakel23, Vrenator, Wavehunter, WhisperToMe, Will Beback Auto, Xyzzyplugh, YourMomsMailMan, Zidonuke, Zntrip, 782 anonymous edits

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Travelling is my life

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