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Have you ever traveled abroad and felt relieved when you found someone who speaks your native language?
This happens to us Spanish speakers fairly often because, well⊠there are many of us. However, sometimes we even have trouble understanding each other. There are so many Spanish-speaking countries and so many variations of the language that misunderstandings are bound to happen, and sometimes they can get you into troubleâŠ
My (embarrassing) experience
Who doesnât like a little bit of gossip, right?
To put things in context: a Colombian woman arrives in Spain with many concerns but with the peace of mind of at least knowing the local language. I was being naive, of course.
I was on a crowded bus and the driver kept asking us to move back a little further so that more people could get on. Trying to help out, I decided to shout: âÂĄQue se corran un poquito!â If you are Spanish you already know what it means and you can imagine how mortified I was when the younger passengers on the bus started spreading their giggles to others. As we say in Spanish, my face turned tomato colour.
Thankfully, a girl saw my red face and confused look saying âI donât understand anythingâ, and came up to me to explain that in Spain âcorrerseâ (which, to me, simply means to âmove alongâ) also had another meaning â but please donât make me tell you here, I was already embarrassed at the time. If you are not Spanish and you donât know what I am talking about, Google it. You will understand me.
As you can see, whether Spanish is your mother tongue or you have studied it extensively and therefore you think you can speak it anywhere, Iâm sorry to tell you that you are wrong. So in this post I am going to give you some words that you will appreciate knowing if you decide to travel around Latin America, either so that you donât have to go through the same embarrassment that I did or so that you can understand âla jerga urbanaâ (slang) of the place you are in. You are welcome.
Same word, different meaning
You may use a word in your everyday life that, unknowingly to you, is not very appropriate in the neighbouring country. Spanish is not an easy language, so keep this list handy on your trip to Latin America or Spain, learn where to say what and you will save yourself more than one problem. Here we go:
- Chapa/s
- Culo
- Taco
- Coger
- Concha
- Cacho
- Paja
- Palo
- Machete
- Porro
đșđžLiteral translation â« Chapa = Metal Sheet, Plate, Veneer, Badge
This word is funny.
In Argentina if you are a âchapaâ (you are a veneer), you are crazy, although they also use it to refer to a passionate kiss (Esa pareja estaba chapando en el cine â« That couple was plating in the cinema â« That couple was kissing in the cinema).
In Colombia, Peru or Bolivia, if you get a âchapaâ, you have a nickname and if you go to countries like Ecuador, a âchapaâ is a way to call a police officer.
In Spain, if you are a âchapaâ, you donât stop talking, but also if you âchapasâ a place, it means that you close it (Chapa la tienda â« Plate the shop â« Close the shop / La tienda estaba chapada â« The shop was plated â« The shop was closed). The Spanish always making everything easy for us, of course.
đșđžLiteral translation â« Culo = Ass
In most Spanish-speaking countries, âculoâ refers to the behind, but it is good to know other meanings of this word, so you will not be surprised or offended if in Argentina they tell you that you have a good âculoâ, because theyâre actually telling you that you have good luck.
In Colombia, it is used as an expression to say that something is nice, so take it as a compliment if someone tells you: âVaya culo de camisaâ (Your shirt is an ass â« Your shirt is nice). Although it is also used to express that something was easy (El examen estuvo muy culo â« The test was very ass â« The test was very easy) or to mean nothing (Me preguntaron pero no sabĂa un culo â« They asked me but I didnât know an ass â« They asked me but I knew nothing).
If in Mexico you are a âculoâ (you are an ass), it means that you are a fearful person, and in Peru if they love you one âculoâ (love you an ass), it means that they love you very much.
However, it can also mean something bad, because âir como el culoâ (to go as the ass), âestar de culoâ (to be of the ass) or âpasarlo como el culoâ (spend it as the ass) in Spain, means having a very bad time.
đșđžLiteral translation â« Taco = block, cue, stud, cleat, wad, heel
If you travel to Mexico, donât leave without having a taco, a delicious meal weâre sure youâve heard of. But if you are in a âtacoâ in Chile or Colombia, you will probably be late because it means you are in a traffic jam (in Spain this would be called being in a âcaravanaâ â« a van).
In Venezuela, to be a taco is to be very smart but in Spain, to say a taco is to say a rude word, a rudeness (Ese niño dice muchos tacos ⫠That child says many tacos ⫠That child says many rudeness).
However, taco in Spain is also used to refer to a large amount (He escrito un taco de papeles â« Iâve written a paper taco â« Iâve written a lot of papers). If we put it all together, a child could say un taco de tacos â« cue of cues â« a lot of rude words.
Mexican taco
đșđžLiteral translation â« Coger = take, hold, pick up
Be careful with this verb! If you have learned Spanish in Spain or you are from there, for you âcogerâ is a common verb and you will say it 24/7, because it has several meanings and all of them are very useful.
âCoger algoâ (to take something) in Spain means to grab it with your hands. Of course, it has a few other uses: it can also mean buying something (ÂżTe has cogido al final el coche que querĂas? â« Did you finally take the car you wanted? â« Did you finally buy the car you wanted?). But also, âcoger el telĂ©fonoâ (taking the phone) is answering a call (Te he llamado pero no me has cogido el telĂ©fono â« Iâve called you but you have not taken the phone â« I called you but you didnât answer your phone).
However, if you travel to Latin America, do not tell anyone that you want to âcogerâ (take) something, unless you have sexual intentions. (EscuchĂ© coger a mis vecinos â« I listened to my neighbors taking â« Do you really need me to translate it?)
đșđžLiteral translation â« Concha = shell
Another word that can get you in trouble if youâre not careful. In most parts of Latin America the word âconchaâ means vulva. However, in Argentina and Bolivia concha can also mean luck (QuĂ© concha tienes, pensaba que no ibas a aprobar â« What a concha youâve got, I didnât think youâd pass â« Youâre so lucky, I didnât think youâd pass) and in Colombia and Mexico it can refer to someone whoâs lazy (QuĂ© concha tiene, no trabaja ni hace nada â« What a concha he has, he doesnât work or do anything at all â« Heâs so lazy, he doesnât work or do anything at all).
In Spain, however, Concha is a common female name, short for ConcepciĂłn. Therefore, âla concha de tu madreâ (your motherâs shell) might have slightly different meanings in Spain and Argentine â although Iâd suggest avoiding that phrase everywhere, just in case.
đșđžLiteral translation â« Cacho = Piece
Unlike every word weâve talked about in this post so far, âcachoâ doesnât have a literal translation to English. It does have lots of different meanings depending on the country and context, so letâs get into it. In Latin America, it usually refers to a moment or bit of time (ÂĄEspĂ©rame un cacho! â« Wait for a little bit!) although in Spain it means a portion of something (Me he comido un cacho de pastel â« I ate a piece of cake) or something thatâs very big (ÂĄCacho coche! â« Thatâs a big car! / ÂĄQuĂ© cacho casa te has comprado! â« Thatâs a big house you bought! ). âCachoâ, like every other word in Spanish, can also have a sexual connotation (Anoche pillĂ© cacho â« Last night I hooked up with someone).
However, in Chile âcachoâ can be used to describe objects that arenât useful anymore (Estos juguetes ya son un cacho â« These toys arenât useful anymore) or to refer to the horns of an animal (QuĂ© cachos tiene ese ciervo â« That deer has some horns ).
In Ecuador if someone tells you a âcachoâ, theyâre telling you a joke, although they might be lying to you instead. For example, âJajaja, quĂ© cacho mĂĄs buenoâ could either translate to âHahaha, that was a great jokeâ and âeso es una gran mentiraâ means âthat was a big lieâ, it depends on the context. Yes, I know, very confusing.
Meanwhile, in Venezuela if someone is putting âcachosâ on you⊠Iâm sorry, theyâre cheating on you.
đșđžLiteral translation â« Paja = hay
In many Spanish-speaking countries like Argentina, Spain, Chile, Colombia or Guatemala, âpajaâ refers to male masturbation, but it also has a few different meanings.
In Argentina when something gives you âpajaâ it means you canât be bothered to do it (Me da paja ir hasta allĂ â« Going there gives me hay â« I canât be bothered to go there) and, in Chile, being made âpajaâ means youâre tired or in a bad mood (Estoy hecha paja â« Iâm made hay â« Iâm really tired), although if something gives you âpajaâ, it makes you feel shy or embarrassed (Me da paja hablar en pĂșblico â« Public speaking gives me hay â« Iâm embarrassed to speak in public).
In Guatemala or Colombia, a âpajaâ is also a lie (Solo hablas pajas â« You only talk hay â« You only tell lies) but in Spain âpajaâ refers to unnecessary, boring or unimportant information (La clase fue interesante al principio, luego fue todo paja â« The class was interesting at the beginning, but then it was all hay â« The class was interesting at the beginning, but the rest was useless).
đșđžLiteral translation â« Palo = stick, post, pole, handle
In Argentina, a âpaloâ is a strong blow (Menudo palo se dio ese auto â« That car received a big stick â« That car was hit very hard) but it can also be used there and in Colombia to refer to any amount of money over a million (GanĂł un palo en la loterĂa â« They won a pole in the lottery â« They won over a million in the lottery).
In Puerto Rico or Venezuela if someone gives you a âpaloâ theyâre offering a drink and, believe me, itâs not a soft drink.
The winner of the âCountries with most meanings for the word paloâ award is definitely Spain. If something gives âpaloâ to a Spaniard, it means it makes them embarrassed. (Me da palo hablar con ella â« Speaking with her gives me stick â« Iâm embarrassed to talk to her), although âpaloâ can also mean very bad news (Se muriĂł su abuelo, vaya palo â« Their grandfather passed away, what a stick â« Their grandfather passed away, thatâs terrible).
They also use this word to refer to something with an unreasonably high price, usually for services (Fuimos a cenar y menudo palo nos dieron â« We went for dinner and what a stick they gave us â« We went for dinner and it was very expensive). And a tip if youâre traveling to Spain: if someone wants to give you the âpaloâ, run, because they want to steal from you. Donât worry, itâs not very likely to happen.
đșđžLiteral translation â« Machete = machete
Even though this word can be seem very straightforward for English speakers, in Spanish it also has very different meanings depending on the country. In Argentina or Colombia, a âmacheteâ is a piece of paper a student might use during an exam to cheat (in Spain, this is called a chuleta, also meaning lamb chop), but in Bolivia or Peru, âmacheteâ refers to someoneâs (male) partner (Ella se fue con su machete al cine â« She went to the cinema with her machete â« She went to the cinema with her boyfriend).
In Chile, like in most other countries, a âmacheteâ is a broad, heavy knife, but it can also be used as a verb to refer to someone who takes advantage of others (Deja de pedir dinero que no te hace falta, deja de machetear â« Stop asking for money you donât need, stop machetting â« Stop asking for money you donât need and trying to take advantage of other people ). In Uruguay, someone whoâs âmacheteâ is someone who doesnât like spending money (Con el dinero que tiene y lo machete que es â« Heâs so machete for someone with that much money â« Heâs so stingy for someone with that much money).
In Venezuela, âmacheteâ can refer both to the penis, or something thatâs in good or perfect condition (-ÂżCĂłmo estĂĄ el agua? -ÂĄMachete! â« -Howâs the water? -Machete! â«Howâs the water? -Just right!).
đșđžLiteral translation â« Porro = Joint
Like âcachoâ, âporroâ doesnât have a direct translation to English. In most Spanish-speaking countries like Argentina, España, Bolivia, Colombia, MĂ©xico o Venezuela, a âporroâ is a joint.
In Argentina or Chile, apart from that, âporroâ can also be used to describe someone who doesnât study much or is generally lazy (No pasĂł de curso por porro â« He didnât pass the year because he was a porro â« He didnât pass the year because he was lazy). In Colombia, âporroâ is also a dance move (EstĂĄ bailando un porro â« Theyâre dancing a porro), so if someone offers you a âporroâ, make sure you know exactly what theyâre talking about before accepting it.
Is Spanish a hard language to learn?
As you might have realized throughout this post, Spanish isnât that easy even to native speakers. Itâs a rather complex language, but even though it can be confusing at times, some misunderstandings can also make for great anecdotes in the right context.
Before ending this post I want to include this video with two fellow countrymen who explain everything Iâve talked about perfectly and, hopefully, will help you understand how hard it is to speak Spanish⊠¥QuĂ© razĂłn tenĂ©is!
I hope I helped you discover some fun facts about Spanish you didnât know about. Remember to save this post for you travels to Latin America or Spain, it might come in handy if suddenly you have no idea what someone is talking about.
If you know any other words with multiple meanings, or different meanings for any of the words we talked about, please let us know in the comments! Knowledge is powerâŠâïž