Some (Mexican) Spanish Slang With A Bit Of Explanations And Examples!

Boost your Spanish with more complex synonyms for words you already know

Here you have some words/expressions (in bold) that you can use to show off while speaking Spanish. A native will know them, but if you use these you will impress them. Also, in your writings these words will look quite good. NOTE: Some of them are quite formal and not used in conversations.

similar - semejante, afín, cercano, aproximado, símil, parecido (adj.) (similar)

parecerse - asemejarse, semejar, darse un aire, recordar a (to resemble)

divertido - ameno, entretenido (adj.) (fun)

difícil - peliagudo, arduo, espinoso (adj.) (difficult)

fácil - sencillo, factible (adj.) (easy)

empezar - emprender (to begin)

terminar - concluir, ultimar, finiquitar (to finish)

la misión -  la empresa, el cometido, la tarea, la labor, el quehacer  (mission, duty)

caro - costoso, prohibitivo (adj.) (expensive)

barato - asequible, económico (adj.) (cheap)

distraer, desentender, simular - hacerse el sueco (expression, lit.

to do the Swedish. To avoid doing something that you must do)

enfermo - aquejado, indispuesto, alicaído (adj.) (sick, ill)

la historia - el cuento, la leyenda, la fábula (story, tale)

el cotilleo - chisme, chismorreo, enredo (gossip)

aprender - cultivarse, formarse, educarse, empollar (to learn)

gustar - cautivar, embelesar (to like)

saber - estar al corriente, estar al tanto (to know about something)

siempre - perpetuamente, constantemente, continuamente (always)

malo - diabólico, maléfico, maldito, ruin, infame, sinvergüenza, insolente, maligno, malicioso, depravado, inmoral, pérfido (adj.) (bad, as in “a bad person”)

malo - nocivo, dañino, perjudicial, nefasto (adj.) (bad)

comprar - adquirir, obtener (to buy)

la tienda -el comercio, el establecimiento, el negocio, la botica (shop)

continuar -prorrogar, prolongar, preservar, aguantar, proseguir (to continue)

buscar - indagar, rebuscar, escudriñar, revolver (to search)

contestar - objetar, contradecir, rebatir, refutar, rechazar, disputar, discutir, argüir (to reply, as in refute)

abandonar - marcharse, desaparecer, largarse, ausentarse (to abandon, as in “to leave a place”)

feliz - radiante, contento, risueño, campante (adj.) (happy)

triste - afligido, apenado, desconsolado, abatido, entristecido, apesumbrado, desolado, deshecho, desamparado, mustio, taciturno, tristón (adj.) - sad

antipático - desagradable, enojoso, aguafiestas, pesado (adj.) (obnoxious)

la ciudad - la urbe, la localidad, el municipio, la población

 (city)

el país - la nación, la patria, el pueblo, el estado (country)

la familia - la estirpe, el linaje (family)

los padres - los progenitores, los ascendientes, los antecesores (parents)

la casa - el domicilio, la vivienda, la residencia, la morada, el inmueble, la edificación (house)

To all my black followers and friends, stay safe.

Also, I would like to add that black lives have always mattered, will always matter.

It’s awful that we even have to say that because it should be a given. However, we need to say it loud and clear for the racists.

We cannot be silent. 

use it, achieve your goals. // 17.09.2016

when the times get rough and I lose sight of the goal i just. reread “the orange” by wendy cope again & remember. that’s where I’m going folks. sooner or later, whatever it takes.

academia is 50% crying, 20% research, and 30% coming up with funny titles for every paper that you write

♡  SOME SPANISH TELENOVELA PHRASES ♡

requested by an anon

Exclamatory Phrases

¡no puede ser! | it can’t be!

¡vete / fuera de aquí! | go away, get out of here!

¡déjame en paz / aléjate! | leave me alone, get away from me  

¡suéltame! | get off me, let go of me! 

¡no me toques! | don’t touch me! 

¡dime la verdad! | tell me the truth!

¡no lo creo! | i don’t believe it!

¡no me mientas! | don’t lie to me!

¡mentiras! | lies!

¡no lo soporto! | i can’t stand it!

!cállate! | shut up!

Insults

cobarde | coward

desagradecido/a | ungrateful person

mentiroso/a | liar

sinvergüenzo/a | shameless person

Plot Reveal Phrases

estoy embarazada | i’m pregnant

eres el padre | you’re the father

tengo un amante | i have a lover

quiero el divorcio | i want a divorce

habia un accidente | there was an accident

está muerto | she / he is dead

Love Phrases

estoy en enamorada de ti | i’m in love with you

eres el amor de mi vida | you’re the love of my life

eres mi vida | you’re my life

te amo / te quiero | i love you

te juro / te prometo | i swear to you, i promise you

no quiero vivir sin ti | i don’t want to live without you

no puedo vivir sin ti | i can’t live without you 

cásate conmigo | marry me

¡nos vamos a casar¡ | we’re getting married!

Heartbreak Phrases

¡se acabo! | it’s over!

él me engañó / ella me engañó | she cheated on me

tiene otra mujer | he has another woman

no te amo / no te quiero | i don’t love you

me hiciste daño | you hurt me

¡te odio! | i hate you!

no lo / la puedo olvidar | i can’t forget about him / her

MISC. vocab

el novio, la novia | boyfriend, girlfriend

el amante | lover

el secreto | secret

el embarazo | pregnancy 

la muerte | death

envidia | envy, jealousy

venganza | vengeance, revenge

more phrase lists ♡ idioms ♡ random phrases p. one ♡ random phrases p. two request a vocabulary / phrase list

a collection of some of my favorite jonghyun quotes

for anyone who might need him right now.

• “time goes by. it’s just slower when you are having a hard time. if you try to enjoy the time, everything will be alright.”

• “there’s no such thing as useless emotion.”

• “it’s fine if you hurt a little. it’s fine if you fall.”

• “even if you don’t gain strength today, it’s alright to gain strength even tomorrow. i wanted to say that it’s okay, even if you have been worn out and had a hard time for as long as a month. please gain strength tomorrow! it’ll be fine as long as you gain strength when you feel like it.”

• “i’ll make everyone a promise. when you’re sad, i’ll cry together with you. if you’re happy, i’ll be even happier for you. i will do anything using my small, little effort to stand beside everone.”

• “cry out loud once. look at the mirror and shake it off. i’ve cried like that before and others will have times like that too. cheer up, you’re not alone.”

• “i think it’s okay to feel lost in your life. i think it’s okay to not reach that final goal (in your life). you may earn things while being lost or could make something out of it through the emotions you feel. i think it should be your judgement. you don’t have to make someone else judge the satisfaction of your life. i hope that you don’t feel too anxious about feeling lost in your life.”

• “when your tears are falling, just let them shed. i wish you’ll think of it as if that weight inside your heart is getting out of your body drop by drop.”

• “is there anyone out there that is crying alone tonight? not crying out of pity for something or someone, but instead because they cannot help asking why they are living in the way that they are? is there anyone that is feeling sentimental or guilty, needlessly? don’t be like that. i hope that you believe that these bitter days of crying alone will prove to be the most beautiful days of your life. you’ll realize, with time, that your life is actually pretty alright. i promise you. in fact, i’ll write you a guarantee! the most beautiful thing in all the world is right now. this moment. you. don’t ever forget that.”

• “life is a series of encounters and farewells. i believe we grow in the process. for now, it is very sad but we will meet again. we can hope for that day to come soon, and we will be able to greet each other with (a) much bigger welcome.”

Creo en Ti por Reik: Vocabulario y Gramática

Esta canción escuché por la primera vez hoy y me sentí que “Creo en Ti” (video abajo)sea una de mas canciones lindas de mi vida. Entonces, quiero compartir con ustedes alguno vocabulario clave y algunos puntos gramaticales que aparecen dentro de esta canción. ¡Disfruta! 

TR: I heard this song for the first time today and I felt that “Creo en Ti” is one of the most beautiful songs of my life. So I want to share with you some key vocabulary and some grammar points that appear within this song. Enjoy!

Letras (Lyrics)

Vocabulario Calve

creo en ti - I believe in you

(la) noche - (the) night

(el) cielo - sky (or heaven depending on context)

(la) calle - street

(el) laberinto - labyrinth

rendir (v.) - to defeat (this verb has many meanings, in this context, it means defeat)

(la) piel -skin

(el) corazón - heart

desarmar (v.) - to disarm, to take apart, to disassemble

(el) amor - love

(las) luces - lights

(el) alma (n.f.) - soul

indestructible (adj.) - indestructible 

(el) dolor - pain

(las) fantasmas - ghosts, phantoms

(la) paz - peace

(la) caída libre - free fall

Gramática 

Porque el cielo ha conspirado en mi favor - Because the heavens have conspired in my favor: 

ha conspirado = present perfect tense (haber + participio pasada)

Me haces bien - You make me better (literally: you make me well)

me (pronombre) + haces (hacer en el presente 2a persona) + bien (adjetivo)

Creo en ti - I believe in you

Creo (creer en el presente 1a persona) 

Creer means to believe. When pared with “en” + “persona/pronombre” it means “to believe in…”

Me ha vuelto indestructible - I have become indestructible

volverse (con pronombre) = to become

“vuelto” is the past participle of volver(se), it’s irregular

me vuelvo (presente) = I become

me ha vuelto (pres. perfect) = I have become

Mi dolor se quedo kilómetros atrás = my pain stayed kilometers away

se quedo = quedarse en el pasado 3a persona

this verb always needs a reflexive pronoun

Past tenses

te encontré   = I found you

crucé = I crossed

esperé = I hoped/waited (what a fun wordplay)

This was super fun to work on! I didn’t include everything because that would take forever! I love this song so much, it’s so cute and sweet. 

If you have any questions, reply to this post and hopefully I can help you out. This is my first time making one of these!

Fantastic French Expressions

This is a list of expressions, phrases, and idioms that are ideal for writing. I got them from my actual whole man, the Collins French Dictionary, which is great for all students, even self-taught ones.

Tout le monde s’accorde à dire que -  Everyone agrees that

Il est bien connu que - It is a well-known fact that

Un problème souvent évoqué, c’est - A much-discussed problem is

Cette question est depuis longtemps au cœur du débat sur [topic] - This question has always been at the heart of the debate about [topic] (e.g. gender, education, civil rights, etc)

La première constatation qui s’impose, c’est que - The first point to note is that

Prenons comme point de départ - As a starting point

Il convient maintenant d’analyser - We must now analyse

Il faut nous poser cette question - We must ask ourselves

En somme / En définitive / Au demeurant - In conclusion

D’une part … de même que - On one hand / Likewise

En revanche / Cependant / Par contre / Au contraire - However / On the contrary

À cela s’ajoute / En outre / En addition - Even more / In addition

D’ailleurs - Moreover

Il insiste sur le fait que - He insists on the fact that… et il voudrait nous faire croire que - he would make us believe that

Prenons le cas de - As an example

Il est indéniable que / Il ne fait aucun doute que - It is evident that

La polémique met en lumière - The issue brings to light

Il serait vain de nier que - One can’t deny that

Les faits sont en contradiction avec ses opinions - The facts are in contraction with his opinions 

Il était grand temps que + subj - It’s high time that 

A common mistake English speakers make in learning a new language is translating every word in English literally. By extension, this also involves translating whole sentences word for word.

This is a wee (actually, not that wee) problem for a few reasons:

It means that you will be translating words that don’t have an equivalent in the target language.

It means that you’ll be losing the chance to use words in the target language that don’t have an English translation (advanced vocab).

You’ll be ignoring vital stylistic elements of speaking/writing in the target language. You’ll end up saying things that native speakers of the target language just don’t ever say, even if you use correct grammar and vocabulary.

Now, if you don’t get the hang of this in your target language, I repeat, do not panic. This process of getting the feel of your target language and familiarising yourself with advanced vocab words comes only with practice. It’s not possible to just learn off every rule/word/stylistic element in your target language.

Allow me to illustrate these issues using Spanish and French:

1. Translating words that don’t have an exact equivalent in the target language. Not every word in English has the exact translation in another language, thus a phrase or supplemental synonym is used to convey the meaning in context.

“I think I forgot to lock the door”. In Spanish, this is Pensé que olvidé cerrar la puerta con llave. Pay attention to the phrase for lock. There isn’t a single verb to convey the idea of locking a door. You just say that you close it with the key.

“I want to pass this test on the first try”. In French, this is Je voudrais réussir l'examen au premier essai. We use the word essai to indicate attempt or try, even though this word generally means essay in most other contexts.

2. Not using target language-specific words that don’t exist in English. Some words just don’t exist in English- don’t miss out the chance to use them in another language though! (this is basically the opposite of #1) It indicates a better grasp of the language, comparable to that of natives.

“Last night, I hardly got any sleep because I was anxious”. In Spanish, instead of directly translating the phrase “I hardly got any sleep”, you can use the word desvelado, which covers the entire concept of being unable to sleep. Anoche, estuve desvelado ya que estaba ansioso. In French, you’d say J’ai eu une nuit blanche hier car j’étais anxieux. 

“Although we are poor, we can manage with what we have”. In French, you’d never directly translate the word manage, but instead, you’d say Bien qu'on soit pauvre, on peut se débrouiller avec ce qu’on a. The verb se débrouiller expresses the entire concept of being able to get by and survive day by day with next to nothing.

3. The stylistic element. These are just manners of speaking that native speakers use, which includes sentences structures and word order, or even just expressions of choice that would be clunky in English.

In French, let’s say someone asks you, “Est-ce que tu ne voudrais pas une verre de l'eau avec ça?”. This means “Don’t you want a glass of water with that?”. The food is hot and spicy, so of course you’re thirsty. The first thing that comes to mind is to say, “Mais, oui!”. However, that’s not what is said. It’s not that the grammar or word choice is wrong, but generally, after agreeing with a negative sentence, si is used. You would respond, “Mais, si! J'ai soif!”.

In French, they throw in “ça” everywhere, just for emphasis. “Ça, c'est horrible!”, “Ce robe, ça, c'est très belle!”.

Word choice. Instead of saying “Going to this meeting is important”, one would say something akin to “The attendance of this meeting is vital”. “L'assiduité de la réunion, c'est d'une importance capital”. This is kinda why people like to say French is haughty and pretensive (je t'aime, ma petite langue). Nonetheless, this is more common in formal speech.

In Spanish, what comes to mind at first is the order of subjects and verbs. It’s rather common to hear the subject come after the verb(s), all the way at the end of the sentence. A mí madre matarón los narcotraficantes. El tango baila María todos los fines de la semana.

The word “lo” can precede an arbitrary noun. The normal thing to do is lo normal. The good thing is lo bueno. The physical thing is lo físico, and the sexy thing is lo sensual. You will rarely hear someone say “la buena cosa”.

So, how do you improve your grasp of a language? Well, listening to natives speak is definitely one way. You don’t need to visit the country or anything, but maybe get a pen pal, Tumblr friend and ofc, watch and read the news in your target language. Also, immerse yourself in books, movies, TV shows and music. Finally, practice writing and get a teacher or a native to check your work.