Boricua say what

What WE say!

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List of Puerto Rican slang words and phrases 1

List of Puerto Rican slang words and phrases
This is a list of phrases, words, and slang used in Puerto Rico. There are many phrases that are funny in one place
and mean nothing in another country that speaks Standard Spanish.

List of slang words used in Puerto Rico by letter

A
• A calzón quitao - Literally meaning "without pants on", it is used to mean you have nothing to hide...you can be
trusted ; bluntly honest.
• Abombao - Smelly...rotten. A very bad or putrid odor or something, namely food, that is spoiled.
• Acángana - An interjection similar to "In your face!".
• Achaques - The aches and pains of growing old.
• Acho or Chacho - Usually, it's used as a conjunction to bridge between thoughts. Also, it can be the shortened
form of muchacho (meaning "guy" or "dude").
• Acho meng or Chacho meng - "Damn, dude!", or simply just "Damn." Actually "acho men" as in "Oh man!" an
expression of disappointment or surprise.
• Acho que fiebre - "Hot or feverish for something", as in "liking something so much that you have to do it or wear
it every day."
• Afrentao - An outrageosly 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!. Chaflan means
"chamfer", as in chamfer street corners like streets in Barcelona, Spain and Ponce, Puerto Rico. Because you
don't have to slow down as much going through a chamfered street corner as you would if it is a square corner.
• Aguacatao - 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"
• Alcahuete - It means to be extremely servile; also used to describe someone who spoils someone. Brown noser.
• Al garete - Without direction or purpose. 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 - Someone that is constantly depressed; bitter
• A mi plín - "I don't care", the equivalent of the phrase no me importa in other Spanish dialects; inconsequential.
• Anda pal sirete - "Oh shit." Similar phrases include ¡Ea rayo! and ¡Diablo!
• Aplatanado - A person without a passion for anything.
• Arrancao - Without money, completely broke.
• Arrollao - "Stranded" or "hanging", as in Te dejaron arollao. ("They left you hanging.")
• Arranca en fa - "Beat it!", "Get lost!", "Go to bed!" (as from a parent to a child), or "Take off!". "Arranca en fa"
means to get going, comes from a music expression which means "Start on F (the musical note or key)"
• Arrebatao - High(drug reference)"Estoy bien arrebatao"(I'm very high)
• ¡Arroz, que carne hay! - Having something and soliciting something else to compliment it, as in a flirty or
sexual phrase: "Where's 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 - Implies your parents physically abused you.


• Atorrante - A bum. A good for nothing.
• Ay que ver como se bate el cobre - "To see how things turn out." You're going to find out is not that easy..
• A Pues Bien ! - Ah, Ok !
• Arao - An idiot or a dummy.
• Abochornao- to be ashamed or embarrassed.
• A ver si el gas pela- See " Ay que ver como bate el cobre"
• Al reves de los cristianos- Used to refer to something that doesn't make sense
• A juyir crispin- to run away

B
• 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 cabesa"
• Bambalan - Lazy Bum
• Batata - Used to describe lazy, non productive employees. Usually in reference to government employees.
• Bendito - Used to show sympathy or sorrow towards someone. "Ay Bendito" used to show frustration or
exasperation
• Blanquito - or Blanquita (Female) Literally White person or Whitey. Highly derogative term 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 his/her
skin. Funny how it opposes to "negrito" or "negrita" that literally means little black person and is indeed a term of
endearment.

"Ay Bendito" used to show Frustration

• Bildin - Building
• Bregaste Chicky Starr - A humorous and negative phrase meaning "to play dirty." Chicky Starr is a Puerto
Rican professional wrestler heel. The phrase is said to someone who is not of good faith or who has betrayed or
turned on you.
• 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- slang term used in Puerto Rico to determine someone being in "heat" or having sexual desires.
English slang term, Horny
• Brutal - From the word Brute...The best or the worst of something...Cool, amazing.
• Bruto- dumb,idiot ex- Que bruto ,what an idiot

C
• Cabron/Cabrona - 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.It's also a derogatory word you can use to insult someone ,like for ex: You bitch( so puta)...so cabrona
• 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. Might also imply the person in question is
somewhat mentally challenged or who tries to look and act like a "gangsta".
• Caco-mobil - 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 riser or
rise-rocket.


• Cafre - Low class, ghetto. See "Caco".
• Callate 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 won't let go the money in their hands.
• Cangriman - 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 back then, when the Americans had a military
government on the island run by an American governor appointed by the president and congress.
• Canto - A piece of something. "Mira canto de cabron!" ("Hey, piece of shit!) Sexually speaking, "canto" refers to
the reproductive organs. "No te voy a dar el canto" ("Im not going to give you sex" or "Im not going to let you
have sex with me") To get or give a "piece".
• Carajo -Means tons of things,for ex:" estas del carajo...you're too much,you're way out of line;; vete pa'l
carajo...go to hell!! Carajo ,the true meaning in spanish,was the worst place to be sent on an ancient
ship(caravel).Vive en el carajo...you live really faraway...There are too many meanings to list here.
• Cerrao - Used to describe dumb person, person lacking common sense some who is "mentally closed"
• Chacón - Dualie (reference to Iris Chacon
• China - An orange fruit. Chinita is used to describe the color orange. Chinese woman.
• Como amarrar los perros con longaniza- to do something stupid, it makes no sense, like tying dogs with
sausage links
• Cerrero- an animal that has strayed away from humans, taken to the hills. Used to denominate a wild horse.
• Colgar - "To fail/flunk in school." Literally, it translates as "to be hanged."
• Capear - "to buy drugs".
• Chancletas or chanclas - Any type of sandals, flipflops, etc.
• Chancletero - This is a term used to refer to a manwoman who's offspring are only daughters. edited by Israel
"Lefty" Medina
• Charlatan - "Clown". Used when referring to someone that acts foolish or disorderly.
• Charro - "Unoriginal" or "whack", as in Ese tipo es un charroHillbilly;out of style ("That dude is whack.")Cacos
are charros by definition.
• Chavos - "Money"
• Chevere - "Cool"
• Chiringa-Kite, in other Spanish speaking countries is called cometa .
• Chota - "Snitch."
• Chupate esa en lo que te raspan la otra!- Suck on that one while they make the other one. Comes from Piragua.
Is used when someone is being disciplined (usually your sibling)..."o te mondan la otra" referring to peeling an
orange...
• Come mierda - Literally, it translates as "shit-eater." It's used when referring to a person that 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.
• Como el Rosario de la Aurora - Used to describe a party that ends up with a fight.
• Como la gatita de Dorita, si se lo sacan llora y si se lo meten grita - A humorous phrase used to describe
someone who's never satisfied. It literally translates as "Like Dora's kitty, if you take it out she cries and if you
put in she screams."
• Como la puerca de Juan Bobo - Used to refer to a woman that overdoes makeup and accessories to the point of
looking ridiculous. Originates from a popular Puerto Rican folktale.
• 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."
• Coño - said usually as an exclamation, sometimes when a person accidentally hurts themselves. "Dammit" "Shit".
It literally means a woman's crotch. So use it carefully outside of Puerto Rico.
• 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 - A term of endearment to or about someone with a big heart.
• Corillo- "A crew" or "a group of people with the same ideas and habits that hang together."It's a posse" Literally,
it means "A small choir."
• Correrle la máquina or Seguirle la corriente - "To keep a joke going at someone's expense", "to follow
someone's lead incredulously", or "to tell others to with the intention of laughing at them behind their back."
• 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 mother's crotch;it's a common bad
insult.
• "Cuando Colon baje el dedo translates into "When Columbus puts his finger down", in reference to a sculpture
of Christopher Columbus in Plaza Colon in Old San Juan. The sculpture presents Christopher Columbus pointing
towards the sky. The expression is used to signify that something will never happen. Ex. " When are you
marrying that woman?...Cuando Colon baje el dedo!" Actually, the expression is "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." The statue of
Christopher Columbus at Plaza de Colón is not pointing at anything!
• 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 - Asshole
• Come gofio - Refers to someone who's not doing a whole lot, taking it easy, killing time.
• Como el culo de la olla- Literally like the Pot's bottom, black, referring to black people
• Como becerro mongo- Like a newborn calf, weak.
• 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

D
• Dale percha (pronounced pelcha) - Literally "put it on a hanger", it means "take it off" or "don't wear it
anymore." (See: Lo tienes quemao below.)You're wearing the same item of clothing too often.
• Dar culo - Literally, "to give one's ass [to someone else]". It means to not give one's best performance or to give
up altogether, as in "Nuestro equipo dió culo." ("Our team sat on its ass." i.e. played poorly).
• Dar pa'bajo - To kill someone; to have sex with a chick
• Dar un tumbe - "To steal something."
• ¡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( from the English,rolling pin or rodillo 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"


E
• Echa caldo - 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 feed wood to the fire."
• El Oso Blanco - Literally "The White Bear", it means "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).
• Empache - That overstuffed feeling from eating too much like on Thanksgiving. Related: Empalagoso - food that
is ,too sweet,heavy or cloying that would give you 'un empache' or someone who is extremely sweet.
• En el carro de Don Fernando, un ratito a pie y otro andando - Literally, it translates to "Mr Fernando's 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."
• En lo que el palo va y viene... - "Meanwhile..."
• En lo que el hacha va y viene, el palo descansa." - a rest period between bad situations.
• Eñagotar - "To kneel down."
• 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!! - "You're brutal!" or It's brutal!, either as compliment or insult, depending on the situation.
Usually, it is used as a compliment, like the English phrase "You're a beast!".
• ¡Esnu! - (short for Naked) "You're naked!"
• Esos son otros veinte pesos- "Meaning that is an entirely different subject"
• ¡Estás bueno/buena! - (Flirty) "You're fine!"
• Está como refajo de loca- Meaning someone is very drunk.
• ¡Esta pasao! - It's the most fun or the greatest thing. "It's awesome"
• Esta quemao - he's or she is burnt, in hot water, has done something wrong and was found out.
• ¡Estás tenso, papá! - A satirical phrase towards homosexuality popularized by actor and comedian Sunshine
Logroño. Literally, it translates to "You're tense, daddy!"
• ¡Estás tripeando! - "You're tripping!", when descriptive, as when someone is literally high, or "You must be
tripping!", when disbelieving, as when someone's worldview at a particular time might be askew or comical as to
differ from the norm, or you are totally out of line.
• Estirar la pata - Literally 'to stretch the leg' Means 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" - fantasy jewelry that looks like gold.
• Estoy pidiendo cacao - What you say if you are hurt, drunk, or very tired after partying all night long. Almost
like asking for forgiveness. Begging.
• Encojonao/a - Pissed off
• Estinche- anglicism for sting
• Está más perdido que el hijo de Lindberg- Meaning you someone is lost forever.
• Estas mas perdido que Rolandito" - Literally means: "You are more lost than Rolandito"- refers to a case
abut a boy who's been lost since the early 90' and hasn't been found.


F
• Farandulero groopie...A fan, someone who faithfully follows an artist or sport's team
• Fajao-making a grand effort as when a person is working hard, to really be hustling .
• Falfullero- a show-off.
• Fiebrú- a car enthusiast, hot-rodder, grease monkey, car freak. Also used to refer to someone who is very
fanatical about somehting other than cars.
• Fofo- bland, has no substance. Used to talk about bland food or someone weak.

G
• Gafas - "Sunglasses"
• Galán - "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 - It refers to any large motor vehicle such as an SUV, a city bus or a pick-up truck.
Güebón- Big-balled (testicled) meaning a total asshole or as in Argentina, Boludo.
• Gufiao - "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 northen 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 mosquiotes or "sea-monkeys".

H
• Hacer jugo de china - Literally: "to make orange juice." Refers to the act of utilizing the chainsaw on a Gears of
War 2 player. The term picar (meaning "to chop") is also commonly used.
• Hacer de tripas, corazones - to make something good out of a bad situation. Literally means "To make hearts
out of guts."
• Hacerse el loco - Literally translating as "to try to pass off as crazy", it means "to try to ignore or distance oneself
from a particular situation as if it never happened" or "to disassociate."
• 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.
• Huirle como el diablo a la cruz - Literally: "to run from it like the devil runs from the cross". It means to avoid
something strongly.
• Hijo de la Gran Puta - son of a bitch, ("ke ijuelagran puta!)

I
• Insecto - A traitor. Literally, "insect".
• Ir pa chirola - "To go to jail"
• Irse pa la isla - "To go to the countryside [of Puerto Rico]."

J
• Jibarit Johnson - (typically pronounced "Yibarit") the classic Puerto Rican that only speaks the words found on
this list, acts in what some might view as a low class manner, and does not realize the extent of his or her
predicament


• Jincho/Jincha - a person that's very white, in need of sun
• Joyo - Another term referencing to a body part, meaning "butt" "butthole" "culo" "butt-crack"
• Joyete - And yet another term for "butthole"
• Janguiar - To Hang out"
• Jibaro-people from the countryside/ mountains of Puerto Rico. Puertorican equivalent of hillbilly. It also means
when someone doesn't know something that's all on the news, that is sort of disconnected from the modern world.
Eres un jibaro! (You're uninformed/old tradition)
• Jurutungo (also, Jurutungo viejo) - A place very far away and hard to get to
• Juyir- flee
• Juyilanga "coger la juyilanga" - be gone for a while.
• Jalao como timbre de guagua- someone really thin
• Jamaquiar- to grab somebody and toss them around

L
• La piña está agria - Literally translating as "the pineapple is sour", it means "times are tough" or "there's no
money/resources."
• Lambón - Brown-noser" "lambe-ojo"
• 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 town's central plaza. When the eggs and other goods increased in price, it was difficult for
people to get a hold of them.
• Las Sínsoras - A far off place. Similar to "El Jurutungo Viejo"
• Latejón Used to describe a big thing... (Commonly used by people at barrio Charcas, Quebradillas)
• Le dieron como a pandereta Aleluya o Pentecostal- "They gave it to him/her like they do to a tambourine
at a Pentecostal church." It's used to describe when someone caught a hard beating.
• Limbel - Homemade Icees. Usually made from natural fruits, or sweet milk mixtures. Sold out of the homes
and not in stores.From the English word: Lindberg-the famous pilot who crossed the Atlantic ocean.
• 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 - "Lunchbox"
• Lo tienes quemao - "You've burned it out", as in "You like something so much that you're 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 noser.
• Loco/Loca- Means crazy but can be used like dude ex:Mira loco ven pa'ca -stands for: hey dude come here. To
call a male "Loca' implies that he is a homosexual.
Longanisa-refers to a debt to be paid in installments and refers to the links in a long multiple-linked sausage.
• Le supo a plato curtio - Literally means It tasted like dirty dishes.he or she did not like the outcome of the
situation.


M
• Maceta - "A person that is cheap"; frugal,stingy.It's slang for penis.
• Mahones - "Jeans."
• Mai - Short for mami (which means and is pronounced the same as "mommy"). Also, it is a term of endearment
for females.
• 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". It's 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 - "It couldn't be any clearer" or "explicitly stated". It literally translates to "A
rooster does not sing any clearer than this."
• Más fea que una mordia 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 - a very ugly man.
• Más lento que una caravana de cojos - A phrase to describe something or someone that is very slow. Literally,
it translates as "Slower than a old wobbly people caravan."
• Más lento que un suero 'e brea - See above. Translates to "Slower than a tar drip."
• Más pelao que la rodilla de un cabro- A phrase describing someone who is poor or who has no money at all.
Literally, it translates as "Has less hair than a goat's knee."The hair stands for 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 Batman's belt".
• Melaza - Literally meaning "pure sugar cane juice", it is used to say something, someone, or a situation is great or
sweet.
• 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 tienes una teta incha y la otra en proceso - It's used when someone is fed-up with a situation.It literally
means:"You've made my one tit inflamed and the other is in the process of becoming so too".
• 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
¡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!", it's 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.
• Me saca - Getting on your nerves, annoying."Me saca de quicio"( he drives me crazy)was shortened to "me saca"
• ¡Miércoles! - Literally translating as "Wednesday", it's a minced oath for the word ¡Mierda! ("Shit"). It's English
equivalent is "Shoot!"It starts sounding like the word you intend to say but at the end you say something that's not
offensive.
• Mira - "Look"
• Mira loco or Mira locón/locona - "Look here, buddy" or "What's up, crazy!"
• Mistin - "Miss Thing", from American black slang, popularized in the '80s by Guille, a character from the show
"Entrando Por La Cocina"


• 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 - Riot..."Random motion of a crowd or Rebel Fight, usually against constituted authority."
• Morena/Moreno -dark skinned,or black
• Molesta - Annoyed ,mad
• Moyeto - Slang for black person
Mangao- From a "mangue", or being caught cheating and under a sure accusation.
"Mamabicho'e"- cocksucker

N
• Negrito/negrita - It is used as a term of endearment for any shade of Puerto Rican. It's 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 catchar sin careta- Lerroy Lopez Morales expression of life is not easy.
• No es fácil quitarle el cuchillo a Rambo, pero se puede- It is not easy taking Rambo's knife away from him,
but it can be done.
• No inventes - Stop inventing..."Don't make plans"
• No lo encuentran ni en los centros espiritistas - A phrase used to describe someone so lost that they, as it
literally translates to, "can't 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 belief—that mediums are able to
communicate with the dead—became 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 "Don't 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 - "Don't panic"
• No te rochees - "Don't rush"or "don't worry."
• No Je - No Sé - Means "I Don't Know" The way they say it in Caguas.

Ñ
• Ñaqui - "a small bite"
• ¡Ñoña es! - Literally means "is shit"

O
• ¿Oíte? - "Did you hear?" (Equivalent to ¿Oíste?; See: Puerto Rican accents)
• Orita - "Later on"

P
• Pato(male)/pata(female)- Translated as Duck also used to call a person Fag or "lesbian" as in homosexual, or
gay.
• Pai - Short for papi ("daddy"). Also, it's a term of endearment for males.
• pajaro, pajarito - literally: bird, meaning: penis or little penis.
• Pasar el Niagara en bicicleta- To overcome great obstacles.
• Patatu - He had a "fit"...A massive heart attack or when someone is over-reacting (i.e. "darle un patatu")
• Pariguallo/a - A simpleton. A person from the country or someone who has no education.
• Parkiao - parked a spanglish word estacionado is the correct word.


• Pelao - broke
• Pegandole cuernos - Literally translating as "giving him/her horns", it is used to describe someone who is being
unfaithful or adulterous.
• Pendejiando or Pendejeria - "Clowning around" or "wasting time." Examples: Dejate de estar pendejiando.
("Stop wasting time." or "Stop clowning around."); Deja la pendejeria. ("Stop your clowning around.") Akin to
matando tiempo ("killing time").
• Peldona 'sae - "I'm sorry!"Actually it's said: Perdona ,sabes in correct spanish.
• Pendejo/pendeja - "Dumb", "slow-witted", or "easily taken advantage of." Examples: Te cojieron de pendejo.
("They took you for a ride."); No seas pendejo. ("Don't be a dumbass."); Ella es tan pendeja que no entendio.
(She so slow-minded that she didn't understand.)
• Pensando en pajaritos preñao - Literally "thinking of pregnant little birds", it's used to describe someone who
has their head in the clouds or who's daydreaming.
• 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.
• Pichear - It actually means:" to pitch".He's looking to get something from someone or it could also mean,"To
ignore."
• Piragua - A treat made from shaved ice and colored/flavored syrup. They are traditionally served in a paper cone
.It's literally an ice cone.
• Piragüero/piragüera - A piragua vendor.
• 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 'there's food here 'por un tubo y siete llaves'
• Pompeaera - "Pumped up"
• Puñeta - Could be used like the curse word "Fuck!" or "Oh fuck!"..It really means: masturbation... it's derived
from the word puño ("fist").
• Punto Carajo - Someplace very far or out of the way. Sometimes 'campo carajo'
• Por la maseta - Something that you approved of, like "great", or "good deal", or "awesome"
• Pato 'e playa- fag
• Pa'tras 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 - broke.

Q
• ¿Qué es lo qué esta pasando?, ¿Qué es lo qué hay?, ¿Qué es la qué?, or ¿Claque? - "What's up?"
• ¿Qué pasa pai (or mai)? - "What's up dude/girl?"
• Que tronco 'e cancha or "que tronco 'e batea" - An esoteric 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: cancha is the
basketball court and tronco means "a piece of"..."tree trunk"
• "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 paso) used to say what happened as in (Que pao' quien carajo tu eres?) what happened, who the
fuck are you?
• Quedar retratao- to clearly be guilty because of being caught in the act. Means to have your picture taken
in the act or to be exposed.
• Quien a buen arbol se arrima, buena sombra lo cobija - 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
loosers, you'll end up being a looser.

R
• Rebellusca - Someone who is angry or in a foul mood
• Revulú or revolu -From the word "revuelto" "messed-up" or "disaster." Used for a scandal,loud commotion or
confusion too.
• Relajo - "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
• Salió el tiro por la culata. - Literally translating as "the shot backfired", it is used when a plan backfires.
• Sanamagan (pronounced with a seseo) - "Bastard." The word is supposedly derived from the English phrase "son
of a gun"
• Sangano- Idiot,word used to describe a female or male that is acting stupid or foolish. A lazy man. Another word
similar in Spanish is "boba/bobo". "No te hagas la sangana"="Don't pretend you are stupid". From the name of the
male bee (Zangano), whose only duty for the beehive is to breed the queen.
• Saramanbiche (pronounced with a seseo) - "Son of a bitch" The word is supposedly derived from the English
phrase "son of a bitch(hijo dela gran puta)"
• ¡Se formó un corre y corre! - A comical phrase meaning "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 phrase literally translating as "the bicycle got screwed!". It describes a
situation that spiraled out of control and there's no place to run to.
• ¡Se lució el chayote! - 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."
• Sin verguenza" - Literally means "without shame" Someone who is good for nothing, a bum. See also
"Tarambana"
• ¡Siéntate a esperar! - Literally translating as "sit down and wait!", it is equivalent to "don't hold your breath" in
English, which is used when a person promises something while lying.
• ¡So anormal! - "You're so damned stupid/subnormal!"
Salpafuera- a revolú or a real mess.
• Se la/lo chupo la bruja - "Got sucked by the Witch.He or she got caught with no way out.


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 - A good for nothing. See also "Bambalan" or "sin verguenza"
• Tato - ¡Tato' hablao!', short for "Esta todo hablado", "Everything's, 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."
• ¡Te cagaste del miedo! - "You shit your pants from fright!"
• ¡Te dieron chino! - "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.
• Te cogieron de mango bajito - Literally means they took you for a low mango(if the fruit is positioned low in
the tree,it's easy to pick)"they took you for a fool", it's used when someone was easy to take advantage of.
• TeVeGuia - "TV Guide"
• Te lo metieron bien mongo-It's referring to having been screwed by someone with a limp penis... Phrase used to
express that someone took you as a fool.
• Tipo/tipa - "Dude/chick." It's used when someone's name cannot not be remembered. Examples: Ese tipo que
vino a la fiesta. ("That dude who came to the party"); Ese tipo que es amigo tuy ("Your friend, that dude"). It can
also be used for someone who might be familiar but not a friend.It has derogatory connotations.
• Tirar la pata..."Estirar la pata" -Literally, "to stiffen your leg"it means, "to kick the bucket","to die"
• 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,fever...Usually used as a compliment when admiring someone's
passion for something, especially cars or car racing, it means "you're really into that!".
• ¡Tú sí que eres presentao!, ¡Tú eres bien presentao!, or '¡So presentao! - A criticism meaning "You're very
nosy", "you're forcing your presence here", or "Stop being nosy!".
Tumbacoco- A very loud vehicle-mounted loudspeaker system. Refers to knocking down coconuts in reference 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 - To steal something: "Te tumbaste eso?" (Did you steal that?)
• Toto tota, totito - a slang for vagina, more likely, pussy. Mostly used to reference the female genitalia when
speaking generally to your children. "Vete y lavate el toto"
• Tráfala - Adjective that 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


U
• Uva!- Often used when good news are received, literally means "Grape".

V
• ¡Vete pa'l Caribe Hilton! - A minced oath for ¡Vete pa'l carajo! (the Puerto Rican version of ¡Vete al carajo!,
meaning "Go to hell!"). The Caribe Hilton is a hotel in the San Juan area. Note: When ¡Vete pa'l carajo! is used,
it is sometimes accompanied by so cabrón/cabrona ("you damned asshole/bitch") right after it.
• ¿Vite? - "Did you see?" (Equivalent to ¿Viste?; See: Puerto Rican accents)
• ¡Volando bajito! - "Keeping a low profile" or "flying low", usually used to describe speeding drivers or people
who try to commit a given act without anyone else finding out.

Y
• ¡Y se le(s) está haciendo tarde! - "And it's becoming too late already!" or "You're running out of time!" It's 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 "You're such a jerk/dork") or "penis" (as in pelar la yuca, meaning "to peel the
foreskin back", and rasca yuca, meaning "scratching the penis to provide pleasure"). "Cayo como yuca" = he fell
fast asleep.

Z
• Zafacón (pronounced with a seseo) - "Garbage can." The word is supposedly derived from the English phrase
"safety can."

Article Sources and Contributors 14

Article Sources and Contributors
List of Puerto Rican slang words and phrases Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=362631588 Contributors: AVM, Abrito, Aitias, Aldelvalle, AntonioMartin, Aruton, Atif.t2,
Auntof6, Bletch, Bob Lored, Bradjamesbrown, Charles Matthews, Closedmouth, Cmdrjameson, Colonies Chris, Crusoe8181, Docuteca, Dominic, DoradoPR, Dpbsmith, ElBorikano, Elagatis,
Elmedio, EoGuy, Erri4a, Fatedbreath, Hijodelarevolucion, JesseW, Jmoliver, Joeflux, Joey0xx, JuanCha, Juanita Angulo, Juracan1, Kaal, Kaoba1964, Kbailey1, Lev, LilHelpa, MadMax, Man
vyi, Marine 69-71, Mariorat, Maximus Rex, Menor75, Mercy11, Michael Devore, Michal Nebyla, Mistman123, Mosemamenti, Mtmelendez, N5iln, NJN0000, Nabikilr, PR Belle, Pegship, Philip
Trueman, Queson, Rjwilmsi, Rob Scrivener, SWAdair, Sam Hocevar, Sean.hoyland, Soyboricuaenva43, Stillwaterising, SyL64, Wavehunter, WhisperToMe, Xyzzyplugh, Zntrip, 450 anonymous
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