Subscribe Now

travelers today

Home »

10 Quirky Latino Slangs In America

Travelers Today       By    FG Dullin

Updated: Feb 25, 2017 03:03 AM EST

Text Size: A A A

On May 6, 2016, CNN published a special editorial online which correlates directly with its original documentary series titled "United Shades of America." In it, the special focus of the diversity and multiculturalism theme were the Latino presence, particularly those living on the West Coast.

Despite the majority of visible Latinos proving fluent in the national lingua franca (English), it is virtually impossible to divorce them from their ethnic language, Spanish. Hence, it is not surprising to hear Latino phrases in the neighborhoods of Los Angeles, just like these quirky ones:

No hay pedo. In natural conversation, this phrase means "no problem." As funny as it sounds, it literally, it means "no fart."

Bajale de huevos. This Latino slang means "calm down" in casual chatter, but in actual word-per-word English translation, this phrase means "lower them from eggs."

Echa la hueva todo el dia. Casually, this expression could be translated as "I did nothing all day," which pretty much talks about laziness or idleness. But in literal Spanish language it means "I threw the spawn all day long."

Esta caňon. This one literally translates as "the cannon" or "the gun." Casually, it could describe as "a very capable person" or "a very serious problem."

Sepa la bola. In formal Spanish language, this phrase means "the ball knows." In casual conversation, it's either "heck if I know" or "who knows?'"  

No te hagas pato. "Don't make yourself duck," the literal Spansh translation says. If one ought to tell the English-Spanish translator to "stop being a d*ck," he or she is right to do so.

Soy/se cree el/la muy muy. Literally, this translates as "he/she thinks himself/herself very very." As funny as the grammatical jumble sounds, it actually means "he/she is conceited."

Echale mucha crema a sus tacos. Speaking of the conceited, it is also unavoidable to describe how they behave. How can a Latino know if someone is conceited? They'll simply say he or she "puts so much cream on their tacos."

Ya lo cargo el payaso. Literally, this means "the clown carried him." What it actually means in casual chatter is 'he's in big trouble.'

Comerse la torta antes del recreo. "Eat sandwich before play time" - seems like an innocent phrase? Wrong! This is a coded language describing the activity of a "pregnant teenager" or "a cheating spouse."

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018

Tags
Latino slangs, Spanish language, Latinos in the United States
© 2023 Traverlers Today, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Join Our Conversation

Subscribe to our newsletter

Receive the latest travel news, reviews, and more..

Most Popular

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

Planning for a trip takes some time, even if it's just you g

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

If you have never traveled before but are thinking of doing so then

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

So there are a few islands that can be found off the Sco

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

You need to know how to plan appropriately and

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

A campus visit's significance could not be overstated. After all, fo

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

Having a gallery wall brings plenty of benefits to your

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

There is something equally relaxing and invigorati

Photo by Erik Odiin on Unsplash

Things That Will Help Cost-Conscious Vacationers Save Money

There are several ways you can significan

Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels

How to Make Vet Visits Affordable in 2022

If the situation is minor, you might be lucky and get away

Photo by Tim Samuel from Pexels

Know Your Florida Driving Rules

There is so much to do in the region, but we want to focus on some of

Photo by Ging Ang from Pexels

Holidaying in your own Country: Try these Fun Trips!

Many countries are opening their borders, but if

Photo by Jessica Lewis Creative from Pexels

The Best Tech Tools for Expats

Here’s a quick look at most versatile tech tools for expats on the m

Photo by Tobi from Pexels

How to Turn a Road Trip Into A Luxury Adventure

But a road trip doesn’t have to mean living on the

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Do you want to become a citizen of Australia

Hair transplant Istanbul: Why is it so popular?

Hair Transplant Istanbul: Why is it so Popular?

Getting a hair transplant in Istanbul is affordable i

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

They are incredibly expensive, and they’re also in sh

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

International trade holds great importance in a

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

Riesling is Germany’s best-known wine, but the country makes other fi

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

There is nothing like the great outdoors –– natureâ€

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

Who knew you could pack your entire life away into one litt

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

San Diego is a magnificent place, and it would not be

travelers today

© 2023 TRAVELERS TODAY All rights reserved.

Subscribe to our newsletter
Real Time Analytics