CHILEAN SLANG

Chilean Spanish has a multitude of words and expressions that are only used inside the country, or only a few of the neighboring countries. Many go back to the influence of the Quechua and Mapudungun languages spoken by the native population of the area.

The following list can only present a selection of the most common words and expressions. We have tried to limit this list to true Chilenisms and regionalisms that are hard or impossible to find in common dictionaries.

In general, we would advise you not to use those words actively - it's too easy to put your foot in your mouth. Often, the meaning of a word can depend greatly on tone or context, and it's almost impossible to get those right without much practice.

The favorite Chilean swearword, "WEON", can be intended to sound like a put-down, buddy-buddy, or a term of endearment, depending on the situation. The majority of words and expressions listed are only used in informal communication. Extremely vulgar expressions have additionally been marked 

A

Aweonao/a: idiot
Altiro or Altoque: immediately
Apretado/a: stingy
Arrugar: bail/flake out
Atado: problem, difficult situation; argument
Atinar: do the right thing; get it

B

Bacán: great, terrific (people and things)
Bomba: gas station

C

Cachar: understand (from 'catch')
**¿Cachai? Get it?}
**Me pegué la cachada. I got it.
Cacho: difficult situation
Cagada: misfortune, mishap; disaster
**El dejó la cagada. He wrecked everything.
Cagado/a: stingy; very; "fucked"
 **Estoy cagada de calor. I'm [very] hot
**El está cagado. He's in a fix
.Cagar: screw somebody, screw up
**La cagaste. You screwed up
 **Ni cagando not under any circumstances, no way, never
Caleta quite a lot, very
Callampa: slum
Caña: hangover
Capo: expert; clever guy
Careraja* impudent, rude
Carepalo: impudent, rude
Carrete: party
Concha: vagina (literally: shell)
**Concha de tu madre son of a bitch, asshole; also: general expression of anger
Concho: leftover, dregs (esp. in a bottle)
Condoro: mistake
Copete: alcoholic beverage, liquor
Crema: mess (literally: cream)
**Quedó la crema. It was a disaster.
Cuico/a: snob, upper class person (derogatory)
Culeado/a: fucker (big insult)
Culear: fuck
Culo: butt, ass
Curado/a: drunk
Chacotero/a: joker, person who tries to be funny
Chancho: literally: pig
**Irse al chancho exaggerate
**Pasarlo chancho have a good time, enjoy
Chato/a: full
Chela: Cerveza
Chiva: white lie, excuse
Chocho/a: content, proud, happy
Choreado/a: angry, upset
Choro/a: cool, neat (people or things)
Chueco/a: dishonest, false
Chucha: vagina; also: general expression of anger, see 'chuta'
**¡Andate a la chucha!* Go to hell!
Chupar: drink; steal
¡Chuta!: Shit! Also, expression of surprise

D

Despelote: mess

E

Embarrarla: mess something up
Encachado/a: great, interesting (people or things)
Ene: lots (from math symbol 'n')
Escoba: disaster, mess (literally: broom)

F

Facha: looks, appearance (see also, 'pinta')
Filo: get lost; over
Filete: Incredible moment
Fome: boring
Fregado/a: difficult; exhausted
Frito/a: stuck, done for (literally: fried)

G

Gallo/a: guy (man or woman)
Gamba: 100 pesos
Ganso/a stupid, naive, slow
Gil: Idiot
Grado uno/dos/tres: "bases" of sexual relations: First base = Kissing; Second base = Petting; Third base = Coitus
Gringo/a:  American person
Guagua: baby
Guata: belly

H

hacer dedo: hitch-hike
hacer el quite (a alguien): Avoid someone
hacerse el leso: pretend
hacer tira: destroy
Hacer una vaca: go in on (buying sth.) (literally: vaca = cow)
Hachazo: hangover (alcohol-induced; literally: axe; see also, 'caña')
Hinchar: get on s.o.'s nerves

I

Inflar: boast, get on s.o.'s nerves; take sb. into accountn

J

Jotear: smoothtalk, talk someone into something (with lies)

L

Lata: boredom
**¡Qué lata! ! What a shame!!
Lesera: garbage
Lolo/a: teen-ager
Luca: 1000 Pesos

M

Micro: city bus
Mijito/a: Dear (from: 'mi hijito/a' = my little son/daughter)
Mino/a: man / woman (with erotic connotations)
Mortal: Great or amazing
Mostrar la hilacha: reveal one's real self (negative)
La Muerte: to die for; great

N

Nana: cleaning woman, nanny, cook (usually all in one)
Nica: Not wanting to do something

O

Once: "elevenses", tea time

P

Paco: pig (derogatory for: policeman)
Palo: 1.000.000 chilean pesos
Parranda: boozing
Pata: literally: foot, leg
**A pata on foot
**A pata pelada barefoot
**Meter la pata put your foot in (your mouth), mess up
**Mala pata bad luck
Patudo/a: impudent, rude
Pega: job, position
Pelotudo/a: idiot
Penca: cheap, boring
Pendejo/a: childish person
Picada: cheap (but good) place to eat
Picarse: be mad, upset
Pichanga: ipick-up soccer game
Pichintún: a little bit
Pilucho/a: (half) naked (see also, 'en pelota')
Pillar: catch someone
Pillo/a: clever, sharp; rude
Pinta: looks, appearance (see also, 'facha')
**Ella tiene buena pinta. She's goodlooking.
Pintar monos: ato show off, to act exaggeratedly (in order to call attention to oneself)
Piola: perfect; satisfied, full (from eating); quiet, relaxed
**Quédate piola. Stay calm.
**Pasar piola not call attention to oneself
Pito: joint
Pituto: (to receive special treatment or privileges)
Piscola: Pisco + Coca Cola
Po: emphasis; usually placed at the end of a sentence (from: 'pues')
**¡Ya po! Get going already!
Pololo/a: boyfriend / girlfriend
**Pololear: go steady, to have a serious relationship with someone
Ponerle color: exaggerate, embellish
Ponerle pino: make one's best effort with something
Ponerse las pilas: see, 'pilas'
Porfa: please (abbreviation of 'por favor')
Porsiaca: just in case; by the way (from: 'por si acaso')
Previa: Pre- Party
Pucha, Puta: oops!, shucks!; sympathy or regret for a bad turn of events (e.g., 'Pucha, Ricardo!')
Pucho: cigarette
Putear*: somebody out, insult, yell at someone

Q

Queque: Cake
Quiltro: Street dog
Quina: 500 chilean pesos

R

Raja* beat, very tired
** La Raja amazing, excellent
Rayado/a: crazy, insane
Rasca: of bad quality, poorly made (things); of bad taste or with lacking manners (people)
Re- very (emphatic prefix)
Regio/a: great, excellent (upper-class slang)
Regalonear: pamper someone; pet
Rico/a: sexy, attractive (literally: delicious)
Rollo: difficult situation (see also, 'pasarse rollo')
Roto/a: clumsy or vulgar or low class person (upper class slang)

S

Sacarse la mugre/cresta slave, work very hard
Siete: expression of highest appreciation (from the Chilean school system, 7 = highest grade/mark)
Soplado/a: a very fast; very simple; very clean
Subirse por el chorro: (try to) take advantage of someone or something

T

Taco: traffic jam
Talla: joke
Tincar: guess, have a hunch; like
tira: plainclothes policeman (derogatory)
Tirar: literally: throw, pull; also: fuck
Tuto: Sleepy

W

Wea: anything, usually unpleasant
Webeo: practical joke
Webear: get on s.o.'s nerves
Weon: depending on tone and context, can be friendly ("buddy") to vicious ("Idiot"); often at end of sentence indicating familiarity