If you are planning to visit some of the 21 Spanish-speaking countries, we have a proposal for you.
Have you thought about visiting Guatemala?
It is Mexico’s neighboring country, placed in central America and of the countries where you can practice your Spanish skills with the locals.
Moreover, there is a lot of things you can visit, see and enjoy in Guatemala, starting from saved monuments from Mayan culture, lakes, rainforests to amazing modern places in Guatemala City that will make your trip’s experience circled.
But what do you think you should know before heading off to Guatemala?
Yes, of course, speaking Spanish is one of the main things you should have in mind.
But apart from that, you should consider learning some Guatemalan slang words and phrases so that you can easily communicate with the locals.
And not just communicate: when they see your knowledge and willingness to learn some of their colloquialisms, it is very likely that they will tell you some secrets about delicious food to eat, non-common places to visit to avoid typical tourist attractions and meet the real Guatemala.
Having all that in mind, in the following lines, we’ve provided 14 commonly used Guatemalan slang words and phrases that can help you with your new experience.
And even if you don’t plan to visit Guatemala, learning these slang words and phrases is equally useful for any Spanish learner, therefore for you, too.
And now, let’s dive in.
14 Guatemalan Slang Words And Phrases
Learning Spanish slang words, Guatemalan in our particular case, is always good for many reasons.
Besides practicing and learning Spanish, the language spoken by more than 400 million people worldwide on every continent, it is great to boost your vocabulary, improve speaking skills with the locals, and lessen the possibility of misunderstandings or bad interpretation.
Here are 14 commonly used Guatemalan slang words and phrases you don’t want to miss out.
A Huevos
If you are already learning Spanish, you would say that this word means to the eggs but in our case, it doesn’t.
A huevos in Guatemalan slang can be used as you would use the English for sure.
For example, when you speak with the locals and when you discuss something that is logical, your speaker would say a huevos after you finish your discussion.
¡Aguas!
Here’s one more word you surely know for its main meaning.
The word agua means water, in slang, it is used for different purposes.
When someone uses it by yelling the word it means that some danger is near and that you should pay attention, be careful or get out of the way.
Brincón
Brincón is a person who always wants to start a fight. This type of person always gets in some kind of fight verbally and also physically.
Burra
The word burra comes from burro, which is a donkey in Spanish. So, burra could be literally translated as a female donkey.
All across Guatemala, the word burra is used for any type of bus. Metro buses, chicken buses, minibusses, everything is burra.
Cabal
When you agree with something and you are good with that, use the word cabal.
Imagine the situation: you are at the part, having a great time, dancing, the music is great. And here you can say La musica es cabal!
Calidá
This word comes from calido, which means warm.
When you want to say that something is cool and great, something that is beyond your expectations in a positive way, use this slang word.
Cerote
The word cerote has an ideal English equivalent named dude. It is used between close friends but depending on the whole context and other words used, it can have a positive connotation but also be used as an insult, too.
Chilero
This word literally doesn’t have a particular meaning but it is used in situations when you want to tell someone that you liked what he said or expressed if you want to show your appreciation, you can use chilero.
In English, the ideal equivalent is awesome or pretty.
Chispudo
The word chispudo came from the word chispo, meaning spark.
Just like sparks, this word is used for people who are smart, people who will react quickly and effectively. In other words, people who are true sparks.
Chuco
Literally, the word can be translated as a dog but in slang, this word describes a nasty and greedy person.
For example, when you have to pay for the meal at the restaurant and the waiter wants to overcharge you, you can call him chuco.
Clavo
Literally, this word means nail, but if you use it as slang, it has a completely different meaning.
It can mean that there is some problem that happened, or possibly misunderstanding.
Interestingly, this word is so common among the locals that you can hear it all over the country.
Patojo
The word patojo is used when you want to tell someone he’s a kid.
That person doesn't necessarily have to be a real kid. He or she can be 20 years old, but the point of the word used toward someone calling him a kid doesn’t have a negative connotation.
Pisto
This word is one of the most famous slang words, meaning cash.
Not only in Guatemala, but in the whole of Latin America, pisto is often used for cash, so wherever you go, dont forget the pisto.
Ser Muy Viernes
Here’s one interesting phrase. Literally, it means It is so Friday. In slang, it is used in contexts to explain when something is boring and old-fashioned.
Final Thoughts
From these slang words, you can easily see that Guatemala is an amazing country worth seeing and speaking with native speakers, practicing your Spanish, using what you’ve learned.
And there are many more useful things that can help you improve your Spanish skills with this Land of eternal spring. You only have to choose how will you start using the advantages of your Spanish knowledge.
If you're interested in improving your Spanish skills, you should try some of these cool options: Check out Babbel for fun, interactive lessons that fit into your day easily. If you want something more in-depth, there's a great Spanish course on Coursera that covers everything from the basics to more advanced topics. And if you prefer learning with a personal touch, Lingoda offers classes with native speakers that can really help you practice speaking.
