If you’re planning on a move to Spain, I’d recommend you learn some of the lingo before you get here. Think your high school Spanish is enough? Maybe. But I’m 99% sure you didn’t learn most of these Spanish words!

If you’ve been following along for awhile then you probably know by now that Spanish was my first language. I learned English when I entered pre-school, but toddler me ran around the house singing and talking to herself (oh yes) in Spanish. Let me also mention, for any other Latinx folks reading, this is Colombian Spanish, which is actually fairly ‘proper’. So imagine my shock upon arriving in Spain and basically being told I don’t speak Spanish, but a South American ‘version’ of Spanish. It felt like being likened to an uneducated villager from the Amazon. Didn’t go over so well with my pride. So, while there are lots of tiny differences between the Colombian Spanish I grew up speaking and the Castilian Spanish (Spain Spanish) they speak here, there are some key Spanish words I’ve learned that have helped me assimilate a bit better.

*Disclaimer: the second half of this is profane language. Please do not keep reading if you don’t want to see that.

Here are some key Spanish words to know:

Regular Spanish Words

Kind of like how some people in the states might say “stoked” instead of “excited” this list includes random words that feel more like colloquial terms than actual differences. If you already speak Spanish, you might hear these words instead of what you’d say naturally. Feel free to add them to your vocab, or don’t. I live with Spaniards so I kind of transitioned into using them, but my brain reverts when I’m talking to other Latinx people.

• Guay: In English, it’s basically “cool.” So, “que guay!” would be “how cool!” in English. I grew up saying “chevere” and maybe someone Mexican might say “chido.” All the same thing, but when I slip up and say “chevere” people snicker.
• Vale: In English, it means “okay.” When someone asks you if you’d be interested in going to that movie, you’d say “vale, guay” instead of “okay, cool.” I grew up saying “listo.” Sometimes when I say “listo” here people still wait for the “vale” as a final confirmation.
• Tio/Tia: Yes, your high school Spanish is probably ringing a bell. This means uncle/aunt, respectively. It also basically means dude/bro/guy, with “tia” being the feminine version of those. It’s got lots of different uses, and many times people say “tio” regardless of gender. It can be used to mean “come on man” or just to replace friend-like words (bro, dude, sis, etc.). I didn’t have anything in my Spanish vocabulary like this growing up so I just don’t use these terms at all. (Also not a fan of them.)
• Vaqueros: Jeans. Really “vaquero” means cowboy, but now applies to cowboy-like attire. So “vaqueros” are jeans and anything “estilo vaquero” is “cowboy-style.” Cowboy boots are in fashion in a weird way here, which actually makes the Tennesseean in me chuckle a bit. (Some of my high school friends would die laughing.) I grew up saying “jeans” in both languages, so this one is weird.
• Zapatillas: Shoes, of any kind pretty much, excluding boots. So while in English we have sneakers, flats, slippers, loafers, etc., Spaniards use the general term “zapatillas.” Growing up, we referred to shoes in general as “zapatos,” which is probably also what you learned in your high school Spanish class. For me, “tenis” are “sneakers,” “botas” are “boots” (that’s the same here) and “pantuflas” are “slippers.” Zapatillas doesn’t come naturally to me so I’m still running around saying “zapatos” to the annoyance of many.
• Flipar: in English it’s basically “to freak out” or “to flip out” but mostly as a reaction to something unbelievable. So for example: “vas a flipar” would be “you’re gonna freak” or “you’re gonna flip out.” Then terms like “yo flipo” is more like saying “I can’t believe it” or as a reaction to something you find ridiculous or absurd. I grew up with a more literal “no me lo puede creer,” which means “I can’t believe it.”

Swear Words

I apologize for what is about to be lots of profane language, but it is common here, so I feel you should be prepared. Generally, like most cultures, swearing at anyone is definitely rude, but using the words in a general sense, or like adjectives, isn’t seen as vulgarly as we see it in the States. I can only speak for my family, but to my knowledge, Latinx families don’t see swearing as acceptable as Spaniards seem to. Again, just from my experience. I’d also like to note that with swear words, the actual translation is usually different from actual use.

• Joder: Literal translation is fuck. I didn’t use it until I moved here and now I use it too often (oops). It’s just so versatile! You know when you’re frustrated and you might want to shout “dammit!” “shit!” or “fuck!”? “Joder” works perfectly. “Fuck you” = “Jodete.” But not in a sexual way. For that, they use the term “follar.” Keep in mind, that carries the same vulgar/rough connotation that “fuck” does in English, versus “sex” or “making love,” for example. “Joder” is mostly used when you’re surprised, annoyed, or need to shout a random expletive; it’s actually not offensive.
• Hostia: Literally “hostia” is the “host” or “body” of Christ in Catholicism, so saying “hostia” is a common use of blasphemy here. I’d say it’s common use has made it less vulgar, combined with the general lack of faith in the younger generations of Spaniards. I doubt they even realize where the word came from. It’s also versatile. If something is “la hostia” it’s basically amazing and you can also “dar una hostia” which is to smack/slap/hit someone. This is also commonly used as a response to something surprising, kind of like how Americans might say “holy shit.”
• Gilipollas: This means both “douchebag” and “asshole” and is used in the same way. This is another Spain Spanish word I was not familiar with prior to living here. Super commonly used but I haven’t really adopted it yet.
• Coño: This is a weird one. The English definition is pussy/cunt, or basically any vulgar slang for vagina. While it is sometimes used to actually mean that, most of the time it’s just another expletive, the same way “shit,” “fuck,” and “dammit” are kind of interchangeable. It is slightly more vulgar than “joder” and definitely not something Colombians generally say. I grew up with it, though, because my dad is Cuban.
• Me cago en tu puta madre: Literally “I shit on your bitch mother.” This is really aggressive and actually mostly seen on TV or in fights, I guess. There are lots of variations of “me cago en” meaning “I shit on/in.” This is probably the most vulgar term and reserved for either really rude, vulgar people or moments of sheer panic. “Me cago en todo” is probably the most common way to use it, meaning “I shit on everything.” It’s aggressive, rude and vulgar. Definitely something I’ve used maybe twice in moments where nothing was going right, kind of like a “fuck my life” type of phrase.

So there you have it. My list of Spanish words to know. I’ll probably get some flack for posting so much profanity, but so be it. I’m of the opinion that profanity has a purpose and use, and most of the time these words are just adjectives to show how exponentially _____ you are. Instead of “very mad” you’re “fucking pissed.” See? There’s no offense there.

Aside from that, I’ll probably update this post as new terms come to mind or because I probably forgot something obvious. If you think of something, let me know!