Chicano Slang

The following is a list of Chicano slang words and expressions borrowed from Wikipedia and will add my own as the list grows. Each word has a different meaning depending on where you live, therefore the following are related to Mexican Spanish slang. If you know of any words and would like to expand the list of Chicano slang, let us know and we'll add the slang word whenever we get a chance. Simon!

Contents

A

a ponemos chancla 

(from chancla, Nahuatl for sandal) "Let's dance". The grammar is deliberately incorrect.

águila 

(lit. "eagle") "Be alert"

aliviane 

a form of help "Aliviáname - help me"

aguas 

"to be alert, be careful". ¡Agua! ("Water!) is the cry of sellers of dodgy items when police are spotted.

arre 

lets go, lets do it.

A.T.M. 

a toda madre - great, fantastic, out of sight (expression antedates the abbreviation for "automated teller machine")

Ariza 

Slang for Arizona.

B

baika: bicycle

baro 

coin, money.

bironga 

beer, booze

borracho 

A drunk or someone on a bender.

bolillo 

derogatory term for "white boy" or "white guy," similar to "cracker" in American slang. Derived from the white dinner roll of the same name. Also used in Mexican Spanish.

bola 

A dollar. "Prestame una bola." "Lend me a dollar."

bomba 

(also "bomb") a lowrider car or truck from the 1930s - mid-1950s

bote 

(literally: "can") jail or prison; also, a lid of marijuana.

borlo 

dance, party. "Vamos al borlo." "Let's go to the dance/party."

bronca 

trouble or a problem with someone else

Burque 

a contraction of the old spelling of Albuquerque, New Mexico (Originally spelled "Alburquerque").

C

cabulear 

to "bullshit"; to "chew the fat with"

Caer la Greña

 

To be good at something

             

Caile 

Come here, go any where

Califas 

California. In standard Spanish, it means "caliphs".

calcos 

shoes

Caló 

a language used by Chicanos or Mexican-Americans, derived from the name of the Spanish Gypsy (gitano) dialect, Caló

canicas 

(lit. marbles) love; , genitals(male); also "andar a canicas"(walking around naked).

cantón 

home; house; apartment

carnal 

brother; close friend; homeboy, from primo carnal, "first-grade cousin." (also "karnal")

careja 

all at once, burdon, blows

Carrucha

Car, Your Ride (related to "carro," car)

Carrujo

joint, marijuana cigarette

cagua 

beer (related to Mexican slang for large beer, "caguama," literally "giant turtle")

catos 

fistfight, fisticuffs

chafa 

low quality

chale 

expresses disagreement, "no way"; antonym of simón

chancla 

shoe, sandal

chavala

(from Gypsy/Gitano Calo) little girl; also used as an insult for a man that lacks courage

chavalo

(from Gypsy/Gitano Calo, related to Mexican Spanish "chavo") little boy

chela

beer

chido

cool. awesome. "que chido wey" "esta chida la rola"

chingazo

a punch or a kick delivered during a fight or brawl

chorra 

penis

chota 

cops, police

chuco 

El Paso, Texas

clecha 

school, class

clica 

clique, social group, gang (also "klika")

con safos

(frequently abbreviated as "c/s") "Nobody can mess with this" (likely from Arabic-derived Spanish zafo = unobstructed, clear, safe, intact)

coco

bruise, cut, scrape, head, wound of some sort.

cuete

gun (from cohete = rocket)

D

dale gas 

step on it, go for it

de aquellas 

(lit. "from those over there") "the best"

descuéntate 

beat it, get lost

descuéntatelo 

hit him

descontar 

to hit, irregular conjugation (descuento, descuentas, descuenta, descuentan, descontamos)

dispensa

(also 'spensa)excuse me(?)

drapes 

syn. for "zoot suit" (see below), originating in 1930s Harlem African American for stylish clothing;

E

echa la cookie 

fast, as in running fast

empanzonar

impregnate

éna 

short for Norteña

éne 

short for Norteño

enjaular 

to lock up. Standard Spanish.

entacucharse 

to dress up, more specifically, to wear a tuxedo or suit

escamado 

scared. Standard Spanish.

escuelín 

school

esquina 

help, give a hand

esquinar 

help out.

ésa 

short for Sureña (lit. "that one", "that girl")

ése 

short for Sureño (lit. "that one", "that guy")

esponjes 

lie as in no esponges ese

esponjes 

angry, as in no te esponges == "don't get angry"

F

fajates 

blew it

feria 

money (literally "fair", as in "county fair," but references the homonym "fare" as a bilingual pun)

filero 

knife. Spanish filo means "edge".

firme 

cool (as in "hip"); good. In standard Spanish, "firm".

frajo 

cigarette

fresa 

prep

fusca 

gun

G

gabacho/a 

(also "gavacho") term for a white person. Related to Mexican Spanish slang for the United States, "el gabo" (In Spain, "Frenchman").

gacho 

unfortunate, inappropriate, or cruel (possibly from Basque "gaizto")

gasofas 

Gas, Petrol

Good nuff 

Half-ass bullshit, work ethic

grifa 

marijuana (whence the US slang word "reefer"; derived from "grifo")

grifo 

(lit. "faucet") marijuana addict; someone who is always "prendido", or "lit"

güacha 

(also "wacha" or "wachale") "Look"; "Watch"

güaino 

Wino

güero 

(also "huero" or "weddo") white person; light skinned, blue eyed/blond person

güisa 

(also "wisa" and "weesa") woman; girlfriend

güey 

Technically means a castrated bull, but it's often used as like homeboy or dude. For example, "Que onda guey?" means, "what's up man?" Also may refer to a man who's being cheated on by his significant other. Commonly used in Mexico, but considered somewhat vulgar there, usually used among close male friends. (sometimes spelled "buey" or "wey")

H

homeboy 

(also "homie") 1) a very close associate usually identified as someone from one's own barrio or neighborhood; 2) a person with whom one identifies closely with implying a strong loyalty toward; possibly derivative of Spanish hombre

homes 

(also "holmes") variation on the word "homeboy", used to identify a friend; can also be used as a casual greeting for anyone

hyna

a girl, or girlfriend

J

jaina 

(also spelled "hyna", "heina", and "hayna") woman; honey; girlfriend

jale 

a job

jefa/jefita 

mother

jefe/jefito 

(lit. "boss") father

jura 

police

L

lacra 

low life individual

lambache 

suck ass

lambiscón 

suck ass

lana 

(lit. "wool") money

la neta 

"the truth" or an unquestionable axiom (as in "es la neta" means "that's the truth"), also tends to be followed with "que" as its universal conjunction to other words such as "laneta que el otro dia..." meaning "the truth is that the other day…". From la neta verdad, "the pure truth".

lanzar chingadazos 

throw blows

laquiar

to lock

leño 

marijuana cigarette (joint). In Spanish, "wood block".

leva 

coward, hood hopper/set tripper

llantas 

(lit. "tires") a term for homemade sandals or beat-up shoes, also used to refer to extra fat acquired around the waist (similar to "rolls" or "love handles")

llevanate 

behave, be cool, chill out

litro 

cigarette lighter

lisa 

shirt

loc 

(pronounced "loke") short for "loco"; a street crazy; hardcore street tough, also maddogs or heavily tinted sunglasses

locochón 

crazy

M

machín 

excellent, high-achieving, outstanding

manflora 

(also manfi) derogatory for lesbian, dyke

máscara 

face. In Spanish, "mask".

mayate/mayata 

(n-word) derogatory for a dark-skinned male/female, usually African American; der. from mayatl (Nahuatl) an iridescent black scarab

mayatero 

someone who tries to "act black"

mexa 

from a Mexican origin

miclo 

light-skinned Mexican

mojado

wetback. Any immigrant crossing the Rio Grande river (mostly Mexican). Literally, "wet".

Monda: penis

mono 

movie

mono 

the devil; demon. Literally "monkey".

Morro

Young man or boy.

Morra

Young woman or girl.

mota 

slang for marijuana (possibly from Seminole "mota" meaning tobacco; in Mexican Spanish, mota means "speck")

N

naranjas 

no. Literally "oranges". In Spain the phrase "naranjas de la China" means "no way".

narices 

no. Literally "noses".

Naco- someone who does not dress well

negro/a 

(lit. "black") a somewhat affectionate term for a darker skinned individual of whatever race, e.g. chicano, African American or others (e.g. "vamos mi negro"), can be softened in the diminutive (negrito/a) as negro can also be derogatory

nel 

no

nikle 

Pronounced "nee-kleh." Five cents.

no manches  

don't mess around

no hay pedo 

no problem; no sweat

Norte Califas 

Northern California

Norteño

northerner; street chapter of the Nuestra Familia prison gang, associated with the color red and the number 14.

no te agüites 

don't get depressed

O

Órale

"Right on"; "Alright!"

Ojete  

asshole [example: ya no seas ojete]

Ojo  

Watch out, keep your eyes open, be careful

P

Pachuco

a native or resident of El Paso, Texas, later extended to mean all Mexicans and Mexican Americans adopting aspects of Pachuco culture such as dressing in zoot suits and speaking Caló.

paisa (from 'Paisano')

(also "border brother") a somewhat affectionate term for recent immigrants from Mexico

pano/paño 

a style of art, with drawings or paintings made in prison, on handkerchiefs (literally "handkerchief")

panocha 

pussy

pancho

(orig. nickname for the first name "Francisco") crying or complaining, used with the verb "hacer" i.e. "tu haces mucho pancho!" meaning "you do a lot of complaining"

panzón 

fat man. Standard Spanish, compare English paunch.

panzona 

fat woman; pregnant woman

pásame las tres 

Literally, "pass me the three". "Let me have a drag" (of a cigarette)

pase 

slang for cocaine

pedo 

(literally "fart") intoxicated; 'estar pedo'

pedo 

problem; 'no hay pedo'

pendejo

extremely foolish person, a coward, "no seas pendejo" (don't be a fool), "me hice pendejo" (I turned a blind eye); also pubic hair (archaic) highly offensive.

perico 

slang for cocaine

perrucha 

very difficult; female trouble-maker (related to "perra," meaning female dog or bitch)

pestaña 

(lit. eyelash) sleep

pestañear 

to sleep

picaste 

did you "get" some (from Sp. picar, to poke; also to shoot up as in heroin)

pinta 

jail; prison (more specifically)

pintar paredes 

to masturbate

pisto 

beer; can of beer (more specifically); also general term for alcoholic beverage. In Spanish, "soup"^[1]

Pitaso 

To "Rat someone out" - Dieron un pitaso

placa 

(literally "badge") tattoo; the police; a person's graffiti tag

ponerse al alba 

"to put oneself to the dawn", to get with it

ponerse zafado 

to get high on marijuana

ponte las pilas 

get your stuff together

Puñal 

A knife, Gay, (homosexual) "eres Puñal"

Puto 

Gay individual or a coward

putazo 

a big punch.

prendido 

"lit on", high on drugs; high on marijuana (most common)

Q

¿qué onda? 

"what's up?"

quemar llanta 

to burn rubber (as in driving)

Quilmas 

San Quentin prison

¿Quiubo? (Quíhubo, Qiobo. quióboles. Q-vo)

(from "Qué hubo" meaning "What was there?"} "What's going on?"; "What's up?" (Also, Quevolet....pronounced like Q-voh-lay)

Que Suda 

"how stupid" "how crazy" "you're out of it"

R

ranfla 

car; low-rider car

rifamos 

"We rule" Also (to take) a chance; "nos la rifamos"

rifar 

to rule, have superiority in a neighborhood, in a sport, or some territory

refin 

food

refinando 

eating

refinar 

to eat

refran 

soda, derived from "refresco"

rola 

song

ruca 

(literally: "old woman") girlfriend; woman

ruco 

Old man

S

safis 

Oops! Some type of error.

Sancha 

Girlfriend on the side; secret (or not) lover

Sancho 

Boyfriend on the side; secret (or not) lover

sawrucha 

saw

sentirse aviador 

"to feel as an airman", to feel high or drunk

Serio/a 

"seriously", for real (also spelled Cerio/a)

simón 

"Yeah", often combined with ese: simónese

soda 

slang for cocaine

soflamera 

whiner

songas 

songs

Swata  

Idiot

Sur Califas

Southern California

Sureño

southerner, street chapter of La eMe (or Mexican Mafia), associated with the color blue and the number 13.

Estéicis 

(from shoe manufacturer "Stacey Adams") a brand of dress shoes favored by pachucos and swingers; a generic term for polished dress shoes

T

ta con madre 

shortened form of "está con madre" (lit. "is with mom") the best, or something really good, outstanding.

tacuche 

(literally: "suit") zoot suit; fancy clothing

talonear 

"to heel", to walk, also to con, prostitute (to pimp)

tecato 

heroin addict

tinto 

(literally. "dark") derogatory referring to an African-American

tirando chancla  

dancing your ass off

tira

police

tirar la masa 

(lit. "to throw corn dough") to defecate

tirarlo a león 

(lit. "to ignore") to blow off, to forget about it

tirar tripa 

(lit. "to throw guts") to vomit

TJ 

"jury-rigged" or of inferior workmanship, (from the initials for Tijuana, a California border town where Americans go for cut-rate dentistry, auto body repair, and upholstry)

toleco 

Fify-cent piece.

torcido 

(lit. "twisted") jail time; locked up in prison (most specifically)

torta 

(lit. "cake") derogatory slang for a fat female

tortilla

lesbian

traer cola 

"to carry a tail", to be on parole

tragazón 

food, especially in large amounts. From tragar, "to swallow".

tramos 

pants

trinquetiar 

to cheat; to mess (someone) up

trola 

cigarette lighter, match

trucha 

(lit. "trout") "Watch out"; smart; wise

tubos 

"tubes". Socks

turiquear 

to get along; to communicate

U

un Abril 

(also "un abro") a year's jail sentence

V

vasquear 

to vomit

vaisa 

grip (possibly derived from vise grip)

varrio 

neighborhood or 'hood (misspelling or alternate spelling of barrio)

vato 

dude; guy; man

verga 

(lit. "mast", "pole"), "dick" "penis" "cock"

vieja 

(lit. "old lady") girlfriend, wife

volar 

(lit. "to fly") to hurry

W

wango 

loose, sloppy, awkward in appearance

Wachar 

to watch, to look out for; also güachar

Wáchale 

watch out! (interjection)

wesudo 

westside

weso  

westside

wilo, güilo 

skinny

wilo, güilo 

male prostitute

wino 

term for someone consuming large amounts of alcohol, an alcoholic

Y

yesca 

(also "yeska") marijuana. In Spanish, "a fungus to light fire".

yonka 

bike

¿Y qué? 

"And what?"; "So (what)?" (used to question, add emphasis, or challenge someone)

"ay wey" 

" oh, shit"

"ya estuvo" 

it's over, it's finished, I'm done

Z

zafado 

goofy

zafo 

I'm out, I bail out. (used when asking for volunteers); derived from/related to con safos (see above)

zoot suit

an outfit of male clothing consisting of large trousers which become narrower towards the bottom, a formal jacket which matches with the trousers, and a long chain running from the pocket