Staying cool isn’t just about looking good, it’s about speaking the language that makes you stand out. If you want to vibe like a native Spanish speaker, you’ve got to know the latest slang. Whether you’re chatting with friends, flexing on your Instagram feed, or spicing up your TikTok captions, these 20 trendy Spanish expressions will help you sound as fresh as your style. From chilling with “está de lujo” to turning up the heat with “me mola,” using the right slang will elevate your whole vibe and keep you sounding effortlessly cool. Time to let your words speak as loud as your look!
Practice Spanish Slang with this Online Game:
| in Spanish | in English | S |
|---|---|---|
| Rollo | Situation or vibe | |
| Flipante | Amazing / Mind-blowing | |
| Tóxico/a | Toxic person (often for drama or bad vibes) | |
| Vamo’ a romperla | We’re going to crush it / kill it | |
| Está de pelos | It’s awesome | |
| Sin filtro | No filter / No pretending | |
| Rata | Cheap / Greedy (also like “scammer”) | |
| Buenísima onda | Good vibes / So chill | |
| Mal plan | Bad situation / Awkward plan | |
| Tener flow | To have swag / Style | |
| En modo | In the zone / Mode (refers to focus or mood) | |
| Ponerle huevo | To put in effort (can be funny or sarcastic) | |
| Quedarse pillado | To be caught off guard / Surprised | |
| Ser un crack | To be awesome / Amazing at something | |
| Joder (Spain) | To express surprise or frustration (like “damn” or “shit”) | |
| Nada que ver | Doesn’t make sense / Not related | |
| Loquísimo/a | Super crazy / Wild | |
| No me jodas | Don’t mess with me / Are you kidding me? | |
| Ser la hostia | To be amazing / Epic (used in Spain) |
1. Jato – House / Place (slang for home)
“Jato” is a popular slang term, especially in Peru and some other parts of Latin America, used to refer casually to someone’s house or home. It’s super informal and friendly you’d use it when talking to friends, not in formal settings. Saying “mi jato” makes your home sound like a laid-back hangout spot rather than just a building.
It’s often tied to personal space, comfort, and chill vibes. Using “jato” feels like you’re inviting someone into your real life, not just into your house. It’s the place where you can crash after a long day, host friends for a party, or just chill in your sweatpants.
Examples:
- “¿Nos vemos en mi jato esta noche?” (Are we meeting at my place tonight?)
- “Después de la fiesta, todos fueron a su jato a seguir la rumba.” (After the party, everyone went to his place to keep partying.)
2. Rollo – Situation or vibe
“Rollo” is one of those wonderfully versatile Spanish words that can mean almost anything depending on how you use it but at its heart, it’s all about the vibe, the situation, or the overall emotional atmosphere. Sometimes it means drama or complication, sometimes just a certain feeling around people or events.
You’ll hear it a lot among young people when talking about social situations, relationships, or even parties. It’s informal and perfect when you want to capture the complexity of human interactions without going into too much detail. “Buen rollo” (good vibe) or “mal rollo” (bad vibe) are especially common phrases.
Examples:
- “No me gusta el rollo de ese lugar.” (I don’t like the vibe of that place.)
- “Tuvimos un rollo raro en la reunión.” (We had a weird situation at the meeting.)
3. Flipante – Amazing / Mind-blowing
“Flipante” is an energetic and colorful word mainly heard in Spain, used to describe something that completely blows your mind in a good way. It’s not just “good” or “nice”; when something is flipante, it’s unexpectedly incredible, astonishing, or thrilling.
It’s often used after crazy events, impressive performances, or wild experiences. When Spaniards say something is flipante, you can almost see their eyes light up with excitement. It brings a youthful, enthusiastic energy to any conversation.
Examples:
- “¡El concierto estuvo flipante!” (The concert was mind-blowing!)
- “Tu historia es flipante, no puedo creerlo.” (Your story is amazing, I can’t believe it.)
4. Tóxico/a – Toxic person
The word “tóxico” or “tóxica” has exploded in popularity, especially in social media culture. It’s the go-to way to describe people who drain your energy, manipulate emotions, or create drama whether in romantic relationships, friendships, or even workplaces.
Calling someone “tóxico” instantly paints a picture of someone exhausting to deal with, someone who brings negativity instead of support. It’s often used with a bit of sarcasm among friends but can also be serious when warning about unhealthy relationships.
Examples:
- “Dejé de hablarle porque era muy tóxico.” (I stopped talking to him because he was so toxic.)
- “No quiero relaciones tóxicas en mi vida.” (I don’t want toxic relationships in my life.)
5. Vamo’ a romperla – We’re going to crush it / kill it
“Vamo’ a romperla” is a super charged, motivational slang phrase used especially in Latin America to pump people up before doing something exciting like a performance, a party, or even a big event. It literally means “we’re going to break it” but emotionally it translates closer to “we’re going to rock it” or “we’ll totally crush it.”
This expression carries a lot of positive, high-energy vibes. It’s often said in groups, right before taking action, to build hype and confidence. It feels like shouting “Let’s do this!” in English.
Examples:
- “¡Esta noche en el concierto, vamo’ a romperla!” (Tonight at the concert, we’re going to crush it!)
- “Entrenamos mucho para este partido, ¡vamo’ a romperla!” (We trained hard for this game, we’re going to kill it!)
6. Está de pelos – It’s awesome
“Está de pelos” is a fun, quirky Mexican slang term that literally means “it’s of hair,” but don’t let the literal translation confuse you! What it really means is that something is super cool, awesome, or impressive.
This phrase is very casual and playful. It gives off a carefree, happy vibe like when you see something so cool that you can’t help but smile. It’s often used for things like outfits, parties, cars, or any experience that just feels really satisfying.
Examples:
- “Tu nuevo coche está de pelos.” (Your new car is awesome.)
- “La fiesta anoche estuvo de pelos.” (The party last night was awesome.)
7. Sin filtro – No filter / No pretending
When someone says something “sin filtro,” they mean they’re being brutally honest, direct, and not sugar-coating anything. This phrase is perfect for describing people who say exactly what’s on their mind sometimes charmingly honest, sometimes a little too harsh.
It’s often used to describe friends who just “tell it like it is,” or to excuse yourself right before you’re about to say something very real (and possibly controversial). Saying something “sin filtro” feels raw and authentic.
Examples:
- “Te voy a decir esto sin filtro: ese vestido no te queda bien.” (I’m going to say this with no filter: that dress doesn’t suit you.)
- “Mi hermano siempre habla sin filtro, a veces se mete en problemas.” (My brother always talks without a filter, sometimes he gets in trouble.)
8. Rata – Cheap / Greedy
“Rata” literally means “rat,” but when used as slang in Spanish, it’s a playful (and slightly insulting) way to call someone cheap, greedy, or even sneaky especially when they don’t share or invite others.
It’s usually said in a joking tone among friends, but it can sting if used seriously. Calling someone a “rata” captures a feeling of selfishness in a funny, everyday way.
Examples:
- “Eres una rata, nunca quieres pagar la cuenta.” (You’re so cheap, you never want to pay the bill.)
- “No invitó a nadie a su fiesta, qué rata.” (He didn’t invite anyone to his party, what a rat.)
9. Buenísima onda – Good vibes / So chill
“Buenísima onda” is the ultimate compliment when you want to say someone gives off amazing, positive energy. In Latin America, “onda” refers to someone’s vibe or aura, and “buenísima” makes it even stronger meaning their vibe isn’t just good, it’s fantastic.
This phrase is used to describe people who are easy-going, warm, kind, and fun to be around. It’s the kind of thing you’d say after meeting someone who immediately makes you feel at ease.
Examples:
- “Ella tiene una buenísima onda, me cayó súper bien.” (She has such a good vibe, I really liked her.)
- “El nuevo profesor es de buenísima onda.” (The new teacher has a great vibe.)
10. Mal plan – Bad situation / Awkward plan
“Mal plan” is an informal way to say that something sounds like a bad idea, an awkward situation, or a generally unpleasant experience. It’s often used in social contexts when plans don’t sound appealing or when a situation feels off.
It has a casual, judgmental tone like you’re giving your honest opinion that this plan or situation will suck.
Examples:
- “¿Ir a esa fiesta donde está mi ex? Mal plan.” (Going to that party where my ex is? Bad idea.)
- “Salir con este clima es mal plan.” (Going out in this weather is a bad idea.)
11. Tener flow – To have swag / Style
When someone “tiene flow,” it means they carry themselves with style, confidence, and coolness it’s not just about looks, but about attitude and presence. “Flow” originally came from hip-hop culture, but it’s now used all over the Spanish-speaking world.
It’s the ultimate way to say someone is effortlessly stylish or naturally charismatic.
Examples:
- “Esa chica tiene mucho flow bailando.” (That girl has a lot of flow when dancing.)
- “No importa qué ropa uses, si tienes flow, todo se ve bien.” (It doesn’t matter what you wear, if you have flow, everything looks good.)
12. En modo – In the zone / Mood
“En modo” is a trendy way of saying you’re in a certain mindset or mood. It’s super popular on social media captions, describing what mental “mode” you’re operating in from “modo fiesta” (party mode) to “modo estudio” (study mode).
It’s playful and flexible, giving off a tech-savvy, modern vibe.
Examples:
- “Hoy estoy en modo relax.” (Today I’m in chill mode.)
- “Cuando juego fútbol, me pongo en modo bestia.” (When I play soccer, I go beast mode.)
13. Ponerle huevo – To put in effort
“Ponerle huevo” (literally “to put egg into it”) means to give something your all to put in extra effort, energy, and determination. In some countries like Venezuela or Colombia, it’s super common.
It’s casual but full of admiration when recognizing hard work or encouraging someone to not give up.
Examples:
- “Si quieres pasar el examen, tienes que ponerle huevo.” (If you want to pass the test, you have to put in the effort.)
- “¡Le puso huevo y ganó la carrera!” (He gave it his all and won the race!)
14. Quedarse pillado – To be caught off guard / Surprised
“Quedarse pillado” is a very Spanish way of expressing that someone was stunned, surprised, or caught off guard by something unexpected. It’s an emotional reaction like you’re frozen for a moment because of the shock.
It’s often used for funny, awkward, or embarrassing moments.
Examples:
- “Me quedé pillado cuando me contó la noticia.” (I was caught off guard when he told me the news.)
- “Ella se quedó pillada al ver la sorpresa.” (She was stunned when she saw the surprise.)
15. Ser un crack – To be awesome / Really good at something
Calling someone “un crack” is one of the biggest compliments you can give in Spain and Latin America. It means the person is exceptional at what they do talented, brilliant, almost like a pro.
It’s a very casual but powerful way of showing admiration, especially in sports, gaming, or academics.
Examples:
- “Messi es un crack total en el fútbol.” (Messi is an absolute star in football.)
- “Eres un crack en matemáticas.” (You’re amazing at math.)
16. Joder (Spain) – Damn / Shit
“Joder” is one of the most iconic Spanish slang words, used mostly in Spain. It’s a swear word, similar to “damn” or “shit” in English, but it’s super versatile it can express frustration, surprise, anger, or even excitement, depending on how you say it.
Although common, it’s informal and you wouldn’t use it in formal settings.
Examples:
- “¡Joder, qué tráfico hay hoy!” (Damn, there’s so much traffic today!)
- “Joder, no me acordé del examen.” (Shit, I forgot about the exam.)
17. Nada que ver – Doesn’t make sense / Not related
“Nada que ver” is a casual, everyday phrase used to completely reject or deny something. It means something has absolutely no connection, relevance, or truth. It’s a quick, sharp way to say “That’s not right at all.”
Often said with a slightly dramatic tone for emphasis.
Examples:
- “¿Tú y Ana son novios?” — “¡Nada que ver!” (You and Ana are dating? — Not at all!)
- “Esa historia no tiene nada que ver con lo que pasó.” (That story has nothing to do with what happened.)
18. Loquísimo/a – Super crazy / Wild
“Loquísimo” is an exaggerated way of saying something was absolutely wild, crazy, or insane (in a fun or shocking way). It’s filled with excitement and disbelief.
Perfect for wild parties, unexpected stories, or insane experiences.
Examples:
- “La fiesta fue loquísima, bailamos hasta el amanecer.” (The party was super crazy, we danced until dawn.)
- “El viaje fue loquísimo, perdimos el vuelo dos veces.” (The trip was crazy, we missed our flight twice.)
19. No me jodas – Don’t mess with me / Are you kidding me?
“No me jodas” is a passionate, informal expression often used when you can’t believe what someone is telling you whether it’s something incredible or something annoying. Depending on tone, it can sound playful or genuinely frustrated.
Very common in Spain and Latin America.
Examples:
- “¿Ganaste la lotería? ¡No me jodas!” (You won the lottery? Are you kidding me!)
- “¿Otra vez llegaste tarde? ¡No me jodas!” (You’re late again? Don’t mess with me!)
20. Ser la hostia – To be amazing / Epic (Spain)
“Ser la hostia” is pure, powerful Spanish slang from Spain, used to describe something absolutely epic, incredible, or just mind-blowingly good. “Hostia” originally has a religious meaning, but in slang, it’s all about strong feelings.
Saying something “es la hostia” is one of the most passionate ways to show you were impressed.
Examples:
- “Ese concierto fue la hostia, no puedo superarlo.” (That concert was epic, I can’t get over it.)
- “Tu presentación fue la hostia, todos quedaron impresionados.” (Your presentation was amazing, everyone was impressed.)
