Just about every language in history has its own slang. Colombian Spanish is no different. This begs the question, which are the best Colombian slang words you could learn?
Spanish is among the most spoken languages in the world, with Colombian Spanish being one of the most spoken Spanish dialects. In many ways, Colombian Spanish is similar to Mexican Spanish, but in others, it is not.
15. Parcero / Parcera – Dude / Girl
In most language’s slang, there is an endearing term used between two very close friends. In Italian slang, this is frate, whereas in Colombian slang, it is parcero / parcera.
Literally, a parcero or a parcera is a male/female partner. With that, many Colombian teenagers have recently reinvented the term to mean dude (parcero) or girl (parcera).
Surprisingly, this term isn’t gender-specific. Where parcero is used for guys to mean something akin to dude, parcera can be used for girls, meaning something akin to girl (as in “Hey girl!”)
14. ¿Quiubo, parce? – What’s up dude?!
Colombian slang is full of different ways to greet your friends and family, both (somewhat) formally and informally. One of the most common informal one is ¿quiubo, parce?
Quiubo is the combination of two words- qué and hubo. Originally, Colombians would greet each other with ¿qué hubo? meaning something akin to “how are you?”
Over time, this has been merged into quiubo due to how fast it is said, with it often being paired with the aforementioned parce, meaning dude. You may also see quiubo spelled as quíubo.
13. Mamera- Annoying laziness
We all have that one friend who is incredibly lazy to the point of being incredibly annoying because of it. Perhaps that person is you! Whilst in English we just call it laziness, the Colombians have gone all out…
Through things like social media and the internet, Colombians all around the country have developed the term mamera. Originally, it was to describe that annoying laziness you see in people.
Over time though, it has come to be synonymous with either annoyance or laziness. Today, it can be used to describe an activity that bores you and/or incredibly annoys you!
12. Bacano – Cool
In almost every slang I have covered, there is some term for cool. In French slang there is oklm, which is used in the same context as Colombian slang’s bacano.
Depending on context, bacano has several different meanings. Most commonly, it is used to say that something is cool, although can mean something like good or nice (among others).
The term originates in Colombia, although has since spread to much of Latin America. In some Spanish-speaking areas, especially places with their own defined slang, bacano is becoming quite well common.
11. Rumbear – To go partying
Colombia is known for many things, one of which is its epic partying scene. It is perhaps no surprise then, that there are several party-related Colombian slang words!
Perhaps the most commonly used is the verb rumbear. This verb is used by Colombians to refer to the act of going to a party. It has become so common that it recently entered the dictionary!
In some parts of Colombia, rumbear is also spelled rumbiar. In some other very bacano circles, rumbear/rumbiar is shortened down, simply to rum, with the same meaning.
10. Parche – Sociable
Many of the people who like to throw/attend rumbears would probably be labelled as “parche“, with many people using it as a compliment towards themselves or others.
Literally, parche is the Spanish term for a patch, both in terms of land and in terms of an eye patch. However, Colombians have reinvented the meaning to mean sociable.
If you were to browse through the Instagram pages of those Colombian people who are parche, you will probably find pictures of rumbears. Here, they will probably use #parche.
9. Desparchado – Unsociable
On the other hand, there are those who could not care less about rumbears, and would rather be at home, on their own. The Colombians similarly have their own term for those types of people too.
Colombians use the term desparchado. If you look at it carefully, you’ll see the term parch in there, coming from the aforementioned parche, with ado being used to signify it as a noun, and de to say “not”.
This term is used in two ways. On the one hand, it is used by bacanos as an insult to the “nerds” who don’t like partying. At the same time, many “nerds” will use it to describe themselves happily.
8. Parchando – Hang out
Slang in almost ever language has some sort of term for not only your friends, but also what you do with them- ie. hang out. To do this, Colombians have invented parchando…
Parchando is similarly derived from parche. The literal meaning of parchando is more akin to “hanging out with my friends” although is usually just translated as “to hang out”.
The term is quite common among teenagers (naturally) and encompasses a vast array of activities, including sitting around and talking, to shopping to Netflix and chill.
7. ¡De una! – Absolutely!
Sometimes, someone asks you a question about something that gets you really excited. In order to show you’re optimism and excitement, you need a phrase and/or word to do this.
Up until recently, there wasn’t a word in Colombian Spanish to do that. So what did the Colombians do? They invented their own phrase! Although several of these phrases exist, the most common is ¡de una!
Technically speaking, ¡de una! has no real meaning (literally translating as “of a”). However, in Colombian slang, it is used to mean “absolutely” or “certainly”, usually as a response to something.
6. Sapo – Gossipy
We all know that one person who sticks their nose into everyone else’s business. On top of that, they then tell literally everyone about it, to a point that is incredibly frustrating!
Many languages have slang terms for these people, with the Colombian term being sapo, literally meaning toad. In light of that, Colombians use sapo to describe those people- both as toads and as a bit too nosy!
It is akin to Mexican slang’s metiche. In some Mexican cities, sapo has become more common than metiche, whilst in some Colombian towns and cities, sapo has become more common!
5. ¡Qué oso! – What a shame!
Sometimes, someone says or does something that is a bit silly. Then, you want to “feel sorry for them” whilst also slightly mocking them, to do this, you could use ¡qué oso!
When you were learning Spanish, you probably learned oso meaning bear. In Colombia, a bear is still an oso, however, in a slang context, it means fool and/or shame.
According to Colombian lore, the phrase originates with circus bears in the early days of Colombia. Here, people would imitate them and look very stupid, with oso then being used as an insult.
4. Harto – a ton (of)
Sometimes in life, you need to quantify how much of something there is/was. Sometimes, you can’t always be too accurate, and just want to explain clearly that there is a lot of something.
In American slang (and most other English-based slang), we tend to use the term “a ton” of something. This has essentially been carbon copied into Colombian slang in the form of harto.
Literally, harto is the Spanish term for fed up, as in, you’ve had enough of something. However, in slang, it is generally used to say that there is/was a lot of something.
3. Verraco – Astonishing / brave
Sometimes you’ll see something that is absolutely amazing, or would take a lot of guts to perform. As with many other languages and dialects, Colombian Spanish has its own word for that- verraco.
Literally, veracco is boar (a pig-type animal). However, in Colombian slang, it is generally used to mean something akin to amazing, astonishing and/or brave, this can be in both a positive or negative way.
You’ll also see this spelled as beracco. This is due to a linguistic occurrence in Colombia (different areas and groups of people pronounce words differently, and thus, spell them differently.) Neither spelling is inherently right or wrong.
2. Chimba – Lousy
We all have those days where we just don’t feel 100%. In American slang, the term “lousy” has become quite popular, in Colombia, they have adopted chimba to mean the exact same thing!
Literally, chimba is the Colombian scientific term for a woman’s reproductive organ. However, it can have several different meanings depending on the context, with it most commonly being lousy.
Despite this, chimba can also be translated to mean good, pretty or even energetic! (Depending on the context, it could, in theory be all of them!) Colombians usually understand what it means, based on the tone.
1. Vaina – Thingy
Sometimes, you just don’t know what that thing is called (either in English or in Spanish)! In English, we might just say “Umm… umm…” for several minutes, the Colombians have developed their own word, vaina…
Literally, a vaina is a sheath, or some sort of covering. However, in Colombian slang, vaina is used to mean something akin to “thingy” usually used int he context “Oh… That thingy!”
With that being said, most Colombians would prefer you to try to explain what you are talking about first, rather than going straight for vaina. Some Colombians see it as rude, whilst others see it as lazy.
Which are your favorite Colombian slang words? Tell me in the comments!