Chilenismos! Common Chilean Slang

Chilenismo (chee-len-EEZ-moh): Chilean expression or slang term.

Winner of most commonly heard Chilenismo:

Po (poh): Chilean for “pues.” A common interjection that is frequently peppered throughout Chilean speech, as in “Sí po” and “No po.” The former may be shortened to “Sip” and “Nop” meaning “Yep” and “Nope”. May also be pronounced “pu.”

***WARNING*** Do not attempt to use all of these words right away, as their meaning depends so much on the context! You don’t want to offend someone right off. Open your ears and see what you can pick up...



Also, see this awesome site for a pretty comprehensive list of Chilean slang.
http://cachandochile.wordpress.com/glossary-glosario-chilenismos/

Here is a list of  very common Chilenismos:

Al tiro (ahl TEER-oh): Right away! Tiro means shot, so I always thought that this expression meant “like a shot” or “fast as a bullet.” Reader @freelish explains, however, that it refers to the shot fired to initiate a race… which makes plenty of sense–the racers begin as fast as they can as soon as they hear the shot, so it would literally be “upon the shot” or at the sound of the shot.

Agüita (ah-GWEE-tah) (n): Herb tea. Strictly speaking, an infusion (tizana) of some herb, leaf, and/or flower.People usually drink coffee (espresso), tea, or “agüita” at the end of a meal.

Apagón (ah-pah-GOAN): (n) Blackout. This is not a Chilean word, per se, but one that visitors should be familiar with. We tend to go through spells where widespread apagones become more frequent than anyone would like.

Apellidos (ah-pay-YEE-dos): (n) Last name. Chileans, like most (but not all) Spanish speakers have two. The first is the father’s last name, and the second is the mother’s. Women do not change their last names when they marry. For example, José Pérez González is the son of Sr. Pérez and Sra. González. If Sr. Pérez does not recognize his son, the child will be named José González González.

Asado (ah-SAH-doh): (n). This is not a Chilean word per se. You’ll find it in any dictionary, but it is a term that anyone who spends any time at all in Chile (or Argentina) must know. The dictionary will tell you it’s a barbecue–but don’t be fooled, it’s a full-blown hedonistic meat fest, a true carnivore’s delight!

Barros Jarpa (BAH-rros HAR-pa): (n) Hot ham & cheese sandwich.

Barros Luco (BAH-rrohs LOO-ko): (n) Hot beef and cheese sandwich. (Sean’s favorite (?)

Cachái (ka-CHI): (v) From cachar. Usually used as a question to ask “get it?”

Cachar (ka-CHAR): In Chile, this means “to get” as in to understand. It can also mean “check out” or observe, as in “cáchate esto” (check this out) or observe, as in “Cacha lo que estoy haciendo” (watch what I’m doing). One theory is that the word comes from the ancient Spanish word “cachear” which was used to pat down someone to check for weapons. Others believe it comes from the English “to catch.”

Calzones rotos (kahl-ZO-nays RO-tos): literally, broken underpants. A typical Chilean fried dough pastry.

Carabinero (ka-ra-bin-AIR-oh): Chilean police officer.

Carrete (car-REH-tay): (n) a really good all-out party night.

Carretear (car-reh-tay-AHR): (v) To party, go bar-hopping, etc. See also desordenarse.
also: Farra (FAR-rah):(n) A party, or a night of partying. See also Carrete.

Farrear (far-ray-AHR): (v) To party, especially with a lot of drinking, usually going out to clubs or bars rather than a house party. See also Desordenarse.
**Good ones to know so that if someone invites you to “carretear” you can politely DECLINE!

Chaleco (chah-LAY-ko): (n) sweater.

Chela (CHEL-lah): (n) slang for cerveza / beer. Originally from Mexico, now in common usage among younger people in Chile.

Chorrillana (chor-ee-YAH-na): typical Chilean dish, very popular with college students and groups, consisting of a large platter of french fries, sauteed onions & eggs, topped with bite-sized chunks of sauteed beef. Usually placed in the center of the table so that everyone can pick from the same plate. Said to have originated at J. Cruz in Valparaíso.

Chuta (CHOO-tah): General and inoffensive interjections that expresses regret or dismay, as in: “¡Chuta! ¿en serio?” (Damn!… are you kidding me?) See also “pucha.”

Colación (ko-lah-see-OHN): (n) Used in Chile to refer to lunch. It differs fromalmuerzo in the sense that it is used in reference to lunch at work or school. When served at home, the standard term almuerzo is used.

Colectivo (ko-lek-TEE-vo): (n) A combination of a taxi and a bus. It’s a shared taxi with a fixed route.

Completo (kohm-PLEH-to): (n) Chilean style hot dog loaded with ketchup, mustard, relish, chopped tomato, sauerkraut, pickled green chili pepper, mashed avocado, and mayonnaise.

Confort (kohn-FORT):  TOILET PAPER!: This is the Spanish word for comfort, although it is seldom used in the sense in Chile because it is the name of the leading brand of toilet paper and is therefore associated more with the product. The brand is so popular in fact, that all toilet paper in Chile tends to be generically called “Confort,” much like Kleenex is used for tissues in the US.

Cuático (KWAH-tee-koh): (adj) Weird, strange, exaggerated,

Cueca (KWAY-kah): (n) Refers to a style of music and dance of the same name. Chile’s national dance.

Dicho (DEE-cho): (n) Popular saying or expression.

Filo (FEE-loh): Whatever. No problem. Don’t worry about it. Ex: Ya, filo, no importa para náa. / Yeah, don’t worry about it, I don’t care at all.

Flaite (FLY-tay): (adj) Derogatory term to describe someone from a lower class, loser. (see also peloláis, pokemon, punki).

Fome (FOH-may): (adj) Boring, corny, or lame.

Fundo (FOON-doh): Chilean for hacienda. Argentines use finca in the same way.

Gallo/a (GAH-yo): (n) literally rooster. Used to refer to “a guy”  (galla for the female version).

Golpe, or golpe del estado (GOHL-pay or GOHL-pay del ehs-STAH-doh): (n) coupe d’état. Military takeover of the government.

Gripe (GREE-pay): (n) Gripe is the flu, although many people claim to have “gripe” or to be “agripado” (ah-gree-PAH-doh) when they just have a common cold (resfrío / rehs-FREE-oh) and rush to take antibiotics. **Very true in my experience!!! If you’re ever sick during your homestay - do NOT take medicines from them!!! It’s very bad to take antibiotics when you don’t have a bacterial infection (ie. viral “cold”)

Guagua (WAH-wah): (n) Baby in Chilean Spanish, from the native Quechua. In Caribbean countries it means a bus.

Guanaco (wah-NAH-koh): (n) Literally an Andean camelid related to the llama. Colloquially it is used to refer to the water cannons that spray water to disperse groups of protesters. It earned the name because guanacos (the animals) spit when they are annoyed. (See also zorrillo).

Guata (WHAH-tah): (n) Stomach: “Me duele la guata” means “I have a stomach ache.” From Mapudungún (Mapuche). “Estar de guata” means to be face down.

Guatero (whah-TAIR-ro): (n) Hot water bottle, often used to comfort a stomach ache. Also an essential element for sleeping in the winter as most houses do not have central heat, so people hop into bed with a nice hot guatero or two.

Guatón/a (whah-TOHN): (adj) Fat, big-bellied. Ex: Antes era flaca, pero se puso guatona con los años / She used to be skinny, but has gotten fat over the years. Also (n) to refer to a fat person: ¡Ese guatón no deja de comer! / That fat guy just doesn’t stop eating! Also as a nickname for a guy with a gut, as in the Chilean character “Guatón Loyola” who inspired the famous cueca.

Huevón (way-VOHN, most often heard as way-OHN): (n), from “huevo” (WAY-vo), which literally means egg and its derivative “hueva” (WAY-va) for testicle. Extremely common vulgarity in Chilean Spanish, with variations for use in different ways. (see the comment left by Katan on January 25, 2010 below). Huevón (often written Weon or Güeón) is used to refer to a person, as in “jerk,” but can also mean friend, as in “man” (oye huevón, quieres una cerveza? Hey man, wanna beer?). The tone of voice explains it all. (Huevona is the female version, used in the same way).

Weón / Weona (way-OHN / way-OH-nah) (n) see Heuvón.

Lanza (LAHN-sa): (n) pick-pocket or purse-snatcher type thief.

Luca (LOO-kah): (n) A thousand Chilean pesos, the way a “buck” is a US dollar.
Mapudungún (mah-pu-doon-GOON): (n) The language of Chile’s indigenous Mapuche people.

Mediopelo (MAY-dee-oh-PAY-lo): (adj) Refers to lower middle class, or something not very classy.

Micro (MEE-kro): (n) A city bus (NOTE: used with the feminine article “la“). NOTE: Some Latin American countries call a bus a “guagua,” but here in Chile aguagua is a baby… which can make for some pretty funny confusion!

Mina (MEE-na): (n) (1) literally a mine, but more interestingly (2) an attractive young woman. Mino can also be used for a good looking guy.

Monono (moh-NO-no): (adj) cute, sweet, trendy, but not to be taken too seriously.

Ojo(OH-ho): (n) (1) literally means eye, but often used (2) to mean “careful” or “attention.” People will often look you straight in the eye, point a finger to their own eye and say “Ojo con…” and give you some advice, as in “watch out for…” or “be careful with…”

Once (11) de Septiembre: (OHN-say day sept-tee-EM-bray). September 11. In Chile it refers to this day in 1973, the day of the military coupe. ***HUGE defining political event in Chile’s history!! Take note!!

Onces (OHN-sace): (n) Chile’s version of afternoon tea, one of the standard 4 meals per day. It usually consists of sandwiches and sweet pastries.. not necessarily in that order.

Palta (PAHL-tah): (n) Avocado. Available in and on just about everything edible. Popular on toast for breakfast and on hot dogs (see completo). I’ve even had palta pie and palta pisco sour.

Pan amasado (pahn ah-mah-SAH-do): (n) Literally “kneaded bread”. These individual serving round breads are often made in country homes and baked in the traditional outdoor dome-shaped adobe ovens.

Pan batido (pahn bah-TEE-doh): (n) The bread called a marraqueta in Santiago is called pan batido in Valparaíso.

Pan de molde (pahn day MOHL-day): (n) No, this is not moldy bread! It’s sliced loaf bread. Also refers to a small utility van due to similarity in shape.

Pan frica (pahn FREE-ka): (n) Hamburger bun.

Picada (pee-CAH-da): (n) Usually refers to a simple restaurant with good food and cheap prices.

Pito (PEE-to): (n) Joint (marijuana).
Again - so you know to DECLINE if offered!

Porfa (POR-fah): Please, short for por favor.

Porfis (POR-fees): Please, variation of Porfa.

Porotos (po-ROH-tos): (n) Beans… Chileans do not use frijoles (Mexico) orjudías (Spain).

Pololo (poh-LOH-loh): (n) This word, which comes from Mapudungún, has several meanings. The first is boyfriend (polola is girlfriend). It can also be an informal job (although pitututo is more frequently used). It also refers to the moths that buzz around the lights at night (which is probably where the boyfriend use came from!)

Poto (POH-toh): (n) bottom, rear end. Apparently an Andean term. Often used in the diminutive “potito” (poh-TEE-toh) when referring to a baby. And then, oddly enough, there’s something called a “sandwich de poto.” (Yeah, you understood that correctly). Never tried one… I hear they literally stink but “aren’t bad”… think I’ll pass!

Qué onda (kay  OHN-da): A greeting: “What’s up?” Used more with the older generation.

Sapo (SAH-po): (n) Literally, frog. (1) a snitch, low-level spy, as in someone who looks for information to give authorities in exchange for some benefit (see alsosoplón), or (2) or to a person who let’s the bus drivers know when the last bus along their route passed. They get the name from jumping on and off the buses all day.

Temblor (tem-BLOR): (n) Tremor. Not to be confused with the more seriousterremoto. This is a regular Spanish word that is particularly relevant in Chile.

Terremoto (tair-ay-MOH-to): (n) (1) Earthquake. This is a regular Spanish word, but one that is particularly relevant in Chile. (2) A Chilean drink made from white wine and pineapple sherbet served in picadas. See also temblor y réplica.

Trámite (TRAH-mee-tay): (n) A perfect word with no direct translation into English. It refers to all the bureaucratic transactions and processes that we are often required to do, such as going from place to place, filling out forms, getting things notarized (very big in Chile). Anyone who has dealt with Chilean “Extranjería” knows all about trámites.

Vale (VAH-lay): Formal use: voucher, ticket. Slang use: “OK.”

Weá or (way-AH) (n), from “huevada.” Vulgar and very common. Used as a noun to mean “thing.” Can be used as a substitute for the real name (dame esa weá –gimme that thing) or to refer to something stupid (¿qué es esa weá? What the hell is that? Or: Deja de decir weás—stop saying idiotic things).  See Huevón.

Ya (YAH): Like the German ja (yes) and the English “yeah,” in Chile “ya” means “okay” and is used to show consent, agreement or to indicate that you are following an argument. It is very common in Chilean Spanish and must surely have arrived with the German immigration in the south in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Ya po (YAH -poh) (also Ya pu):  Short for ya pues (see Ya, above). Very common expression that changes meaning depending on the intonation of the voice. A short, definitive, ya-po, can mean “sure thing, I’m right on it” while a long drawn-out and exasperated YAAAA po! can mean “knock it off, I’ve had it up to here with that.”