Soulmate Gem
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio Pexels Logo Photo: Andrea Piacquadio

Can you call a girl Chula?

In Mexican Spanish, chulo/chula is the word you're looking to use if you find something (or someone, but in a kind, non-sexual nor romantic way) really pretty. Use it to compliment a part of someone's outfit or to tell someone you think they look cute today.

What is black god in Japanese?
What is black god in Japanese?

Black God (Japanese: 黒神, Hepburn: Kuro Kami) is a Japanese-Korean manhwa series written by Dall-Young Lim and illustrated by Park Sung-woo.

Read More »
What type of man is more likely to cheat?
What type of man is more likely to cheat?

Research in the field of infidelity reveals that there are three distinct personality types correlated with a higher likelihood of cheating:...

Read More »

Slang words are arguably one of the most important parts of fully understanding another language—but they’re not always easy to pick up on. Historically speaking, slang has always been spoken, not written down, so new words and meanings arise from word-of-mouth in any given community or society. In that sense, the internet is a gamechanger, but where to start? And with what Spanish dialect?

With Mexican Spanish, you’re in luck, because many of its slang words start with the same two letters, “ch,” and have the same “che” (pronounced “chay”) sound. Our third “Speaking of Spanish” video covers six Mexican slang words you need to know to sound like a local, all of which start with “ch.” If you’re feeling confident after watching our video, keep practicing—and learn a few more!—from a classic Mexican music group, Café Tacvba, whose song “Chilanga Banda” is well known for being chock full of “ch” Spanish words.

“Ch” Mexican slang words to check out

1. chido

There is no shortage of Spanish words to express that you like something, but chido is a good colloquial option to say “cool” or “great” instead of the more classic muy bueno or increíble. Chido doesn’t exist in other Spanish dialects nor does it have an original meaning that it’s been repurposed from. It’s a word that can express agreement, approval, excitement, and general positive feelings about places, situations, events, things…you name it! An example: Ese concierto estuvo muy chido. = That concert was very cool.

2. chafa

If something is “shoddy” or “of really poor quality,” you’re going to want to use the slang word chafa. It’s not just reserved for objects, though. Chafa can also be used to refer to something that’s been pirated or is counterfeit; to describe a person or group of people, like a sports’ team; as an expression (¡Qué chafa está…!); and even as a verb (chafear) to describe something that has stopped working. An example: Esa película está muy chafa. = That movie was really bad.

How fast do widows move on?
How fast do widows move on?

So yes, take things slowly. The following is from a study of 350 widows and widowers, published by the National Institutes of Health: “By 25 months...

Read More »
What age do I meet my soulmate?
What age do I meet my soulmate?

And, according to the findings, the average age you'll find your partner varies from gender to gender. That's right - the research found that the...

Read More »

3. chulo/chula

When you think of the word pretty, most think of bonito/bonita, maybe lindo/linda, and, if you’re in Spain, guapo/guapa. In Mexican Spanish, chulo/chula is the word you’re looking to use if you find something (or someone, but in a kind, non-sexual nor romantic way) really pretty. Use it to compliment a part of someone’s outfit or to tell someone you think they look cute today. (Oddly enough, across the world in Spain, chulo/chula means “cool”—with both positive and negative connotations, depending on context.)

An example: ¡Esa camiseta está chula! = That shirt is pretty!

4. chamba

Have you ended up in a conversation about work? Instead of the more traditional trabajo, use the slang word chamba to refer to “work” or a “job.” A fun fact about the word chamba is that its origins are in Old Portuguese, eventually making its way to Latin America (Mexico and Peru, primarily). An example: Tengo mucha chamba. = I have a lot of work to do.

5. chambear

In true Spanish fashion, it wouldn’t be a word if you couldn’t turn it into at least five other variations of itself, and chamba is no exception. Chamba comes in verb form, too, which is chambear, or “to work.” On the other side of the Atlantic, Spain also has its own noun-verb combo deal for the “work” and “to work” that deviates from the standard trabajo/trabajar, which is curro and currar. An example: Tengo que chambear hasta tarde. = I have to work until late.

6. chela

“A beer by any other name would taste as sweet”…That’s how that quote goes, right? Let’s just hope that’s true, because in Spanish, there are many different ways to refer to this one simple beverage. The traditional word for “beer” is cerveza, but in Mexico, you’ll want to say chela. In parts of Latin America, the literal translation of chela is “blonde,” which is why some light-haired women in Mexico have Chela as their first name. Since the color is almost an exact match to your standard lager, it makes sense that chela stuck as a slang word for beer, too. And if you haven’t had enough “ch” words yet, Mexican slang also uses the word cheve for “beer,” too.

An example: Pásame una chela. = Hand me a beer.

Can a 12 year old swear?
Can a 12 year old swear?

It's normal for kids to swear at one time or another. Young kids will often repeat something they've heard. Older kids often want to test their...

Read More »
Does body odor attract females?
Does body odor attract females?

Studies have shown that body odor is strongly connected with attraction in heterosexual females. The women in one study ranked body odor as more...

Read More »

Choose from these “ch” slang words, too

chachalaquear The verb chachalaquear means “to talk a lot” or “to be a chatterbox.” Someone who is chachalaqueando is probably talking too loudly and insistently and coming off as very annoying. chango or changa Instead of using muchacho or muchacha or niño or niña, try out the Mexican slang term for “boy” or “girl,” which is chango or changa. chaparro Normally, you’d say someone is bajo if they’re short (referring to their height), but Mexican slang calls for the word chaparro. chavo What’s up, chavo? This slang word typically means “dude,” but can also mean “guy”—often referring to a younger man. che Throw some heat on your sentence by adding che to the beginning of it, which is an emphatic “hey!” to really get someone’s attention. In other Spanish speaking countries, it can also mean a colloquial way to refer to a friend, like “bro,” “mate,” “pal,” and so on. chiflado You know that person who can’t help but constantly brag about stuff? Typical chiflado, which means “show-off,” “spoiled brat,” or “know-it-all” in Mexican slang. chilango Have you ever met someone from Mexico City? Anyone from there is a chilango, which simply means “citizen of/native to Mexico City.” chisme We all love a little bit of chisme, or “gossip,” right? This Mexican slang word also exists as an adjective—chismoso or chismosa—which is used to describe “someone who is gossipy/loves to gossip.”

Recommended Articles:

What is Japanese Christianity called?
What is Japanese Christianity called?

Kirishitan Kirishitan, (from Portuguese cristão, “Christian”), in Japanese history, a Japanese Christian or Japanese Christianity, specifically...

Read More »
What are the 8 stages of twin flames?
What are the 8 stages of twin flames?

8 Major Twin Flame Stages Stage One – Yearning for “The One” ... Stage Two – Glimpsing “The One” ... Stage Three – Falling in Love. ... Stage Four...

Read More »
Can twin flame feel loved?
Can twin flame feel loved?

Twin flame relationships are magnetic. From the moment you meet, you feel inexplicably drawn to the other person. This feeling never seems to wane,...

Read More »
What is the best age to meet your husband?
What is the best age to meet your husband?

That's right - the research found that the average woman finds their life partner at the age of 25, while for men, they're more likely to find...

Read More »