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Cuban Spanish and Cuban Slang

Cuban Spanish Language

Cuban Spanish, I suggest that you carry a pocket dictionary or electronic translator to learn Spanish or to communicate with the Cubans. In the hotels most of the staff speaks English, but in the shops and on the streets a basic knowledge of Spanish can be very useful. Take in consideration that Spanish is spoken in many countries and that a lot of Latino people live in the United States.

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CUBAN EXPRESSIONS - CUBAN WORDS
CUBAN SPANISH - CUBAN SLANG

One of the most important words in Cuban Slang is money, in Spanish : DINERO
Cuban Spanish for money :
moneda, baro, chavito, divisa, fula, dolars, peso, plata, melon, moni, guanikiki, lana, pasta, yira.

Frequently used Cuban Spanish words:

  • Asere : friend, mate ( qué bola asere = how are you mate)
  • Ajustador : bra
  • Babaloa : Santeria priest
  • Baro : money
  • Bemba : lips - Radio Bemba : Gossip, Grape-vine
  • Bici : bicycle
  • Bici-tax : bicycle taxi
  • Bodega : ( state owned) grocery store
  • Bollo : vagina (vulgar expression)(pronounced: boljo)
  • Bolsa negra : black market (translated: black bag)
  • Borracho : drunken
  • Blumer : knickers
  • Bisnero : business man ( hustler)
  • Campesino : farmer
  • Camello : camel bus
  • Carro : car
  • Carné (de identidad) Cuban identity card
  • Chancletas : flip-flops
  • Chebi : taxi ( official state taxi)
  • Chopin : shopping ( refers to dollar shop , tourist shop)
  • Chocolate : a mobile telephone with a glider..
    Because it is more expensive and the latest, the Cubans call it "Chocolate" as something more valuable and expensive:....a chocolate.
  • Chulo : pimp
  • Cojones : bastard (vulgar expression)
  • Cola : Cuban queue
  • Comemierda : bastard, stupid (translated : eat shit) (vulgar expression)
  • Compay : companion (compadre) buddy, comrade
  • Coño : Bastard, Shit (vulgar) Spanish: esta mierda (see also Pinga)
  • Consorte : friend
  • Chao : (good) bye
  • Chivato : squeaker, police informer
  • Cuarto : a room (in a hotel) (Spanish: habitación)
  • Delgado : slim person
  • Descarga : jam session
  • Entufado : drunken (also borracho)
  • Espejuelos : glasses (Spanish anteojos - gafas)
  • Fardo : pants, trousers
  • Filtro : smart person
  • Fiana : police
  • Fosforera : lighter (Spanish: encendedor)
  • Frigi : refrigerator (from frigidaire)
  • Fuki-Fuki : having sex (vulgar)
  • Gallego : bad lover - bad sex
  • Ganso : gay (also: Maricon)
  • Grilla : bad woman, cheap vulgar prostitute,
  • Gringo: foreigner (also: Yuma)(yuma is more used)
  • Guapo : good looking, afraid of nobody.
  • Guagua : autobus (also: Rufa)
  • Guajira : peasant - farmer (female) Guajiro (= male)
  • Guayabera: loose men shirt also named Mexican Wedding shirt
  • intima : sanitary towel
  • Izquierda (translation=left) : por izquierda : through the black market (with the left hand = black market or bolsa negra)
  • Jama: food (jamar: to eat)(Spanish: comer)
  • Jamonero: Cuban slang word for a guy who groped chicas on a crowded camello (camel bus)
  • Jinetera : escort girl, part-time prostitute
  • Jaba : plastic bag (to carry groceries)
  • Joder : fucking (vulgar) No me jodes : don't fuck me up
  • Jodido : fucked up (vulgar)
  • Jeva : woman (Spanish: mujer)
  • Kiosko : little shop
  • Mala Hoja : a bad lover - bad sex
  • Mami : mam (used when addressing a woman) Mamita: (expression used to address a woman with affection)
  • Mangon / Mango : good looking, pretty
  • Maricon : gay, queer (vulgar)
  • Máquina : car (Spanish: coche)
  • Maté : deep kiss, French kiss, (Spanish: beso largo)
  • Monado : police
  • Moni : money
  • Moreno or prieta : black people, (Spanish los negros)
  • Mulatón : a mixture of mulata and black race
  • Ohrishas : the Gods (religious)
  • Paguete : bad lover - bad sex
  • Papi : dad ( used when addressing a man)
  • palestino : stupid, retarded ( used by people from Havana to refer to farmers from Eastern Cuba)
  • Padrino : Santeria priest, counseller
  • Págaro : gay, homosexual
  • Pato : gay
  • Paton : bad dancer
  • Pasta : fiancee (Spanish: novio or novia)
  • Pipo : chap (used when addressing a waiter)
  • Pinga : penis (vulgar expression), shit (also "Fuck off") Esta de Pinga: its shit Pinguero : male prostitute (derived from the word "pinga")
  • Pinchar : to work (Spanish: trabajar)
  • Pulover : T-shirt
  • Queik : cake
  • Quimbar : having sex
  • Rascabuchador : voyeur, Peeping Tom
  • Singao : bad person
  • Sardina : slim woman
  • Singar : having sex
  • Suerte : good luck, happiness
  • Socio : budy , mate
  • Tacos: shoes (women) (also: llanta)
  • Taxi Colectivo : a shared taxi for Cubans only
  • Tenis : sneakers, training shoes, sports shoes
  • Tortillera : lesbian (Spanish lesbiana)
  • yin : (blue) jeans
  • yuma : foreigner
  • Zafra : the sugar cane harvest
  • Cuban Love and Care Expressions

  • Cariño : love, darling, affection, tender
  • Amor : love, sweetheart
  • Linda : Beauty
  • Mi Vida : my love, my everything (translated : my life)
  • Cuidate : take care
  • beso: kiss - besito: little tender kiss
  • Con todo mi Corazón: with all my heart
  • Frequently Used Cuban Expressions

  • Hola : Hello
  • Chao : Goodbye, Bye
  • ¿Que bola? : How are you? (Spanish : ¿Como esta?)
  • No es fácil : It's not easy (translated) Life is hard ( the living is difficult)
  • Disculpe , permiso : Sorry
  • ¿Te gustas? : Do you like it? ( used for a drink or meal)
  • No sé : I don't know
  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? : How much is this?
  • Ser un punto : being stupid, weird
  • Tener un peso suerte : to find an lost or forgotten peso (dollar) in your pocket ( translated: to have a lucky peso or dollar) ¿No tiene un peso suerte? Do you have an accidental peso?
  • Estar a dieta : without sexual contact
  • Bailar con los 5 latinos : masturbation (translated: dancing with the five latinos)
  • Rayar la pintura : unfaithful, cheating (translated: scratching the paint)
  • Quemar petróleo : a white person making love/sex to a black person (translated: burning oil)


    Cuban Spanish Dictionary

    Cuban Slang and Vulgar Cuban Spanish Read more in:
    DICCIONARIO CUBANO DE HABLA POPULAR Y VULGAR
    by Carlos Paz Perez
    ISBN 84-95088-79-7

    Best Way to Learn Cuban Spanish

    Spanish courses given at HAVANA UNIVERSITY are popular and can be combined with salsa courses.

    FREE Spanish Lessons! See how easy and fast you can learn Spanish!

    Learn Spanish Free online Translator



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