Cuban Words

You are Here
› Cuban slang

"Want to learn "Cuban Spanish"?
This page will teach you the REAL words
used on the island"

I suggest that you carry a pocket dictionary or electronic translator 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.

CUBAN LANGUAGE

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

Frequently used words:

  • Asere : friend, mate ( qué bola asere = how are you mate)
  • Ajustador : bra
  • Babaloa : Santeria priest
  • Baro : money
  • Bemba : lips - Radio Bemba : Gossip, Grapevine
  • 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
  • Bruja : without money, broke, I have no money
  • Bisnero : business man ( hustler)
  • Campesino : farmer
  • Camello : camel bus
  • Cardosa : sopa (Spanish) soup
  • Carro : car
  • Carnet (de identidad) Cuban identity card
  • Chancletas : flip-flops
  • Chebi : taxi ( official state taxi)
  • Chica : girl
  • 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)
  • Dale : go for it, it's OK - also used Vale : it's OK
  • 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, carro)
  • 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: it's shit Pinguero : male prostitute (derived from the word "pinga")
  • Pinchar : to work (Spanish: trabajar)
  • Playero : beach shirt (similar to guayabera but more colorful)
  • 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
  • Temba : a person over 40 (he/she is over the hill)
  • Tortillera : lesbian (Spanish lesbiana)
  • yin : (blue) jeans
  • yuma : foreigner
  • Zafra : the sugar cane harvest

    • CUBAN PHRASES

    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 Expressions

  • Hola : Hello
  • Chao : Goodbye, Bye
  • ¿Que bola? : How are you? (Spanish : ¿Como esta?)also ¿Que vola?
  • 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)
  • Estas comiendo mierda : You're eating shit
  • Ese huevo quiere sal : this egg wants salt (expression for wants sex)

    • Related Pages:

    University of Havana
    Work in Cuba
    read more
    Life in the city




    Custom Search

    Click on the image to open
    Hotels Discover the famous historical hotels in the city
    Restaurants Insider guide to the best restaurants in town
    City Tour Description of the tours in Central and Old Havana


    To home

    Return to top




    Havana-Guide.com copyright © 2005-2013.
    All Rights Reserved.