Welcome

Life in Havana

About Havana

Life in Cuba

About Cuba

Cuba Culture Learn Spanish

Cuba Info

Havana Updates

Learn Spanish in Havana

Learn Spanish in Cuba - Cuba Language

Learn 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 States.

POPULAR CUBAN EXPRESSIONS
CUBAN SLANG

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

Also frequently used:

Acere : friend, mate ( qué bola acere = 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)

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

Entufado : drunken (also borracho)

Fardo : pants, trousers

Filtro : smart person

Fosforera : lighter (Spanish: encendedor)

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)

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)

Kiosko : little shop

Mala Hoja : a bad lover - bad sex

Mami : mam (used when addressing a woman)

Mangon : good looking

Maricon : gay, queer (vulgar)

Monado : police

Moni : money

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

Paton : bad dancer

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

Sardina : slim woman

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

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?

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 SPANISH

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

Learn Spanish Free online Translator

Not found what you're looking for?
Search for more detailed info in HAVANA-GUIDE

Custom Search

Return Havana-Guide home