Chilean Slang Guide: 100 Essential Terms for Authentic Local Flavor

Chile is known for its stunning landscapes, world-class wine, and passionate football fans. But if you step into the streets of Santiago, Valparaíso, or Concepción, you’ll find that Chilean Spanish has a flavor all its own. With its rapid speech, dropped consonants, and a slang vocabulary you won’t find in the average textbook, Chilean Spanish can feel like learning a whole new language. Fear not! This guide will introduce you to 100 essential Chilean slang terms—the key to sounding in the know and unraveling local banter like a pro.

Why Learn Chilean Slang?

Chilean Spanish is reputed to be among the fastest, with unique vocab that even other Spanish speakers find challenging. Slang words—often called “chilenismos”—give everyday conversations a playful and unpredictable twist. Here’s why learning Chilean slang is worth the effort:

• Blend In Quickly: Using terms like “bacán” or “weón” in the right context shows you’re in tune with the local speech.
• Enjoy Local Media: Many Chilean TV shows, movies, and YouTube channels bristle with slang. Recognize these expressions to catch the jokes and references you’d otherwise miss.
• Cultural Insight: Slang words reflect local humor, attitudes, and history—like “pololear” for dating or “cachar” for “to get it.”
• Fun & Memorable: Slang is interactive, energetic, and fosters immediate closeness with Chilean friends, colleagues, or even that friendly stall owner at the market.

Fun Fact: A 2021 local language survey found that over 60% of Chileans use slang daily when chatting with friends and family—especially online and via text.

Quick Tips for Mastering Chilean Slang

1. Mind the Context: Some words (like weón) can be endearing among friends but offensive if used incorrectly or with strangers.
2. Embrace the Accent: Chileans often drop the final “s” or speed through words, so listen carefully and mimic the flow.
3. Sprinkle, Don’t Dump: Toss in a few slang words at first. Overusing them might sound forced or comical.
4. Practice with Locals: The best teacher is real conversation. Chat with Chilean friends, watch local shows, or dive into social media to see how these words are actually used.

Greetings & Everyday Expressions (1–10)

1. ¿Cachái?
   • Meaning: “Do you get it?” / “You know?” from cachar = “to understand.”
   • Usage: “Este lugar es muy bacán, ¿cachái?” (“This place is really cool, you know?”)
2. Bacán
   • Meaning: “Awesome,” “cool,” an all-purpose compliment.
   • Usage: “Tu polera está bacán.” (“Your T-shirt is awesome.”)
3. Buena onda
   • Meaning: “Good vibe,” referencing someone or something positive.
   • Usage: “Ella es buena onda, siempre te hace reír.” (“She’s got a good vibe, always makes you laugh.”)
4. ¿Cómo estai?
   • Meaning: “How are you?” Chilean form of ¿Cómo estás? dropping the ‘s.’
   • Usage: “¿Cómo estai, weón? Todo bien?” (“How are you, man? All good?”)
5. Al tiro
   • Meaning: “Right away,” “immediately.”
   • Usage: “Voy al tiro a comprar pan.” (“I’m going right now to buy bread.”)
6. Sipo / Nopo
   • Meaning: “Yes” or “No,” adding “po” for emphasis.
   • Usage: “Sipo, voy contigo.” (“Yes, of course I’ll go with you.”)
7. ¿Qué talca?
   • Meaning: Playful “What’s up?” referencing the city of Talca—Chilean pun.
   • Usage: “Eh, ¿qué talca, compadre?”
8. ¡Fome!
   • Meaning: “Boring,” “dull.”
   • Usage: “Esa película estuvo fome, casi me duermo.”
9. ¡La raja!
   • Meaning: “Awesome!” or “Great!” literally “the crack,” but used super positively.
   • Usage: “Ese concierto fue la raja.”
10. Buena
    • Meaning: “Cool,” “nice,” or just an exclamation like “Good one!”
    • Usage: “Buena, hiciste un golazo, weón.” (“Nice, you scored an amazing goal, man.”)

People & Friendship (11–20)

11. Cabros
    • Meaning: “Guys,” “kids,” referencing a group of friends or younger people.
    • Usage: “Vamos, cabros, la fiesta empieza a las 10.”
12. Loco / Loca
    • Meaning: “Dude / girl,” literally “crazy,” but used endearingly.
    • Usage: “Oye, loco, ¿salgamos esta noche?” (“Hey man, shall we go out tonight?”)
13. Gallo / Galla
    • Meaning: “Guy / gal,” literally “rooster / hen.”
    • Usage: “Esa galla es simpática, ¿la conoces?”
14. Socio / Socia
    • Meaning: “Buddy,” “partner,” from the concept of a business partner.
    • Usage: “Buen día, socio, ¿qué me cuentas?”
15. Compadre / Comadre
    • Meaning: “Close friend,” “buddy,” from godfather/godmother context, but casual.
    • Usage: “Compadre, te invito a mi casa este fin de semana, ¿vale?”
16. Min@
    • Meaning: “Attractive woman/man,” from mina.
    • Usage: “Viste la min@ en la esquina, está de infarto.” (“See that attractive girl on the corner, she’s stunning.”)
17. Weón / Weona
    • Meaning: “Dude,” “bro,” “buddy,” or “idiot,” depending on tone and context.
    • Usage: “Weón, no lo puedo creer, ganamos el partido.” (“Dude, I can’t believe it, we won the match.”)
18. Pendejo
    • Meaning: “Kid,” “immature person,” or “little troublemaker.” Use with caution— can be strong depending on region.
    • Usage: “Ese pendejo es insoportable, no para de molestar.”
19. Cabra
    • Meaning: “Girl,” from “goat,” but used as slang for “chick.”
    • Usage: “La cabra nueva en la oficina es súper agradable.”
20. Pana
    • Meaning: “Friend,” borrowed from Venezuelan usage but known in Chile.
    • Usage: “El pana me ayudó con la mudanza.”

Expressing Emotions & Reactions (21–30)

21. ¡Qué lata!

• Meaning: “What a drag,” “How annoying.”
• Usage: “¡Qué lata no poder ir a la playa hoy por la lluvia.”

22. ¡Ojo!

• Meaning: “Watch out!” or “Heads up!”
• Usage: “Ojo con el perro, muerde.”

23. Pucha

• Meaning: “Aw, dang,” “Darn,” expressing mild disappointment.
• Usage: “Pucha, se acabó la comida, me quedé con hambre.”

24. Fiado

• Meaning: “On credit,” used if you pay later, but can also mean you’re relying on trust.
• Usage: “¿Puedo llevar fiado hasta mañana?”

25. Estar chato

• Meaning: “Fed up,” “done with something,” literally “flat or full.”
• Usage: “Estoy chato de tanto tráfico en la ciudad.”

26. Qué paja

• Meaning: “What a hassle,” “How boring/tiring.”
• Usage: “Ay, qué paja lavar los platos ahora.”

27. La dura

• Meaning: “Seriously?” or “The truth,” from “la verdad.”
• Usage: “¿La dura que se casan la próxima semana?”

28. Te pasaste

• Meaning: “You went too far” or “You outdid yourself” (positive or negative).
• Usage: “Che, te pasaste con el regalo, está increíble.” (“Wow, you outdid yourself with that gift, it’s amazing.”)

29. Filete

• Meaning: “Awesome,” “great,” literally “fillet.”
• Usage: “Tu plan está filete—contá conmigo.”

30. Guácala

• Meaning: “Gross,” “ew,” expressing disgust.
• Usage: “Guácala, este jugo sabe raro.”

Food & Dining Slang (31–40)

31. Once

• Meaning: Late afternoon snack or “tea time,” Chilean tradition.
• Usage: “¿Quieres tomar once conmigo, tipo 5 PM?”

32. Picada

• Meaning: “Cheap eatery,” “hidden gem,” or local joint with good prices.
• Usage: “Conozco una picada donde los completos son muy buenos.”

33. Pollo

• Meaning: “Chicken,” but can also mean “inexperienced.”
• Usage: “No seas pollo, vení a probar la comida nueva.”

34. Empanada

• Meaning: Classic pastry with various fillings, also used to say “We should get a quick bite.”
• Usage: “¿Nos compramos unas empanadas para el almuerzo?”

35. Completo

• Meaning: Chilean hot dog loaded with tomatoes, avocado, mayo.
• Usage: “Un completo italiano es mi favorito.”

36. Palta

• Meaning: “Avocado,” widely used in Chile.
• Usage: “Necesito palta para el pan con queso.”

37. Bagallo

• Meaning: “Low-quality food,” or “ugly lady,” be mindful— somewhat offensive.
• Usage: “Ese puesto vende comida medio bagallo, ojo.”

38. Chorrillana

• Meaning: A typical Chilean dish: fries topped with meat, onion, eggs. Also used as slang for “mix of chaos.”
• Usage: “Nos comemos una chorrillana, es gigante y pa compartir.”

39. Bajón

• Meaning: “Late-night munchies,” or “craving after a night out.”
• Usage: “Después de la fiesta, el bajón me pide una pizza.”

40. La picá

• Meaning: “The go-to place,” from picada, referencing best local spot.
• Usage: “La picá para mariscos está en el mercado central, muy buena.”

Internet & Tech Slang (41–50)

41. Aplicación

• Meaning: “App,” used to reference phone applications.
• Usage: “Descarga la aplicación para pedir comida.”

42. Hacer click

• Meaning: “Click,” from English, used for online or personal connections.
• Usage: “Hicimos click de inmediato en la fiesta.”

43. Wea

• Meaning: “Thing,” “stuff,” or “whatever,” extremely common, can be rude if misused.
• Usage: “Pásame esa wea, porfa.” (“Pass me that thing, please.”)

44. Postear

• Meaning: “To post (online),” from English.
• Usage: “Voy a postear las fotos de las vacaciones.”

45. El Face

• Meaning: “Facebook,” from “El Facebook.”
• Usage: “Me enteré por el Face que se comprometieron.”

46. El Insta

• Meaning: “Instagram,” used widely among youth.
• Usage: “Esa historia la vi en el Insta—está piola.”

47. Pégale un inbox

• Meaning: “Send him/her a private message,” from “inbox.”
• Usage: “Si quieres arreglar, pégale un inbox directo.”

48. Spoilear

• Meaning: “To spoil” a show or movie, from English.
• Usage: “No me spoilees el final de la serie.”

49. Tantear

• Meaning: “Check it out,” “test the waters,” used in texting context or exploring a website.
• Usage: “Voy a tantear si la oferta está buena.”

50. Cachar un link

• Meaning: “To get a link,” from “cachar = to get/understand.”
• Usage: “Cachaste el link que te pasé de la fiesta online?”

Love & Dating Slang (51–60)

51. Pololear

• Meaning: “To date,” from “pololo/a” (boyfriend/girlfriend).
• Usage: “Estamos pololeando hace 6 meses.”

52. Pinchar

• Meaning: “To hook up,” short fling or casual dating.
• Usage: “Empezaron pinchando en la fiesta y ahora son pololos.”

53. Romper el hielo

• Meaning: “Break the ice,” from standard Spanish but used in dating contexts.
• Usage: “Para romper el hielo, le conté un chiste.”

54. Tirar los galgos

• Meaning: “To flirt,” literally “throw the greyhounds.”
• Usage: “Ese chico me está tirando los galgos toda la noche.”

55. Estar enganchado

• Meaning: “To be hooked,” “really interested in someone.”
• Usage: “Él está re enganchado con ella.”

56. Ser la media naranja

• Meaning: “To be one’s soulmate,” from “half orange.”
• Usage: “Pienso que ella es mi media naranja.”

57. Gorrear

• Meaning: “To cheat,” be careful with usage— can be strong.
• Usage: “Ella descubrió que él la gorreó. Terrible.”

58. Bailar apretaditos

• Meaning: “Dance close,” referencing romantic or flirty dancing.
• Usage: “En la disco bailamos apretaditos, re buena onda.”

59. Ser un/una jote

• Meaning: “To be a flirt,” from “vulture.”
• Usage: “Ese loco es un jote, coquetea con todas.”

60. Andar en malos pasos

• Meaning: “Going the wrong way,” referencing a shady or complicated relationship.
• Usage: “Creo que anda en malos pasos, engañando a su polola.”

Family & Daily Life (61–70)

61. Cabro chico

• Meaning: “Little boy,” or “kid,” typical phrase.
• Usage: “Hay cabros chicos corriendo por todas partes.”

62. Vieja

• Meaning: “Mom,” or “old lady,” be mindful of context.
• Usage: “Mi vieja hace el mejor pastel de choclo.”

63. Viejo

• Meaning: “Dad,” or “old man,” affectionate among youth.
• Usage: “Le pedí plata a mi viejo para ir al cine.”

64. Colación

• Meaning: “Snack,” used for a small break or treat.
• Usage: “Tengo colación a media mañana, un sándwich pequeño.”

65. Ir a pata

• Meaning: “Walk on foot,” from “pata” meaning “leg.”
• Usage: “No tengo plata pa’ micro, me voy a pata.”

66. Estar en la pasta

• Meaning: “To be clueless,” or “in a daze.”
• Usage: “Hoy estoy en la pasta, ni entiendo el trabajo.”

67. Bicicletear

• Meaning: “Procrastinate,” or “delay payments,” from “riding a bike around.”
• Usage: “Me bicicletea con la deuda hace meses.”

68. Ni loco

• Meaning: “No way,” “Not even crazy would I do that.”
• Usage: “¿Te bañarías en el río helado? Ni loco.”

69. Pasarse de rosca

• Meaning: “Go overboard,” from “thread screwing.”
• Usage: “Se pasó de rosca en la fiesta, bebió demasiado.”

70. Estoy muerto

• Meaning: “I’m dead tired,” extremely exhausted.
• Usage: “Después del trabajo, estoy muerto, necesito dormir.”

Negative Feelings & Frustrations (71–80)

71. Cachudo

• Meaning: “Suspicious” or “jealous,” from “cacho” (horn).
• Usage: “Está cachudo porque vio mensajes raros en el celular.”

72. Bajoneado

• Meaning: “Feeling down,” from “bajón.”
• Usage: “Anda bajoneado porque su equipo perdió.”

73. Mañoso

• Meaning: “Picky,” “fussy,” or “whiny.”
• Usage: “Mi hermano es mañoso con la comida, nada le gusta.”

74. Sape

• Meaning: “Tattle” or “snitch,” from “sapear.”
• Usage: “No seas sape, no cuentes mis secretos.”

75. Rayarse

• Meaning: “To go crazy,” or “freak out.”
• Usage: “Se rayó cuando oyó la noticia, gritó y todo.”

76. Colgado

• Meaning: “Left hanging,” “distracted,” or “daydreaming.”
• Usage: “Estoy colgado, no entendí nada de la reunión.”

77. Papaya

• Meaning: “Too easy,” referencing an easy opportunity but can mean “open to scam.”
• Usage: “No le dejes tu billetera así, es papaya para ladrones.”

78. Sapo

• Meaning: “Nosy person,” “busybody,” literally “frog.”
• Usage: “No seas sapo, deja de leer mis mensajes.”

79. Mufado

• Meaning: “Jinxed,” or “bad luck.”
• Usage: “Cada vez que voy a un partido, mi equipo pierde—estoy mufado.”

80. Sin onda

• Meaning: “Without vibe,” “not cool,” “no connection.”
• Usage: “Ese grupo está sin onda, me aburro ahí.”

Pop Culture & Trends (81–90)

81. Pega

• Meaning: “Job,” or “gig,” referencing a temporary or casual job.
• Usage: “Encontré una pega de fin de semana en un bar.”

82. Farra

• Meaning: “Party,” “night out,” from older Spanish usage.
• Usage: “Este viernes, hay farra en la casa de mi amigo.”

83. Volado

• Meaning: “High,” or “spaced out,” typically referencing weed.
• Usage: “Está volado, no le pidas que conduzca.”

84. El copete

• Meaning: “Alcoholic drink,” from “drink.”
• Usage: “¿Trajiste el copete para la fiesta?”

85. Dale color

• Meaning: “Exaggerate,” “overreact,” literally “add color.”
• Usage: “No le des color, no fue tan grave.”

86. Pintoso

• Meaning: “Handsome,” from “pinta” meaning “appearance.”
• Usage: “Ese actor es muy pintoso, ¿cierto?”

87. Sikitra

• Meaning: Another form of “cicatriz,” used ironically for “scar” or “scratch.” (less mainstream, certain circles)
• Usage: “Te hiciste un sikitra en la pierna jugando fútbol.”

88. Ficarse

• Meaning: “To freak out,” from “to be impacted,” a borrowed usage from “freak out.”
• Usage: “No te fiques, es solo un examen.”

89. Flaite

• Meaning: “Sketchy,” or referring to lower-class style in a derogatory sense. Use with caution— might be offensive.
• Usage: “Ese barrio es medio flaite de noche, ojo.”

90. Buena onda / Mala onda

• Meaning: “Good vibe / Bad vibe,” used to describe people or situations.
• Usage: “Ella es buena onda, pero su hermano es pura mala onda.”

Additional 10 Slang Gems (91–100)

91. Cachondo
    • Meaning: “Horny,” from Spanish usage, but in Chile can also mean “funny.”
    • Usage: “Él está cachondo, ten cuidado con sus bromas.”
92. Pájaro
    • Meaning: “Bird,” but used to call someone “a real character.”
    • Usage: “Ese loco es un pájaro, siempre con ideas raras.”
93. Huevón
    • Meaning: Variation of weón, strong expletive or casual “buddy.”
    • Usage: “Huevón, ¿por qué llegaste tan tarde?” (“Dude, why are you so late?”)
94. Zancudo
    • Meaning: “Mosquito,” but also used for a pesky person.
    • Usage: “Deja de ser zancudo, suéltame un rato.”
95. Barney
    • Meaning: “Clumsy or oblivious person,” from the purple dinosaur comedic reference. (Less mainstream)
    • Usage: “Es un Barney, se le caen las cosas de la mano.”
96. Caer la teja
    • Meaning: “To realize something,” “the penny dropped.”
    • Usage: “Me cayó la teja tarde, pero entendí tu chiste.”
97. Andar pato
    • Meaning: “To be broke,” from the idea of having no money to waddle.
    • Usage: “Ando pato, no puedo ir al concierto.”
98. Pegar la cachada
    • Meaning: “Figure it out,” from “cachar.”
    • Usage: “Ya pegué la cachada de por qué él se fue enojado.”
99. Agarrar papa
    • Meaning: “Get too excited about something” or “obsessed.”
    • Usage: “Agarró papa con ese juego, no para de jugar.”
100. La lleva

• Meaning: “It’s the best,” “the coolest thing,” from “carry it.”
• Usage: “Ese lugar la lleva para ver el atardecer.”

Conclusion: Ready to Conquer Chilean Streets?

¡Listo! With 100 essential Lunfardo and Chilean slang terms under your belt, you’re primed to navigate the bustling markets of Santiago, banter with new friends at a local bar, or simply chuckle at your favorite Chilean Youtuber’s jokes. Mastering these expressions not only broadens your Spanish skill set but helps you soak up the warm, expressive, and playful spirit that Chileans are known for.

Final Tips:

• Check Your Setting: Some words (like weón) can be affectionate with friends but rude with strangers.
• Listen & Observe: Chat with locals, watch Chilean shows, or listen to reggaetón / cumbia chilena to pick up real-time usage.
• Relax & Have Fun: Slang is about connecting, so speak up, smile, and let mistakes become part of the journey.

Call to Action

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Now go out and say: “¿Cachái, weón? Vamos al tiro por unas empanadas, ¡qué bacán!” Trust us—Chilean Spanish is waiting for your unique twist. ¡Suerte!

See Also: Argentinian Slang Guide: 100 Essential Terms to Embrace Lunfardo