Spain Spanish Slang: 25 Words to Sound Like a Local
From vale and guay to tío and mola: the Spanish slang you'll hear in Madrid and across Spain, with meanings and examples for travelers.
By Ayoub Farid · · 2 min read
Heading to Madrid, Barcelona or Sevilla? Spain has its own everyday slang, different from Latin America. Here are the words you'll hear constantly.
The essentials
| Slang | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Vale | okay | Vale, nos vemos a las ocho. |
| Guay | cool | ¡Qué guay! |
| Mola | it's cool / I like it | Esta canción mola mucho. |
| Tío / tía | dude, guy / girl | Tío, ¿qué haces? |
| Majo / maja | nice, friendly | Tu hermana es muy maja. |
| Guiri | foreign tourist | Está lleno de guiris. |
| Currar / curro | to work / job | Mañana curro. |
| Pasta | money | No tengo pasta. |
| Flipar | to be amazed | ¡Flipo! |
| Caña | small draft beer | Una caña, por favor. |
| Quedar | to meet up | ¿Quedamos mañana? |
| Molar | to like (be cool) | Me mola tu chaqueta. |
| Chulo | cool, pretty | Qué piso más chulo. |
| Cutre | shabby, cheap | El hotel era un poco cutre. |
| Tapear | go out for tapas | ¿Vamos a tapear? |
| Finde | weekend | ¿Qué haces el finde? |
| En plan | like… | Era, en plan, enorme. |
| Venga | come on / okay / bye | ¡Venga, hasta luego! |
| Ostras | wow (mild) | ¡Ostras, qué tarde es! |
| Hostia | wow (stronger, vulgar) | Friends only |
| Mogollón | a lot | Había mogollón de gente. |
| Pijo | posh | Es un barrio pijo. |
| Liarla | to mess up | ¡La he liado! |
| Estar hecho polvo | to be exhausted | Estoy hecho polvo. |
| Ir de cañas | go for drinks | ¿Vamos de cañas? |
Grammar differences you'll notice
- Vosotros: Spain uses vosotros for "you all" with friends: ¿Qué queréis? Latin America uses ustedes.
- Present perfect for today: "Hoy he comido paella" instead of "Hoy comí paella".
- "Coger": perfectly normal in Spain (coger el metro, to take the metro) but vulgar in much of Latin America. In Mexico say tomar el metro.
Useful in Madrid
- ¿Dónde está la parada de metro? — Where's the metro stop?
- Una caña y una de bravas. — A small beer and a portion of patatas bravas.
- ¿Me pones un café con leche? — Can I have a coffee with milk? (poner is typical in Spain)
See Madrid travel Spanish and asking for directions.
Mini dialogue
- A: Tío, ¿quedamos el finde?
- B: Vale. ¿Vamos de tapas por La Latina?
- A: ¡Qué guay! Venga, el sábado a las nueve.
Practice
Lolo's directions call is set in Madrid, so you can practice asking for the metro like a local and get natural phrasing tips afterwards. See also Mexican Spanish slang.
Frequently asked questions
What does "vale" mean in Spain?
"Okay". It's one of the most common words in Spanish from Spain.
Is "tío" rude?
No, it's like "dude" or "mate" among friends.
Why shouldn't I say "coger" in Mexico?
In much of Latin America it's a vulgar word. Use tomar or agarrar instead.
