Spanish Slang in Venezuela

Slang in Venezuela

                Venezuela is a very rich country in terms of colloquial words or expressions that are typical of the country, used very frequently, even in social and cultural circles. The origin of this quantity of terms is very varied, some of them come from the "Venezuelanization" of terms in foreign languages, or were adopted from expressions used for a long time in the countryside or in certain regions of the nation as well as others are the product of the language used by the youth sector.

                Perhaps the word that most identifies us as Venezuelan and causes the most impact on visitors is "chévere", which is used to designate the quality of good, or great, or really wonderful, of something; it is used indistinctly for people, objects or circumstances:

• Ella es muy chévere. She is very extraordinary 
• La fiesta fue muy chévere. The party was wonderful
• Él toca la flauta bien chévere. He plays the flute awesomely. 

 

Many phrases are associated with animals, such as:

• "Hacer una vaca". Make a cow. Gather between several to buy something.
• "Echar los perros". Throwing out the dogs. Wooing someone.
• "Chivo grande". Big goat. A person with great power in some organization.
• "Bajarse de la mula". Get off the mule. Take out money to pay for some stuff.
• "Mapanare". Snake. Bad-tempered girlfriend or wife.
• "Sapo". Frog. A person who accuses or does not keep a secret.
• "Estar mosca". Fly. Be aware, be vigilant.
• "Pollo". Chicken. Phlegm from a cold.
• "Zamuro". Funeral home worker.
• "Cerdo". Pig. Unwashed person.
• "Ratón". Mouse. Hangover the day after drinking.
• "Caimanera". Informal sporting event.
• "Bachaco". Ant. Red-haired person.
• "Echar un camarón". Take a shrimp. Take a nap.
• "Rata". Rat. Evil person.
• "Pato". Duck. Man with effeminate gestures.

         
     

                There is also a wide variety of words or phrases to refer to people's moods and personal characteristics or conditions, among them:

• "Achantado". Flattened. A person who is discouraged, left alone.
• "Agarrado". Grabbed. Cheap.
• "Arrocero". Rice paddy. A person who attends some act or event without being invited.
• "Cabeza de rodilla". Head of a knee. Person with severe baldness.
• "Cobero". Cobbler. Liar.
• "Chichón de piso". Floor bump. Short person, short stature
• "Enguayabao". Disturbed by some circumstance of a sentimental nature.
• "Empate". Tie. Bride, partner
• "Fú". Nasty. It is used to point out something unpleasant, for example "tu si eres fú" meaning "you are nasty".
• "Kiluo". Applies to people with developed muscles, also used word "papeao".
• "Ladillado". Crabby. Boring, discouraged, annoyed.
• "Lechuo". Milky. People who are very lucky.
• "Mamando". Blowing. Minimal financial possibilities, being penniless, e.g. "estoy mamando" is translated to "I am broke".
• "Rueda libre". Freewheel. A person with no underwear, nothing underneath the social clothes.
• "Mango bajito". Short handle. Easy, anyone can grab it.
• "Jeva". Girlfriend.
• "Rajar caña". Slash cane. Intake of alcohol in exaggerated quantities.

 

                As you can see this group is quite numerous and only the most used are named. These abound as they form a fundamental part of communication by describing people with their characteristics and ways of manifesting themselves.

                The Venezuelan language is very rich in terms of the slang it uses, as well as very fluent. Here are some other frequently used terms:

• "Bala fría". Cold bullet. Small food, to calm hunger briefly.
• "Bochinche". Disorder, relaxation.
• "Guachafita". Joking environment, not serious.
• "Pacheco" . Cold, low temperatures.
• "Echarle bolas". Roll up, start something with good disposition.
• "Rumba". Celebration, party.
• "Segunda". Second. Request, please, for example "hazme la segunda" means "do me a favor".
• "Palo". Stick. Portion of alcoholic beverage, for example "dame un palo de ron" is translated as "give me a bit of rum".
• "Fría". Cold. Beer.

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