SPANISH SLANG ECUADOR
Clearly, one of the most enjoying aspects of studying Spanish is learning local slang or regionalisms. Ecuador is no exception and there are literally thousands of words which could be described as slang or modismos. However, these words take experience and caution as to when or not to use them. Vocabulary among Ecuadorians often signals as to what social class an individual is from. Just as in English words often identify your upbringing and education. And, as always there is a time and place for certain vocabulary. We hope you enjoy these words in your quest to better understand Spanish and Ecuadorians in particular. The words are listed alphabetically with the most common mainstream Spanish equivalent Also, if you are learning Spanish you may enjoy joining Spanish Word of the Day.com , a free daily vocabulary builder.
A la johnny—Going to the United States
A precio de huevo—Cheap price (literally price of an egg)
Abreboca—Appetizer
Abrir cancha—Move out the way
Achumarse—To get drunk (Costa)
Acolitar – To help, stand by someone
Afrecho—Crybaby (Cuenca)
Agringado—Refers to a local trying to act like someone from the United States
Aguaje – high tide
Aguatero—Water seller
Aguinaldo—Christmas gifts from employers
Alhaja – Nice party
Allulla – A corn flour bread which is typical of Latacunga
Aló—Hello when answering the phone
Ancheta—Good price
Ardilla—Poorly behaved child (literally means squirrel)
Arenilla—Small mosquito in the jungle
Atatay—Horrible! (Sierra)
Ayayay—Hurt, sore (Sierra)
Bacan—It’s ok
Bachacha—Jail
Balde – Back of a pickup truck
Bambu—Cigarette from the United States
Biela—Beer
Boche—Fight
Botadero—City dump
Buena facha—Good dresser (Cuenca)
Buseta—Small bus that travels between the provinces
Cabeza de huevo—Bald man (literally means egghead)
Cacharrero—Seller of contraband along the borders with Peru and Colombia
Cachero or Maricón—Homosexual
Cachos—Jokes
Caído del petate—Fool
Caimán—Lazy person
Cajonera—Street salesperson (these operate off the sidewalks, especially in Quito)
Caleta—House
Calzonazo—Lazy man
Calzonudo—Fool (Costa)
Camarón—Inexperienced person (literally “shrimp”)
Cana—Jail
Capillo—Loose coins (usually thrown by the bridegroom to children when leaving the church after the ceremony)
Cari—Macho (Cuenca)
Cháchara—Jokes
Chacra—Small garden plot outside the home
Chancho en bandeja—Fat (literally “pig in a tray”)
Chanchullo—Bribe, usually between an individual and a public official
Chancleta—Baby (literally “sandal”)
Chapa – Disrespectful term for a police officer
Chapudo—Cheeks/red face
Chevere—Good
Chimbo—Bounced check. Also refers to witchcraft. (Esmeraldas)
China—Maid
Chinear—To assault
Chiro—Broke
Chirona—Jail
Chiva – Old bus with no doors or windows used in places with hot weather
Chocha—To be fond of someone or something new
Chompa—Jacket
Choro - Thief
Choza—Hut (Sierra)
Chuamarse—To get drunk (Sierra)
Chuchos—Breasts
Chupón—Baby pacifier
Chuta – exclamation of surprise
Conchudo—A person with no scruples
Cromo—Referring to a person’s face
Cucaracha—Old car (literally “bug”)
Cuentero – A person who tells stories or lies.
Cucayo—Lunch
Dar para la cola—Bribe (literally refers to providing someone a payment to purchase a Coca-Cola)
Dele no mas – Go ahead
Domingo chiquita—Drunk or Monday morning hangover (literally refers to someone who continues drinking on Monday.)
Entrar de gancho—Two people admitted on one ticket
Estar con la leona—Hungry
Estar con la luna—Crazy (literally “with the moon”)
Estar frito—Bad situation (literally “fried”)
Estar limpio—Broke (literally “to be clean”)
Fachosa—Badly dressed (Costa)
Farra—Party
Foco—Embarrassed
Gallada—Gang (literally refers to group of young people out having fun and raising a ruckus)
Gato – Blue or green eyed person
Hacer cola—Standing in line
Hacer dedo—Hitchhiking
Huasipungo—House (Sierra)
Jamar—Eat
Jeva—Girlfriend
La familia pavoni—Trying to get something for nothing, broke (literally “turkey family”)
La llapa—Baker’s dozen (Sierra)
Ladrar—Drunk (Literally “to bark” in Spanish)
Liga—To befriend
Mama cuchara – Dead end street
Mantel largel—Banquet in the house
Mario—Husband (Costa)
Matute—Contraband
Melindrosa—Picky eater
Michelin—Fat
Morder – To understand
Motoso—Curly hair
Mucha—Kiss (Sierra)
ñaño—Brother or good friend
No sea mailto – Expression used when a favor is needed
Norro – A disrespectful term for someone from the Sierra or Quito
Nuevón—New employee
Papear—Eat
Palo grueso—Influential person with a lot of power
Pana—Friend
Pega—Work
Pelado (a) Boyfriend, girlfriend
Pelar el ojo—Alert, awake
Petate—Bed or straw mat used in the Costa
Picado – A person that wants revenge
Pichón—Loan (Cuenca)
Pinganillo—Elegant
Pipón—Lazy person (literally a person who receives his pay every fifteen days but doesn’t do any work)
Pite – A little bit
Plana calles—Lazy person who levels the streets with his feet
Pleno—It’s ok
Pluto—Drunk
Prenda el foco—Think (literally “let me turn the lightbulb on”)
Ruquear—Sleep
Sambo—Person with curly hair
Sapo – A person who is corrupt or that takes advantage of a situation at the detriment to others.
Ser del otro equipo—Homosexual
Simón – Yes
Sobrado – Arrogant, proud
Soplar—To make love (literal Spanish meaning “to blow in the wind”)
Sumercé—Your mercy (usually used in the Sierra between a person of indigenous origin and a white person or one of a higher social status)
Shunsho—Fool (Quichua)
Tiempo Alemán – to be ontime – referring to German time which is seen as being exact
Traguear—Drinking aguardiente
Trinche—Fork (Cuenca)
Turro—Broken, ugly, or of bad quality
X—Wife or husband (used “La X” or “El X”)
Zorro—Homosexual or female prostitute
Related Pages
Top Ten Places to Visit Quito Ecuador
Top Ten Places to Visit Guayaquil Ecuador