Sun-dried salted meat, an ancient preservation method from the Andes that predates refrigeration. It's chewy, intensely flavorful, and the origin of the English word 'jerky.'

Fear of missing out on something fun that others are doing, that modern social anxiety that makes you check Instagram every five minutes to see what everyone's up to without you. It hits hardest when you chose to stay home.

Mental deterioration from consuming too much garbage internet content, absurd memes, and pointless videos. A Gen Z anglicism for the brain damage caused by TikTok.

No problem, no complications, everything's chill and drama-free. Saying 'cero drama' is the modern way of communicating that something doesn't bother you, doesn't worry you, and isn't worth stressing over.

An embarrassing mistake or public blunder that leaves you looking ridiculous in front of everyone. In Chile, mandarse un condoro is committing such a big fail that everyone sees it, talks about it, and won't let you forget.

Imaginary social prestige points you gain or lose based on your actions and decisions. It's the karma system invented by Gen Z where everything you do adds or subtracts from your social reputation.

Drunk, under the influence of alcohol. A softer way to say it than "borracho," but the effect is the same: someone who has had too much and it shows. Common in Peru, Colombia, and Chile.

A hardcore party person who treats every day like it could be a celebration and needs no excuse to get the music going. Across Argentina, Spain, Colombia, and beyond, the fiestero is the social engine, the one who organizes the plans, fills the dancefloor, and stays until the lights come on.

A person who obsessively spies on someone else through social media or real life, checking every photo, story, and interaction. Everyone has done it but nobody admits to being one.

Someone passionate about video games who dedicates serious time to playing, whether casually or competitively. An English loanword fully integrated into young Spanish speakers' vocabulary.

An ability or effect in video games that paralyzes the enemy for a few seconds, leaving them unable to move or attack. Landing a stun at the right moment can completely turn the tide of battle.

A sweatshirt or hoodie in Argentina, the most comfortable garment in the universe and the uniform for lazy days, Netflix binges, and everything in between.

A cheater, someone who consistently bends or breaks the rules without any guilt. Whether it's a card game, an exam, or a relationship, the "tramposo" always looks for shortcuts even at someone else's expense. It implies a pattern, not just a one-time slip.

To throw shade or talk trash about someone indirectly on social media without naming them. When someone posts a status or tweet clearly aimed at a specific person but without tagging them.

To post a message on Twitter (now X), sharing your thoughts with the internet in 280 characters. It became an official Spanish verb because the RAE couldn't ignore that millions use it daily.

The habit of overanalyzing everything until you mentally block yourself and cannot move forward. The torturous loop of going over the same situation from every angle without reaching a useful conclusion, usually activating right when you are trying to fall asleep. Widely used across Latin America and Spain as a borrowed English term.

Extremely messy, dirty, or in complete chaos. In Chile a place that's un pajar has no possible order. Also used for someone whose head is full of confusion and can't think straight.

Someone who is always on the move, constantly wandering from place to place and unable to stay still. Used across most of the Spanish-speaking world, the andariego knows every corner of the neighborhood and is rarely found sitting at home.

To understand or get something in Chile and Peru, to catch on to a situation or grasp the meaning. If you cachái something, you totally get it, and if you don't cachar anything, you're completely lost.

A neighborhood or district in a city with its own identity, culture, personality, and reputation. Your barrio is where you grew up, where people know your name, and where you always feel at home.

A moment ago, just a little while back, it just happened, used in Chile, Peru, and Bolivia. Denantes is the colloquial Andean way of saying 'a while ago' that sounds old-fashioned but is still used every day.

Completely off the deep end, unpredictable, and beyond all hope of normal behavior. Someone "rematado" has no brakes, no filter, and always does the thing that leaves everyone speechless. The word implies this person is fully beyond repair: they have been auctioned off to chaos.

A small informal gig or side hustle you pick up to earn extra cash in Chile. It is what you look for when the month is tight and you need money without committing to a full job. Think odd jobs, freelance tasks, or anything that pays quickly.

Keeping someone as a romantic backup option without committing but without letting them go either. Like having a player on the bench: they don't play but you don't release them just in case you need them.

A roundabout: a circular intersection where cars drive around a central island to change direction. In Argentina, Chile, Spain, Peru, and Uruguay it is the standard word for this layout. The eternal source of confusion about who actually has the right of way.

The alpha male of memes, confident, successful, and doing whatever he wants without caring about anyone's opinion. He's the opposite of the virgin in internet culture.

Chile's most versatile word, functioning as a filler, an insult, or a term of endearment depending entirely on tone. Between friends it is a warm greeting; said in anger it is a genuine insult. Works much like "boludo" in Argentina or "güey" in Mexico, the context does all the heavy lifting.

To behave toxically in an online game: insulting, blaming everyone but yourself, typing in caps, and ruining the experience for your own team. The toxic player in the lobby that nobody wants.

To collect payment for a service or product, or the act of having someone bring you the bill. In Mexico, the waiter cobras you at the end of the meal, and if you say 'me cobra por favor,' it's clear you want to pay and leave. It's the polite verbal cue to wrap things up.

A feint or fake move made to deceive an opponent. A well-executed amague leaves the rival off-balance, reacting to something that never actually happened. Used in soccer and sports generally, but also in everyday speech for any deceptive gesture or false signal.