Slices of green plantain smashed flat and fried twice until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Tostones are a mandatory side dish in the Caribbean, no meal is complete without them.

A deeply affectionate Caribbean endearment for a dark-skinned woman you love. In Cuba and the Dominican Republic, "prieta del alma" combines "prieta" (dark-complexioned, from old Spanish) with "del alma" (of the soul) into a tender, intimate term that celebrates her beauty and her place in your heart. The kind of name a grandmother gives a granddaughter with all the love in the world.

Natural charisma, rhythm, and contagious energy that someone just has. In the Caribbean and Venezuela, when someone has salsa it means they move through life with style, flair, and a magnetic pull that cannot be taught.

A hard hit or heavy blow, physical or figurative, that leaves serious consequences. In the Caribbean it often means a devastating strike to someone's business, reputation, or project: the kind of move that leaves lasting damage. Can also literally mean a hard fall or collision.

A festive atmosphere, a party, or a celebratory commotion. When there is bulla, people are gathered, music is playing, and the energy is at its highest. Common across Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Venezuela.

Someone who performs or exaggerates a street or hood identity, adopting the fashion, slang, and attitude of urban marginal culture as part of their persona. Often applied to people who grew up comfortable but present themselves as tough or from the streets.

The legendary smack delivered with a flip-flop, the iconic Latin American parenting tool and universal symbol of maternal discipline. The chancletazo transcends borders and generations.

To push forward, to keep going no matter what. A core Caribbean attitude in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Cuba: when things get hard you do not stop, you just echar pa lante. It captures the resilience and refusal to quit that defines the culture.

To find creative ways to solve problems or make money with the limited resources you have at hand. It's the essence of Cuban creativity born from necessity, where scarcity becomes pure ingenuity.

A public bus in Puerto Rico and Cuba, the main form of urban transport in those countries. You catch the guagua at a stop, it follows a fixed route, and it fills up fast during rush hour. The word's origin is debated, with possible roots in African languages or Quechua "wawa," though the Caribbean use for buses developed its own separate meaning.

Fresh or slightly fermented sugarcane juice, typical of tropical regions in Venezuela, Cuba, and Colombia. It's a refreshing, sweet natural drink that tastes like pure Caribbean sunshine.

A foreigner, especially an American, or the United States as a country in Cuban slang. It comes from a classic movie title and became the universal Cuban term for anything related to the US.

A close friend or trusted companion used in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba. Calling someone your "pana" means they are real inner-circle people who have your back no questions asked. Not just any friend, a pana is one of your people.

To have sex. In most of Latin America "coger" is the most direct colloquial verb for the sexual act. Important cultural note: in Spain "coger" is completely innocent and just means "to grab or take," so mixing up registers between regions causes more than a few awkward moments.

A party or all-night celebration with music, dancing, and drinks that has no set end time. Not just any gathering: a parranda is the kind of celebration where nobody checks the clock until the sun comes up. Deeply rooted in Caribbean and Latin American culture, especially in Venezuela, Colombia, and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean.

In Cuba, someone who is always impeccably dressed and puts serious effort into their appearance at all times. A pitri mitri would never step outside looking anything less than polished, even for a quick errand. Think of it as the Cuban version of "dapper" or "always put together."

In Cuba and Venezuela, a sudden fainting spell or dizzy episode, the feeling that you're about to collapse. That moment of physical weakness that precedes actually passing out.

To spread a rumor, pass gossip along from person to person until it takes on a life of its own. In the Caribbean and Central America correr la bola is the original viral information loop.

Someone visibly pouting or making an angry face, showing their displeasure through expression without saying a word. Used across Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Caribbean when someone sulks with a pouty face after not getting what they wanted.

Someone with naturally prominent or thick lips. Used as a physical description across Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Caribbean, sometimes as gentle teasing but often just neutrally descriptive.

Something hilarious, super fun, or a situation where you have an amazing time laughing nonstop. In Mexico, Cuba, and Puerto Rico, vacilón is pure fun, all laughs and good vibes.

Cool, awesome, something positive that you enjoy and makes you feel good. It's perhaps the most widely exported word from Caribbean and Andean Spanish, a universal synonym for everything being perfect.

A classic cocktail of rum and Coca-Cola with a squeeze of lime, named after Cuban independence. It's probably the most ordered drink at any Latin bar for its simplicity and perfect flavor.

In Cuba, a powerful hit or action, or anything of extraordinary size, force, or impact. Used to describe a stunning comeback, a jaw-dropping home run, or anything that surprises by its sheer force or scale. Also used with pride to describe something or someone who is deeply, unmistakably Cuban.

In Cuba, to hustle tourists for money or gifts by using charm, romance, or any available angle, making a living off foreign visitors through wit and seduction rather than formal work. A uniquely Cuban survival skill shaped by economic scarcity and the constant flow of international visitors.

Flat broke, completely out of money, with absolutely nothing left in your pocket. In Caribbean slang, being bayul means you can't even cover the basics, usually said jokingly among friends to explain why you can't participate.

Sexual arousal or intense desire, or a bold, daring attitude that pushes limits. In the Caribbean, bellaquera describes that charged energy, either the physical pull of desire or the nerve to do something wild and boundary-pushing.

A style of Cuban rumba featuring intense percussion and a competitive, sensual dance between a man and a woman. One of the most authentic Afro-Cuban musical genres, raw, rhythmic, and deeply cultural.

To be informed, up to date on what's happening. Used across the Spanish-speaking world, 'estar al tanto' means you're not missing anything important.

In Cuba, a special grace, charm, or spark that makes someone particularly attractive or entertaining. The Cuban 'je ne sais quoi', that ineffable quality that makes someone impossible to ignore.