A snitch or informant in Peru and Ecuador, someone who reports what others are doing to whoever is in charge without being asked and without warning the group. A sape destroys trust in a team or friend circle by carrying secrets to authority figures. The noun form of the verb "sapear."

In Latin American folk medicine, an illness caused by a sudden intense fright that separates the soul from the body. It's treated with traditional rituals and herbal remedies, especially in indigenous communities.

Something lone, odd, or without a matching pair. In Ecuador, chulla is deeply woven into Quito's identity: the "chulla quiteño" is the classic proud man from Quito who dresses sharply despite having little, a symbol of local charm and resilience. The phrase "chulla vida" means you only have one life, so live it fully.

If you're not alert and active, you'll fall behind or miss opportunities. The classic Latin proverb your grandma repeats every time she sees you slacking to remind you that life waits for nobody.

In Colombia, 'regalar' isn't just giving a gift, it's also how you ask for something at a store or restaurant. 'Me regalas un café' doesn't mean 'give me a free coffee', it means 'I'd like a coffee, please.'

To get intensely angry, to lose patience and react with force and emotion. Used in Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. When someone se pone bravo, everyone in the room knows things just got serious.

Corn dough stuffed with fillings and wrapped in banana or corn leaves, found all across Latin America with a thousand variations. Every country swears theirs are the best.

In Ecuador, a wealthy or upper-class person. Unlike in Peru where bacán means "cool" or "awesome," in Ecuador it can carry more of a tone of pointing out someone's social status.

The group's little darling, the one everyone coddles, spoils, and treats as their favorite. In Ecuador, a pechiche is the cherished one who gets all the attention and affection, usually the youngest or most charming member of a family or close circle.

An epic comeback in a sports match, especially soccer, where a team overcomes a losing result to win. The most legendary remontadas live forever in fans' memories and are a deeply celebrated part of Latin American soccer culture.

A sweet and sour tropical fruit, the base of the most refreshing juice and the piña colada. It's the queen of tropical fruits, perfect for desserts, aguas frescas, and eating on its own with chili and lime.

A person who transports drugs from one place to another, whether in suitcases, inside their body, or through other concealment methods. Mulas are usually the most expendable link in the drug trafficking chain.

A carbonated, sweetened soft drink like Coca-Cola, Fanta, or Pepsi. In Mexico, ordering a "refresco" is as natural as breathing: the country has one of the highest soda consumption rates in the world, and no family meal is truly complete without the two-liter bottle on the table.

To park your car while you are not using it. In big Latin American cities, finding a parking spot downtown is practically a competitive sport: you circle the block endlessly, race the time limit, and pray you do not come back to a ticket on the windshield.

An Ecuadorian expression meaning "chill," "no problem," or "don't worry about it." A calming reassurance used to ease tension or close a stressful conversation. Works standalone or alongside other expressions like "tranqui." Common in both highland and coastal Ecuador.

A person, especially from Quito, Ecuador, who carries personal style, charisma, and social charm, sometimes with more flair than actual money. The "chulla quiteño" is a historical cultural figure: elegant, witty, and smooth enough to move comfortably in any setting. Today it also describes someone who goes their own way, a solo operator with undeniable personality.

An anglicism used as an intensifier in Ecuador, Mexico, and Colombia meaning "very," "a lot," or "packed with." "Full gente" means tons of people, "full estresado" means super stressed. More versatile than the English "full," it works anywhere you'd say "super" or "totally."

An unplanned pregnancy, especially by someone young. Used across Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador, "salir con su domingo 7" means the surprise news arrived when nobody was expecting it. The expression comes from an old saying about something going wrong on the seventh Sunday.

A young person, kid, or teenager in the Andean regions of Ecuador. Guambra comes from Quechua and is the warm, familiar word for youth in the highlands. Whether it is your nephew, your neighbor's kid, or any young person on the block, guambra covers them all.

In football, a player who consistently scores goals, always in the right place at the right time. A dedicated finisher who can define a match in front of goal. Used universally in sports commentary and everyday conversation across all Spanish-speaking countries.

An Ecuadorian interjection of surprise, mild frustration, or light complaint, a soft substitute for a stronger word. Used by everyone from kids to grandmothers and so associated with Ecuador that hearing it immediately places the speaker.

Boiled corn or wheat eaten as a side dish or snack, an Andean staple with deep roots in Bolivian, Ecuadorian, and Peruvian food culture. Mote is comfort food at its most fundamental: filling, humble, and present at almost every traditional meal in the highlands.

To cheer on, support, or encourage a soccer team or a person with chants, screams, and all your energy. In Argentina, cheering for your team from the stands is practically a religion and a sacred duty for every fan.

An expression of surprise or mild shock in Ecuador, the equivalent of "oh no!" or "good heavens!" It comes out when something unexpected happens, when you make a small mistake, or when you simply cannot believe what you are seeing. Clean, very expressive, and deeply local.

In Colombia and Ecuador, a difficult situation or commitment that is hard to get out of. Like being tied up with a cabuya rope, being "en la cabuya" means something has you trapped with no easy escape, usually debt, a bad contract, or a complicated relationship.

A dark-skinned or dark-haired person, usually with a strong build. In Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, and Ecuador the word is entirely neutral and descriptive: just a straightforward way to reference someone's physical appearance with no negative connotation.

Well-dressed, polished, and looking sharp at all times. In Ecuador, calling someone ficho is a genuine compliment about their style and personal presentation. They always show up put-together, like they actually planned their outfit and it worked.

Seriously angry and visibly sour-faced in Ecuador, carrying a bad mood that fills the whole room. You can read it in every gesture and expression. When someone is enchichado, the best move is to give them space until it passes on its own.

Broke, stuck, or stranded with nowhere to go. Across Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Panama, varado captures that helpless feeling of having no money, no job, or no visible way out of a situation. Equal parts broke and trapped.

To talk nonsense, make things up, or say things without any real knowledge or foundation. In Peru and other countries, hablar paja is what you do when you want to sound like you know something but actually have no idea.