A personal connection or inside contact who opens doors for you regardless of merit. In Spain, Ecuador, and Venezuela, having "enchufe" (literally: a plug) means someone on the inside is pulling strings on your behalf. It implies favoritism and nepotism over actual qualifications, and the person who got in through enchufe probably did not even bother with the formal interview.

Cheeks, especially when they're chubby and squeezable. The part of the face that grandmas always want to pinch while telling you how big you've gotten, a universal Latin American experience at family gatherings.

Someone completely drained of energy and motivation, moving through life with total apathy and no drive to get anything done. Used in Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador to describe a person who cannot seem to react to anything, whether due to bad news, burnout, or just chronic laziness.

The involuntary yelp of pain when you burn yourself on something hot. In Ecuador and Peru, "arrarray" comes from Quechua and is the pure reflex that escapes before your brain finishes processing what just happened. It is wired into Andean culture and heard daily in kitchens across both countries.

To sell something on informal credit without immediate payment, trusting the customer's word that they will pay later. It is the trust-based economy that keeps neighborhood shops alive across Latin America, where the owner jots it down in a little notebook and knows you will be back.

The informal, fun, street-level Mexican way of saying yes with total confidence. It's the opposite of nel and pops up constantly in casual conversations between friends who speak pure Mexican slang.

An affectionate and tender way to say grandma in Mexico and several Latin American countries. The abuelita is the most spoiling person in the family: food is always ready when you arrive, she has a home remedy for every ailment, and her love is completely unconditional no matter what you have done.

A person from Chicano barrio culture with its own distinct aesthetic: flannel shirts, baggy pants, tattoos, and lowriders. The word can sound like an insult or a point of pride depending entirely on who says it and in what context.

In Ecuador, a sluggish, apathetic person with little energy or drive, especially when physical effort is required. Someone who moves slowly, avoids work, and has zero motivation to pitch in.

Baby or very small child. A Quechua word used naturally in Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador with warmth and tenderness. Even Spanish speakers with no Quechua background know exactly what a wawa is. The love built into this word is unmistakable.

Traffic congestion that paralyzes streets and eats up hours of your day. In Latin American megacities like Bogota, Mexico City, or Lima, tráfico is legendary: what looks like 20 minutes on a map can easily become two hours of sitting still.

Quick-witted, sharp, and street-smart. In Colombia, Venezuela, Spain, and Ecuador, avispado describes the person who reads every room instantly, catches on before anyone else, and never gets caught off guard. From "avispa" (wasp): alert, fast, and not someone you want to try to fool.

To have no money, to be completely broke without a single peso to spend on anything. Used when your wallet is empty, whether it's a temporary situation before payday or a chronic state that seems endless.

An annoying, off-putting, or unpleasant person who has a special talent for irritating others without doing anything extraordinary. Used across Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Ecuador for someone who consistently rubs people the wrong way, often without even realizing it.

Guinea pig that's eaten roasted, fried, or baked in the Andes. For tourists it's shocking; for Peruvians, Ecuadorians, and Bolivians, it's a traditional delicacy.

House or home, urban youth slang used in Ecuador and Colombia. "Voy a la caleta" simply means "I'm heading home." The word traces back to caló, a Roma-influenced jargon that traveled to the Americas with Spanish colonizers and settled in several countries with the sense of a private hideout or refuge.

A security guard, adapted from the English word 'watchman' into Latin American Spanish. The guachimán watches over buildings, parking lots, and anything that needs guarding.

To talk about other people's lives, share their secrets, and dig into everyone else's business. Gossiping is the universal guilty pleasure, everyone does it, nobody admits it.

Friend or bro, borrowed from the English word "brother" and fully absorbed into the street slang of Peru, Ecuador, and Nicaragua. Broder is casual and warm: it is what you call your friend when greeting them or asking for a favor. The anglicism blended in so naturally it no longer sounds foreign at all.

A wild night out or big party. "Irse de farra" signals a real commitment to the evening: music, drinks, good company, and a rough morning after. In Ecuador the go-to word for the most intense nightlife, no soft version implied. Also used in Bolivia and Argentina.

Work or job in Mexico and Peru. It covers everything from a corporate office gig to a side hustle at a taco stand. If you have chamba, you have something putting food on the table.