A romantic female partner in a committed relationship. In most Latin American countries, calling someone your novia implies exclusivity and seriousness — it's several steps beyond just dating.

A photo you take of yourself — usually with a smartphone, often for social media. The selfie culture exploded in Latin America alongside Instagram and TikTok, becoming a ritual of self-documentation at parties, travel, and everyday moments.

In Spain, to have persistent bad luck — as if your patron saint has turned their back on you and refused to intercede. When you have el santo de espaldas, nothing goes right no matter what you do.

A small, simple pleasure that boosts your mood — used colloquially for anything that gives you a little hit of happiness, from a morning coffee in the sun to a meme that made you laugh out loud.