A friend, buddy, a trusted person you get along with and share good times with in Mexico. Comes from Nahuatl where it originally meant twin, but it became the favorite word for talking about friendship.

From English "cursed." Used to describe something with a weird, unsettling, or deeply off vibe, but in such an absurd way that it is almost funny. Common in Mexican and US Spanish internet culture.

A salsa singer who improvises lyrics over the chorus in real time, the hardest and most respected skill in the genre. A true sonero invents lines on the spot, plays with the audience, responds to the coro, and makes it all lock into the clave. Hector Lavoe, Ismael Rivera, Ruben Blades: legendary soneros. Being one is the highest form of respect in salsa.

Chicano Spanglish for the boss or employer, from English "boss." El bos is the one who signs your check and calls the shots at work, different from the foreman who just supervises the crew.

To speed up, hurry, or put more intensity into something. Comes literally from pressing the gas pedal and applies to any situation: work, a party, studying, whatever needs more speed or energy right now.

Chicano and pachuco slang for a shirt. In barrio culture, a pressed "lisa" buttoned all the way up is a key part of the classic cholo aesthetic.

An iconic exclamation from salsa music, made famous by Cuban legend Celia Cruz. She'd shout "¡Azúcar!" ("Sugar!") before a chorus or when the energy peaked, turning it into her personal stamp. In salsa culture it signals joy, heat, and flavor. Outside music, it can also mean something or someone is sweet or great.

A Chicano and northern Mexican backyard cookout tradition: grilled meat, cold beers, and music with the whole crew. More than a meal, it is the weekend institution where the community comes together.

Hat or cap in Chicano and pachuco slang (US). A key piece of classic barrio style, from the wide-brimmed pachuco hat of the 1940s to the sideways cap worn today.

A historical Chicano slang term for a gay man, used in Pachuco caló since the 1940s. Originally descriptive in the barrio context, it later took on negative connotations and is now considered offensive by many. It appears in classic Chicano literature but is no longer used as a neutral reference.

An extremely skilled, talented, and impressive person, or something of excellent quality that leaves you in awe. In Mexico, chingón is the highest informal praise, if you're chingón, you're the best.

Chicano Spanglish for the supermarket or grocery store, from English "market." The default word in border communities and barrios for where you do your weekly shopping.

Something of terrible quality, worthless, or completely useless. In Spain, calling something birria dismisses it entirely: that film is garbage, the salary was a joke, the performance was a disaster. It is one of the most absolute put-downs in Spanish Spanish. Note: this is not the delicious Mexican beef stew, which shares the same word but nothing else.

In Caribbean and tropical music, "sabor" isn't just taste: it's the unique way a musician or dancer interprets a rhythm with soul, personal timing, and identity. An orchestra "tiene sabor" when their playing has personal swing, and a dancer "tiene sabor" when their steps flow naturally and flavorfully. The word shows up in salsa, merengue, bachata, and guaracha, and it's the highest compliment in any of those genres.

Chicano Spanglish for a down payment on a credit purchase, straight from English "down payment." El daun is that first big chunk of cash you put down on a truck or an apartment.

Sounds like the English word "dreamer." An undocumented young person who arrived in the U.S. as a child and grew up there, temporarily protected by DACA. From the DREAM Act, it's a political and community identity in Latino neighborhoods.

In Chicano and migrant speech, the green card or residency document that lets you live legally in the U.S. Having "la mica" means having papers; being without it means being undocumented.

Really good, excellent, impressive, or amazing in Mexico. It's the strong Mexican compliment you drop when something blew past all your expectations and deserves the most intense praise you can give. Despite having "madre" (mother) in it, there's nothing maternal about it, it's pure enthusiasm.

A complicated, difficult, or messy situation. Also used for a stubborn person who is exhausting to deal with. In Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Costa Rica it covers both tough circumstances and impossible personalities.

In Mexican and Chicano slang, the man who sleeps with someone's partner behind their back, the side guy who shows up when the boyfriend or husband is away. A central figure in countless corridos and neighborhood jokes.

Chicano slang for the flea market or swap meet, a direct calque from English. A central part of barrio life on weekends: cheap goods, food stalls, and family time all in one place.

A dismissive insult in Mexico and among Chicanos for someone who is lazy, spineless, or just plain useless. Comes from "pedo" (fart) but it is not that vulgar, it lands more like calling someone a "nobody" or a "loser." You use it to write someone off completely.

A Chicano Spanish verb borrowed from the English "to watch," fully conjugated in Spanish. It means to look at something, check it out, or pay attention. One of the classic Spanglish verbs of Chicano caló, alive since the 1940s and still widely used in California, Texas, and New Mexico.

Chicano Spanglish for groceries or supermarket food shopping, straight from English. Nothing to do with "groserías" (bad words): these are the bags of food you bring back from the market.

Chicano Spanglish for insurance, especially car or health insurance, blending English "insurance" with Spanish "seguro." Driving without aseguranza is a big risk, and health coverage is a luxury in many barrios.

A Chicano and Mexican expression meaning something is top-tier, first-class, genuinely impressive. "De aquellas" is the ultimate compliment: a party, a night out, a person, a meal, anything that turned out absolutely amazing qualifies. One of the most iconic phrases in Chicano calo.

Something extraordinary, top-tier quality, or so impressive it leaves you speechless. In Mexico, it's the ultimate informal compliment for something that blew your mind.

A Mexican and Chicano expression meaning to make a scene, overreact, or blow something small into major drama. "No la hagas de tos" is asking someone to calm down and not inflate what already happened. The person who "hace de tos" always finds a reason to escalate.

A Chicano expression meaning to stay alert, attentive, on watch. "Ponte al parche" means "stay sharp, don't get distracted." It comes from the image of the parche (patch, lookout spot). You use it to warn someone that the situation demands full attention, whether because of danger, opportunity, or the need to watch something carefully. It's classic barrio caló.

A pickup truck, especially popular in northern Mexico and among the Mexican community in the US. The troca is a symbol of norteño culture.