To smoke in Mexico and Guatemala. Casual, no-frills verb for the act of smoking a cigarette or anything smokeable. It also gets used in informal contexts for smoking weed. If someone steps outside every hour at the office, they pitan.

A person with a permanent scowl who intimidates others just by looking at them. The 'mal encarado' doesn't need to say a word to make everyone around them uncomfortable.

To make a verbal commitment, agreeing to something on your word alone, no contract, no paperwork. In Mexico and Central America, apalabrar is how business gets done between people who trust each other. Your word is your bond, and breaking it is a serious breach of honor.

A girl's fifteenth birthday celebration that marks her symbolic transition from childhood to womanhood, a big deal across Mexico and much of Latin America. Think a waltz with chambelanes (escorts), a princess gown, months of planning, and a party that rivals a wedding.

A colorful decorated figure made of papier-mache or cardboard, filled with candy and fruit, hung up to be smashed with a stick while blindfolded. Breaking the piñata is the peak moment of any Mexican birthday party, and the traditional seven-pointed star shape has its own meaning in Mexican folk culture.

A rude, disrespectful, or badly behaved kid. In Mexico and Central America, 'mocoso' is the go-to word for a child who is causing trouble, being insolent, or acting like they were raised without manners. Calling an adult a mocoso is also devastating.

A helpful, proactive person who sees what needs to be done and does it without being asked. In Central America, the 'acomedido' is the guest who starts washing dishes, the coworker who stays late without being told, the neighbor who fixes the fence before you notice it's broken.

A traditional Nicaraguan and Central American drink made from ground corn, cacao, cinnamon, and annatto, served cold with ice. Sold at markets, fairs, and hot corners, it's the workers' midday refreshment and the kids' craving on the way home from school. Each area has its recipe: some sweeter, some more spiced, but corn is always in there.

A Guatemalan and Mexican adjective for describing someone brave, decisive, who jumps into any challenge without overthinking. "Ese mae es bien entrón" means that guy is a real go-getter. Used as a compliment for athletes, workers, friends always willing. Can also have an imprudent edge: the entrón sometimes gets into trouble without measuring consequences. Mostly a positive word.

A person with long, messy, tangled hair. The 'mechudo' has hair that does whatever it wants, no comb seems able to tame it.

A fair-skinned or blonde person. In Central America, chele is a common, generally affectionate nickname for anyone noticeably lighter than average. It is descriptive rather than offensive in most contexts, used the same way someone might say "the tall one" or "the dark-haired one."

A sudden brawl, chaotic mess, or situation that explodes out of control fast. In Mexico and Central America, a zafarrancho can be a fistfight at a party or just total disorder, the moment when things go completely sideways.

A stray or mixed-breed dog in Spain and Guatemala, those urban canines that survive everything. In other countries it also means intense cold, like when you say "it's chucho" and you're freezing to death.

An annoyingly persistent person who just will not take no for an answer. In Colombia and Central America, calling someone cansón means they are exhausting to be around because they nag, insist, or constantly ask for favors without ever reading the room or picking up on hints.

A kid, boy, or young person in Guatemala, as Guatemalan as frijoles volteados and atol de elote. It's the Guatemalan way of referring to any young person with warmth and familiarity.

Noticeably drunk, with visible signs of intoxication. Used in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras for a level of drunkenness that is obvious to everyone around, though not necessarily extreme.

In Mexico, the sacred foundation of all cuisine, a round, flat disc made of corn or flour masa used to wrap, scoop, or accompany absolutely everything. No tortilla, no Mexican food.

An expression to introduce something you want to share, like 'so get this' or 'turns out that.' In Mexico and Central America, fíjate opens up any gossip or news conversation.

Someone passionate about video games who dedicates serious time to playing, whether casually or competitively. An English loanword fully integrated into young Spanish speakers' vocabulary.

To hang around doing nothing useful, loafing with the crew. In Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, "la palomilla" is the group of idle guys who spend the day avoiding work and school, always looking for ways to kill time.

Someone who always looks angry, with a permanent scowl and unfriendly expression. The malencarado doesn't need to say a word, their face already told you to back off.

A Guatemalan vocative for calling out to a group, equivalent to "everyone," "hey all," "guys." Comes from "muchachada" shortened in fast Chapín speech. "¡Muchá, vengan a comer!" means everyone, come eat. Used in family gatherings, with friends, in informal contexts. An unmistakable marker of Guatemalan Spanish: no other country uses it with that naturalness and affectionate tone.

A shameless, reprehensible person who commits harmful or immoral acts without any remorse. Used across Mexico and Central America as a strong insult to call out someone who has crossed a serious moral line, especially when they hurt people close to them or who are vulnerable.

Friend, buddy, or close person in Guatemala and El Salvador. Here "cerote" is affectionate among friends, completely opposite to its use as an insult in Mexico where it refers to a piece of excrement. Context and country are everything with this word.

A lazy person with no desire to work or make any effort. A flojo always has an excuse ready and will let others carry the load every single time. Common across Mexico and Central America as both an adjective and a noun.

Kids, children, or young people. In Guatemala, patojo is the everyday word for a child or teenager, completely neutral and natural in any conversation. Not formal, not rude, just what locals naturally call young people.

A round clay or metal griddle where tortillas are heated and cooked in Mexico and Central America. The comal is the soul of Mexican cooking, there's no good tortilla without a good hot comal.

Cash or money in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, the most common way to refer to dough in Central America. Without pisto, you're not doing much of anything.

Cheap junk, random trinkets, or a pile of worthless stuff. Used in Mexico and Central America, "burundanga" can describe a cluttered shelf full of knick-knacks, a shoddy product that breaks the next day, or a low-quality plan not worth taking seriously.

The Central American exclamation of surprise that replaces stronger swear words. It's the perfect euphemism used in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras for literally everything.