A strong cane or anise liquor that's the go-to drink in Colombia and other countries. Guaro is part of every Colombian party and it'll knock you out if you don't respect it.

Work, job, or daily gig. "Choyo" is the Guatemalan everyday word for employment, the local equivalent of "chamba" in Mexico or "brete" in Costa Rica. You hear it among young people and working-class urbanites: "ando en el choyo" means I'm at work, "conseguí un choyo nuevo" means I landed a new job.

A group of neighborhood friends or an organized street gang, depending on context. It can be innocent among kids or dangerous when talking about real pandillas.

Drunk or noticeably tipsy: past the point of sobriety but still functioning. Used in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua for someone who has had several drinks and it shows in how they talk and move.

A shared fund among friends or coworkers to buy something or celebrate. Everyone contributes, and everyone benefits.

Someone with eccentric behavior or ideas that are way off the beaten path. In Mexico and Guatemala, "jalado" describes a person who is a little out there, does unexpected things, or comes up with outlandish plans.

A drinking straw in Guatemala and El Salvador. The funny thing is that in other countries 'sorbete' means fruit sorbet, so ordering a sorbete can cause epic confusion.

Extraordinary, awe-inspiring, well beyond what was expected. A formal Spanish word that in Mexico and Guatemala also slips into everyday conversation to describe something that genuinely surpasses expectations in scale, quality, or impact.

An insufferable, hateable person who rubs everyone the wrong way from the moment they walk in. The odioso does not need to do anything specific: their presence alone sets your teeth on edge. Common across Mexico and Central America.

To hit the nail exactly on the head, to get something precisely right without any margin of error. Used in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico when someone's analysis, question, or answer lands perfectly.

A jinx, killjoy, or someone who brings bad energy wherever they go. The 'agüizote' ruins plans with their very presence or their toxic comments.

A Central American farewell used in Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, equivalent to "goodbye," "later," or "see you around." The standard way to close a conversation without ceremony. It also works as an affirmation: "vaya pues, agreed." Intonation shifts the shade, but the effect is always to close the subject.

A Guatemalan word for "quiet," "shh," or "pipe down." It is the Chapín version of the universal shh sound turned into an actual word you can say out loud. "¡Sho vos!" means be quiet already, and it works among friends, siblings, or anyone who needs to lower their voice immediately.

Friend, bro, buddy, the Latin American adaptation of the English 'brother' that spread across Central America and beyond. Bróder is everyday, warm, and used constantly between male friends as a term of address and affection.

To steal, swipe or lift something. In Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Panama chorear is the casual word for theft, anything from pocketing change to snatching a phone.

A slap across the face, open-handed and sharp. Across Mexico and Central America, a cachetada is the classic disciplinary gesture or the ultimate statement in a fight. The sound alone says everything.

Tangled up in a complicated situation or a messy relationship with no clear way out. In Mexico and Central America, someone who is enredado is too deep in whatever they got themselves into to see the exit clearly.

A cigarette, or more specifically a cigarette butt. In Central America, pucho is the everyday word for a smoke, used casually to bum one or describe a cheap cigarette burned down to the filter.

Empty talk, lies, or hollow nonsense with no substance behind it. In Central America, when something is "pura paja" it is all hot air. The person who "habla paja" talks a lot and means nothing, or exaggerates wildly to seem more important than they are.

A boy or young man, a kid. In Guatemala and Nicaragua, 'chibolo' is an affectionate way to refer to young guys from the neighborhood, casual and friendly.

A know-it-all who loves showing off how smart they are, often without actually being right. The listillo volunteers corrections and opinions nobody asked for, and the irony is that they usually end up proving the opposite of what they intended. Used with a mix of mockery and mild irritation in Mexico and Central America.

An exclamation of surprise, frustration, or admiration in Guatemala and El Salvador. It's the Central American equivalent of 'dang' or 'wow', versatile and safe enough for any audience.

Someone who limps or walks with an irregular, unsteady gait, due to a twisted ankle, flat feet, or some other condition. In Mexico and Central America the word is used bluntly, sometimes just descriptive, sometimes with a mocking or affectionate edge depending on the relationship.

A lie, a made-up story, or a fake tale created to deceive or impress. In Central America, 'casaca' is what someone who doesn't deserve your trust says.

A female name of Arabic origin that is extremely common in Panama and parts of Central America. Its high frequency in Panama made it a cultural reference for a typical Panamanian woman, sometimes used generically with that meaning.

A stubborn person who will not budge or change their position no matter how much reasoning or evidence you throw at them. Used across Mexico and Central America as a synonym for hardheaded or pigheaded.

An exclamation used in Central America to shoo away animals, especially dogs. Saying "zuzo" to a dog is a command to get lost and stop being a nuisance.

A Guatemalan sauce made with tomatoes and onion charred directly on a comal with no oil, then blended into a chunky, smoky condiment. The base of many traditional preparations, it accompanies beans, grilled meats, and broths. Its name comes from Nahuatl "chilmolli" (chile sauce).

To drift from one place or situation to another without a fixed direction, plan, or clear destination. Someone who goes de tumbo en tumbo does not really know what they want or where they are headed.

A person with a lot of money or buying power in Central America. Used to describe someone who's clearly loaded and it shows. Comes from 'pisto' (money).