In Paraguay, a road, path, or route, from Guarani. Used daily to refer to a road or track, especially the dirt paths in the interior of the country.

In Paraguay, a poor person or someone with very limited means, from Guaraní. Used in everyday speech, sometimes with self-deprecating humor, when talking about being broke or humble circumstances.

In Paraguay, an affectionate Guarani expression meaning "my friend" or "buddy," used to address someone with warmth and trust. Very common among men in everyday conversation.

A Paraguayan exclamation expressing indifference, annoyance, or total disinterest in something. It's the Guaraní equivalent of a "meh" or "I don't care," said with that effortless nonchalance only Paraguayans pull off.

The Paraguayan slang word for an Argentine, used mockingly. From Guaraní, it literally means "pig skin." A classic cross-border jab from Paraguay's side of the Río de la Plata.

A Guaraní word meaning strength, power, endurance, grit. In Paraguay it's a fundamental cultural concept: being "mbareté" means having the inner fortitude to face adversity, endure hard work, and never give up. It's used literally ("I need mbareté for this job") and figuratively ("mbareté guasu" for someone very strong). It's part of the Paraguayan identity vocabulary.

The second-person pronoun used instead of "tu" in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and parts of Central America. Vos comes with its own verb conjugations and is one of the clearest regional identity markers in Spanish, defining how millions of people speak every day.

In Paraguay, an annoying, relentless nuisance who interrupts constantly, asks too many questions, or gets in the way without realizing it. A mild insult used in everyday conversation for that person you are always trying to avoid.

The natural mix of Spanish and Guaraní that Paraguayans speak in daily life without even thinking about it. It's bilingualism turned into national habit, where a sentence can start in Spanish and end in Guaraní.

A traditional vessel made from cow horn used for drinking tereré or mate in Paraguay. A handcrafted piece with deep cultural history that every Paraguayan family keeps at home as part of their daily drinking ritual.

Watch out! or Careful!, a Guaraní-origin warning used in Paraguay to alert someone of incoming danger. 'Chake' is fast, urgent, and unmistakable, it snaps people to attention before explaining why. The word itself sounds like a warning.

Extreme laziness and total lack of motivation that prevents you from doing anything productive in Paraguay. It's that uniquely Paraguayan state of inertia, especially potent in the tropical heat.

A private security guard or watchman, especially one stationed at a building entrance, parking lot, or private property. Borrowed from the English "watchman" and widely used across Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, and Paraguay as the everyday term for this job.

In Paraguay, a child who acts like an adult or is way too serious and mature for their age. From Guaraní mitã (child) and karai (mister/sir). The little kid who already seems like a grown-up.

An important or powerful person. From Guaraní, it literally means "big lord" or "great sir." In Paraguay it can be used with genuine respect, dry irony, or open sarcasm depending on who is saying it and why.

Woman or girl in Paraguayan Guaraní, the feminine counterpart of 'kuimba.' Naturally mixed into everyday Paraguayan speech. 'La kuña' can be a girlfriend, a friend, or any woman.

A Guarani particle used in Paraguayan Spanish to signal that something is hearsay or secondhand information. Equivalent to "they say that" or "apparently." Used every day in casual speech in Paraguay.

A strong Guaraní curse in Paraguay that literally means "son of the devil," used to vent anger or frustration at someone. One of the most loaded insults in Paraguayan Jopará slang.

A laid-back Paraguayan way to say "all good" or "no worries," blending Spanish "tranquilo" with the Guaraní particle "pa." It's the go-to reply when you want to reassure someone or brush off a problem.

A mythological creature from Paraguayan Guarani folklore: a blond child who appears at siesta time and kidnaps kids who refuse to sleep. One of the most well-known legends in rural Paraguay.

Pretty, good, or nice in Paraguayan Guaraní, one of the most basic words of approval in the language. Saying something is porá means it pleases you: it looks right, it feels beautiful, it hit the spot. Simple, warm, and deeply rooted in Paraguayan everyday speech.

A metal straw with a filter used for drinking mate in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. The bombilla is the sacred and non-transferable instrument of the mate ceremony, everyone has their own.

In Paraguay, a fool or naive person, from Guarani. One of the most common everyday words for calling someone clueless or goofy, without too much sting.

Big, enormous, or of great size in Paraguayan Guaraní. Used in everyday speech mixed with Spanish to describe something notably large. 'Qué tuicha' expresses admiration or surprise at the size of something.

A distilled sugarcane spirit, the local equivalent of aguardiente, widely consumed in Bolivia, Paraguay, and Peru. Drunk straight, mixed with water, or used as the base for traditional cocktails in the region. Rough around the edges and deeply tied to local drinking culture.

In Paraguay, a lie or made-up story, and by extension the person who tells them. From Guaraní, it's a daily-use word to call someone out for inventing or exaggerating.

Strawberry in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and other Southern Cone countries. It's the exact same delicious red fruit that Mexico and Spain call fresa, but down there it's frutilla and there's no debate.

In Paraguay, a humorous and popular nickname for Brazil or anything Brazilian. From Guaraní, literally "shiny comb." Used playfully in soccer talk and everyday conversation.

The hybrid language most Paraguayans actually speak, a natural mixture of Spanish and Guaraní woven together in the same sentence. Yopara is the true tongue of Paraguay, not 'pure' either language.

In Paraguay, the face or physical appearance, and by extension the audacity or nerve of someone. From the Guarani word "tova" (face). Having "tova" means being shameless enough to do things without embarrassment.