A dumb or ridiculous person in Paraguay, from Guaraní. One of the most commonly used mild insults in daily speech, without much offensive weight when used among friends.

In Paraguay, someone who gets a government job or public benefit through political connections rather than merit. A critical and popular term widely used in social media and political conversations.

A mythological creature from Paraguayan folklore that lives in the forest and watches over nature. The Pombero moves invisibly, whistles eerily at night, and gets blamed when things go wrong in the wild. Parents traditionally warn children about him to keep them from wandering alone into the monte (forest). Rooted in Guarani tradition.

A kid or little boy in Uruguay and Paraguay, from the Guaraní language, used affectionately to refer to children. It's the go-to word for any young person in the neighborhood.

In Paraguay, a young woman or girl. Borrowed from Guarani, where "cuna" means woman and "tai" is a diminutive suffix. In Paraguay, Spanish and Guarani mix daily in what locals call jopara, and cunatai is one of those Guarani words that slips naturally into everyday conversation as an affectionate, respectful way to refer to a young woman.

In Paraguay, something great, excellent, or of the highest quality. Works for clothes, music, food, people, or plans. It is Paraguay's own homegrown way of saying "awesome" or "top notch" without borrowing slang from neighboring countries.

Pig or swine in Paraguayan Guaraní, but mostly used as a sharp insult to call someone dirty, greedy, or shameless. It hits harder because it comes from the indigenous language, making it feel more raw and local than 'chancho'.

An informal, quick goodbye borrowed from the Italian "ciao," used mainly in Argentina, Uruguay, and the broader Southern Cone. Breezier than "adios" and warmer than a simple wave. One syllable and you are out.

Cold mate prepared with ice water or fruit juice, a sacred Paraguayan tradition. It's the perfect drink for surviving the brutal summer heat of the Guaraní lowlands.

In Paraguay, a cold herb drink, basically the iced version of mate. Sipped through a metal straw from a shared container, tereré is a deeply social ritual and a daily staple during the scorching Paraguayan summer.

A grilled meat cookout shared among family or friends outdoors, typical across the Southern Cone. It's the perfect excuse to get together on a Sunday, crack open some beers, and spend hours grilling.

Playing dumb, faking ignorance to dodge responsibility or accountability. From Guaraní, ñembotavy is a very Paraguayan art, the strategic performance of not knowing.

The sidewalk where pedestrians walk next to the street. In Argentina, Uruguay, and the Southern Cone, nobody says "acera", vereda has always been the go-to word for the path from your house to anywhere.

A large, prized freshwater fish found in the Paraná and Paraguay rivers. The surubí is the star catch of sport and recreational fishing in Argentina and Paraguay. Grilling it with lemon is a beloved ritual of the riverside region.

In Paraguay, the devil or an evil spirit from Guarani tradition. Used to warn about supernatural punishment or danger, and appears in strong expressions like "aña memby" (son of the devil), one of the most serious curses in Paraguayan Spanish.

A child in Paraguayan Guaraní. It's the most tender, natural, everyday way to refer to little kids, and every Paraguayan uses it affectionately regardless of whether they speak more Spanish or Guaraní.

Guaraní word used naturally in Paraguayan Spanish for a young woman or girl. From "kuña" (woman) plus a diminutive suffix. Saying kuñataí instead of "chica" immediately signals you are genuinely Paraguayan, and it appears in conversation, songs, and everyday speech without any formality.

The Guaraní word for "what," "thing," or "matter," used in Paraguay as part of Jopara: the everyday natural blend of Guaraní and Spanish that most Paraguayans speak. You will hear "mba'e" woven into sentences that are otherwise entirely in Spanish, a reminder that Guaraní is a co-official language very much alive in daily life.

A Paraguayan expression to confirm or affirm something enthusiastically, born from mixing Spanish and Guaraní. It's the Paraguayan way of saying 'for sure' or 'that's right.'

A thin, crispy Paraguayan flatbread made from manioc starch and cheese, one of the country's most iconic traditional foods. Mbejú comes from pre-Columbian Guaraní cuisine and is the quintessential Paraguayan breakfast: eaten warm, ideally alongside a cold tereré. The texture is completely unique and impossible to describe without trying it.

In Paraguay, a term of deep affection for a close sister or female best friend, rooted in the Guarani language. You use it for someone in your innermost circle, the kind of bond where you can say anything and no explanation is needed.

In Paraguay, a Guaraní word meaning old or ancient, used to describe people, objects, or things from another era. The tone shifts depending on context: "ese tuja" can be an affectionate nickname for a grandfather or a lighthearted jab at a beat-up old car. Much like "viejo" in Mexican Spanish, the warmth or mockery lives in how you say it.

A Guaraní expression meaning "my friend" or "my buddy," used in Paraguay as a warm, familiar way to address someone close. It combines "che" (my) and "ra'a" (friend or companion). You hear it on soccer fields, at barbecues, in WhatsApp voice notes, and between coworkers. "Ey chera'a" is the Paraguayan equivalent of "hey bro" or "hey man" in English.

A Guaraní word literally meaning "hairy foot," used in Paraguay for a snitch, informant, or gossip. The term comes from the Stroessner dictatorship era, when regime informants moved silently to avoid detection. Today it describes the office tattletale, the nosy neighbor who knows everyone's business, or anyone who reports to authority. The word carries heavy political history in Paraguay.

A traditional clay or earth oven from Paraguay, built by hand and heated with wood, a living legacy of indigenous and colonial cooking. The tatakuá gives bread and meats a smoky, irreplaceable flavor.

A Guarani-origin expression used in Paraguay to urge someone to move, start, or get going right now. "Cuembe" is pure kinetic energy compressed into one word: affectionate but insistent. When someone says cuembe, they mean immediately.

A long, yellow fruit in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, what most of the Spanish-speaking world calls 'plátano.' The great banana vs. plátano debate is a classic Latin American vocabulary difference.

The everyday Paraguayan mix of Spanish and Guaraní, switching between both languages mid-sentence. Jopará isn't bad Spanish, it's how Paraguayans actually talk, reflecting a country where two languages share equal space in daily life and neither one wins completely.

A Paraguayan insult that comes from Guaraní "akã" (head) plus "raku" (hot), literally "hot head." It's used to describe a foolish, poorly thought-out person, or someone constantly doing reckless things without thinking about consequences. It's a common insult in arguments, scoldings, and everyday complaints. Not as strong as a curse word, but not affectionate either: it's delivered with real frustration.

To flirt or hit on someone in Paraguay and parts of Argentina. When you're chameando, you're pulling out your best lines and smiles to win someone over.