A Puerto Rican dish of mashed green plantain with garlic, pork cracklings, and broth, the culinary pride of the island. Mofongo is hearty, delicious, and represents the essence of boricua cooking.

A Latin urban music genre born in Puerto Rico that dominated the entire planet with its impossible-to-ignore beat. Reggaetón is the sound that plays at every party, every car, and every phone in the Spanish-speaking world.

A troublemaker, especially a kid who cannot sit still, creates disorder, and stirs up conflict wherever they go. Used in Spain, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico for someone who simply cannot be contained in any setting.

Style, attitude, and the way someone raps with rhythm and personality. Also the natural swagger or charisma someone radiates when they walk, talk, dress, or just exist with effortless confidence.

To deal with something complicated, work hard, or handle a tough situation. In Puerto Rico, bregar is the everyday verb, there's always something to bregar with.

A rickety boat used to attempt the dangerous crossing of the Mona Channel between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. The yola represents the desperate hope of migration, thousands risk their lives on these makeshift vessels seeking a better future.

An obsession or craze that someone just cannot stop talking about. In Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, when someone has la fiebre de algo, they bring it up in every conversation whether anyone asked or not. Think of it as being completely hooked on something.

Flat broke, completely out of money, with absolutely nothing left in your pocket. In Caribbean slang, being bayul means you can't even cover the basics, usually said jokingly among friends to explain why you can't participate.

Sexual arousal or intense desire, or a bold, daring attitude that pushes limits. In the Caribbean, bellaquera describes that charged energy, either the physical pull of desire or the nerve to do something wild and boundary-pushing.

In Puerto Rico, at full speed or with maximum intensity, no holding back. You can use it for physical movement or any activity being done at full throttle with zero pauses.

A fainting spell, a panic attack, or an extreme fright in Puerto Rico and Mexico. Also used hyperbolically to describe an over-the-top reaction to shocking news. If something sends you into a full-body panic spiral, you got a yeyo.

An urban music genre with heavy beats, introspective lyrics, and autotune that came from the US and got completely Latinized. It's the sound defining the current generation of Latin urban artists.

In Puerto Rico, to agree with others to do something shady or to harm someone. If you get caught up in this, you'll be in trouble.

To tag someone in a social media post, photo, or comment, linking their name so they get notified. Taggear is one of the most essential Spanglish verbs of the internet age, fully conjugated and used daily by everyone from teenagers to brand accounts across the Spanish-speaking world.

All good, everything's fine, no problem. Puerto Rico's easygoing confirmation that things are in order. Tato is the island's casual way of saying "we're good," used to close an agreement, accept a situation, or simply reassure someone that all is well.

Completely wasted, blackout drunk, the kind of drunk where you cannot find the door or remember how you got there. In Puerto Rico, juquiao describes a seriously advanced state where the body has basically stopped cooperating. The word likely comes from "hooked," as in fully hooked on the drink.

Someone who has been cheated on, wearing the horns of infidelity. In the Caribbean and Spain, being 'corneado' is the ultimate insult for the person who is the last to know what's happening under their own roof.

To print a document or photo from a device. Printear is the casual Hispanicized version of the English "print," perfectly understood everywhere even if language purists prefer "imprimir." In offices and schools across Latin America, this is the everyday word.

Cool, awesome, great, one of the most recognizable Spanish slang words across Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia. Chévere is pure Caribbean positivity: when something or someone is chévere, they've got the good vibes, no further explanation needed.

A shameless, scummy person who does bad things without any remorse. In the Caribbean, 'desgraciao' is said with a tone of outrage that says it all.

To work incredibly hard without stopping, to grind like a workhorse. Used in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, "caballar" is a badge of honor describing the kind of relentless effort that gets real results.

A group of friends, the people you hang out with and always have a good time with. In Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, the corillo is your trusted social circle, the ones who are with you through good times and bad.

To believe easily everything someone tells you without questioning, swallowing any lie that's well-packaged.

To buy on credit, getting something now and promising to pay later. In Mexico and Latin America, 'fiado' is the informal credit system built on trust, the corner store owner who knows you can wait for your money at the end of the month. No paperwork, just a promise.

To accomplish something quickly, often with ease and efficiency.

Someone who constantly throws shade or indirect jabs, or a situation loaded with passive-aggressive digs. In Puerto Rico a tiraero is the person whose every sentence hides a barb.

A woman who is being provocative, sensual, and uninhibited, especially while dancing reggaetón. In Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic this is not an insult at all, it's more of a compliment describing someone who lets loose and owns their sexuality on the dance floor.

A Puerto Rican exclamation of joy, excitement, celebration, or positive surprise. Wepa! is the boricua shout that comes from the soul when something is incredible, from a goal to a party that's popping off.

A security guard or night watchman. Adapted from the English 'watchman', guachimán is widely used in Peru, Ecuador, and other Andean countries, often referring to informal guards at buildings, parking lots, or neighborhoods.

A Latin music genre born in Puerto Rico that conquered the entire planet and changed the music industry forever. Perreo, dembow beats, and lyrics your mom doesn't approve of but everybody dances to.