An arrogant person who believes they're superior to everyone and makes sure to show it in every single interaction. In Colombia and Venezuela altanero speaks with condescension and looks down at whoever they consider beneath them.

To blow a deal right when it is almost sealed, sometimes through poor attitude, sometimes by letting a minor detail spiral out of control. Used in Colombia, Venezuela, and Mexico for the business version of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

The office brown-noser who systematically flatters whoever holds authority to get special treatment or avoid consequences. In Colombia and Venezuela the cepillo always has a compliment ready and would never contradict the boss.

Refusing to accept an uncomfortable reality and inventing justifications to feel better about it. Calling someone out for "cope" means accusing them of self-delusion. Widely used in online discourse across Spanish-speaking countries.

A Twitch emote and chat slang used across the Spanish-speaking internet to express sadness or disappointment, usually in an ironic or overdramatic way.

Twitch and gaming slang for being so angry and frustrated you lose your mind. A blend of "mad" and "balding," implying you are fuming so hard you would go bald. Used across Spanish-speaking streaming communities.

A vulture or opportunistic person who takes advantage of others' misfortune to grab whatever they can. In Colombia and Venezuela the gallinazo always shows up when someone's in trouble to see what's there for the taking.

The pain of unrequited love or a broken heart that drives you to do crazy things. Despecho is the fuel behind the best ranchera, vallenato, and bachata songs ever written.

Sounds like the English word "pog." A Twitch gaming culture exclamation shouted when something incredible or hype happens. Comes from the PogChamp emote.

A classic Twitch emote placed at the end of a message to signal sarcasm or a joke. It tells the reader not to take what was just said at face value, the same way someone might say "just kidding."

The US dollar, named after the green color of the bills. In Peru and Venezuela, lechuga is the street slang for American currency, the one everybody wants to have.

The obsession with maximizing physical attractiveness through routines, diets, facial exercises, or procedures, popularized on forums and TikTok. An extreme pursuit of improving one's appearance that became a whole subculture.

Acronym for "fear, uncertainty and doubt." Negative or alarmist information spread to make people sell or lose confidence in something. A key term in crypto and investment communities.

A street-smart, cunning person who knows how to navigate any situation and always comes out on top. In Venezuela, a pájaro bravo knows every trick in the book and always lands on their feet.

The female version of "incel," a woman who identifies as involuntarily celibate and participates in online communities built around that resentment narrative. A term from forums and social media.

To cheat on your partner. Used across Spain and Latin America, the "cuernos" (horns) imagery comes from an old European tradition where a betrayed husband was said to grow horns. The betrayal rarely stays secret for long and almost always ends up as the group chat's main topic for weeks.

To give up, to quit trying because you've run out of strength and motivation to keep fighting. It comes from boxing, where the trainer literally threw in the towel to save their fighter from more damage.

Something unexpected, out of nowhere, with no apparent reason. An English loanword adopted across the entire Spanish-speaking world, especially among young people on social media.

A shameless person who says or does whatever they want without any pudor or concern for how it looks. In Colombia and Venezuela the descarado doesn't care, what others wouldn't dare, they do without a second thought.

To park a vehicle in Colombia, Venezuela, and Central America, what Mexico calls 'estacionar.' It comes from the English 'to park' adapted into Spanish.

A big, intense party with tons of people, loud music, and fun until sunrise. It's that event where everything goes wild in the best possible way.

To gossip and talk behind people's backs with all the juicy details about their private lives. In Venezuela and Colombia, "comadrear" describes someone who is more invested in other people's business than their own, and does it regularly and enthusiastically.

An extremely annoying, unbearable, or heavy person or situation in Venezuelan and Colombian Spanish. "Esa reunión es una ladilla" means that meeting is a huge pain. Comes from the parasitic insect but lost all literal connotation to become a universal synonym for annoyance. Used for boring work, the guy who won't leave you alone, a long line, or any situation you want to end already.

In Venezuela, to ruin or mess up something that was going well, usually through a badly timed move or a careless mistake. Once something gets cachapeado the damage is done and not easily undone.

In Venezuela, a fistfight or brawl between two or more people, usually spontaneous and fueled by heat-of-the-moment emotion. Street conflict that escalates into physical contact.

To meddle in other people's business without being asked. In Colombia and Venezuela, the person who cucharea always knows everyone else's drama but is blissfully unaware of their own. Part snoop, part gossip.

Glasses or spectacles for correcting vision or blocking the sun. The standard word for eyeglasses across much of Latin America, from Mexico to Chile and Venezuela.

Your appearance, style, or complete outfit. The anglicism all of Latin America adopted to describe how you look from head to toe, including clothes, hairstyle, and overall attitude.

In Venezuela, an embarrassing moment or situation that makes you look ridiculous in front of others. Pasar un oso is living through a cringe-worthy experience that makes even bystanders feel the awkwardness.

To buy on credit at the corner store, taking goods now and promising to pay later in Venezuela. A lifeline when there's no cash on hand.