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/Sounds like "CHAHN" (as in "chat") + "fleh" (as in "flex")/

Meaning

An exclamation of surprise made famous by the classic TV show El Chavo del 8 that became permanently etched into Mexican culture. It's a retro, nostalgic way to react to something unexpected, still used today with humor and affection.

Examples

Chanfle! How much does that cost? That's insane.

Chanfle! I did not see that news coming at all.

Regional synonyms
Bandera de México
Bandera de Estados Unidos
Hijole

A Mexican exclamation of surprise or quick reaction to something unexpected, similar to "whoa!" or "oh snap!" in English. It slips out when something catches you off guard and you need to express astonishment without thinking too hard about it.