Common Mexican Expressions
Posted on 27. Feb, 2008 by Transparent Language in Spanish Culture, Spanish Vocabulary
In this post we will learn some words and expressions typically used in Mexican Spanish in everyday speech . Let´s take a look at them:
Agüitado – sad
A poco no … – I bet you didn´t ..
Fresa – snob person, high class person
Güera – blond (for a girl)
Escuincle/escuincla – boy, girl
Chamaco/a – young man, young woman
Güey – guy, man
Cantina – a bar
¿!Mande!? – Excuse me? What were you saying?
¡Híjole! – Wow! (Expression of surprise)
Padre – cool, good (lit. father)
Platicar – to chat, to talk
Señito – ma´am (comes from señora)
No manches – Don´t bug me, stop yanking my chain!
I work with a man from Mexico who is highly offended by the term “guey” and also says this is a curse word. Is this true or not?
Güey is not a word you would use to describe a man respectfully. It’s disrespectful to call a stranger or a superior a güey. It is a word used often among chums and it can be used to refer to someone as a “dummy”.
For example, the phrase, “no seas güey,” means, “don’t be a dumy (or an idiot).”
Interesting. Walking up and down the streets of various parts of Tijuana every other word is “güey”. It seems like the word is used in the same manner as “dude”.
But I guess it’s like any other slang…it depends on where you are, who you’re talking to, and the context in which it’s used.
We have Mexicans living next door for just a few months.
The grandparents labored in their son’s yard and transformed it so beautifully. They are such nice people and I want to compliment them in Mexican-Spanish for their great work to the yard.
What sentence can I attempt to use? I know no Mexican/Spanish except ola.
“Ustedes han hecho un trabajo maravilloso en el jardín. Ahora está precioso.”
“You´ve done a wonderful job with the garden. Now it looks beautiful.”