All countries around the world have their own slangs or words that only people who live there use, in this case I am from Mexico and I would like to share some of the Mexican words we use a lot, maybe you are going to hear some of them if you ever come here.
CHAFA: Something of bad quality or that is an imitation of a famous brand.
Example: Esta playera es chafa, dice Naik en lugar de Nike // This T-shirt is an imitation, it says Naik instead of Nike........Este vestido es chafa te das cuenta por la tela. // This dress is of bad quality you can tell cause of the cloth
GRINGO: A person from the United States who is white.
Example: El novio de mi amiga es gringo y tiene granes ojos azules y vive en Los Angeles // My friend's boyfriend is American with big blue eyes and he lives in Los Angeles.
NACO: A person who is vulgar, ignorant, not fashion or goes against the bourgeois traditions.
Example: El es muy naco o sea usa sandalias con calcetines. // He is not fashionable I mean he wears sandals with socks.
ORALE: Acceptance of a fact. This is one of the most popular words and we use A LOT when we agree with something, when we are surprised by something, when we demand to have something done at the moment and many more.
Example: Orale te ganaste la loteria! // Wow you won the lotery! (surprise)...Orale apurate llegaremos tarde! // Hey hurry up we're gonna be late! (Demanding)...Orale me parece buena idea hay que hacerlo // Ok I think is a good idea let's do it (Agreement)
CHIDO/CHILO: When something is pretty, amazing, beautiful, cool, etc.. Chido is more used in the south of Mexico and Chilo in the North but it means the same thing.
Example: Me gusta tu nuevo carro esta muy chido/chilo // I love your new car is so cool
NETA: The truth. It can be seen as a surprise or question or affirmation, It's just a truth.
Example: La neta no me gustas lo siento! // The truth is I don't like you I'm sorry.....Estoy embarazada! Amiga: Neta??? // I am pregnant! Friend: Really???....Dime la neta, estas saliendo con mi ex? // Tell me the truth Are you dating my ex?
CHALE: When you show concern, disappointment or anger. It could be the equivalent of "Goddamned" or F**K
Example: Chale! Choque el carro de mi mama, me va a matar! // Goddamned! I crashed my mom's car She's gonna kill me!...Chale me robaron el carro del estacionamiento // Fu**! My car was stolen from the parking....Chale te dije que tuvieras cuidado con el espejo, ya lo quebraste! // God! I told you to be careful with the mirror now is broken!
WEY: Oh god here we are with the most amazing and famous word in Mexico! The best for the last hahaha. Well this simple and short word means just: dude, man, friend, boy, guy in general any person could be a WEY but it is kinda vulgar so it is exclusive for people you already know, also is commonly used to say "silly" too.
Example: Este wey me vendió una bicicleta muy buena // This guy sold me a nice bike ........Tu hermano esta bien wey no sabe nada // Your brother is so silly he doesn't know anything........Oye wey pasame una cerveza // Hey bro pass me a beer
Have you heard one of these? Do you know more? Hope you liked it!
This game is to practice your vocabulary and to be more familiar with words and sentences you listen in English in songs now translated into Spanish. TIP: Try to choose a famous song and the most catchy verse of the song.
Example:
"Pero le prendí fuego a la lluvia
la vi caer mientras tocaba tu rostro
entonces ardió mientras yo lloraba
por que la oi gritar tu nombre"
You have to analyze the words and try to translate the verse to English (not written here, just on your mind) try to guess the song based on what you could translate and post the Artist and the name of the song and and a verse in Spanish of your song for all of us to guess, that way you translate the Spanish verse to English and then from English to Spanish for your song. It a good way to practice your understanding.
So, who's gonna tell me which song I posted as example? :)