Dominican Slang Flashcards
Arretao´
a very bold person, stupidly brave
Asorao
surprised
A caco
to shave a head bald, especially when trying to hide their hair loss
A nivel
used to describe when something is pleasurable, almost like “really cool”
A po’ ta’ bien
“Ah, it’s OK”
Abombao
when someone had lots to eat.
Abombarse
rotten or spoiled food, fruit and water
Abur – Abur
equal to bye bye
Ace
powdered soap, laundry soap
Acechar
to watch or control
Acetona
Nail polish remover
Aficiao
(pronounced ah Fee Chow) to be enamored with, in love with or complexly asphyxiated with another person.
Agallú (or Agayú)
greedy, when one has more than enough and does not share. Selfish.
Aguajero
BS’er, full of it, speaks a lot and does nothing, brags and boasts all the time.
Agolpear
(Golpear) to strike, hit
Ahora
now
Ahorita
Soon,later, maybe never in “Dominican time”
Anchoas, anchoitas
pin curls (thanks Nicole)
Anjá
sort of like saying “What!” “Wow!”
Ajebrarse
to physically fight with another person
Ajumao
drunk
Al trisito
when something is about to happen or almost happened. “We al tristo wrecked”
Alante
(similar to adelante) to move ahead, go forward, to call the next person in a line
Alelao
a man who is a little slow or stupid
Allantoso
Bragger, phony
AMET
(El AMET) the traffic police
Amorcita (o)
my little love (feminine or masculine) used as a term of endearment not necessarily love
Anda el Diablo (sometimes spoken as one word Andaeldiablo)
It is usually said as an exclamation with the emphases on the word anda. Used like the word Damn! when surprised or frustrated. Translated loosely as The devil walks or hanging out with the devil.
Añuga
to choke
A su orden
Your welcome or “It’s nothing”
Apechurrao, Apiñao, Apeñucao
to be very tight, to be packed in like sardines
Aplatanado
another name for Dominicans. Many do not like being called this.
Aplicar
apply for a job
Apota
intentionally, deliberately
Arma una piña
to look for a fight
Arrecho
for a man to be excited sexually, erect
averiguao
(from the spanish word averiguador) a person who is very nosey (thanks Nicole)
Avion
(literally means airplane) a woman that does sexual favors for free; an easy woman
Baboso
(pronounced ba bozo) idiot, to speak lies, talks way too much crap.
Bacano
one cool dude
Bago
person that does not like to work
Baisma
The Basement
Bajo
bad smell
Bakebo
Basketball
Banca
place to place a bet, gamble (baseball, lottery)
Barajo
“eso se barajo” literally it was shuffled. Used when a plan was changed or did not happen.
Batea
metal wash tub, usually used for laundry
Bayonesa
mayonnaise in spanglish
Beepear
pager, beeper
Beibol
baseball
Bengue
Ben Gay
Bembe
(big) lips / Bembú person with big lips
Bemberria
a small party for friends
Bidón
aluminum container,usually used to hold and transport milk
Bi Ma
Big Mac
Bloque
Sidewalk
Blumen
women’s panties, bloomers
Boca aguá
someone who talks without thinking
Bohío
hut
Bolsa
be careful with this word. In Spain Spanish it is bag. In DR it is (ball) bag. We use the word funda for bag.
¡Bomba!
Wow!
Bomba
gas station
Bonche
party for a bunch of friends
Bote llón de agua
the large 5 gallon blue jug of water that holds clean drinking water.
un bote
boat
Bozo
big moustache on an old person
Brasier
bra
Brecha
spy
Brechador
(acechar to watch) men who like to watch women
Brechero
peeping Tom
Brechar
someone that likes to brag a little
Buquí
when someone makes a pig of themselves
Bufeando
making fun of something or someone
Bufeo
relax
Bugarron
dominate gay man
Buquí
when someone makes a pig of themselves
Burén
flat griddle
Burriquero
The guy in the country that rides around doing errands for people on his burro, ie:runs to the grocery store
Caballo
person similar to a tigre but a little more decent
*Cabron
a large male goat,also means displeased
*Cacaito
candy
*Cacata
tarantula type spider, bad woman (more on a cacata/ tarantula and a picture)
*Cacharra
a vehicle in bad shape
*Cachu
when you can do something fast and not complicated, easy for you “Cocinar arroz es cachu para el dominicano”
*Caco
head
*Cacú
someone with a large head
*Cajeta
bag, can have many meanings depending on the context
*Callejones
a small road, alley. A side road with no lights where delinquents, robbers and other shady people hang out.
*Can
Celebration or party
*Canillas
skinny legs
*Canoa
canoe
*Carajo
(pronounced ca rah ho)
*Carey
tortoise shell
*Carro
car (coche)
*Carro Publicos
public taxis (more on transportation)
*Cepillo
an old volksweign
*Chepa
(used much in the Cibao region) luck
*Champola
a drink made of guanábana and milk.
*Champú
Shampoo
*Chancleta
flip flop, sandal
*Chata
when a person hasaflat behind, no bum. It is the small back pocket sized alcohol bottle. Many men carry a chata in their pocket
*Chatica
the flat bottles of rum that easily fit into a pocket
*Checkear
to check, investigate
*Chele
Centavo, penny
*Chepa
stroke of luck,”que chepa!”Que Cheposo!” what luck
*Cherchar
to talk in an animated way. Came from people gathering after church
*Chichí
a baby boy
*Chichigua
kite
*Chicle
chicklet, the gum
*Chimicuí
can be a bad odor or a bad looking face
*Chin
a little bit “chin chin” (“dame un chin” give me a little bit)
*Chininin o Chililin
a very little bit, smaller than chin
*Chinchilín
blackbird used to describe a really bad odor
*Chivito harto de jobo
(pronounced chivito jartuejobo) someone that thinks their important but really they are no one
*Chivo
goat, to be suspicious of something. doubtful, doesn’t have trust in a person (cabra)
*Chol
Shorts, Short Pants
*Chopa
a not nice word meaning a cleaning lady or domestic servant. It is very rude to call someone this
*Chopo
a person of the lowest class very rude (do not call anyone this)
*Chula
sugar mama, a term of endearment used frequently in the streets.
*Chulea
to cover with kisses
*Cicote
foot odor
*Cielito
(literally little piece of heaven) used to describe a small tip that is customarily given as a reward
*Cloo
club
*Cloro
“tu ta cloro” “estas cloro” the word cloro is used instead of the word claro (clear). So it would mean I understand, you are coming across very clear.
*Cloro
Clorox, bleach
*Cobrador
fare collector on a guagua
*Cocaleka
popcorn
*Cocote
neck (of a person)
*Cocuyo or Cucuyo
firefly, lightning bug, also known in legends as nimitas (the legend of nimitas)
*Colín
Machete
*Colmado
corner store in most neighborhoods. Sells drinks, food, necessities. Anything and everything.
*Colmadón
a larger version of a Colmado. Usually has music, dancing, food. Closely resembles a local bar
*Compai / Copai
Compadre, friend
*Comparona
person who likes to show off
Con flei
corn flakes, all cold cereals are called by this name
*Concho
(Con Cho) 1) a softer non curse form of the word damn (coño). 2) moto
*Coño
an expression close in meaning to Damn! (a little vulgar). Can also mean a woman’s private part (very vulgar)
*Cota
the dirt in the creases around the neck
*Cote
Kotex
*Cotorra
parrot, a person that talks too much. Cotorra tuya.
*(una) Crica
a little bit, the same as saying un chin or un poquito.
*Cuartos
money
*Cuero
a female sanky panky. A woman that picks up tourists, claims love and uses them for cash, gifts and other gains. Usually a resort worker. This is not a nice word to use casually.
*Cuquear
to bother
*Cutafara
Ugly woman
*Cuté
nail polish
Dame Lu
(dam eloo) a greeting “What’s up?” or “What’s happenin’?” literally give me light (enlighten me)
*Deguabine
someone in bad physical shape
*Deplayarse
laying around for hours doing nothing, maybe laying in bed and watching tv
*Detutanao
canceled
*¿Dime ave?
(deemehabe) “Whats up?” “Tell me what’s going on” (literally enlighten me, tell me so I can see)
*Dímelo?
sort of like “What’s happenin’”, “How are you?”, used much when answering the phone
*¡Diachi!
it’s a way to soften the word diablo (devil). Used in place of the word damn ie: “Diache! You look good” or Diache! I stubbed my toe. Also can be astonished or surprised. (gracias Tito for the definition)
*Dios te Bendigas
God bless you respond with “Amen”)
*Dí que
similar to saying “uhhmm”…in place of a pause in a sentence, uh el Dueño, el Amo
*Dry Clean
to clean up yourself especially before a party or after going to the beach
Emparchao
when the stomach hurts from indigestion
*Emperchado
someone that dresses in the high fashion of the time
*Enchivao
clogged
*Enchulao
to be in love
*Enchumbao
to be full of it; I am all wet, used to refer to wet shoes after a rain
*Enculillarse
to have a bad itch
*Enjaretar
(verb) gorge on food, when your really hungry this is what you do.
*Eringarse
(verb) describes the Dominican way of borrowing money, spending it, borrowing more without paying it back.
*Escrines
screens
*Esprie
Sprite (the soda)
Fantamoso
person who likes to show off
*Fariseo
someone from another country that is not nice to the locals, a bad foreigner.
*Ferré/ Darce Ferré
to fix ones self up, to make up ones self
*Fiao
on credit, many Colmados and local vendors will take credit if they know and trust you.
*Fifty
Fifty a high class person
*Fó
expression used before a word for a bad scent
*Fotostática
photocopy
*Fuego
used when you agree with something someone said.
*Fui
Normally this word means “I went” but Dominicans use this for the word culo or butt.
*Fulano, perensejo y sutanejo
used when you don’t know a persons name (what’s his name?)
*Fuljean
Full jeans..when a woman fills out her jeans nicely
*Fulillo /fuí
Anus
*Funda
bag, shopping bag (Spain Spanish the word is bolsa which in DR it is a mans ball bag (not nice))
*Fuñir/ Fuñe
to bother,annoy
*Freco
To get fresh (sexually or verbally), smart mouth (really spelt fresco meaning fresh but usually said without the “S” in this form)
*Fregada
bother, hassle, nuisance
*Freta
when a woman’s nipples are cold and erect
*Furufa
an ugly woman, not nice
Galillo
person with a loud voice
Gallina
chicken, a person that’s afraid
Gato
cat, a robber
Gase
burp,belch,gas
glu glu
like saying chug chug in English; the sound one makes when drinking.
Gotea
to fall
Grajo
armpit odor, underarm stink, B O
Grillo
woman of ill repute, uses you then leaves you, usually has bad hair
Guachiman
watchman, private guard
Guagua
privately owned minivan used as transportation
Guaifai
WiFi internet service
Guapo
Angry, mad or tough (in Spain Spanish Guapo (a) is handsome (beautiful) un Guapo us a tough guy
¡ Güay !
an expression meaning WoW!
¡Guay mi Mai!
An expressing meaning pain
Gueje, gueje
ridicule
Güira
metal instrument that is made of perforated metal and scrapped
Hanguia
to hang out. “Lets go hang out at the Colmado”. Hanguiadero/ a is one who hangs. New York Latinos
Heavy
cool “Que heavy.” (How cool) “‘Ta heavy” (That is cool)
Hijo de Machepa
a poor man who does not have anything “Son of bad luck”
Horripilante
terrible
Huidera/o
when a crowd runs to or from where something is happening, where the action is
Impueto
accustomed to, used to, customary
Jablador or Hablador (jablador is more common)
liar
Jabladoraso
someone who exaggerates things or twist them to get what they want, stronger word than just Jablador.
Jalar
to put drugs up your nose
Jamona
a woman that is old (past 40 years old) and not married,
Jaro
aluminum vase to drink water , can be any size
Jarto/a
very tired of something or someone
Jeepeta
SUV truck
Jevón
girl,usually very beautiful
Joder
(a bad word) many meanings…to bother someone; to make love to.
Joe
when you don’t know someone’s name you call them Joe
Jompear (yompear)
to jump start a car with jumper cables
Jumo
a drunk person
¿K lo K?
(Que lo Que) Whats up? Whats happenin’?
Kachu
ketchup
Kille
(literally broken glass) To be angry
Kimbo, po pó,
Jierro pistol
Kukika, carabelita
cheep low quality item
Lambón
is someone that goes to someone’s home and eats and drinks their food without invite, flatters someone for personal gain
Lavagallos
literally rooster cleaner, bad rum was used to clean the game cocks wounds bad rot gut liquor or firewater
lon pley
(long play) a record album
Loco
“Are you nuts!” = “¡tu ta loco!” calling someone crazy.
Lonchera
comes from English word lunch, used to describe a child’s lunch box
Lua
a spirit protector
Lunche
lunch
Luz
electrical service, lights
(la) macaste
you did it wrong, or you messed up
Machucar or Machacar
to smash or crush (as in I smashed my toe.)
Mai
mom; mamá; mother
Maipiolo
someone that is a match maker. Looks for a partner for another, fixes someone up
MamaJuana
A typical Dominican drink made with herbs and roots with rum,honey and vine added. Some may have
Mandamás
big shot, boss
Mano
short for hermano, brother. Used when greeting a good friend. “oye mi mano” ( “hey my brother”)
Manso
(manso); Mansito tranquilo; cool; relaxing; chillin’. Can also mean a nonaggressive domesticated animal.
Mala pata
bad luck, is the same as mala suerte
Mata
tree
Matantan
very street smart and hardcore individual
Maricon
gay man
Masamorra
athletes feet or foot disease
Mayimbe
boss, big shot
Medio Pollo
coffee with milk
Menta
mint, refers to all types of candy
Mishu
how to call a cat to come here (instead of saying pssspsssp)
Mol
Mall, as in shopping mall
Mono
monkey, a person that is annoying
Moños, greñas, pajón, corbeja, afro
used to describe frizzy hair
Montro (a)
dude, buddy, pal.
Morena, Moreno
the brown color of the skin. You will hear someone call out to another “Oy Morena!”
Moto
motorcycle
Motoconcho
motorcycle taxi (more on transportation Dominican style)
Muflé
a muffler
Muñecas Limé
the doll of limé was created in 1981 by sculpture Mere Liliana. The original is not made now
Mu, Muo
dumb
*Ná
short for nada (nothing) (corrected by Rachel)
*Nalgas
butt cheeks (in Spain Spanish the word is culo which in DR Spanish that is the butt hole)
*Ñame
fool, idiot
*Ñañara (Saranana, guachipa, salpullio)
Itching and burning dermatitis
*Ñapa
a gift for buying a lot of things. Like the bank gives a gift for opening an account or you buy 3 and get 1 free.
*Negocito
small business. usually meaning all the little vendors and shops set up along the streets
*Nitido
when something is cool. “That’s cool” = “ta nitido”
*Ñojo
said to say something in very large “¡Que ñojo (gran) pescao!” “What a big fish! (from the southwest
Olla
signifies being in big monetary trouble
*Ordenar
to order
*Osten
someone that acts in a very arrogant way
*Oyé
when someone is wants to make sure they are heard, ie: “listen up”! (usually said 2 times to make it
*Oyéme
“Listen to me”.
*pa’ k
why, but why. “Pa’ k you do not talk to me?”
*pa´allá
over there. “Where is the street?” “Pa’ alla” (said with a underhand swish of the wrist).
*Pa’ po’ la
when you take leftovers from a restaurant to eat the next day
*Pai
dad; papá; father
*Pájaro
feminine homosexual
*Pajon
person with their hair all messed up and sticking out.
*Palé
the lottery, it is combination first and second numbers of the lottery and pays 1000 to 1
*Palero
from Trujillos era this was one of his security forces armed with heavy wooden bats
*Paletero
street vendor that sells cigarretes, candies and gum from a box that resembles a large suitcase, palet.
*Paloma
love, gentile person.
*Palomo
one who deceives in love. Game player.
*Pampers
disposable diapers
*Pana, Panita
friend, partner, colleague. A friendly remark to greet a friend.
*Panó or Panneau
the horses you see around that look skinny, like they are on their last leg, but are really very strong
*Pantis
panties
*Paracaídas
someone that goes to a party uninvited
*Parao
person with good economic position. It is also a sexual expression talking about an erect penis
*Parejero
a vain person, to be vain
*Pariguayo
party watcher
*Pasao
crazy, used when you disapprove of the actions of another person ‘‘tu ‘ta pasao’’
*Patana
big trailer truck
*Patatú
a person very upset; the person damn near got a heart attack
*Pavo
turkey
*Pecao
fish
*Pega Cuernos
unfaithful
*Pegao
person who includes himself in an activity without being invited.
*Pegote
a piece of something
*Peje, Pecao
fish
*Pelmaso
stupid; clumsy
*(te) Pelota
to hit, strike
*Penco
big, immense. Used mainly in the town of Jaragua
*Pendejo
idiot, person full of it.
*Peo
flatuilation, fart
*Perico Ripiao
the oldest type of merengue music made with with guira, tambora(drum) and accordion.
*Picaro
person who does not pay.
*Picher
the person that receives and helps the people in a guagua
*Pico duro
smart alec
*Pilón
wooden mortar and pestle used for grinding coffee, garlic, and other spices.
*Piltrafa
(to be eaten by pigs) worthless, useless
*Pínpún
the same, equal
*Pipá
(packed) when someplace or thing is packed tight with people, really crowded
*¡Pipo!
(typical expression in the Cibao area) expresses surprise, “Wow!”
*Pique
to be of bad humor, in a rage, not in a good mood “¡Tengo un pique!”
*Plebo or playú
plywood
*Ploplo
soft, flexible muscles. Slang for when the rear end (butt) of a woman is loose and bouncy.
*Pluma
water spigot
*Poli
cops; police
*Poloché
Polo Shirt
*Pone chivo
doubt, not trust
*Popof
a high class person (same as fiftyfifty)
*Pote
a small sampling of something. ie. pack of ketchup or mayonnaise, a 1 serving bottle of rum.
*(Tener) Prángana
to have a very bad economic problem
*Prieto
Negro
*Propina
tip, monetary gift
*Pulpería
to be overwhelmed
*Puta
slut
Qué lo Qué?
(same as ¿que pasa?) “Whats happening?” “Whats up?” (also written as ¿k lo k?)
*Que Lo What
when you greet friends and ask what’s happening. (sort of like k lo k but half English)
*Quebrao
man with an extremely large penis
*Quilla/o (se quilla)
to bother something or someone; to be mad
*Quiniela
since most don’t have the money to bet a group or community pool their money together to bet on the
*Quinielero/ a
the person that takes the bets, many times having smaller winnings only on a few numbers
*(a la) Guimbamba
to finish or end late
*Quisqueya
in the Taino language it means”land for which there is none better” What the Dominicans call the island. Also a brand of beer.
Rapana
friends with benefits. Sex buddy
*Rapar
to have vigorous sex with a person
*Raquiña
itch
*Rata
it is the lowest form to call a person, worse than calling someone garbage
*Rebulujado o rebuluteao
disorganized
*Recorte
a trim, as in trim the heir or the bushes
*Relambio
obnoxious
*Remenión
when dancing the merengue it is the ability to rapidly move the mid section of the body
*Revejio
young person with the face or an old person
*Rufo
Roof
*(una) Rumba
a lot
Sacaliñar
to throw something (that they did) up in someone’s face
Sacando chipa
Being very angry
Sacar chivo
to commit fraud (Trujillo is referred to as a chivo)
Samuro
non pure bread fighting rooster
Sanky Panky
Gigolo Dominican style, comes from the words hanky panky
Saranana
skin allergy
Segundito
when you ask someone to give you a few seconds more time “Give me a second.”
(hacer un) Serrucho
To collect money (maybe money owed to you)
Si Dios Quieres
If God wants. Many Dominicans say this after saying anything to show they are not arrogant.
Sica
poop, fecal matter
Sicote
smelly feet
Silebí
sealed beam, headlamp for an automobile
Silin
Ceiling
Siro
syrup (as in maple syrup)
Soba
caress
Sobacco
armpit
Soquín
an all around bad odor
Suape
a mop or the act of mopping.
Suape
someone that is very drunk “Tengo un suape” “I’m drunk.”
Swiche
( in Spain Spanish interrupter) light switch
Tabaná
open handed smack on the face
Tacaño
when someone is cheep, does not like to spend money
Ta´en olla
bankrupt, broke
Ta’ Pagao
when you have a connection with an important person in a high position
Ta to
OK. If you agree with something said. or ¿Ta to?; “Is everything OK?”
Teipi
scotchtape, adhesive tape
ténis
tennis shoes
Teshir
Tshirt
Te da una galleta or cocotaso
to slap someone
Te e´plota
to strike or hit
Tibiar
(the Spanish verb is entibiar) heating up water or soup on the stove
Tigre
tiger. used to describe a person that is a go getter, will do what it takes to get what he wants
Tinaco
large tank on the roofs of many buildings used to hold water for the times when the water runs out.
Tingola
a blow to the Adams Apple (la nuez de adán) with the fingers
Tirijala
discussion
Tiro, cartuchazo o plomazo
to shoot a gun or fire arm
Tisica
sickly, skinny, or gaunt
Tripea
joke
(que)Tripeo
“What a pity.” (“Que lástima”)
Tutumpote
person in a good financial and economical situation
Tufo
bad odor, bad breath
tu ta’
(tu esta) you are “¿Como tu ta’?” = “how are you?”; “¿Donde tu ta’?” = “Where are you?”
Una Fria
(cold one) Una bien fria (really cold one) what you say when you ask for a beer, you will usually
Vacano
something is cool. “That’s cool” = “ta vacano”
Vacuencia
poop, fecal material; when you tell someone they are talking nonsense (shit). This one word can cover an entire sentence. “Your talking a bunch of crap!”
Vaina
(literally vine) thing, “Give me that thing”. Can be used as an exclamation like “Damn!” (“Que Vaina!”) or can be used as if you were saying “That’s a shit.” ( “es a vaina”). This word can be used many different ways.
Vale
means a person from the campo/country person,
Veldá’? Son veldá
“Is it true?” (“Es verdad?”) “Yes, it’s true” (“Si, es verdad”)
Verdugo
expert
Vestida de Novia
another name for a beer. The layer of ice on the outside of the bottle.
Vidrio inglés
(English glass) animal poop, when you’re walking and you step on a pile of poop you stepped on an English glass.
Vientiocho
(28) crazy, loco
Viralata
used to describe a mixed bread dog usually brown, and the way they search for food in the garbage.
Vivaporu
Vicks Vapo Rub (a cure for everything)
Vividores
people who live of the money of others; ie. a man that lives on monetary gifts from another
Voladora
a small bus that has a certain route to follow
Volteo
when a plate is filled up with large portions of food
Yeyo
a person highly upset or almost got a heart attack “Le dio un yeyo”
Yilet
(Gillette) razor
Yola
small fishing boat. Many times used to sneak Dominicans into USA
Yunque
being in a fighting, roughneck mood.
Yuncazo
a type of fighting hit that makes you fee afterwards like you were hit with a bull.
