This generally means bra. In Cuban slang, it would be boring to use regular vocab for a restaurant, or a cafe…instead, the locals will use paladar to describe a place where you go to drink and eat like there’s no tomorrow. I like it! Thank you so much for dropping by, Miguel, and taking the time to comment and share your knowledge! That’s why I put a reminder at the beginning of the post for everyone not-Cubano to watch out with the use of the slang in the post. Hi, and welcome to Becci Abroad! Have you ever heard about the famous Cuban singer Celia Cruz? Thank you for dropping by my blog and taking the time to leave some comments . The locals loved it when we said this as we were leaving ? In this post, I've gathered popular Cuban Slang Words. It can be spelled both with s or with c. Are you looking for inspiration on what to do while in Cuba? a street term meaning cocaine. Download Guide Now! As most Hispanics don’t have a pronounceable difference between how v and b, you might as well see it spelled like qué bola. Then, these 10 phrases of Cuban slang might be very useful for you, and help your interacting with the Cubans. A superlab making an average amount of meth—100 pounds—can earn the manufacturer about $4 million when sold on the street. Overdoses, along with several other serious health problems, are not uncommon. In Cuba, “pillarse” means that you will see someone later, or, see you later. Frutabomba is Cuban slang for papaya (the fruit). “You’re Welcome in Spanish” – 13 Different Expressions For Any Situation, Chores In Spanish: The Essential Words To Know, Directions In Spanish: Words And Phrases To Learn. You should therefore not use it among people that you don’t know as it will be taken as rude. Cuban cigar sizes are measured by their ring gauge (diameter) and their length. Methamphetamine was discovered in 1893 and exists as two enantiomers: levo-methamphetamine and dextro-methamphetamine. Drug slang and code words are often used to describe controlled substances, designer drugs, and synthetic compounds, which may cause confusion … A Cuban expressions are rich, descriptive and fun. Over two thirds of Cuba’s population is white. That was unexpected! “Tirame un cabo” a good one too! ACID HEAD - user of LSD, "Acid Freak" AIRHEAD - under the influence of marijuana. The Manual of Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment calls it the most addictive form of cocaine. This word is used as a super casual way to address someone you know relatively well. Haha, I wish I had read this 3 years ago before I went to Cuba for the first time and was like”huh?! I’m in Alone Together: Tales of Sisterhood and Solitude in Latin America, 10 places every first-time visitor should have on their bucket list for Buenos Aires. Mand. Drug slang allows teens to talk about drugs openly without raising any red flags at school or at home. What’s up with you? The term appears to have originated in the mid-1980s, at least in print, and, as the citations below indicate, the going rate for such an item at that time ranged from $300 to $350. Download the exact curriculum that thousands of BaseLang students have used to become fluent in Spanish. And as I wrote at the beginning of the post, as foreigners in Cuba we should be very careful if we start to use the slang/vulgarities as the Cuban use them, since it might not come across nicely. Once again thank you so much for sharing! Remember that if you want to dig even further into Cuban Slang, Spansh and Cuban culture, the University of Havana offers Spanish courses for foreigners. Exactly, that’s what’s so amazing about Spanish; it changes according to the country. Men usually use ‘Tremenda Jeva’, or ‘Tremendo Bon Bon’ to refer to a good looking woman. Thank you so much for reminding me of that! Hello, I just wanted to comment on ‘Mango’. The exact translation would be something like “faint that size”, which obviously makes no sense at all. The direct translation of this is “keep your can closed”, but in Cuban slang it is a phrase to tell people to seal their lips, when you tell them something important or a secret. Candela basically means candle but it is mostly used as “fire”, “on fire” or “flame”. A verb that means to cheer up, or to be really excited about something. You look like you were burned, Voy a casa de mi amigo a tirarle un cabo – I’m going to my friends house to give him a hand, Estoy jamando un cable. I’m Cuban and Its funny the way you explained everything..some things are not correct though like #2…yuma…means the USA…example “ellos son de la yuma”. The drug war was triggered by the 1979 Dadeland Mall shootout; in broad daylight, two gunmen of a Colombian drug gang entered and shot two men at a liquor store. However, most Cubans are not used to foreigners knowing this slang. Hello, I am Cuban and I would like to inform you that Fruta Bomba is only used in La Habana and surrounding areas the rest of the island uses papaya as the fruit. The closest you get to a Cuban term for hitchhiking is coger botellas. Está volado. The savvier shoppers among us know that the price of a stash might be negotiated, especially when we can be flexible about the amount we buy. And in this case, tirar un cabo is like throwing a rope, or giving a hand. A “cabo” can be many things, but is also a long object, like a rope. Crack first saw widespread use as a recreational drug in primarily impoverished neighborhoods in New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, … The price of meth also depends upon the amount purchased and where in the country it is sold. Learn how your comment data is processed. Haha, yeah, pinga is by far also my favorite – and the one you will hear the most! Unfortunately, I have still not created a newsletter. The Cuban slang version is used to describe people who gossip a lot. Then, these 10 phrases of Cuban slang might be very useful for you, and help your interacting with the Cubans. Asere is a Cuban way of saying amigo – or friend. Zero to advanced. There is a delicate balance between when it is and isn’t appropriate to use most of the phrases. you are “buscando balas”. And finally, this has to be the most popular and common word. This post is the latest in our series on Spanish slang that you should be familiar with. Zero to conversational in a month. Regarding #2 “yuma” it is a term which I discussed a lot with my Cuban friends. ¿Qué vas a hacer esta noche? It’s predominantly used to describe gains in muscle mass. Thanks for dropping by, Sylvia! In my humble opinion you shouldn’t say “mi favorita es la pinga” without you explaining that you mean the word “pinga” the other way may get u in an awkward situation if u know what I mean (wink), by the way “tu eres un mango mami”. Yes, Cuba is super interesting buut it is still an issue to visit if you are depending on working online! Ah this takes me back to my trip…. It means going to the stoplights to stop cars and ask for a free ride. When something is ugly, disgusting or not nice… you just say qué fula! Example: Guy #1: How much does it cost? There are members of all these groups that use this type of slang and/or vulgarities. ¡Voy a guarachar! Thanks for dropping by! Mand. ≥ 50 < 100 x bulk F-1 F-1 C(1)(e) C(1)(e) Mand. Pareces en candela – Is everything okay with you? Guaranteed. Join the course now, before we come to our senses and charge for it! Here are 25 Cuban slang words that will come in handy if you ever make it down to the island for a vacation. Pincha means work, and can be used both as a subjective: no hay pincha (e.g. Click here to read more about me. Cuba may be known for rum, salsa dancing, cigars and much more, but in the post, we want to explore our favourite Cuban slang that you’ll likely to hear if you ever visit this unique Caribbean island. © 2015-2021 BaseLang®, LLC. A cuban is great way to get a great party going. Once they begin taking the drug though, the risk of addiction is extremely high. The fruit that in most other countries is known as papaya, is in Cuba called fruta bomba (the bomb fruit). You could be talking to a teacher in just 5 minutes! Slang Terms. Bol á is also frequently spelled as volá. Understanding slang words for drugs gives parents a key tool in monitoring their teens for drug abuse. I was not aware that Fruta Bomba is only in La Habana. Thus, several times I heard the explanation that it is a baseball term which somehow got transferred into colloquial Cuban language. Are you planning a visit Cuba, and don’t you want feel like a complete lost foreigner? 2. When a person is having a hard time, or a situation is not looking good at all, then something is en candela, which literally means being burned. Loved it…thanks, Thanks for dropping by, Claire! Thank you for adding that one! People get really impressed when you pull a couple out and light em up. Hi Wiki, Crack cocaine, also known simply as crack or rock, is a free base form of cocaine that can be smoked.Crack offers a short, intense high to smokers. 500 grams = 17.63 ounces "Half Kilo". However, you can have gains in area of fitness. In addition to helping them with school, some may use the drug to lose weight. – I’m out of money. Welcome back to our channel. fish: [adjective] acronym for " fit , intelligent, sexy , hot ". Remember, the worst case scenario is you get a few free classes, don’t like it, and end up with an extra $20 in the bank. And this word it’s used to say that you are helping someone. Generally, for a Scandinavian like me, Cubans tend to shout and swear a lot more when they a making fun with each other than I’m used to. Your email address will not be published. Short for the slang word "meatball" meaning $100. Some terms are universal, yet others solely exist among groups of friends. As with most Latin American countries, most locals prefer to use slang to describe the police. Ring Gauge. Oh, yeah! Do you have it? That said! Thank you for your comment! * * * A kilogram of cocaine is often referred to as being 2.2 pounds of cocaine. Want to experience Havana like an local? But when they are serious and talking quiet there are usually big problems. Thank you for your kind request. Thank you so much for your comment! Better safe it for a time where you have time to be offline , Loved this! Thank you so much for dropping by, Tarkus, and taking the time to comment on my post. Let’s get started: An extremely popular and common greeting in Cuba is to say ¿Qué vola?. Just like there are those who don’t, no matter their genetic characteristics. 11. I have one you missed – vamo echando asere! ALLEY JUICE - very cheap wine, "Grapes" AMPHETAMINES - speed, crystal, crank, meth, black beauties, bennies, uppers, dexies, 357 magnums. That’s a good one! A fun way to encourage them to follow up with the plan would be this phrase. I’m hearing such great things about Cuba at the minute and I feel like I’m missing out! No one wants to get ripped off, right? It’s a perfect way to learn even more about Cuba while exploring the country from within. LOL. I was pointing out that in the spelling of “que vola”/”que bola” might change, exactly because there is no different in the pronunciation of “be corta” and “b larga” in Spanish. Check out this guide for an authentic experience of Havana! Literally means that something slips or slides from you, but is used to express not caring about something. You can also hear it in the exclamations: ¡Qué candela! Hi Luna, I’m happy to hear that you had a good time in Cuba! However, conjugated in a wide variety of ways and placed into all sort of different contexts, it can mean anything from “it is horrible” (está de Pinga), “amazing” (empinagado), “what the hell is up with you” (qué Pinga te pasa a tí)… And, well, the list just continues. It doesn’t direct mean anything bad. – That man dressed badly. They are so sweet your cats! #3 – cool, thanks for clarifying! Required fields are marked *. You already have a BaseLang account. Last edited on Aug 04 2016. This post is more meant as informative for foreigners travelling to Cuba and wanting to know and understand a bit more about the Spanish used in Cuba. It’s a perfect way to learn even more about Cuba while exploring the country from within. When used about persons it can either mean that the person is super-hot or a troublemaker (ella está candela). 2. at all. Because “papaya” in Cuba means lady parts. Looking for more insides on Cuba? Thank you for dropping by! The Spanish “b” (be larga) and “v” (be corta) are pronounced exactly alike. Even though i also speak Spanish, of course i wouldn’t jnow slang words used in Spanish speaking countries! In Cuba, they use caballito as a word for a policeman on a motorcycle. ¿Podrías darme un jugo de frutabomba por favor? Literally translated it refers to the male genital organ. Hey guys! And Cubans I met along the way did call me “yuma” despite knowing that I wasn’t from the US. Voy a trabajar este fin de semana para buscar balas. Yommo is 1 year older than Tommy. No spam! ¡Agua! I have even created an Instagram account for them ( https://www.instagram.com/tayo_home/ ) and probably soon they will have more followers than me (kinda funny). What a fun read! 51 Colorful Cuban Slang Phrases: Fish, Mangos, Camels, Papayas and More 1. Amphetamines . You are so very right! Beyond its literal meaning, “I am making some coffee” there’s more to it. When something is really really good, they use this phrase: está volao. I completely agree with you that as a foreigner you should really watch out how and when you use the Cuban slang (which is also why I put a note about that in the beginning of the post). Eso está de pinga! For Cubans yuma is another and more common way of saying yankie – or white foreigner. #4 – one clarification; it is my “favorite” in the way that “me llama la atención” how much Cubans use it! They may use drug slang in text messages or when speaking with peers to prevent adults from knowing they are using or conversing about teen drug use. 125 grams = 4.40 ounces "Big Eight" (Eighth of a kilo) 250 grams = 8.81 ounces "Quarter Kilogram". those phrases are really catchy , Hi Anete! … At the beginning of a word and after “m” or “n”, the hard Spanish “b/v” closely resembles the “b” in the word “boy,” except that the lips are held tense. I would like to share some of my favorite Cuban expressions and help you understand how to use them so that next time you’re in Havana “you will be finishing” (everyone will be very impressed with you). Well, well it this is a word with mutual usages and meanings. The rest are either, mixed, black, or East Asian. This translates as “monster”, but in Cuba, and some other Spanish speaking countries, you can use the word monster to describe someone is really good at what they do. – I’m out of here, I have to go to the work, No me gusta estar con ellos porque son muy bembelequeros – I don’t like hanging out with them because they are very gossip people, ¡Ese hombre se vistió fula! This blog is presented by BaseLang: Unlimited Spanish Tutoring for $149 a Month. Thanks for reminding me of that, asere . Believe it or not it’s actually said when a host wants its guests This is a Cuban slang phrase used when someone wants to forget about something that happened before, a bad experience, a broken heart, an embarrassing situation, etc. Here, we’ve put together some key slang drug terms to help families identify addictions. Thanks for dropping by! If you have bit of more Spanish background knowledge, this video explains almost all the different usages I have heard of while in Cuba: However, a word of warning: This is a very informal way of expressing one self and mainly used among friends. Hi Joel, version to the product entitled “Drug Slang Code Words” published by the DEA in May 2017. The Spanish slang and a touch of the Cuban accent could definitely change their mind. I am going to work these weekend, so I can get some money, Esa mujer es un monstruo bailando. Even if you understand some basic Spanish, it can be very hard to make sense of Cuban Spanish . It means “don’t let down.” Coger un diez “take a break” Voy a hacer café. You forgot tirame un cabo wich literally means throw me an anchor but its really like saying help me out in english. They are from USA so “que bola la yuma esta?” that you wrote for #3 means nothing…dont ever say that to anyone they will laugh at you…and wont know what you’re traying to mean.. #9 is Mango when refering to someone hot you say “esa jeba(girl) es un mango”…#4 is well you know..i read a few of the comments saying that this word was your favorite but believe me only the lowest form of expression…it sounds extremely dirty in Cuban and if used infront of the locals they will view you as trashy…..it sounds funny in English but extremely low class in Spanish…. Thanks for dropping by! Remember that if you want to dig even further into Cuban Slang, Spansh and Cuban culture, the University of Havana offers Spanish courses for foreigners. I saw your tweet about animals and thought I will check your website. –  Forget about it woman, that man wasn’t good for you, Me piro, tengo que ir al gao. Refers to a cuban cigar, hand made, and illegal in the United States. Your email address will not be published. When walking the streets of any Cuban city, you can be certain to hear this phrase many times. I wanted to subscribe to your newsletter, but I couldn’t find it. So happy to hear that you enjoyed the post! – I’m eating cables. Brilliant Rebecca! Ah! ≥ 5 < 50 x bulk F-2 F-1 C(1)(d) C(1)(d) Mand. When you translate it directly, it’s not a very pleasant phrase, since it literally means “eat shit”. Nobody is completely sure where it comes from. Thus, admit that Cubans use that word/phrasing a LOOOOOOT, right? Estoy cansada, necesito surnar – I’m tired, I need to have a deep sleep. No puedo salir esta noche. All rights reserved. Mi botero en Cuba, tiene un almendrón muy bonito – My taxi driver in Cuba, has a very nice old car; Unsure what to learn next? !” Pinga is my favorite one! The Miami drug war was a series of armed conflicts in the 1970s and 1980s, centered in the Florida city of Miami, between the United States government and multiple drug cartels, primarily the Medellín Cartel.. Or let’s go buddy! Why is that? Katie recently posted…Alcotraz Bar Brick Lane, Thanks for dropping by, Katie! I picked up on cuban slang whilst there ..my cuban fiends taught me to say “que bola”..it made them laugh?…the papya one and pjnga waz discreetly put to me… I’m so close at the moment (Mexico), but need to work online, so Cuba isn’t exactly ideal for me right now. Hi Amy, thanks for dropping by! Hi! Also, watch the slang…. Terms   Privacy, Terms for our incredible guarantee can be read here. An 8 ball (also commonly called eight ball) is approximately an eighth of an ounce (ranging from 3 to 3.5 grams) of an illegal drug, most often cocaine.. Where did 8 ball come from?. La pincha is Cuban slang for the place where you work. Hope you enjoyed the read! A verb that expresses to have a “deep sleep”. Look at ya ! “Jamar” means to eat with an appetite, and so this phrase literally translates as “eating cables,  which is used to describe being broke, out of money, or out of work (or maybe all three). – That woman is a dancing monster, Desmaya esa talla mujer, ese hombre no era bueno para ti. , Everyone here are white like full on white people wanting to talk like cubans. Thanks for dropping by Greta! Hey girl . Download the exact curriculum that thousands of BaseLang students have used to become fluent in Spanish, We sent you an email with a link to download the guide. Thanks for dropping by Isabelle! Overall, the price of meth has declined since the 1980s, but for illicit meth manufacturers, it is still a profitable business. Hi Omar, Knowing the slang terms for these drugs may help you determine if a loved one is using drugs, which may prevent them from developing or exacerbating addiction. Guy #2: It be a ball forty. Then my mission is completed! Great for parents, teachers, law enforcement, and teenagers. Please contact support. Unlimited one-on-one classes for a flat rate. Se nota que eres yuma, no parece que seas de aquí – I can tell that you are not from here. We learned what lingo equals what weight and then what that weight looks like in its little baggie. For example, a ring size of 50 represents 50 / 64 of an inch. It’s more like a street talk for “brother”/”bro”. many of them are vulgar and you could offend someone who is more formal. §2925.03 DRUG AMOUNT LEVEL: S or J DIVISION: S or J GUIDANCE: S or J Schedule I or II* < bulk F-4 F-3 C(1)(a) C(1)(b) Div. the University of Havana offers Spanish courses for foreigners, many competing taxi whose method of picking people up. Drug slang — or a vocabulary originating from the streets — helps maintain the down-low status quo. He acts like a bigger brother for her. See more words with the same meaning: drugs. Teen drug slang is popular among youth who use drugs. But when Cubans use this word, it is used to tell someone to stop being so stupid, to not be fooled by anyone else. Bueno acere, vámonos – Hey buddy, let´s go! Yes, watch out who you say mango to ? It is an unofficial, official coded language that separates the have from the have-no-clues. ALCOHOL - booze, juice, sauce. Check out this guide for an authentic experience of Havana! Oh yeah, that’s right! We had problems creating your account. My name is Rebecca and I'm the voice behind the site. (In other words: attractive, intelligent, attractive, attractive.)