Okay, so you’ve been brushing up on your Spanish. You’ve booked your flights to Colombia. And you’ve been practicing your Colombian slang.
I hope so anyway parcero! (that’s slang for mate over here by the way…)
Colombian Spanish here is una chimba. And there are a plethora of amazing accents. From the indistinguishable gun fire speech of la costa to the seductive paisa tones of Medellín. Wherever you find yourself you’ll come across some colorful sayings that probably don’t make much sense at first. But, with some practice, you’ll be sounding more Colombian than the arepa.
Now, In this post, I’ll share some that you can use to sound more Colombian. And If you’d rather read in Spanish I’ve linked to the original post I got this from here.
Enjoy!
Empezamos!
Durmió conmigo anoche o qué, que ya no saluda
Literal meaning: Did he/she sleep with me last night or what, now she/he doesn’t say hello
Actual: A friendly way to ask someone why they didn’t say hello to you when they should. And for generally showing bad manners!
No me abra los ojos que no le voy a echar gotas
Literal meaning: Don’t open your eyes to me as I’m not going to throw them drops
Actual: This one is a Colombian mother classic. Used when their children show disapproval i.e. rolling their eyes. And, also used as a warning to the little ones when they’re being disobedient.
Duerme más que un gato con anemia
Literally: he/she sleeps more than a cat with anemia
Actual: A jokey way of telling someone they sleep a lot!
Tengo un filo, que si me agacho me corto
Literal meaning: I have an edge, that if I crouch down I cut myself
Actual: Used when you’re starving
¿Usted qué come que adivina?
Literal meaning: What do you eat that you guess?
Actual: Best used with people who have the knack of guessing or anticipating situations. You know, those friends who have a 6th sense, or perhaps a crystal ball!
El que tiene tienda que la atienda
Literal meaning: He/she that has store looks after it
Actual: Used by the older generation to teach the younger generation to take responsibility for their things and themselves. In other words, be responsible for your own things!
Le cuento el milagro pero no el santo
Literal meaning: I’ll tell you a miracle but not the saint
Actual: Used in situations when someone knows something others don’t. Typically between friends. It would be said by the person who’s going to reveal the secret but not how they know…
Son como uña y mugre
Literal meaning: They are like nail and mud
Actual: The equivalent of cut from the same cloth. In other words, used when describing two good friends.
Es más feo que carro visto por debajo
Literal meaning: he/she is uglier than a car seen underneath
Actual: Used when someone is looking at the least pleasant side of a situation.
Colgar los guayos
Literal meaning: Hang the football boots
Actual: Used when someone dies (basically the same in English)
Habla hasta por los codos
Literal meaning: he/she talks upto the elbows
Actual: Used when someone is a real chatterbox!
Dios le da pan al que no tiene dientes
Literal meaning: God gives bread to those with no teeth
Actual: Used when someone doesn’t appreciate what they already have
Ya está!
How did you get on? Don’t worry if you’re still confused…It just so happens I’ve made a video with a Colombian friend for YouTube. If anything it will help with correct pronunciation!
Now, if you want to be reeling these dichos off willy nilly I suggest getting yourself over here to practice con la gente colombiana…
Hasta la próxima, chau pues!
