30 Puerto Rican Slang Every Spanish Learner Should Know

If you’re passionate about learning Latin American Spanish, getting familiar with Puerto Rican slang is a must.

Among Spanish-speaking countries, Puerto Rican slang stands out for its expressions. Whatever your reasons for learning this variety of Spanish, mastering slang terms will definitely enrich your experience.

Below, I’ve shared 30 Puerto Rican slang words and phrases that you definitely should learn to use.

Also make sure to check out my article on Spanish slang as well.

🇵🇷 Boricua

Boricua means “Puerto Rican,” derived from “Borikén,” the indigenous Taíno name for the island. Puerto Ricans proudly use this term to express national identity, whether at home or abroad. You’ll frequently hear locals referring to themselves as Boricuas with deep pride.

🙏 ¡Bendito!

¡Bendito!, often shortened to ¡Dito!, expresses sympathy, surprise, or affection. It’s similar to saying “Oh my goodness!” or “Poor thing!” For instance, if you stub your toe, expect someone nearby to sympathetically exclaim, “¡Ay, bendito!”

🎉 Wepa

Wepa is an energetic exclamation of joy, enthusiasm, or celebration, akin to shouting “Woohoo!” or “Awesome!” It’s common at parties, events, and celebrations, perfectly capturing Puerto Rican spirit.

😲 Chacho / Acho

Chacho or its shorter form acho is derived from muchacho (boy) and is used as a casual exclamation, similar to “man,” “dude,” or “wow.” For example, “Chacho, hace calor!” means “Man, it’s hot!”

🥳 Janguear

Janguear comes from the English “to hang out,” meaning to spend time casually with friends, typically out on the town. “Vamos a janguear esta noche” means “Let’s hang out tonight.”

💪 Bregar

Bregar means to deal with something or handle a situation. It’s frequently used to describe overcoming challenges or simply managing daily life: “Estoy bregando con mucho estrés” translates to “I’m dealing with a lot of stress.”

⛵ Al garete

Al garete, originating from nautical terminology meaning “adrift,” refers to chaos or disorganization. If a party gets out of control, you might say, “La fiesta está al garete.”

🤯 Revolú

Revolú means a mess, confusion, or chaotic situation. It’s often used humorously or frustratingly when things get disorderly: “Esta oficina es un revolú.” (“This office is a mess.”)

🚌 Guagua

In Puerto Rico, guagua is the word for bus. Don’t expect locals to say autobús; they’ll direct you to take a guagua instead.

🤝 Pana

Pana means friend, buddy, or pal, used commonly among peers. It expresses familiarity and closeness: “Él es mi pana desde la infancia” means “He’s been my buddy since childhood.”

💘 Jeva / Jevo

Jeva (female) and Jevo (male) refer to a girlfriend or boyfriend, or more casually, an attractive person. For example, “Esa jeva está linda” means “That girl is beautiful.”

💃 Perrear

Perrear means dancing reggaeton in a sensual, provocative way. Commonly heard at parties and clubs, it’s deeply connected to Puerto Rico’s vibrant music culture.

➡️ Pa’lante

Pa’lante is short for para adelante, meaning “forward.” It encourages progress, positivity, and perseverance. “Siempre pa’lante!” means “Always move forward!”

💰 Chavos

Chavos means money. It’s casual and common in daily speech. “No tengo chavos” means “I don’t have money.”

😎 Brutal

Brutal literally means “brutal,” but in slang, it’s equivalent to “awesome” or “amazing.” After an exciting event, you might exclaim, “¡Estuvo brutal!”

🤥 Embuste

Embuste means lie or falsehood, similar to “no way!” or “you’re kidding!” If someone tells an outrageous story, you’d respond, “¡Eso es embuste!”

🍰 Mamey

Mamey refers to something easy, like saying “piece of cake.” “Este examen es un mamey” means “This exam is easy.”

🦁 Babilla

Babilla means courage, guts, or bravery. Saying someone has babilla means they’re brave or daring. “Tienes babilla si haces eso” means “You’re brave if you do that.”

🌫️ Nebuloso

Nebuloso describes a suspicious or shady person or situation. Similar to saying something seems “fishy,” you might comment, “Ese tipo se ve nebuloso.”

😏 Guillao

Guillao comes from guillado, meaning someone who pretends or acts arrogantly. Saying “Está guillao” means “He’s acting stuck-up.”

👫 Corillo

Corillo means a group of friends, your “crew” or “gang.” It emphasizes closeness within social circles: “Salí con mi corillo anoche” means “I went out with my crew last night.”

🗣️ Bochinche

Bochinche means gossip, referring to juicy news or rumors. “Me enteré del bochinche” translates as “I heard the gossip.”

🤜🤛 Broki

Broki, derived from “brother,” refers affectionately to close friends or siblings. “¿Qué haces, broki?” is “What’s up, bro?”

😜 Gufear

Gufear means having fun or joking around, coming from “goofy.” Saying “Estamos gufeando” means “We’re having fun.”

👋 Mano

Mano, short for hermano (brother), is casually used among friends like “bro” or “man.” “Mano, tengo hambre” means “Man, I’m hungry.”

🍽️ Jartera

Jartera refers to feeling extremely full after a big meal. After overeating, you’d likely say, “¡Qué jartera tengo!” (“I’m so stuffed!”)

🕶️ Bichote

Bichote refers to someone influential, powerful, or respected—a “big shot.” It’s also used playfully among friends who show off confidence.

⚾ Pichear

Pichear, from baseball’s “pitcher,” now means to ignore or disregard someone or something. Saying “Me picheó” means “He ignored me.”

😂 Tripear

Tripear means to joke or tease playfully, from “to trip.” “Me estás tripeando” translates as “You’re kidding me.”

🚗 Tapón

Tapón refers to a traffic jam. Puerto Ricans, familiar with traffic congestion, use it frequently. “Estoy en un tapón” means “I’m stuck in traffic.”

These slang terms offer insight into Puerto Rican culture, helping you communicate more naturally and authentically.

Learning Puerto Rican Spanish

These slang terms offer deep insight into Puerto Rican culture, helping you communicate more naturally and authentically.

To further enhance your Spanish skills, don’t miss my articles on Spanish idioms and Spanish curse words.

For even more ways to improve your Spanish, explore my curated list of online Spanish courses featuring excellent resources specifically geared toward Latin American Spanish.

I also highly recommend the book Speaking Phrases Boricua by Jared Romey who’s an expert on Latin American Spanish varieties.

Did I miss any important Puerto Rican slang words?

Comment below.

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