Another chunk that should NEVER be translated literally. Yep, this one has absolutely nothing to do with seeing! 👀 Because it’s the Spanish version of: 👉 to have to do with And just like its English equivalent, you’re often gonna hear it used with con + alguien/algo!
Here’s a fun collocation (word pairing) for y’all. Mexicans often use poner when talking about naming someone: So ponerle + nombre just means: 👉 to name him/her + name Yep, I know… MASSIVELY different from English! So yeah, when you’re talking about naming a baby, a dog, etc., you can say: Le puse + nombre = I named him/her + name Le voy a poner + nombre = I’m going to name him/her + name
👉 almost (but with a dash of danger or near-miss energy!) This one’s used when something ALMOST happened… usually something bad, awkward, or intense. So, if Erika tells me, ¡Por poco me caigo! She’s NOT saying, For little I fall. She’s saying, I ALMOST fell!
👉 I overdid it 👉 I got a bit carried away Yep, this one’s basically what you say when you accidentally overdo something. Think adding too much chili to the pot, being a bit too harsh, or going a little overboard with the tequila. 🥴 It’s often followed by con + whatever you went overboard with or con + a person you treated badly.
This is a chunk that I'd never heard before I got to Mexico. But my Sinaloan roomie loved throwing it around (I had like 6 roomies in my first place). ¿Estás a gusto, wey?, he'd ask me constantly And for the longest time, I didn't know how to respond! Until I finally worked out that he was asking me if I was comfortable and/or content. So yeah, estar a gusto basically means: 👉 to feel good in a place or situation 💡Oh, and it's VERY often paired with bien: Estoy bien a gusto. = I’m so comfy right now.
Ever had a food-related mishap while out and about? Grease on the ol’ t-shirt and all that jazz. Yep, we’ve all been there. But what if you wanna ask how bad the stain is in Spanish? Well, there’s actually a super specific phrase just for these situations: ¿Se me nota? It just means: 👉 Is it obvious? / Can you tell?
👉 It shows 👉 It’s obvious 👉 You can totally tell So yeah, if your friend stubbornly declares, “¡No estoy enamorado!” But they’ve got that goofy, starry-eyed grin etched all over their face… Well, feel free to raise an eyebrow and hit them with: Es que se te nota cañón, wey. Dude, it’s super obvious.
Someone heading somewhere and you wanna go with them? Well, you’re gonna be needing the chunk yo te acompaño, then! Here’s what it means: 👉 I’ll come with you 👉 I’ll tag along / I’ll come with 👉 I’ll keep you company
Yep, you guessed it, this one just means (drum roll 🥁)... 👉 take care But NOT in the sense of warning someone; it’s always used as a farewell.
Nope, no plants to see here! 🌱 De planta is just a super common way of talking about work that is: 👉 full-time / permanent (i.e., a stable job on payroll)
This one’s pure Mexican gold. It just means: 👉 Exactly like that 👉 Just like that 👉 That’s right / You got it
This one’s just a fun diminutive version of así mero. 🤏 And yep, it means the exact same thing: 👉 Exactly like that 👉 Just like that 👉 That’s right / You got it Oh, and the diminutive form here is totally unnecessary grammatically… But SUPER NECESSARY if you wanna sound Mexican. 😂
Ok, so this is another one that’s gonna make you sound WAY more native. You’ll hear it when someone’s about to dive into an activity, be it working, researching, cleaning, cooking, etc. It’s basically the Spanish equivalent of: 👉 I’ll start / I’m gonna start + verb in infinitive
This is how you say who you support or root for in sports: 👉 to root for / to support + a sports team Yep, in real-life Mexican Spanish, people say: Le voy al América. I support América. It’s the natural, chunky way to talk about your team. ⚽
Literally? 👉 I take back what I said And yep, that’s exactly what it means. No weird idiomatic twist here, folks.
This is another chunk that you’re gonna hear ALL. THE. TIME. It’s basically what you say when you: 👉 unsubscribe / unenroll / opt out (of something official) 🏦 Closing a bank account? 🎓 Dropping a university course? 💪 Quitting the gym? Well, you’re gonna be using darse de baja!
If darse de baja is opting out, then darse de alta is its happy, proactive twin. It means (drum roll 🥁)... 👉 to sign up / to register / to enroll And trust me, this chunk pops up EVERYWHERE, from setting up a phone line to registering for healthcare to opening a bank account.
Wanna sound like a mexicano de verdad? Then whip this lil’ beauty out the next time you need to say that you don’t have the means, tools, or resources to do something. The full structure is: no tengo con qué + infinitive. And it means something like: 👉 I don't have what I need to + verb
Another chunk that’s VERY different from the English! 👉 I have no way / no means to do something 💡 And, yep, it IS very similar to no tengo con qué. Here’s the lowdown: No tengo con qué focuses more on a lack of tools/resources (money, hammers, etc.). No tengo cómo is more about not knowing how or having no way to do something.
Say hola to the Mexican version of: 👉 see ya / catch you later Yep, ahí nos vemos is just an informal way of saying goodbye to your pals.
This one’s SUPER colloquial! It basically means: 👉 See ya 👉 I’m outta here
Adieu, adieu! Remember me – Hamlet by William Shakespeare (Act 1, Scene 5) Nah, this one’s more Hunter S. than Shakespeare ;) It’s a slangy way of saying: 👉 catch you later Even if you have absolutely no intention of actually catching the person later! It’s the sentiment that counts, right?
This is what you say when you accidentally greet someone with buenos días after 12 PM (aka buenas tardes time). It means something like: 👉 Morning... oh, it's afternoon already! It’s a fun, self-correcting chunk that’s particularly popular with Boomers and Gen Xers.
👉 Wait, what?! It’s that late already? 👉 Daaaamn, where did the time go? This is a classic Mexican time-shock chunk, perfect for when you look at the clock and realize that it’s WAYYY later than you thought!
Say hola (literally!) to the Mexican version of: 👉 say hi to + name (for me) Me saludas a Marcos. = Say hi to Marcos for me. / Tell Marcos I said hey. It’s short, sweet, and VERY common, especially when you’re wrapping up a convo with someone who’s off to see mutual friends or family.
Va que va is one of the friendliest, breeziest, most enthusiastic ways to express agreement in Mexican Spanish! It means something like: 👉 Alright, will do. 👉 You got it. It’s basically what you say when you’re on board with the plan, and maybe even lowkey hyped about it! 🕺
This one’s a bit redundant, tbh. Both sale and vale on their own already mean OK, sounds good, or alrighty. And when you mash them together? 👉 OK, cool. 👉 Alrighty then. 👉 Sure thing, sounds good. So yeah, same idea, but with a DISTINCTLY MEXICAN flair, obvio. 💅
This one’s another super chunk. Why? Well, because it’s unbelievably useful, that’s why! 💥 You see, you can tack most adjectives that describe your current state or mood after andar to create: 👉 A super colloquial way of saying how you feel (especially when it’s ongoing) Ando cansado. = I’m tired. Andan bien preocupados. = They’re really worried. Anda bien de malas. = She’s in a really bad mood. Treat this one with reverence, and it will treat you (and your Spanish!) well in return.
Another SUPER useful colloquial chunk for talking about feelings! This one literally means I’m carrying, but emotionally it’s more like saying: 👉 I’m dealing with… 👉 I’m feeling very… It adds weight, urgency, and a bit of spice to how you're feeling. So yeah, it’s not just “Estoy enojado.” It’s “TRAIGO UN CORAJE.” You’re carrying that rage around like a hot potato. Ouch!
These two are VERY similar, so I’ve decided to unceremoniously lump them together. 😉 And honestly? They’re like the Swiss Army knives of Mexican Spanish. Why? Well, because both can mean ANY of the following, depending on tone and context: 👉 Okay then. / Sure. (agreement) 👉 Come on! (telling someone to hurry up) 👉 Alright then. (wrapping up a convo) Yep, all that, depending on HOW and WHEN you say them. 💡 Ándale and órale are generally interchangeable, but I’ve noticed that Mexicans tend to favor one over the other (think Team Ándale vs. Team Órale). BUT… Órale pues is usually more enthusiastic or expressive, while ándale pues is more often used to urge someone into action or casually confirm something with a more neutral (or resigned!) tone. ¡Cómo insistes! Ándale pues, vamos por helado. You just won’t give up, huh? Okay, fine, let's go get ice cream.
Say hello to THE quintessential Mexican greeting. And yep, you’d be right in thinking that qué pasó means what happened, but in Mexican Spanish, it can also mean something closer to: 👉 What’s up! So, the next time a Mexican hollers “¡Qué pasó!”, DON’T start going into minute details about what you just ate for lunch, etc. 😅
This is just a nice, neutral way to say: 👉 OK. 👉 Alright. 👉 Agreed.
Another day, another chunk with the accidental se. 😉 And this one’s an absolute LIFESAVER, especially if you’re speaking Spanish and your brain decides to hit the pause button mid-sentence. 🧠💨 It generally translates well to: 👉 I forgot what I was gonna say 💡 Se me fue literally means it went away from me, but native speakers use it when they have a brain fart while talking. So yeah, next time you forget a word or lose your train of thought, just drop a casual “¡Se me fue!” and nobody will bat an eyelid.
This one’s for all you creatures of habit. 😎☕ It just means: 👉 the usual Feel free to use it at your fave café, taco stand, or tamal cart. Oh, and just as in English, it works as both a question or a statement: ¿Lo de siempre? = The usual? Lo de siempre, porfa. = The usual, please.
This one literally means: I wouldn’t know what to tell you. And in plain English? 👉 Honestly… I have no clue. 💡This is the chunk Mexicans whip out when you ask them where something is and they don’t know (but still want to be polite and helpful). 🧭❌
This one’s a super idiomatic way to say something’s hard / difficult:
👉 cuesta trabajo =
This one’s the Spanish version of: 👉 I find it hard + infinitive It’s super common AND super native-sounding. 🎉
Another super useful everyday chunk! 👉 Estoy de acuerdo = I agree Just as in English, it’s often followed by con. Thankfully, NOT one of those Spanish preposition traps!
This one’s simple, clean, and to the point: 👉 No estoy de acuerdo = I don’t agree It’s the polite, default way to disagree in Spanish: no drama, no offense, just respectful disagreement.
This is what you say when you’re about to head out, kinda like the English: 👉 I’m off / I'm leaving now 💡 A quick note: while salir isn’t wrong, it’s generally NOT what the natives say. Why? Because irse focuses more on leaving the group or situation, whereas salir focuses on leaving a physical place. So, if you’re saying goodbye to friends or coworkers, ya me voy is almost always the natural-sounding option. (Though in places like Argentina, you might hear things like me voy a ir saliendo. So yeah, always, keep your ears open to what the natives are saying 😊).
This one literally means with permission. But functionally? It’s the Mexican Spanish version of: 👉 Excuse me 👉 Pardon me 👉 Mind if I squeeze past? 👉 I’m outta here It’s polite, common, and a MUST for daily life in Mexico. You’ll hear it constantly in the streets, at the dinner table, on the bus, etc. Basically, if you’re around people, someone’s saying con permiso. 🤣
You’re probably already familiar with the verb hacer. But what about hace falta? Well, it’s actually a super common way of saying: 👉 it’s necessary 👉 we need (more natural) Let’s say Erika asks me: ¿Qué hay que comprar en el súper? What do we need to buy at the supermarket? I might answer: Hacen falta yogur, cereales y pan. We need yogurt, cereal, and bread. It’s not a direct translation, but it’s the most natural way to express that kind of lack or need in Spanish. Just don’t forget that you’ve gotta conjugate hacer depending on whether the thing(s) you need are singular or plural: Hace falta pan. = We need bread. Hacen falta cebollas. = We need onions.
I remember asking a pal what fíjate que meant after a mere few months in Mexico. Because I literally heard it being used EVERYWHERE! And he said the exact same thing as WordReference: “It means notice that.” Now, my pal wasn’t wrong… but he wasn’t particularly right either! You see, in Mexican Spanish, it’s a super useful sentence starter with multiple different meanings depending on context: 👉 Actually… 👉 So, here’s the thing… 👉 You know what? 👉 Guess what…
You WON’T hear Spanish speakers say “tuve un buen tiempo.” It’s grammatically correct, sure… but it sounds like something Google Translate cooked up. And if you want to say I had a good time in real, natural Spanish? Well, the chunk you need is: 👉 La pasé bien = I had a great time And yep, it’s always la… unless you’re in Spain, where they say lo pasé bien!
This chunk is gonna make you sound WAY more native. Promise. 😉 It’s a natural, super common way to say: 👉 I feel like… 👉 I want to… So, instead of saying: Quiero ir a bailar. I want to go dancing. You can say: Tengo ganas de ir a bailar. I feel like going dancing. / I’m in the mood to dance. 💃 And yeah, saying quiero ir is totally fine. BUT in real-life Mexican Spanish, tener ganas de is way more expressive. Erika 100% prefers it! 😉 💡 Oh, and you can also use it with nouns: Tengo ganas de un helado. I want an ice cream. 🍦
So, this one technically means I’m craving. But here’s the thing: a Mexican craving isn’t always as intense or dramatic as a British or American craving. It’s less “OMG I need this NOW!” And more “Ooooh, that sounds kinda nice right now.” So yeah, se me antoja probably translates best as: 👉 I feel like… 👉 I could go for…
This is just the past tense version of se me antoja. 👉Se me antojó… = I felt like… / I was craving… BUT it can also be used in the present moment. You see, Mexicans often get an urge and say things like: Se me antojó ir por tacos. I feel like going for tacos. ⚠️ Remember: We’re not talking full-blown, kill-for-this cravings. Mexican antojos are soft, gentle, fleeting little urges. 💘
You’re gonna come across this chunk A LOT! It literally means he or she falls well/badly with me… but that doesn’t really make much sense, does it? And that’s because it’s actually another way of saying: 👉 I like/don't like someone (in a non-romantic way!) ⚠️ Remember: If you use gustar with a person, it usually means you’re INTO THEM romantically. So yeah… don’t make the mistake I made and start saying stuff like: Me gusta mi casero. Which means: I fancy my (80-year-old) landlord. 😳💘
This is a great little chunk for when you’ve forgotten something! And since I’m kind of olvidadizo (forgetful!) myself, I use this one pretty much every day. It just means: 👉 I forgot And that se at the beginning? Well, it's called the accidental se, and it’s there to emphasize that it wasn’t on purpose. Yep, you didn’t mean to forget. It just kinda… happened. 💡 You can think of this structure like a traffic light: 🔴 se = the red light = NEVER CHANGES 🟢 me / te / le / nos / les = the green light = changes depending on WHO FORGOT 🟡 olvidó / olvidaron = the yellow light = changes depending on HOW MANY THINGS YOU FORGOT
👉 Hang on a sec. 👉 Wait a sec. 👉 Give me a second. And that cute little -ito at the end? Well, it’s doing a lot of heavy lifting. 💪 It basically makes the phrase sound more polite — and WAYYY more Mexican — than a straight-up “¡Espérame!”
Woohoo! I present to you another super Mexican way of asking someone to hold on or wait (especially when you’re in the middle of doing something!). It just means: 👉 Hold on a sec. 👉 Give me a second. (but chilango style)
This one’s a great way to strongly deny something! It translates well to: 👉 not in the slightest 👉 not at all 💡 You’re always going to use this chunk in NEGATIVE sentences (see examples below!).
This one’s a super Mexican way to suggest a backup plan, especially when you're thinking out loud or just vibing with a pal. It means something along the lines of: 👉 Or if not, we can just… 👉 Or otherwise, we could just… Oh, and it’s also used to float theories as to WHY something happened: ➡️ Or if not, maybe it was… 💡In Mexican Spanish igual has loads of different functions (and will make you sound WAY more native if you start using it!). In this particular chunk, it adds a laid-back, speculative tone.
This is one of those sneaky little chunks that will make you sound SOOO much more natural if you actually use it when speaking! It often translates well as: 👉 …or anything 👉 …or anything like that It’s basically a chill, dismissive, or sarcastic way to end a sentence (and give it a little extra flavor 🌶️).
This lil’ beauty of a chunk is all about NOT being able to do anything. It’s a bit like saying: 👉 There’s nothing I can do. 👉 I got nothing. 💡 It's normally followed by an INFINITVE!
This one’s my fave Mexican softener… just drop it right before saying something that might sound arrogant, blunt, critical, etc., to sound (slightly) less savage, lol. Think of it like: 👉 Not to brag or anything… 👉 No shade… but here’s some shade... 👉 Just saying… 💡 It can go BEFORE or AFTER the opinion you're softening.
This is one of the most useful, gluey little chunks in Spanish! It connects a cause with a consequence, kinda like saying: 👉 so 👉 therefore 👉 so yeah It’s not dramatic or poetic, just everyday verbal duct tape.
Here’s another chunk that’s gonna make you sound SUPER-DUPER Mexican. 🌵 I kid you not. Nomás (get the full lowdown HERE) is a contraction of nada más (which normally means just or only), and in Mexican Spanish it’s used WAYYYY more than solamente or solo. Its chunky form, nomás que, usually works like a warning or condition: 👉 Only thing is… 👉 Just watch out, because… 👉 But… 💡I like to think of nomás que as the spicy Mexican version of but! 🌶️
Another fun Mexican chunk. I mean, aren’t they all? 😉 And this one normally translates well to one of the following: 👉 Other than that… 👉 Aside from that… It’s basically a VERY Mexican way to say: "Yeah, there's this ONE problem, BUT let's not be too negative here."
This is one of those snappy, no-nonsense chunks that get straight to the point. It means: 👉 it’s that simple 👉 it’s as easy as that
This tiny chunk might look innocent… but it’s actually an ABSOLUTE BEAST (in the best possible way!). 👺 It can work like any of the following, depending on context: 👉 because 👉 it’s just that 👉 the thing is It’s one of those chunks that’ll make your Spanish sound WAY more natural without needing any fancy grammar. Oh, and you’ll hear it ALL. THE. TIME. in Mexico!
This one’s just a fancy way of saying: 👉 as long as / provided that You'll hear it A LOT in offices, schools, and when parents are negotiating with teens. Oh, and it’s normally followed by the dreaded subjunctive. 😱
This chunk’s perfect for talking about the upper limit of anything you can count! It roughly translates to: 👉 tops 👉 at most 👉 max
Yay, it’s another SUPER CHUNK! 🎊 And a simple one to boot! Because it normally translates well as: 👉 You know (how)…
Ahorita might be the most infamous Mexican time expression. But this chunk gives it a run for its money! It's as Mexican as they come, and can be every bit as vague as its better-known cousin. Here's what it means: 👉 later / in a bit / sometime soon (ish) Yep, like many Mexican time expressions, al rato reflects a more fluid approach to time!
This one’s a very common way of saying that something will happen: 👉 in a bit / soon And it’s not actually as vague as it sounds! Yep, it’s almost always said with actual intent (i.e., the thing in question IS getting done). 💪
This one’s both easy AND sneaky-hard! So, you can use it as a standalone phrase when something finally happens that was LONGGGG overdue. For example, I’m in charge of cleaning the bathroom at home and, well, let’s just say that I’m pretty good at putting it off. So when I finally get it done, I’m normally greeted with: 👉 ¡Ya era hora! = About time! Now for the ugly! If you want to say that it was about time that someone DID something, you’re going to need to use the following structure: 👉 ya era hora + de que + imperfect subjunctive Ya era hora de que limpiaras el baño. It was about time you cleaned the bathroom. Ya era hora de que hicieras tu tarea. It was about time you did your homework.
This Mexican workhorse basically means let's just do it NOW, whether it's to get something over with or to take advantage of the moment. Carpe diem and all that! So yeah, you can think of it as the opposite of al rato… instead of putting things off, de una vez is all about taking immediate action! 💪 Its core meanings are: 👉 right now / while we’re at it
This one's short, snappy, and full of let's-do-it-right-now energy! ⚡🚀 It basically means: 👉 Let's do it! 👉 Let's get to it! Think of it like saying you're READY TO ROLL.
This one’s PURE MEXICAN GOLD. ✨ And it confused THE BEJEEZUS outta me when I first heard it! Because it sounds redundant AF (then then??)... But nope, that’s just Mexican Spanish doing its thing. Here’s what it actually means: 👉 right away / immediately / straight away
👉 to have time (to do something) Wanna know if there's enough time to do something BEFORE doing something else? Well, this is the chunk for you, ol' pal! And yeah, as you can probably imagine, it's a SUPER useful one in everyday conversations!
👉 ...right now! / ...like now! In Mexican Spanish, tagging pero ya onto a request is like saying: AND MAKE IT QUICK!! It can sound playful, bossy, or dead serious depending on your tone of voice.
This one’s like de una vez... but with extra oomph. Yep, you’re not just saying let’s do it now, you’re saying: 👉 Do it NOW! Enough messing around! So yeah, when you whip this one out, you’re usually fed up, impatient, or want things settled RIGHT NOW.
This one’s just a VERY common way to say something happened suddenly or very quickly, often with a big change involved:
👉 from one day to the next / overnight
So yeah, it’s not about literal night and morning, it’s about the speed of the change!
Se hizo famoso de la noche a la mañana.
He became famous overnight. (i.e., very quickly!)
Ok, ok, I admit that this isn’t really a chunk in the traditional sense. BUT it’s so ubiquitous and such an easy way to sound more Mexican that I just couldn’t resist including it. Here’s what it means: 👉 just / just now / just recently / as soon as So yeah, when Mexicans use apenas in a time context, they’re essentially saying something happened a moment ago or very recently. Apenas llegué. = I just got here. ⚠️WARNING⚠️ Don’t confuse this one with apenas meaning barely/hardly (which is what most dictionaries say!). Yes, it’s the same word, but the meaning is different. Oh, and you might also come across the diminutive form: apenitas.
This one looks kinda tricky, doesn’t it?
But it actually just means:
👉 as soon as
So yeah, it’s a great way to talk about doing something immediately after something else.
Which, by the way, is why it often takes the subjunctive: you’re referring to a future event that may or may not happen!
Ahorita que llegues, te explico.
As soon as you arrive, I’ll explain.
👉 all the time / constantly A cada rato is basically the go-to way to say that something happens over and over again, sometimes to the point of being annoying. And what’s the deal with the a? Well, in practice, cada rato and a cada rato mean pretty much the same thing, but a cada rato sounds a tad more rhythmic or emphatic. It’s often used when you want to stress that something is constant and repetitive. 💡Since rato means a short while, we're talking about stuff that happens every few minutes or hours, NOT daily. Ah, and if you want even more emphasis, try a cada ratito! The diminutive makes it sound like it's happening every two seconds, lol.
Time for a bit of drama!! Well, this chunk is kinda dramatic, at least. Here’s what it means: 👉 Hazte a la idea de que… = Get it into your head that… / Accept that… 💡 It’s normally used when you want to prepare someone for a new reality, whether good, bad, or just inevitable.
This is just a native-like, everyday way to say: 👉 The good thing is that… / At least… Yep, it’s basically how you spin a situation to point out the silver lining. 💡 Lo bueno es que is standard Spanish, but VERY (and I mean VERY!) common in Mexico.
This chunk is the standard way to preface so-called “truth bombs”. It just means: 👉 let’s be honest / let’s be real So yeah, it’s your go-to lead-in when you’re about to say something blunt, obvious, or a little uncomfortable. 💡 There are loads of colloquial alternatives for when you’re with your pals (la neta y al chile), but this one works in ALL situations.
This one’s another SUPER CHUNK 🎉 Here’s what it means: 👉 as far as I know / I could’ve sworn But there’s a twist… It often carries a playful, self-deprecating tone… like you’re admitting you’re not 100% sure. 💡 Según + pronoun (yo, tú, él) sounds more uncertain, while según + noun is generally more authoritative.
This one’s as Mexican as Mexican can be. 😉 It basically just means: 👉 I get the feeling... / I think… / etc. (but with a very Mexican twist!) So yeah, it’s what you say when you’re sharing your thoughts or expressing a gut feeling. 💡 Think of it as the colloquial Mexican version of me parece or creo que, and you’ll be gold.
This one’s useful when you need to explain, justify, or soften what you’re about to say. It often translates well to one of either: 👉 The thing is… / It’s just that… 💡 Yep, it’s just the longer version of the ever-popular es que! And you’re actually gonna hear es que a lot more in the wild, as it’s the one native speaker’s generally reach for when prefixing quick excuses.
This super common chunk just means: 👉 Apparently… / Looks like… It’s how you introduce info that’s been extrapolated from appearances, rumors, or something you’ve heard (i.e., you don’t know if it’s 100% true!).
This is what you need to whip out when you’re gonna speak to someone al tiro or al chile (AKA you’re gonna speak to them FRANKLY). 👉 Te voy a ser sincero = I’m gonna be honest with you 💡 It’s standard Spanish, but in Mexico you’ll hear it A LOT in everyday convos!
Yes, yes, I know mejor means better. But it also doubles as a surprisingly useful sentence starter! Yep, I’m not leading you up the garden path! Promise! Here’s what it means: 👉 Actually, let’s… / Let’s just… / Why not (…) instead? So yeah, it’s basically just a way of smoothly suggesting a different option.
This one does what it says on the tin! It just means: 👉 I’d dare say that… / I’d go as far as to say that… It’s a softer, slightly dramatic or suspenseful way of giving your opinion… like you know you’re pushing it a bit, but you’re confident enough to say it anyway!
Right, so this one’s just a natural way of saying: 👉 If I'd known... No need to dig around for complex grammar rules, just whip this chunk out and you’ll sound 100% legit. 💡It’s often followed by hubiera + past participle OR que + verb in imperfect.
OK, this is one of my absolute favorites. And I’ve never heard or seen it being taught anywhere! But Mexicans use it ALL. THE. FRIGGING. TIME in the wild. Here’s what it means: 👉 Forget about that… 👉 Never mind that… 👉 That’s nothing compared to this… So yeah, it’s a great way to dismiss a point before throwing down something bigger, juicier, or more dramatic. 🍉
This one’s very similar to the deja tú structure (check it out if you haven’t already!). And, in my humble opinion, it’s another absolute gem 💎 It just means: 👉 Forget about + noun 👉 Never mind + noun So yeah, it’s used to dismiss one topic and shift the focus to something more important. The crux. El meollo. I think you probably get the gist! 😉
Woah! Another EPIC Mexican sentence starter. I’m really spoiling you, jiji. 😉 Here’s what it means: 👉 It doesn’t matter… / Anyway… / Whatever… Come again?? Yeah, unfortunately, it doesn’t have a like-for-like English translation. But I want you to visualize something for me. Sour grapes… 🍇 You see, the nuance here is that you’re brushing something off, minimizing it, or pretending you didn’t care in the first place.
This one’s simple but effective. And who doesn’t like simple and effective chunks! Here’s what it means: 👉 I feel like… 👉 I think… 👉 I get the feeling that… So yeah, you can just think of it as a softer, hedgier version of creo que. 💡 Siento que is VERY useful, but use se me hace que if you wanna sound like you have an agave farm in Jalisco (i.e., VERY Mexican).
Another super useful one! I honestly feel like these sentence starter chunks are gonna revolutionize your Spanish. 😁 In all honesty, they revolutionized mine! Anyway, this lil’ beauty normally translates well to one of either: 👉 If I remember correctly 👉 If I’m not mistaken 👉 I’m pretty sure
This is a chunk that kinda confused me for a while. I just couldn’t hit on a good English equivalent. But after comparing like 20 examples (yep, I’m not exaggerating!), I worked out that they could all be translated as: 👉 Who knows, maybe…
This chunk’s just a playful way of saying let’s say. Yep, it really is that simple! Why on earth doesn’t anyone teach this stuff?! 👉 Let’s say… 👉 Suppose… 💡You might also hear ponle tú que and pon que, which work in pretty much the same way!
Yep, this one’s yet another way of saying; 👉 Let’s say… 👉 Suppose that… 💡You might also hear ponle tú que and pon tú que, which work in pretty much the same way!
This chunkety chunk chunk packs a punch! 👊 Here’s what it means: 👉 There are two possibilities... / There are two ways this could go... It’s a neat, compact way to frame a situation as having exactly two outcomes, which is why Mexicans often use it to set up an o … o … construction (either… or…). 💡 You could also say hay dos opciones, but it’s nowhere near as colloquial. 😉
Ok, ok… I admit it! This one’s actually a two-part chunk. It’s ALWAYS followed by a second clause beginning with y otra que (or variations like y otra muy distinta es que and y una muy diferente es que). Here’s how it works: 👉 It’s one thing to X… and another to Y. So yeah, it’s basically Spanish’s way of drawing a hard line between two situations. You’re essentially saying: THIS is fine, but THAT’S going too far.
Say hello to the Spanish equivalent of: 👉 in fact / actually And it’s not just a stiff essay phrase! In daily speech, de hecho is your go-to for correcting, adding a surprising detail, or emphasizing that something’s true! Yep, quite the useful lil’ chunk! 💡 Even though de hecho is VERY common, if you wanna sound super-duper Mexican, you can often swap it with fíjate que.
This is one of the great discourse markers! Huh? Sorry, I’ll try not to get bogged down in fancy linguistic terms … It’s just a VERY common way of saying: 👉 apparently / it looks like And unlike aparentemente (which also means apparently), por lo visto is a phrase you’re actually gonna hear in conversation. Before you accuse me of making things up, data from the Corpus of Contemporary Spanish shows that por lo visto is used 90% more often in oral speech than aparentemente (trust me now?).
This one just means: 👉 regarding / as for And in terms of formality, it’s pretty neutral. BUT… I wouldn’t personally use it for super casual topic changes with friends! Stick to y sobre... or just jump right in! 💡 Not to be confused with en cuanto, which means as soon as.
🧠 What it means You can think of this one as the brother-in-arms of en cuanto a! Because, well, it means the exact same thing: 👉 Con respecto a... = Regarding... Just tack it onto the beginning of a sentence to address a specific topic or a specific aspect of something. 💡 Con respecto a sounds a tad more formal than en cuanto a (in case you were wondering 😉).
A fin de cuentas means something like: 👉 ultimately / at the end of the day It’s basically just a way to wrap things up in a neat little summary with a ribbon on top. 🎀
Al fin means in the end, and al cabo… errr, well, it also means in the end! Although this one’s probably got your redundancy alarms peeling full blast, it’s actually just another way of saying: 👉 ultimately / at the end of the day And is it different from a fin de cuentas and al final de cuentas? ¡Nel! They’re used pretty much interchangeably.
This is another super useful chunk and one that you’ll be using A LOT once you get your head around it!
It’s basically just a really neat way of linking events:
👉 on/upon + infinitive
Al llegar a la playa, me metí en el mar luego luego.
When I got to the beach, I got into the water straight away.*
Al terminar la tarea, el niño empezó a jugar videojuegos.
After finishing his homework, the boy started playing video games.
*In spoken English, we almost always use when instead of on/upon to link the two events (see examples below!).
💡 Remember NOT to use al with gerunds (-ando/-iendo):
✔️ al llegar
❌ al llegando
🧠 What it means This one's a great way to introduce a fact, story, anecdote, or even a juicy piece of gossip! Gotta love the juicy gossip. 😉 It basically means: 👉 Just so you know… / You should know that… 💡 This is a chunk your Mexican abuela is VERY likely to say, but your barrio cuz not so much!
This one’s the Spanish equivalent of: 👉 I’m thinking about The tricky thing here is the preposition, which is obviously completely different from English. ⚠️ ¡Aguas! It’s NEVER correct to say estoy pensando de!
This is another useful one for us learners! It means something like: 👉 Let me get this straight… So yeah, it’s the perfect chunk for when you’re not 100% sure if you’ve got the right end of the proverbial stick!
Whoa, this is a bit of a weird one, right? I mean, what’s the verb salir doing here? Well, in this context, salir actually translates as to go well, so this chunk just means: 👉 If everything goes well... / If all goes well...
This one just means:
👉 unless
And just as in English, it’s used to set up a condition:
No voy a salir a menos que deje de llover.
I’m not going out unless it stops raining.
💡Just note that the next verb is normally in the SUBJUNCTIVE as it’s not something that’s guaranteed to happen!
I think this is probably the most “famous” subjunctive trigger there is. Well, my high school Spanish teacher absolutely loved it, at least! It literally translates as: 👉 I hope that And yeah, because you’re talking about something that ain’t guaranteed, the next verb has to be in the SUBJUNCTIVE!
This one’s Spanish for: 👉 Keep in mind that… / Remember that… Native speakers use it when they want to flag something important. Kinda like a verbal sticky note. 🗒️
This is THE. MOST. MEXICAN way of talking about states. Technically, it’s for something that SUDDENLY hits you… Ya me dio sueño. = I just got sleepy. But in practice, it’s often just a casual way to say you’re feeling something right now: hunger, tiredness, laziness, etc. 👉 I’m… / I feel… (but with Mexican spice!)
This chunk’s another easy win when it comes to sounding more Mexa. 🎉 Here’s what it means: 👉 What do you mean…? / Wait, you’re saying…? Yep, it’s just a natural way to show surprise, disbelief, or confusion re. something you just heard. 💡 Not to be confused with ¿Como qué…?, which you’d use when asking WHAT KIND OF THING someone is talking about.
👉 What do you mean no?! / Of course it is! / Of course I am! This little protest phrase is a VERY MEXICAN way of pushing back when someone makes a negative statement. 💡 It only works if the other person has just said NO (or something NEGATIVE!), and you want to challenge them. So if someone says: No eres bueno para el fútbol. You’re not good at football. You could say: ¿Cómo que no? Metí 3 goles el fin de semana pasado. Of course I am! I scored 3 goals last weekend.
This chunk is just a very Mexican way to build suspense before dropping some juicy news, a plot twist, or a funny punchline. Here’s what it means: 👉 And guess what? 💡 It’s also worth noting that you don’t actually wait for the listener to guess; you just keep going straight to the punchline. 🥊