Browse Mexican Spanish Chunks 🌶️

¿Cuánto cuesta esto?

👉 How much does this cost? Yep, this is the standard way of asking the price of something. Though you CAN also just say ¿cuánto cuesta? and point to the thing in question. 💡 This chunk IS very common, BUT Mexicans often use more colloquial versions like ¿A cómo está? or ¿En cuánto sale?, depending on the vibe and setting.

A1 (¡Vas empezando!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

This is what you need to say if you want to ask someone where they’re from! DON’T get it confused with ¿En dónde estás? as this means Where are you?. We use ser for more permanent characteristics and estar for all that is more fleeting and transitory. 💡 If you're being extra polite (or talking to someone older), upgrade to: ➡️ ¿De dónde es usted?

A1 (¡Vas empezando!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

¿En cuánto está + producto?

This one’s a very Mexican way of asking: 👉 How much is + item? Just like a a cómo está, it's gonna make you sound VERY natural!

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

¿En qué estábamos?

This is just the Mexican way of saying: 👉 Where were we? So yeah, it’s perfect for those moments when you get distracted, lose the thread, or someone cuts you off, and you want to pick the story back up again.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

¿Estamos?

This one’s just a very Mexican way of checking agreement or confirming everyone’s on the same page. Think: 👉 Agreed? / Deal?

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

¿Hablas inglés?

👉 Do you speak English? Nice and simple! This is the go-to chunk for travelers, newbies, and anyone trying to survive in Spanish before they level up! You don’t need to overthink the grammar. Just remember this exact phrase and whip it out when needed. 💡 If you’re talking to multiple people, say this instead: ➡️ ¿Hablan inglés? = Do you (all) speak English?

A1 (¡Vas empezando!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

¿Me crees?

In Mexican Spanish, this is the go-to way to check if someone thinks you’re telling the truth. It normally translates well to: 👉 Do you believe me? / Can you believe it? 💡 Tone is everything here! It can sound pleading, curious, playful, or dramatic depending on how you say it!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

¿Me puedes dar…?

These are slightly more polite versions of me das / me da. They just mean: 👉 Can you give me…? ¿Me puedes dar…? → informal tú form ¿Me puede dar…? → polite usted form 💡 These sound a touch more careful or polite than just blurting out me das / me da. Though honestly, I’d still say me das / me da are kings of the taco stand! 👑 Taco stands are usually very busy, so the more cut-to-the-chase the communication, the better!

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

¿Qué crees?

👉 Guess what? Yep, it’s just a super common way to grab someone’s attention before dropping some news, be it good, bad, shocking, or funny. 💡 ¿Qué crees? is generally more urgent/direct than ¿Y qué crees?, which has more storytelling flair.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

¿Qué cuentas?

This one just means: 👉 What’s new? / What’s up? / Got any news? It’s friendly, casual, and oh-so Mexican.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

¿Qué me recomiendas?

This one's the go-to way of asking someone (a waiter, vendor, bartender, or even a friend!) for advice on what to order or try. It translates well to: 👉 What do you recommend? / What would you suggest? 💡 When choosing between specific items that have already been mentioned (two different types of beer, for example), you need to say: ¿Cuál me recomiendas?

A1 (¡Vas empezando!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

¿Qué opinas?

👉 What do you think? It’s just a simple, direct, and standard way of asking someone’s opinion. 💡 In casual, everyday Mexican Spanish, you’ll often hear ¿qué te parece? or ¿cómo ves? instead, especially when chatting about food, movies, chill plans, etc.

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

¿Qué piensas?

This one just means: 👉 What do you think? It’s similar to ¿qué opinas? (if not a tad more casual). 💡 It tends to sound a bit more thoughtful or neutral than ¿qué te parece?, which is more often used for plans, movies, or chill suggestions.

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

¿Qué precio tiene?

This one’s just another way of asking: 👉 How much is this? / What’s the price? It’s slightly more formal than other alternatives, so you’ll generally hear it in shops, department stores, or during polite interactions.

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

¿Qué se te ofrece?

This is what my suegra always says to me when I wander into the kitchen looking for food. Yep, she knows I’ve got a bit of a taco habit, lol. It just means: 👉 How can I help you? / What do you need? So yeah, it’s basically the go-to polite way to ask someone what they want / need / are looking for, especially in shops, restaurants, etc. It’s friendly, service-oriented, and sounds very local. 💡 You might also hear it being used sarcastically when someone seems a bit lost or is snooping around somewhere they shouldn't!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

¿Qué se traen?

Traer is one of many multi-purpose verbs in Mexican Spanish! In fact, I’ll try to put together a deep dive on it soon! And qué se traen? Well, it’s just a super common way to ask about: 👉 Suspicious or secretive behavior (What are you plotting?) 👉 Tension between people (What’s going on between you two?) 👉 A romantic vibe (What’s going on with you guys?) 💡 ¿Qué se traen? is used when addressing TWO PEOPLE… if you wanna ask just one person the same question, you’d say: ¿Qué te traes?

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

¿Qué tal + sustantivo?

Don’t, whatever you do, underestimate the power of qué tal! Yes, it IS an extremely useful greeting, AND a friendly way of asking how someone is. But it’s actually so much more than that! You see, if you whack a noun on the end, you’ve got an extremely useful way of asking informal questions! It's a bit like the English: 👉 how is/how was + noun

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

¿Qué tal?

This one’s a classic phrase that works in UN BUEN de situaciones. It can mean all of the following: 👉 How’s it going? / How are things? / What’s up? / Hey! So yeah, it’s either a simple, open-ended way to ask how someone is OR a friendly greeting

A1 (¡Vas empezando!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

¿Qué te parece?

This’ll be your go-to opinion catcher in informal to semi-formal situations! It literally translates as What does it seem to you?, but really just means: 👉 What do you think? (plans, ideas, etc.) Oh, and you’ll often get a me parece bien in response (i.e., sounds good to me).

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

¿Qué te pasa?

This one’s a super common (and universal!) way to ask if someone’s upset, acting weird, or in a bad mood. 👉 What’s wrong with you? / What’s the matter? / What’s your problem? 💡Tone is literally of the essence here! Said gently, it’s “What’s wrong?”; said sharply, it’s “What’s your problem?” (eek!).

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

¿Qué tienes?

This one’s a friendly way to ask why someone looks sad, upset, sick, or off. It just means: 👉 What’s wrong? / What’s the matter?

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

¿Qué traes?

So this one literally translates to: What are you carrying? BUT in Mexican Spanish, it’s also used figuratively to ask about someone’s attitude, mood, or behavior: 👉 What’s your deal? / What’s going on with you? / What do you have there? 💡Tone is king here… it can be curious, concerned, or confrontational.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

¿Sabes?

This one's a great little question tag you can whack onto a statement whenever you want to check if the person you're talking to is with you. It works just like the English: 👉 you know? 💡 And just as in English, it can be used to prompt confirmation (not necessarily a full answer… but at least a sí, claro, ajá, exacto, etc.) AND as a kind of colloquial discourse marker.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

¿Sí o no?

Don’t get confused here! This lil’ question isn’t really about choosing between yes or no. You see, Mexicans use it as a verbal elbow nudge, a bit like saying: 👉 Right? / Am I right? / You know it’s true. So yeah, it’s less about asking and more about getting the other person to agree/back you up.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

¿Tú qué crees?

Super chunk time!! 🎉🍾 ¿Tú qué crees? is a SUPER COMMON, colloquial way to ask someone’s opinion in Mexican Spanish. It's a bit like saying: 👉 What do you think? It’s friendly, conversational, and works in most everyday situations!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

¿Tú qué te crees?

This is an EXCELLENT chunk for when you want to call someone out for acting arrogant, entitled, etc. It just means: 👉 Who do you think you are? 💡It’s often (but not always!) followed by an example of a famous person (like “Who do you think you are? The President?”)

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

¿Y qué crees?

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. 🥊

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

¿Ya tan tarde?

👉 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!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Abuela-approved 👵Boomers 👶

A cada rato

👉 all the time / constantly A cada rato is basically a really useful way of saying that something happens over and over again, sometimes to the point of being annoying. 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.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

A ciencia cierta

This useful chunk just means you know something with 100% certainty, like scientifically proven, bulletproof, no doubts allowed! It translates well to: 👉 for sure / with absolute certainty 💡 Funnily enough, in everyday conversation it’s often used to say the opposite… i.e., that you DON’T know something a ciencia cierta. So yeah, you’ll often hear things like: No lo sé a ciencia cierta. I don’t know for sure.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

A como dé lugar

This juicy chunk just means: 👉 at all costs / no matter what / by any means necessary It’s what you say when something HAS to happen, and you’re willing to do whatever it takes! 💡 This phrase captures that famous Mexican sí se puede attitude! So yeah, when someone says a como dé lugar, they usually REALLY mean it.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

A fin de cuentas

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. 🎀

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

A la mano

This is the Mexican go-to for saying that something is nearby, accessible, or easy to grab. Here’s what it means: 👉 close by / within reach / handy 💡 I’m pretty sure they use a mano in some Spanish-speaking countries… but if you want to sound MEXICAN, you 100% need to add a la in there!

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

A lo largo y ancho

This chunk literally means along the length and width… but it’s got nothing to do with geometry (thankfully!). It’s just a poetic, slightly formal way to say all over the place, especially when talking about countries, regions, etc. 👉 throughout / all over (emphasizing TOTAL coverage)

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌Formal 💼

A lo mucho

This chunk’s perfect for talking about the upper limit of anything you can count! It roughly translates to: 👉 tops 👉 at most 👉 max

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

A menos que

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!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

A todas luces

This is one of those expressions that’s used more often in formal settings (think meetings, conferences, academic discussions, literary writings, and the like). It just means: 👉 clearly / obviously

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Formal 💼Boomers 👶

A ver si entiendo

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!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Aguántame tantito

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)

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Chilango 🚇Ñero (barrio) 🧢MUY informal 💀

Ah, ya

This is one of those tiny but powerful reaction chunks that Mexicans use ALL. THE. TIME. Here's what it means: 👉 Ah, got it! / Ahh, now I see. / Ohhh, now I understand! 💡 You'll also hear mmm, ya, which sounds a bit more thoughtful or hesitant.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Ahí nos vemos

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.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Chilango 🚇Gen X 🎸Millennial 😎

Ahí nos vidrios

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?

C1 (¡Eres un chingón!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Ñero (barrio) 🧢Gen X 🎸

Ahí te ves

This one’s SUPER colloquial! It basically means: 👉 See ya 👉 I’m outta here

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Gen X 🎸MUY informal 💀

Ahora resulta que…

Ok, so this one's a must if you ever have a proper fight with someone you know well in Mexico (friends, partners, etc.). And resulta que does translate to turns out that (and yep, it's a great lil’ storytelling chunk). But in the context of an argument, ahora resulta que is a bit like saying: 👉 Oh, so now… / Oh, so suddenly… Yep, it's positively dripping in sarcasm! 💡 You'll also hear this one as a standalone phrase: ¡Ahora resulta! It's a sarcastic way to react when someone says something hypocritical, unfair, ridiculous, or suspicious. A bit like: ➡️ Oh, so that’s your story! / Yeah, right!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Ahorita que

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.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Ahorita vengo

This is honestly one of the most useful chunks in the whole darn dictionary. Yep, I said it! Here’s what it means: 👉 I’ll be right back / I’ll be back in a sec

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽MUY informal 💀

Al + infinitivo

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

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Al cabo que

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. Especially when used with quería! 💡 It CAN also be more neutral; especially when you're justifying something out loud. No llevo chamarra, al cabo que vamos en coche. I’m not taking a jacket; I mean, we’re going by car anyway.

C1 (¡Eres un chingón!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Al fin y al cabo

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.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Al parecer

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!).

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Al rato

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!

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Mexican Spanish 💀

Ándale pues / Órale pues

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.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️MUY informal 💀

Andar + adjetivo

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.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Andar de la greña

So, in Mexican Spanish, greñas (plural) usually means hair… especially messy, wild, or tangled hair. Erika LOVES referring to her hair as greñas (especially when she’s just woken up and has yet to give it a brush). And andar de la greña just means: 👉 to be fighting or quarreling (usually in a messy, heated way) It can be physical (like hair-pulling catfights) or verbal (throwing shade, yelling, silent treatment… the whole telenovela package 🎭). The mental picture? Two people so deep in a fight that hair’s getting yanked. Crickey!

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽MUY informal 💀

Apenas

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.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Aquí se rompió una taza

Another one of my faves! The full version is: Aquí se rompió una taza y cada quien para su casa. Which translates to something like: Alright, party’s over, time to go home. So yeah, this chunk just means: 👉 It’s time to skedaddle And I’ve even seen it accompanied by a dramatic dusting off the hands gesture. 💡 I’ve been told it comes from the idea that when something breaks at a party, it’s a sign the party’s over… very wise, if you ask me!

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Chilango 🚇Colloquial 🗯️Boomers 👶

Así de fácil

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

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Así merito

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. 😂

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️MUY informal 💀

Así mero

This one’s pure Mexican gold. It just means: 👉 Exactly like that 👉 Just like that 👉 That’s right / You got it

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️MUY informal 💀

Así que

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.

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Buen día

This is one of my very fave greetings! It’s polite and super common, especially in stores and customer-service-y situations. It normally translates well to: 👉 morning / have a nice day 💡 Yep, it also doubles as a polite farewell!

A1 (¡Vas empezando!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Buenas

Buenas is a GENIUS way to say hello at any time of day. It’s basically short for buenos días, buenas tardes, or buenas noches. So yeah, it just means: 👉 hi / hello / hey 💡 It’s WAY easier than guessing if it’s still tarde or noche.

A1 (¡Vas empezando!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Buenos días / Buenas tardes / Buenas noches

Classic. Courteous. Straight outta the phrasebook… But you’re still gonna use them daily in Mexico (and not just with your abuelita!). 👉 Buenos días = Good morning (sunrise to around 12 pm) 👉 Buenas tardes = Good afternoon (12 pm to sunset-ish) 👉 Buenas noches = Good evening / Good night (if the sun’s down, you’re generally golden 🌙) 💡 Mexicans are big on greetings, so don’t wander around like a silent ghost 👻! Drop one of these three and you’ll instantly be 70% more likable*. *NOT statistically proven. 😉

A1 (¡Vas empezando!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌Formal 💼

Buenos días… ¡tardes ya!

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.

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Abuela-approved 👵Boomers 👶

Caer en (la) cuenta

This one’s darse cuenta’s long-lost cousin. And, yep, it means to realize too! So what’s the difference? Well, they’re actually both used interchangeably, but darse cuenta is slightly more common in everyday conversation. 💡Oh, and you might also hear caer en la cuenta! ¡Caí en la cuenta de que nunca me amó! I finally realized she never loved me! 😭 However, it’s MUCH more common in Spain than in Latin America.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Con permiso

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. 🤣

A1 (¡Vas empezando!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Formal 💼Standard Spanish 😌

Con respecto a

🧠 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 😉).

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌Formal 💼

Costar un ojo de la cara

Would you trade an eye for that new car? Because, well, in Mexican Spanish, costar un ojo de la cara means: 👉 to cost an arm and a leg The imagery is deliciously dramatic… I mean, losing an eye is a pretty steep price to pay, so if something’s worth that, it’s painfully pricey!

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Cuesta trabajo

This one’s a super idiomatic way to say something’s hard / difficult: 👉 it’s hard / it’s difficult You’ll often see it with an indirect object pronoun to show WHO finds it tough: Me cuesta trabajo. = I find it difficult. Te cuesta trabajo. = You find it difficult. Etc., etc.

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Dame…

¡Dame! That sounds next-level rude, doesn’t it? Well, actually, it’s not… Yep, it’s actually a super common chunk when you’re ordering food or buying something. In context it’s normal and polite (especially deme, which is the formal usted form)… depending on tone, obvs. I’d say its English equivalents are: 👉 Can you give me… / Can I have… (lit. give me)

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Mexican Spanish 💀

Dar lata

Time for another super chunk!! 🎉 Because this one’s as ubiquitous as salsa and tacos (well, nearly!). If someone’s dando lata, they’re being: 👉 annoying or bothersome (often repeatedly) Think a kid poking you for attention, or a machine that won’t stop beeping. 🔔

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Dar tiempo de

👉 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!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Darle al clavo

This one’s just the Mexican version of: 👉 to hit the nail on the head Simples.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️Boomers 👶

Darse de alta

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.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌Formal 💼

Darse de baja

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!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌Formal 💼

De a grapa

This one’s the chilango version of de a gratis! It just means: 👉 free / free of charge (chilango version)

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Chilango 🚇MUY informal 💀

De a gratis

This one's just a colloquial way of saying: 👉 free / free of charge (but with a Mexican twist!) But what’s with the de a? Well, it’s basically just a word combo you’ll find in certain colloquial Mexican expressions. Other gems that use this spicy lil’ formula: ➡️ de a deveras = for real / honestly ➡️ de a tiro (norteño 🌵) = really / absolutely

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽MUY informal 💀

De acuerdo

This is just a nice, neutral way to say: 👉 OK. 👉 Alright. 👉 Agreed.

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

De ahí en fuera

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."

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

De haber sabido

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.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

De hecho

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.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

De la noche a la mañana

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!)

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

De planta

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)

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

De pura casualidad

This is what you say when something happens randomly, without any planning! It’s just the Spanish equivalent of: 👉 completely by chance / by any chance In statements it’s more like completely by chance. And in questions it translates better as by any chance or do you happen to…. 💡 You’re also gonna hear this one A LOT in stores and markets when vendors ask if you have a smaller denomination bill! ¿No tendrás un billete más chico de pura casualidad? You wouldn’t happen to have a smaller bill, by any chance?

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

De una

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.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

De una buena vez

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.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

De una vez

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

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Deja de + sustantivo

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 + 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! 😉

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Boomers 👶Gen X 🎸Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽

Deja tú

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. 🍉

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Boomers 👶Gen X 🎸Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽

Disculpa, ¿los baños?

Wanna ask for directions in a super easy AND native-like way? Yep, I saw your hand flying up excitedly. 😉 Well, all you need to do is say disculpa + the name of the place: Disculpa, ¿el centro comercial? Disculpa, ¿el museo? Etc., etc. 💡 Your voice just needs to rise slightly at the end so they know it’s a question!

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Mexican Spanish 💀

Échale coco

This one just means: 👉 use your head / think about it It’s basically a playful way to tell someone to put in some mental effort, whether you’re genuinely helping them solve something or just teasing them for being a bit slow on the uptake. And yeah, un coco (a coconut) can also mean head in Mexican Spanish 🥥 I mean, I can kinda understand why…

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Échame una llamadita / un telefonazo

👉 gimme a call Both llamadita and telefonazo are SUPER MEXICAN ways of saying call. So yeah, échame una llamadita/telefonazo is basically just a fun way of saying call me. 📞 💡 Btw, echar is literally THE quintessential multi-use verb in Mexican Spanish… I'm gonna upload an echar masterclass to the platform v.soon.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Boomers 👶Gen X 🎸

Échamelo / Échamela

Here's another SUPER CHUNK for y'all. 🎉🍾 And this one literally means: ➡️ throw it to me But in real life, you're gonna hear it whenever someone wants something passed or handed over too… a ball, the remote, the salsa, your baby (yep!). It works just like the English: 👉 pass it over / throw it over (informal) 💡 Just remember that échamelo is for masculine things (el control, el encendedor, etc.) and échamela is for feminine things (la cheve, la llave, etc.)

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Echar flores

Nope, nobody’s literally tossing flowers at anyone! In Mexican Spanish, echar flores just means: 👉 to compliment someone / to say nice things about someone

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Echarle mucha crema a tus tacos

So, this one literally means: to put a lot of cream on your tacos 🌮 But it ISN’T about over-garnishing your food… In Mexican Spanish, echarle mucha crema a tus tacos means something like: 👉 to brag or exaggerate your achievements ➡️ to exaggerate the facts when telling a story

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Chilango 🚇Colloquial 🗯️

Eh

Ok, so this is probably the shortest chunk in the whole darn dictionary! But don't, whatever you do, underestimate it! Because eh may be tiny, but it's actually a heavy-hitter. It’s basically the Spanish equivalent of: 👉 uh / um / err 💡 You might also hear the double: eh, eh…

Ella también… eh, eh… también tenía una relación con él.
She also… err… was also in a relationship with him.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

El caso es que

This one’s standard Spanish, but useful nonetheless! It's a bit like saying: 👉 so yeah / the point is It's another classic compression chunk. So, you use it to cut through the waffle and jump straight to the main point of a story.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

El chiste es que

So, in Mexican Spanish chiste can indeed mean both joke and knack (like in tiene su chiste)… BUT in the context of storytelling, it actually refers to the point of the story. So yeah, it translates well to: 👉 the point is (i.e., after all that… THIS is what actually matters) 💡 This one’s a classic compression chunk; it reels a story in and gets you back to the main point. 🌵 Oh, and el chiste es que has a more Mexican vibe than el caso es que or total, que. In Mexico you’ll hear it constantly in storytelling contexts, whereas in Spain it’s not used as much!

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Mexican Spanish 💀

El mero bueno

Simply the best, better than ALLLLL the rest! Yep, Tina Turner would very much approve of this chunk. Because it means: 👉 the very best / the best one

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽MUY informal 💀

En cuanto a

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.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

En fin

This one's another CLASSIC that often flies under the radar! ✈️ And it's all about wrapping everything up with a nice little bow on top OR getting back to the main point, especially if you've just been off on a bit of a tangent. So yeah, depending on context, it feels a bit like: 👉 so yeah / anyway / all in all

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

En lo más mínimo

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!).

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

En un rato

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). 💪

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

En una de esas

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 pretty much all of them could be translated as: 👉 Who knows, maybe…

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽MUY informal 💀

Es que

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!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Eso te pasa por + infinitivo

Another chunk I learned from Erika, lol. Because this is the ultimate “parent telling off kid (or air-headed husband) for doing something stupid” chunk. It's basically what you whip out when someone’s suffering the consequences of their own actions and you want to say: Well, what did you expect?! Here’s what it means: 👉 That’s what you get when you… / That’s what you get for…

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Espérame tantito

👉 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!”

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Espero que

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!

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Estar a gusto

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.

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Estar a mano

So, this one chunk is gonna transform your spoken Spanish. OK… maybe not transform, but seriously, it’s gonna make you sound soooo much more local when talking about moolah. Here’s what it means: 👉 to be even / to be square So yeah, we’re talking repaying favors, debts, or even emotional balance!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Estar al tanto

Huh? What's tanto doing here? Don't panic… this is one of those chunks you just gotta swallow whole! It just means: 👉 to be aware / to be up to date 🚨 Tricky preposition alert! You'll need to whack a de in there if you want to say what exactly you're aware OF or up to date WITH.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Este

All hail THE KING of Latin American muletillas. And I say Latin American because this use of este is MUCH more common in Latin America than in Spain. And how is it used? Well, it's basically your CLASSIC hesitation filler word. So you'll hear people using it when they need a second to think. A bit like the English: 👉 umm / er / uh

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Estoy de acuerdo

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!

A1 (¡Vas empezando!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Estoy pensando en

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!

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Fíjate que

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…

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Hace falta

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.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Hacer el ridículo

You can probably work out what to do the ridiculous means. 🤡 Yep, in Mexican Spanish (and pretty much everywhere Spanish is spoken), hacer el ridículo means: 👉 to make a fool of yourself

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Has de saber que

🧠 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 means something along the lines of: 👉 Just so you know… / You should know that…

C1 (¡Eres un chingón!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Abuela-approved 👵Standard Spanish 😌

Hasta luego

This one’s just the Spanish version of: 👉 see you later. It's a VERY, VERY, VERY common way to say goodbye, and it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll see the person later; it’s just a general farewell. And, no, it WON’T make you sound like a Mexican Arnold Schwarzenegger. Promise. 🤖

A1 (¡Vas empezando!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Hay de dos

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. 😉

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽MUY informal 💀

Haz de cuenta que

This one’s SUPER common in Mexico, and it’s actually a phrase that I puzzled over for years! I remember asking a pal what it meant and being told that it’s basically a way of setting up a hypothetical situation… but I was sure that there was a bit more to it than that! Turns out, you CAN use it to set up a hypothetical situation (a bit like the English picture this or imagine that), but you’ll also hear it in other contexts too! 👉 picture this / imagine that 💡 You’ll normally hear haz de cuenta que used with the indicative, NOT the subjunctive. Why? Because the indicative makes the situation feel more real, like you're stepping inside the scene. The subjunctive makes it sound more detached and hypothetical. And for storytelling we want vivid! You’ll hear native speakers telling stories in the present tense for the exact same reason!

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Házmela buena

This one literally translates as: make it good for me. It’s what Mexicans say when they’re hoping something will happen, especially if it’s unlikely. Kinda like a Mexican good-luck charm. 🪄 In English, we’d say: 👉 fingers crossed / here’s hoping / help me out 💡 You might also find it written as hazme la buena (albeit less frequently)... there’s little consensus as to the correct way to write it, since it’s VERY colloquial and lives mostly in spoken Spanish.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽MUY informal 💀Boomers 👶

Hazte a la idea de que

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.

C1 (¡Eres un chingón!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Hecho y derecho

This one’s used to say that someone (or something!) is fully formed, full-blown, or legit. It’s often used by abuelas to say that someone’s now a fully-grown adult, for example. You can think of it like: 👉 full-blown / fully-fledged / legit

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Ir de la mano

Most of the time, this chunk isn’t about literal handholding! It’s often used figuratively to express that two things are closely linked or naturally come together. A bit like the English: 👉 to go hand in hand / to go together

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Formal 💼Standard Spanish 😌

Irle a + equipo

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. ⚽

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Justo cuando

So, this one pretty much does what it says on the tin. It translates as: 👉 just when… / just as… But, just like its English equivalent, it’s actually super powerful! You see, it’s a great way of progressing a story, while at the same time creating a bit of dramatic tension... Iba caminando y JUSTO CUANDO di la vuelta… I was walking along and JUST AS I turned the corner… Pretty darn dramatic, ¿no?

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

La del estribo

Literally, the one from the stirrup 🐎 But no, this chunk has nothing to do with horses! In Mexican Spanish, la del estribo is: 👉 the last drink before you go / one for the road It comes from back in the day when people traveled on horseback, and you’d have “one for the road” while your foot was already in the stirrup, ready to ride off. Nowadays, it’s your final round (although it IS kinda dated!). ⚠️ WARNING ⚠️: La del estribo has a 73% chance of turning out NOT to be la del estribo.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️Boomers 👶

La pasé bien

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!

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Lo bueno es que

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.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Lo de siempre

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.

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Lo que pasa es que

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.

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Luego luego

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

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️MUY informal 💀

Mamarse / Mamársela

Ok, ok, so this one’s technically a word. BUT it’s also the source of many a chunk, and a super important word in Mexican slang. And when I say super important, I mean SUPER IMPORTANT. Hence why I’ve categorized it as a chunk. My dictionary, my rules ;)

Here’s how it works... 💀So, mamarse doesn’t just have one clean meaning you can box up nicely and move on with your life. Nope. It’s one of those words that depends massively on context. But at its core, it normally translates well to one of: 👉 to go too fucking far / to fuck up / to fucking kill it (in a good way!) So yeah, it might be easier to think of mamarse as the chunk Mexicans use whenever someone does something REALLY well or REALLY badly. OR when someone says something REALLY funny or REALLY out of line. So yeah, it’s basically a vulgar way of expressing excess. Yeah, I know, kinda complicated… bienvenid@ al mundo de mamar 💀 💡 You’ll also hear people throw a la into the mix: te la mamaste / se la mamó / etc. This is also VERY common and honestly there’s very little difference in meaning. But I’d be VERY careful with the infinitive mamársela, because on its own it sounds VERY sexual.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Slang 🌶️MUY informal 💀

Mandar a volar

This one’s classic Mexican Spanish. It literally means to send someone flying, which, let’s be honest, is a pretty satisfying mental image. 💥🕊️ And in plain English? 👉 to tell someone to get lost / to send someone packing / to reject someone / to dump someone

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Más te vale

Oof… this one has ATTITUDE. Yep, it’s the ultimate warning chunk! 🚨🚨🚨 Here’s what it means: 👉 you better / you’d better 💡 And there are various structures you can use here: Más te vale + infinitive → Más te vale terminar la tarea. Más te vale que + subjunctive → Más te vale que no hagas eso. Más te vale on its lonesome… → Bueno… más te vale.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Me atrevería a decir que

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!

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Me cae bien/mal

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. 😳💘

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Me cuesta + infinitivo

This one’s the Spanish version of: 👉 I find it hard + infinitive It’s super common AND super native-sounding. 🎉

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Me das...

Time for another SUPER CHUNK! 🎉 And this could honestly be one of the most important chunks of all (and I ain’t exaggerating!). It’s basically THE go-to way of ordering food at a puesto in Mexico! It means something like: 👉 Can you give me… / I’ll have… Me das... = when you’re talking to someone in a friendly, informal way (street vendor, buddy, etc.). Me da... = when you’re keeping it polite

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Me hace ruido

This is such a cool lil' chunk! Or I think so at least, lol. It literally means it makes noise for me, but what it really expresses is that something’s bothering you, doesn’t sit right, or just isn’t adding up in your head. 🤨 So yeah, it normally translates well as: 👉 it bugs me / it makes me uneasy Oh, and you’ll also hear it used in the diminutive form: me hace ruidillo.

C1 (¡Eres un chingón!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️Millennial 😎

Me mama

Bet you didn’t know that the verb mamar can work just like gustar? Yep, I’m talking: ➡️ indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, etc. + mamar in 3rd person singular/plural + thing liked And do you know why? Because it’s actually another way of saying that you like something, that’s why!* *that you fucking like something might be more accurate… yep, any and all uses of mamar in Mexican Spanish need to be placed firmly in the vulgar bucket! So yeah, it normally translates well to: 👉 I fucking love (it) ⚠️ Alert, alert…⚠️This one’s obviously vulgar! DO NOT use it if you’re interviewing at Cemex.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Slang 🌶️MUY informal 💀

Me pongo a + infinitive

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

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Me regalas…

Here's another chunk that I’ve “stolen” from Erika! Because it’s what she ALWAYS says when asking for napkins, a spoon, the bill, etc. So yeah, it’s just a friendly, polite way to ask for little extras. 👉 Can I get…? / Could you bring me…? Me regalas… → informal tú Me regala… → polite usted 💡 In Mexico City, people rarely use this to order food itself (unlike in Colombia and parts of northern Mexico). It’s much more common for extras (napkins, utensils, straws, the bill, etc., etc.).

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Me saludas a + nombre

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.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌Colloquial 🗯️

Me traes...

This is the go-to chunk in Mexico for ordering food or drinks when you’re seated at a table and have called a server over. Here’s what it means: 👉 Can you bring me…? / Could I have…? me traes → informal tú me trae → formal usted

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Mejor

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.

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Meter cizaña

First, let me explain what cizaña actually is, because it’ll make this whole chunk way easier to understand… So, cizaña is basically a type of weed that grows among crops and can ruin the harvest! Which is why it came to mean: ➡️ something that creates bad feeling, conflict, or division between people So yeah, if someone's metiendo cizaña, they're: 👉 stirring the pot / causing trouble / creating conflict / trying to turn people against each other Yep, this is one NASTY lil' chunk!!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️Telenovela classic 🎭

Meter el dedo en la llaga

Ok… so this one's VERY visual (and not in a good way!). Literally, it means: ➡️ to put your finger in the wound Guácala… I did warn you it was very visual! So yeah, metaphorically, it means: 👉 to bring up a sensitive issue / to touch a raw nerve

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Meter la cuchara

Ok, I want you to imagine something for me. Haz de cuenta que (i.e., imagine) you carry a little spoon in your back pocket and when two people are talking, you sometimes get the urge to whip it out and ladle up your own opinion. That, mis amigos, is meter la cuchara. It often translates well to things like: 👉 to butt in / to chime in when nobody asked your opinion / to meddle 💡 I’d think of it like this: ➡️ for conversation/argument contexts: butt in ➡️ for broader interference contexts: meddle 📌 Oh, and you’re going to hear it both with possessives like su and tu, and with a simple la.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️Boomers 👶

Meter la pata

This is one of those chunks that’s just absurdly useful. It’s 100% another super chunk 🎉 Because let’s be honest… at some point in life, we all say the wrong thing, or make a bit of a blunder. And when that happens in Spanish? Yep, you metiste la pata. Here's what it means: 👉 to put your foot in it / to mess up / to say or do the wrong thing 💡 Even though meter la pata is uncannily similar to put your foot in it, there doesn't seem to be any evidence that they share a common origin. A mighty coincidence, I must say!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Meter las narices

This one’s VERY similar to a common English expression. Narices is just the plural version of nariz (nose), so you can probably guess which one… 👉 to stick your nose in (in the sense of prying/meddling) 💡 It’s very close in meaning to meter la cuchara, but meter las narices often feels a bit nosier, like poking around in stuff that isn’t your business.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️Boomers 👶

Meter presión

Oof… this one's VERY useful. And it basically does what it says on the tin: 👉 to apply pressure So yeah, it's all about pressure, urgency, and pushing things forward. 💡 When someone's talking about pressuring a specific person, team, or opponent, they'll often use the chunk meterle presión a alguien... Le voy a meter presión a Juan.
I’m going to put pressure on Juan. Le están metiendo presión al equipo rival.
They’re putting pressure on the opposing team.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Mexican Spanish 💀

Meterse a + actividad

So, this is one of those REALLY useful chunks that pops up all the time in everyday Spanish. The structure is: meterse a + actividad / área de trabajo / frase verbal en infinitivo And its English equivalents are usually: 👉 to get into something / to start doing something / to go into a field or line of work ⚠️ IMPORTANT ⚠️ ➡️ Meterse a + actividad (natación) / área de trabajo (ciencia) / frase verbal en infinitivo (vender ropa) ➡️ Meterse de + empleo o rol (mesera / chofer / etc.) Se metió de mesero.
He got a job as a waiter.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Mexican Spanish 💀

Meterse en problemas

Yep, yet another of the seemingly infinite uses of meter. But boy are they useful! And si te metes en problemas, you just… 👉 (to) get into trouble So yeah, if you’re being reckless, mouthing off, hanging around with the wrong people, or doing something dodgy… you might just meterte en problemas. *I strongly recommend you don't do any of the above! The MexiVerse is many things… but a legal defense team is not one of them.*

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Mexican Spanish 💀

Muchas gracias

Muchas gracias means thank you very much, and you’re obviously going to be using it ALL. THE. TIME! 💡 In Mexico, you can also say a simple gracias when a hawker is pestering you and you want to politely let them know that you ain’t interested. It’ll sound VERY natural. Promise!

A1 (¡Vas empezando!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Mucho mame

Yet another super useful lil’ chunk. If you like vulgar Mexican slang, that is ;) And if there’s mucho mame around something, there’s: 👉 too much hype / too much fuss / too much bullshit (around something)

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Slang 🌶️MUY informal 💀

Ni cómo

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!

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Ni nada

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 🌶️).

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Ni se te ocurra

So, ocurrirse is an absolute monster of a verb in Mexican Spanish. Grrrrr! 👹 You see, when Mexicans have just thought of something or have had an idea, they'll very often say: ¡Se me ocurrió algo! BUT it's also a great verb to use when you're having a bit of an argument… Especially the chunk ni se te ocurra Here's what it means: 👉 don’t even think about it / don’t you dare And you're essentially saying: Don’t even let that idea enter your brain. I told you it was a monster chunk! 💡 You’ll often hear this one followed by an infinitive, to tell someone exactly what they shouldn’t even dare think about!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

No es por nada

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.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

No estoy de acuerdo

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.

A1 (¡Vas empezando!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

No le eches la sal

If you’re told ¡No le eches la sal! in Mexico, you’re NOT being told not to put salt on something. It actually means: 👉 don’t jinx it 🧿 You’ll often hear it when someone celebrates too early and pops the confetti before the win’s official. 💡 And it’s not just a random saying! In Mexican folk belief, throwing or wasting salt is thought to attract bad luck or mal de ojo (evil eye). Uh-oh!

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️Abuela-approved 👵

No mames

All hail the King! Huh? No, no… King Charles III ain't paying a visit to Mexico. God forbid! One would probably get one's crown stolen! No, what I mean to say is that no mames is the veritable king of Mexican slang. 👑 It may be vulgar, it may be grotesque, but Mexicans use it ALL THE FUCKING TIME.* *Note from King Charles: Do mind your p’s and q’s, Rupert, old chap. So, what in the name of all things kingly does it mean? Well, at its core, it’s basically a way of reacting strongly to something. So it can mean any of: 👉 No fucking way! / For fuck's sake! / Yeah fucking right! 💡 If you’re in polite company but still want to sound super Mexa, use no manches instead! It’s WAY less vulgar/aggressive!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Slang 🌶️MUY informal 💀

No mames que…

Think you know how to use no mames? Well, think again. Because no mames ain't just “No fucking way!” It's sooooo much more flexible than that. Think of it as a full-on emotional reaction frame that you can whack onto the beginning of different structures. The gold dust of Mexican slang, if you will. ✨ Ready to see how it works? ⚠️ Quick reminder… ⚠️This is VERY informal, vulgar language! DO NOT, I repeat… DO NOT use it when chatting with your pal's abuelita. Consider yourself warned! 😉

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Slang 🌶️MUY informal 💀

No me salgas con que

This is a great chunk for when you’re hasta la madre (fed up!) with someone’s excuses. It’s basically what you say when you think that someone’s about to hit you with an excuse or something inconvenient/annoying (because you’ve been there many times before!). It means something like: 👉 Don’t give me that X crap! / Don’t tell me you…

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

No sabría qué decirte

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). 🧭❌

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Formal 💼Colloquial 🗯️

No seas mamón

So, if someone is mamón, they’re snobby, stuck-up, up their own arse, etc., etc. Yeah, you DON’T want to be called mamón… it ain’t a good look. Fun fact: I have actually been called a mamón in Mexico TO MY FACE. We were buying dog food in Tlaxcala and I was telling the guy that my dogs always eat the same branded food. And I think maybe he thought I wouldn’t understand, but as he walked past me later he muttered “pinche mamón” under his breath. Of course, I understood every word, lol. People in Tlaxcala are generally VERY, VERY polite and friendly, by the way. This dude was a complete anomaly. And to be fair, I probably was being a bit mamón… but I do also like to look after my doggies, lol. Anyway, ¡No seas mamón! has a slightly different meaning. Imagine something annoying, inconvenient, unfair, or just incredibly fucking frustrating happens. Well, you could say to yourself: ¡No seas mamón! So yeah, it means something like: 👉 Come the fuck on! / For fuck's sake! / You’ve got to be fucking joking! And when said to a person, it’s more like: ➡️ Don’t be a dick! / Don’t be ridiculous!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Slang 🌶️MUY informal 💀

No te hagas

This chunk is Mexican Spanish at its finest. You see, I remember being taught that to play dumb in Spanish is hacerse el tonto and, well, that is indeed true for standard Spanish… But in Mexico, you’re far more likely to hear hacerse güey, hacerse pendejo (more vulgar), or hacerse pato. And you’ll often find that Mexicans just chop the ending off and say a simple no te hagas. So yeah, this chunk normally translates well as: 👉 don’t play dumb / cut the act / don’t act like you don’t know It’s basically what you say when someone’s clearly acting clueless on purpose. 💡 Hacerse güey / hacerse pendejo can also mean that someone’s slacking off or avoiding work, but no te hagas isn't used in this sense.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Mexican Spanish 💀

No te queda de otra

This is what Spanish speakers say when someone’s only got one viable option and it ain’t a particularly attractive one. So yeah, a good translation would be: 👉 you’ve got no choice

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

No tengo cómo

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.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

No tengo con qué

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

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Nomás que

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! 🌶️

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Nos vemos

Say hola to the Spanish equivalent of… 👉 See you. Yep, that’s literally all there is to it. 💡 Wanna sound extra native? Just add a time or place: ➡️ Nos vemos al rato. = See you later. ➡️ Nos vemos allá. = See you there. ➡️ Nos vemos el lunes. = See you Monday. Or affix an ahorita at the end (or beginning!) if you’re gonna see the person in question real soon (and to sound super Mexican): ➡️ Ahorita nos vemos, wey. = See you in a bit, dude.

A1 (¡Vas empezando!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

O sea

Right, get your notebooks out, Mexiversers, because o sea is a VERY important chunk… In fact, I think I'm going to give it super chunk status. 🎉 And yeah, it can indeed function as a filler word… but that ain't the whole story. You see, Mexicans also use it when they want to clarify what they mean, rephrase something, spell out the implication of something, or frame a reaction. So, depending on the situation, it can mean any of the following: 👉 I mean / basically / in other words / so yeah / like Let's dig into some examples!

⚠️ IMPORTANT ⚠️At the start of a sentence, o sea often isn’t a true “thinking filler” like este or eh. It’s more of a conversational way of easing into what you want to say (often when framing a reaction). So, if you’re at the taco stand and el taquero asks you what you want, most Mexicans would opt for Esteeee… or Ehhhhh… while they mull it over. O sea wouldn’t really be the natural choice. Just like in English, tbh (think classic hesitation fillers like umm or errr, instead of like). 🍓 Using o sea repeatedly as a filler word mid-sentence can sound a bit fresa / mirrey, especially when said in a slow, drawn-out kinda way. So yeah, maybe don’t go slotting it in after every word (unless that’s the look you’re going for)!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

O si no, igual

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.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️Millennial 😎

Oro molido

This one’s just a super native-like way to describe something VERY good or valuable, usually not actual gold, but close enough. 💰 It’s a bit like the English phrase: 👉 pure gold (i.e., incredibly good/valuable)

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️Abuela-approved 👵

Para mí va a ser…

Yep, yet another useful chunk. We’re really spoiling you ;) And you’ll hear this one a lot when people are ordering IN A GROUP, especially at sit-down restaurants. It’s a bit like saying: 👉 And I’ll have… (when ordering food in a group)

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Para no hacerles el cuento largo

This is what Mexicans say when they’re about to skip the long explanation and jump straight to the juicy part. It basically means: 👉 long story short But don’t be surprised if you hear it used AFTER a long story too 😂 💡 You’ll often hear para no hacerles el cuento largo paired with y bueno, which works a bit like anyway in English.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Pensárselo dos veces

This one’s used when someone has second thoughts about something (normally due to perceived risk). In English, we’d say: 👉 to think twice about something

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Pero ya

👉 ...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.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Pon que

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!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽MUY informal 💀

Pon tú que

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!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽MUY informal 💀

Poner un alto

This is a very common (and powerful!) chunk in Mexican Spanish. Literally, it means to put up a stop sign 🚫, but figuratively, it’s all about taking action to stop something that’s getting out of hand. So yeah, it translates well to something like: 👉 to put a stop (to something) 💡 You’ll hear both poner un alto a alguien and poner un alto a algo. The latter is often heard during protests or social movements: ¡Pongan un alto a la violencia! Stop the violence!

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Ponerle + nombre

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

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Ponerse de pechito

Ready for an interesting chunk? I present to you: ponerse de pechito. It basically means: 👉 to make it way too easy for someone to criticize, mock, or trick (you or someone else) Imagine you’re leaving yourself wide open, chest out… basically, serving yourself up on a silver platter.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Por favor

This is another chunk you NEED to know! After all, manners maketh man (and presumably woman too!), right? 👉 Por favor just means please, and it works in absolutely all situations.

A1 (¡Vas empezando!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Por lo visto

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?).

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Por poco

👉 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!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Primero Dios

So, this one’s just the Mexican way of saying: 👉 God willing You’ll hear it A LOT when people are talking about plans… it adds that extra touch of hope (and a sprinkle of humility). It’s a bit like saying, “Hopefully everything goes as planned… but it’s up to the Big Guy upstairs.” 🙏

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Abuela-approved 👵

Pues, de eso a nada…

So, this is what you say when something isn’t amazing… but hey, it’s better than having absolutely nada. It often carries a tone of resignation and acceptance: 👉 Well, it’s better than nothing… / I mean… it’s something.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Que no mamemos

Ok… this is a juicy one! 🧃 So, the verb mamar can mean un buen de cosas in Mexican Spanish, but one of the big ones is: to talk bullshit. And que no mamemos is basically an extension of that same idea… It’s a vulgar way of saying: 👉 let’s not kid ourselves / let’s not bullshit ourselves

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Slang 🌶️MUY informal 💀

Que te vaya bien

Ok, so this one’s VERY common in everyday spoken Spanish. It’s basically a warm, friendly way to say: 👉 Take care! / Have a good one!

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Que tengas buen día

So this is one of those set goodbye phrases that you’re gonna hear absolutely everywhere! It’s basically like saying: 👉 have a nice day (but with a subjunctive, lol) 💡 The polite usted version is que tenga buen día.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Quedar a deber

This is a chunk my suegra uses ALL. THE. TIME. when talking about owing money. ¡Pero ojo 👀! The nuance here is that you were expected to pay the full amount, but didn’t have enough, so were left owing. That’s why it’s super common when a shopkeeper lets you off a few pesos! ➡️ Fui a la tienda a comprar pollo, pero no me alcanzó; les quedé a deber 3 pesos. = I went to the store to buy chicken, but I didn’t have enough money on me, so I still owe them 3 pesos. So yeah, a rough English translation could be: 👉 to still owe (someone money) 💡 Notice that little les before quedé a deber? That specifies WHO the money is owed to. Also note that even though the debt still exists in the present, the verb quedar is in the preterite. That’s because the key event is the moment the payment attempt happened and left you owing.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Abuela-approved 👵Standard Mexican Spanish 💀

Quedar mal

Another day, another super idiomatic chunk with quedar ;) Here's what this one means: 👉 to let someone down / to look bad 💡 In Mexico, you'll often hear te quedo mal as a polite way of saying I can't help you (when asking for directions) or I don't have what you're looking for (when at a market).

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Quedarse con las ganas

This one means something along the lines of: 👉 to be left with the desire / urge Basically, Mexicans use it when they REALLY want to do something… but can’t. 😞

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Resulta que

Here’s another storytelling classic for y’all! Seriously, you’re gonna hear resulta que at every turn. Quite literally ;) You see, this chunk means: 👉 turns out / turns out that 💡 Resulta que is used to move a story forward by introducing a new, unexpected development. So yeah, it's obviously an essential chunk if you like a bit of chisme!

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Retiro lo dicho

Literally? 👉 I take back what I said And yep, that’s exactly what it means. No weird idiomatic twist here, folks.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Sale vale

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. 💅

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Boomers 👶Gen X 🎸

Se me antoja

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…

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Se me antojó

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. 💘

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Se me fue

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.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Se me hace

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.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Se me nota

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?

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Se me ocurrió + infinitivo

Another day, another example of that tricky lil’ se. Looks like I'm a poet, and I sure do know it, jiji. Anyway… This isn’t really an accidental se in the classic sense of “oops, I forgot”. Here, the se helps give the feeling that the idea came to you or occurred to you. So, this chunk just means: 👉 it occurred to me / I thought of + infinitive But it sounds way less formal in Spanish than it does in English. Pinky promise. 💡 There’s also no se me ocurrió or no se me había ocurrido when something hasn't crossed your mind. And if you wanna say that you thought of something, you can use the chunk se me ocurrió algo. 🚦 Just as with se me olvidó, 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 THE THOUGHT OCCURRED TO 🟡 ocurrió / ocurrieron = the yellow light = changes depending on HOW MANY IDEAS/THINGS OCCURRED TO YOU

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Se me olvidó

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

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Se me pasó la mano

👉 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.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Se te nota

👉 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.

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Seamos sinceros

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.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Seguirle la corriente (a alguien)

Right, so this one’s for those moments when you need to nod, agree, or just go along with someone, especially when you don’t really believe them or care what they’re saying! It translates well to: 👉 to play along / to humor

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Según yo

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.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Si mal no recuerdo

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

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Si todo sale bien

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...

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Siempre y cuando

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. 😱

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Formal 💼Standard Spanish 😌

Siento que

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).

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Tarde o temprano

Let me present to you the Spanish version of: 👉 sooner or later (just flipped!) Yep, this timeless lil’ chunk just means something’s definitely gonna happen. Maybe not today. Maybe not mañana. But trust me, it’s coming.

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Te caigo más tarde

This one literally means: I'll fall on you later. But don't worry, it's NOT some quirky Mexican tradition (like pushing el cumpleañero into their bday cake!). Nope, this one just means: 👉 I'll drop by later / I'll swing by later So yeah, it's just a chill, friendly way of letting someone know you'll come over later. Phew! Rupert wipes sweat from brow and stops bracing for impact.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Ñero (barrio) 🧢Chavitos 👟Gen X 🎸

Te cuidas

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.

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Te voy a ser sincero

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!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Ten en cuenta que

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. 🗒️

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Tener que ver

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!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Tengo ganas de + infinitivo

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. 🍦

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Todavía que…

Super chunk (that's never, ever taught!) alert! 🚨 And I actually first heard this one from Erika (my wife for those of you who don't watch our vids). I noted down the exact line, jiji: Todavía que te estoy cortando las uñas y tú me haces groserías. And no, I can't remember what “groserías” I was doing… probably pulling my hand away (I’m a little impatient) or complaining. Anyway, this structure might look a bit chaotic on paper… but it’s pure, real Mexican Spanish. Here's how it works: Todavía que + [good thing someone has / receives] + [bad / ungrateful reaction] Por ejemplo: Todavía que te estoy ayudando, te enojas.
I’m literally helping you and you get mad. And in the wild, you're sometimes gonna hear it with y: Todavía que te estoy ayudando y te enojas. And the English translation? Well, it's a tricky one, but I'd say most of the time it's something like: 👉 I’m literally doing X (something positive) for you and you do Y (something negative)

C1 (¡Eres un chingón!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Mexican Spanish 💀

Total, que

This one works a bit like so anyway or so yeah in English, specifically when jumping forward in a story. So yeah (or should that be total, que 😉), native speakers use total, que when they’re telling a story or explaining something and want to skip the boring stuff and get to the nitty-gritty. Here’s an example from El Pulso De La República (a political commentary/parody show): Total, que este pedo ha escalado a tal grado que la presidenta ya interpuso una demanda contra el abogado por difamación… So anyway, this whole shitshow escalated so much that the president has now filed a defamation lawsuit against the lawyer… So, the host, Chumel Torres, had been talking about a lawyer who’d been accusing Morena (a political party) of corruption and he uses total, que to skip the boring middle and get to the part where the President files a defamation lawsuit against the lawyer. I’d tentatively translate it to one of the following, depending on context: 👉 so anyway / so yeah 💡 Total, que isn’t exclusive to Mexico; Spaniards use it A LOT too... probably more than Mexicans, tbh!

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Traigo + emotion noun

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!

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Una cosa es que

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.

C1 (¡Eres un chingón!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Va a ser...

This is one of the Mexicanest (is that a word?) ways to order food! It literally means: It’s going to be… But in practice it works like: 👉 I’ll have… You’ll hear it ALL the time at taquerías, restaurants, cafés, etc. 💡 You can use va a ser pretty much whenever you’re being served directly (i.e., when someone’s taking your order). It’s NOT as common at busy food stands when you’re having to shout your order at the taquero (me das or te encargo rule the roost here!).

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Va que va

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! 🕺

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Fresa 🍓Chavitos 👟

Vale la pena

This one’s just the Spanish equivalent of: 👉 it’s worth it Simple. 💡 Vale la pena can be used either as a standalone response, or with an infinitive to say that something’s worth doing.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Verle la cara a alguien

This one’s a must-know phrase (unfortunately!). It’s a VERY Mexican way of saying that someone’s trying to scam you or take advantage of you Now, in my experience, you won’t get charged “gringo tax” by everyone here in Mexico; I’ve been to countries where foreigners are literally charged more by default and Mexico ain’t one of them. After 10 years, I’d say I know rough price ranges for things, and honestly, 95% of the time I get charged the right price. Though, the guy in the Pokémon store the other day trying to charge my son and me 1050 pesos for a box of cards when the handwritten label said 1000 was definitely a bit suspicious, lol. So yeah, obviously there ARE dishonest people about too... Anyway, verle la cara a alguien just means: 👉 to rip someone off / to play someone 💡 And you’re also going to hear the following variations: verle la cara de extranjero a alguien = to rip someone off / take advantage of them because they’re a foreigner verle la cara de menso / tonto / pendejo a alguien = to play someone / take advantage of someone verle la cara de rico a alguien = to think someone’s loaded and overcharge them

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Mexican Spanish 💀

Ves que

Yay, it’s another SUPER CHUNK! 🎊 And a simple one to boot! Because it normally translates well as: 👉 You know (how)…

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Voy a querer…

Yep, yet another super Mexican way of ordering! This one means: 👉 I’ll have… / I’ll take… Oh, and if you’re with a group of people and it’s your turn to order just add a yo in front: Yo voy a querer… 💡 This one's mainly used in sit-down restaurants when the waiter is taking your order at the table. You’ll often hear it while people are still studying the menu: Esteee… voy a querer… = Err... I'll have... But you might also hear it at the taco stand, especially if there aren’t many people and you’ve got the taquero’s full attention.

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Y luego

This one’s another super chunk! Seriously, you’re gonna use it ALL. THE. TIME. Particularly when telling stories or recounting past events. It just means: 👉 and then 💡 Mexicans use y luego constantly when narrating events step-by-step. It’s literally the bread 🍞 and butter 🧈 of Mexican storytelling, so you’ll often hear it instead of y entonces. Oh, and it's also VERY common in question form (¿Y luego?) to encourage someone to continue their story.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Y para acabarla de chingar

👉 and if that weren’t bad enough / and to top it all off (vulgar ⚠️) This one’s just the vulgar version of y para acabarla de amolar or y para colmo. It’s the perfect chunk for when you want to tell your pals about something bad that happened in a super expressive way. Emphasis on telling your PALS!! 😉

C1 (¡Eres un chingón!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽MUY informal 💀Offensive (light) ⚠️

Y para colmo

This one means: 👉 and if that weren’t bad enough / and to top it all off So yeah, if you hear y para colmo, things probably HAVEN’T gone to plan. It’s what you say when something bad happens… and then something even worse happens after that. ¡Híjoles! 💡 This is what I like to call a twist chunk; it adds a dramatic turn when you’re telling a story.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Ya basta

This is what you say when things have gone too far! I.e., when someone's being annoying, loud, or pushy, and you want them to stop NOW. It's a bit like saying: 👉 That's enough! / Stop it already! / Cut it out!

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Ya era hora

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.

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Ya me dio

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!)

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️

Ya me tengo que ir

When you've gotta go, you've gotta go. Leaving somewhere that is, NOT bathroom time. 😉 And well, ya me tengo que ir is the chunk you're gonna need when you've gotta go in Mexico. It just means: 👉 I have to go / I need to leave 💡 That little ya adds urgency… great for when you're trying to leave a party, or your suegra's 4-hour lunch.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Ya me voy

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 😊).

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Colloquial 🗯️Standard Spanish 😌

Ya no

This one’s my kinda chunk… Short, punchy, and common as hell! Here’s what it means: 👉 not anymore / no longer 💡 You can use ya no on its own as a standalone response, or before a conjugated verb.

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Ya nos cayó el chahuistle

Chahuistle (cha-WEES-tle) is a type of fungus that ruins corn crops. But in modern Mexican Spanish, it means something along the lines of: 👉 we’re in big trouble now It’s normally used when something bad has just happened and there’s no going back. Yep, just like when the fungus hit the corn crops. Eeek!

C1 (¡Eres un chingón!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Abuela-approved 👵Boomers 👶

Ya se echó a perder

This one's just a useful way of saying that something's gone bad (often said while peering into the fridge)! 🥴 👉 it's gone bad (i.e., it's no longer edible) / it's ruined 💡 Oh, and it's also used to talk about something broken or damaged! Or even just a situation that's gone south… ¡Acaban de anunciar alerta de huracán! Ya se nos echaron a perder las vacaciones…
They just announced a hurricane alert! That's our vacation ruined…

B1 (¡Ya le agarras la onda!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

Ya se la saben

This is another EPIC chunk (I mean, aren’t they all 😉). It just means: 👉 you (all) know the drill So yeah, it’s perfect for when everyone knows what’s expected of them. 🚨 PERO OJO 🚨 This chunk also has un lado oscuro… It’s infamous in Mexico because it’s EXACTLY what robbers say during a holdup: ¡Ya se la saben! = You know the drill! / Hand over your stuff now!

B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽MUY informal 💀Ñero (barrio) 🧢

Ya se lo cargó el payaso

This one literally means: The clown already carried him away 🤡 But in Mexican Spanish, it’s slang for: 👉 he’s screwed / he’s done for / he’s in deep trouble 💡 Supposedly, it comes from Mexican rodeo tradition, where clowns would rush out to carry away fallen riders who’d been thrown off bulls or horses.

C1 (¡Eres un chingón!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽MUY informal 💀

Yo te acompaño

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 keep you company

A2 (¡Vas bien!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

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