77 POPULAR MEXICAN PHRASES AND THEIR MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

Most of the Mexican phrases are a consequence of the mixture of cultures that has formed the idiosyncrasy of Mexicans. With its approximately 4000 years of history, Mexico is a perfect example of cultural miscegenation.

Although this miscegenation is a common characteristic of Latin American countries, in Mexico it is astonishing that the original indigenous culture has managed to persist centuries of Spanish conquest, American influence and the current reception of foreigners from all over the world.

Many of the most characteristic Mexican phrases are the result of the cultural miscegenation that this society has experienced since its inception. Source: pixabay.com

This persistence adapted to the cultures it has received has generated popular expressions and sayings typical of the Mexican in the language, which are sometimes easy to understand and other times not so much.

You may also be interested in this list of Mexican words.

The most popular Mexican phrases

In his day to day, the Mexican uses countless phrases to express all kinds of emotions or actions.

Although there are some expressions that are used more or less according to the social class or environment in which a particular person operates, good humor and typical eloquence mean that, regardless of age, gender or race, Mexicans are express them in phrases that only they understand.

Below we list the most used Mexican phrases in this country:

To give him what is mole de olla!

It means not wasting time, seizing the moment, doing something without delay. Mole de olla is a traditional Mexican dish that is best tasted fresh.

Little?

Expression of surprise or disbelief: "Did you believe him a little?"

Ah his wick!

Expression of astonishment or surprise: "Ah your wick these tacos!".

There we glasses

It is a phrase widely used by young people used among friends and family that means see you later, see you, it's time to go.

Pretty chingadera

It is an expression that is applied to a disappointment, abuse or deception. Example: «What a pretty chingadera! It took you so long and you couldn't even bring the books I asked for.

Good or bad

A person who is nice or not, depending on the adjective: "Her friends are very cool."

Fall the chahuistle

Chauistle is a disease of some plants. This expression means that he has bad luck: "The chahuistle has already fallen on him!"

Drop twenty

Realize something: "That's where I fell for the twentieth that he was gone."

Fall fat

When a person is not nice or nice: "I like your boyfriend."

Load the clown

It is used for someone or something when a situation is complicated, probably without a solution: "The clown already charged me."

Chiro Liro!

Expression of surprise in a positive way: "Chiro liro the face you made!".

Eat cravings

Worrying excessively about something: "Do not eat cravings, it will be resolved."

Give me the challenge

It is a phrase used to ask for something to happen to you that you don't remember the name of.

Give the plane

Not paying attention or ignoring someone: "Don't give me the plane."

Give the cat

Something that looks good: "Yes it hits the jackpot."

Give the ride or the hitchhike

It is traveling for free or taking a person to another place without charging: "Can you give me the ride to my house?"

Give flight to the lint

Do something without limits or without scruples: "Do not give flight to the lint."

Flat

Expression to say that there is no doubt about something: "It will not be enough for everyone."

Of flown

Do something very quickly or urgently: "Fly to the hospital."

Throw the joke

Joking is a joke or a joke, so this phrase refers to making jokes or talking relaxed: "We were making fun of it."

Be cannon

When something is very difficult or complex: "It is a cannon that arrives on time."

Be up to the flip flops

Or “being up to the mother” means being really drunk or drunk. It is also used to express that you are very busy or immersed in some activity.

Be urged

It is a phrase that refers to being desperate to have a partner, being in need of sex or physical contact.

He all mine

He is a gallant man, capable of conquering any girl.

Make or put monkeys

Cross your fingers to make something happen or not: "Make monkeys so that no one notices."

Roll up

Complicating or making a mistake with a situation because it is not understood: "I made a mess with the accounts."

Duck

Play dumb: "Don't play a duck."

Go chambear

Go to work. The word "chamba" in Mexico and in many Latin American countries means work. Looking for work, is looking for work.

Really

To express disbelief or denial phrases such as: "Don't stain!" or "Don't make up!" They are non-vulgar versions of the phrase “No mames!”.

Later later

By using this word twice they refer to immediately after or right now: "Then, after putting it in, I closed the door so it wouldn't come out."

Bad third

Someone who accompanies a couple in love and, in general, is over.

Pig disease

With this phrase, the alkaline tide is known in Mexico, the phenomenon of the body that is reflected when one is very sleepy after eating excessively: "I already had a bad pig."

My house is your house

The Mexican is very courteous and respectful, that is why he uses this phrase to refer to his own home, meaning that he also offers himself to the person with whom he is speaking. Sometimes they even only say the second part of the sentence, although they refer to the first: "I went to your house to change."

Not even going to dance in Chalma

This expression is used to say that it is impossible to fulfill, even if a pilgrimage is made to Chalma and a request for a miracle is made.

There is no varus

It means that there is no money, there are no coins, there are no bills.

Don't do pancho

When someone gets dramatic or violent, they are told “don't do Pancho”, which means stop the tantrum, the tantrum, don't protest.

Go over spear

Abusing or overreaching in a situation: "You went overboard with what you told him."

What's up?

To greet each other and ask a person how they are doing, different phrases are used such as: "What's up?", "What's up?" or "What was there?" Some have turned the latter into a single word: "Quihubo."

What a hump

It is a slightly vulgar expression that refers to something bad or horrible. Example: "Don't be flat, lend me money." It can also refer to the opposite, for example, if we say "What a crap that phone" means, well, cool.

Dry soup

Dish that does not contain liquid or broth. Usually refers to pasta or rice: "I ate chicken with dry soup."

Bring or walk with the Jesus in the mouth

Being very worried about something: "Your mother walks with Jesus in her mouth."

Take a coyotito

Go take a nap, sleep for a while during the day. There are similar phrases in Mexico that mean the same thing: "I'm going to take an eyelash" or "I'm going to jetear."

They pissed me off

To cheat on something means to flatter or praise something. Examples: I got cheated on my new dress. My eyes piqued me.

What up

It is a form of friendly greeting to ask how are you ?, What happened ?, What was there ?, equivalent to “what's up”. Although fart means flatulence, it is a word that has many uses.

Old green tail

It is used to refer to a mature, elderly man who flirts or woos young girls.

I'm already good fart

It is an expression used to say that you are very drunk. Peda is drunkenness, the act of drinking excessively.

Bad sounding expressions

Among the endless phrases used by Mexicans, some can be considered vulgar depending on the people with whom you are talking.

A güevo! or to egg!

Expression to say that something is so forced or obligatory.

To every mother

To say that someone or something is very good or that it is the best: "The event was for all mothers."

Lower eggs

Relax or calm down: "Lower your eggs."

Roe

Something boring or uninteresting: "This book is stupid."

Kick

Having sex: "I missed this end."

Be up to the mother

Being fed up with a situation: "I'm up to the mother of your attitude."

No fucking!

Expression of disbelief or to tell someone not to bother or annoy.

Don't suck!

Expression of disbelief.

Have a mother

Referring to honor, word or shame: "You don't have a mother to tell me that."

Worth mother

Something that does not matter or has little value: "It's good for me if you don't go." Sometimes it is used without the word "mother" so that it is not vulgar: "You are worth me."

Making tamales from goat

It is a phrase that means to betray, to be unfaithful. Example: My ungrateful husband made me goat tamales.

Sayings

In Mexico, sayings known to most Spanish-speaking countries are used, but they also have their own sayings closely linked to their food, history, fauna and their characteristic customs.

A new acocote, old tlachiquero

Tlaquichero is the person who is in charge of extracting the agave pulque and does so with an instrument called acocote. This saying indicates that, faced with a new situation or problem, it is preferable for experts to take charge.

Fans in summer and weights in hand

It is about preferring the real or already existing instead of the promises of something to come.

Labrador Afanador, candidate for the le

"Afanador" meant thief, "labiero" refers to someone who has a lot of lip and "chero" is a term associated with jail. This old saying means that you should not be very talkative because it can have bad consequences.

The best monkey drops the sapote

The monkey is an animal race and the sapote is a fruit. The saying means that we all make mistakes, even the most experienced.

The parakeet is green wherever it wants

He who is good is always good.

It is good to lie on the sheepskin, but not to tear off the wool

Do not abuse the good.

Cacaraquienta hen is the one taken into account

It literally means that the hen that screams is the one that has laid eggs, so it means that when you do something you have to report it or say it, not remain silent.

Tianguistengo better than tianguistuve

Tianguistengo is the name of a town in the Hidalgo state. This is a play on words to say that it is better to make sure of what you have and not risk losing it.

It makes me what the wind does to Juárez

He does not care or does not affect him.

While catching catfish, feed on juiles

You have to make sacrifices in the present to get better things in the future.

Not so much that it burns the saint, not so much that it does not illuminate it

When candles are lit to a saint it cannot be too little or too much. It is about getting the middle ground of things, that they are not scarce or excessive.

Does not give way without huarache

You don't do something if you are not sure everything will turn out okay.

There is no mole, if it is not ground

Mole is a typical Mexican food. This saying means that you have to work hard or fight for the good things.

You don't have to look for noise in the pork rind

Avoid dangerous or bad situations, do not take risks, especially if you have already been in that scenario.

You should not leave the serape at home, even if the sun is hot

Sarape is a garment or blanket to protect you from the cold. It means that you have to be cautious.

For the yerba, the contra yerba

There is a solution for everything.

The tamale is known from the leaves, which is made of butter

The appearance or image of a person says a lot about him.

Whoever dines with brandy, has breakfast with water

It is used to warn someone of the consequences of their actions. The phrase refers to the hangover the next day of someone who drinks alcohol in excess.

If you sweat with a pitcher, what will you do with chochocol?

The chochocol is a larger vessel than the pitcher, which means that if you cannot with the less you will not be able to with the most, you are not prepared for something bigger or worse.

Let's see which side the iguana chews on

Find out who is the best.

When the owl sings, the Indian dies

The owl in Mexico is the way owls are called in the Nahuatl indigenous language; the root of "tekol" means "evil." The indigenous people believed that when the owl sang, it meant that something bad was going to happen. So with the song of the Tecolote, bad luck surrounds a person.

References

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