Spanish slang from Spain: the words you'll really hear
Published 11 November 2026
Textbooks teach you correct Spanish. Spaniards, especially among friends, speak something more colourful. These are the slang words you will hear every day in Spain: what they mean, how to use them, and which ones to handle with care.
The words you hear all day
Vale.
OK.
The most useful word in Spain: yes, agreed, fine, got it. At the end of a sentence, ¿vale? means "OK?".
Tío. / Tía.
Mate, dude (literally: uncle, aunt).
Between friends, for men and women alike: ¡Tía, qué bien! Not for strangers or your boss.
En plan...
Like...
The filler word of young Spain: Estaba en plan, ¿qué dices? I was like, what are you saying?
¡Ostras!
Wow! / Oh no!
Surprise, good or bad. It is the polite version of a much ruder word.
How Spaniards say "cool"
¡Qué guay!
How cool!
Guay is the classic Spanish word for cool. In Latin America you will hear other words, like chido or chévere.
Me mola.
I love it. / I'm into it.
From molar, to be cool. ¡Cómo mola! means "that's so cool!".
¡Qué chulo!
How nice! / How cool!
For things: a flat, a jacket, a plan. Said about a person, chulo can also mean cocky.
Es muy majo. / Es muy maja.
He's really nice. / She's really nice.
Majo is the go-to word for a friendly, likeable person.
Surprise and reactions
¡Qué fuerte!
No way! / That's crazy!
For news that surprises or shocks you. Literally "how strong".
Estoy flipando.
I can't believe it.
From flipar, to be amazed. ¡Vas a flipar! means you are going to love it.
¡Qué va!
No way! / Not at all!
A friendly but firm no: ¿Estás cansado? ¡Qué va!
Me da igual.
I don't mind.
Neutral and polite. Said with a shrug, it can mean "whatever".
Work, money and going out
Mañana curro.
I'm working tomorrow.
Currar is to work and el curro is your job. Everyone says it, from students to bosses.
Cuesta una pasta.
It costs a fortune.
Pasta is money: ¿Cuánta pasta? How much money?
¿Quedamos?
Shall we meet up?
Quedar is the verb for making plans: ¿Quedamos a las ocho? Shall we meet at eight?
¿Vamos de cañas?
Shall we go for a beer?
Ir de cañas is going out for small beers, usually with tapas and usually in more than one bar.
Words to use with care
You will hear joder and hostia everywhere in Spain, sometimes several times a minute. They are swear words, very common in casual speech, but not polite. Recognise them, and leave them to the locals until you know the room. ¡Ostras! and ¡madre mía! are the safe versions.
Questions people ask
Is Spanish slang the same in Latin America?
No. Vale, tío, guay and mola are typical of Spain. In Mexico cool is chido, in Argentina copado, and tío there simply means uncle. More examples in Spain vs Latin American Spanish.
What does vale mean in Spain?
Vale means OK. Spaniards use it to agree, to confirm and to close a topic, often several times in one conversation: vale, vale.
Should a learner use slang?
Yes, with friends and people your age. Vale, qué guay and me da igual are safe almost anywhere. Keep tío and tía for friends, and leave the swear words for later.
Slang is what makes Spanish sound like Spain. To hear it in context, read how Spaniards really say hello and ordering in a Spanish bar.