Puerto Rican Slang Terms

This doc covers Puerto Rican slang terms including uses and definitions and is incredibly helpful to anyone planning a trip to the island.

1. Puerto Rican Slang Terms

If you're an American citizen, you don't need a visa to travel to Puerto Rico. But in order to
effectively communicate while you're there, you do need a grasp on these Puerto Rican slang
terms.
Each of these slang phrases is used commonly and casually throughout Puerto Rico.
Many Puerto Rican slang terms are essentially Spanglish -- a mix of Spanish and English, often
derived from American influence.
Puerto Rican Slang Terms
Boricua

2. This is what Puerto Ricans refer to themselves as. Locals are Boricuas.
For example:
Que pasa, Baricua. -- What's up, dude. (from one Puerto Rican to another).
Mano
Nearly every culture has an endearing term for close friends that are like family, and in Puerto
Rico, that term is Mano. It's taken from Hermano, which means brother.
For example:
El es mi mano, hacemos todos juntos. -- He is my brother, we do everything together.
Ahorita
This is the other term to know right away, before you land on the island. In general, "ahorita"
means right now in Spanish. But Puerto Rico operates on island time, so when someone says
"ahorita" to you, it means at some point in the future. That could be in an hour, it could be
tomorrow, it could be in five years, but definitely not right now.
For example:
Claro hombre, te veré ahorita. -- Yeah sure, man. I'll see you then. (Sarcastic)
Duro/a
A term that signifies you have mastered something, be that your job, your hobby, your
relationship, whatever it is that is being discussed.
For example:
Ella es una dura estudiante en la clase. -- She is the best student in class.
Jibaro
Similar to countryfolk, and sometimes used as a demeaning term similar to "redneck," jibaro is
someone who lives in the rural areas of Puerto Rico.
For example:
No quiero convertirme en un jibaro. Me gusta vivir en la ciudad. -- I don't want to become a
redneck. I like living in the city.
Al Garete

3. Al garete is a term used to desribe a crazy, awesome, or fun experience or person.
For example:
¡El partido de fútbol de anoche fue al garete! -- The football game last night was so crazy!
Brutal
Brutal is similar to al garete in that it refers to something that is super awesome or cool. It is
perhaps even better, though -- something that will be tough to repeat. "Epic" would be the closest
incarnation in English.
For example:
¡El concierto de anoche fue brutal! ¡No puedo creer ese solo de batería! -- The concert last night
was so epic! I could not believe that drum solo!
Nene/Nana
These terms are how Puerto Ricans refer to children. They don't generally use the common
Spanish terms of niño or niña. Of Puerto Rican slang terms, this one is one of the few used in
more formal talk.
For example:
Invitamos a todos los nenes a la fiesta de cumpleaños. -- We invited all of the kids to the birthday
party.
Tirar
Tirar means to make fun of someone, to consider them trashy.
For example: Los dos raperos estan tirando los otros raperos. -- The two rappers are making fun
of the other rappers.
Chavos
Chavos is Puerto Rican slang for money. You won't hear this term used formally, but among
groups of friends, it's used on the daily.
For example:
No tengo chavos para cervezas esta noche, amigo. Están en ti. -- I don't have any money for beer
tonight, buddy. They're on you.
Acicalao

4. This term is hard to accomplish if you don't have chavos. It refers to the act of being well put
together, of dressing nice, or of really preparing yourself of a fancy event.
For example:
Voy a acicalao esta noche porque quiero impresionar a la chicas en la bembé. -- I am going to
dress up fancy tonight because I want to impress the girls at the party.
Come mierda
You can dress up as fancy as you wish, but don't act like you're better than everyone else. If you
do, you're likely to hear people whisper "come mierda" in your direction. It means "eat shit"
literally, but it used to describe someone who is full of themself or who is an asshole.
For example: Ese comemierda no debería volver a entrar aquí. A nadie le gusta. -- That asshole
shouldn't be allowed back in here. No one likes him.
Gato/a
The Spanish word for "cat" is used to describe someone who is very good looking, of either
gender.
For examle: El es un gato! OOOOH! -- He is so fine! OOOOH!
Jumeta
If you don't watch yourself at el bembé (Puerto Rican for party), you might find yourself to
drunk, which is signified by the term jumeta.

5. For example:
Anoche fui a casa porque si me hubiera quedado más tiempo, me habría emjumeta. -- I went
home early last night because if I had stayed any longer, I would have been too drunk.
Birras
You might need these to become jumeta. Birras are Puerto Rican slang for beer.
For example: Es hora de un birra. -- It's time for a beer.
Perrear
This may happen if you have one too many birras. It means to dance fervently, as if you are
possessed. It's common in Puerto Rican pop music and club culture.
For example:
Ella bailaba como una perrea. ¡Era su banda favorita! -- She was dancing like a crazy person. It
was her favorite band!

6. Revolú
This term looks like it's about to spell out revolution, but if anything similar, it's only what
causes the revolution in the first place. It refers to something being a disaster, a mess, or needing
to be handled.
For example:
Ese centro comercial es un revolú No quiero volver a ir nunca más. -- That shopping mall is a
disaster, I don't ever want to go there again.
If you are looking to expand your Spanish vocabulary beyond Puerto Rican slang terms before
your trip to the island, learn more about how to talk like a true local by starting with our Spanish
Survival Crash Course.
Each day for six days, we'll send e-books and audio files to your inbox to help you get a basic
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Puerto Rican slang terms are a great place to start -- but now your true Spanish language learning
journey awaits!