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Spanish is full of expressions that look simple, but when you translate them word by word, they make very little sense. This is especially confusing for Spanish students, because dictionaries usually give you the literal meaning, not the real one. In this post we look at ten very common expressions, some of them apply to Mexico only. Some are informal, some playful, and some emotional. The goal is to understand them, not necessarily to use all of them right away.
As always, learn these expressions to recognize them in conversations, movies, or TV. Some are very casual and should be used carefully.
| Spanish expression | Literal translation | Colloquial meaning in English |
|---|---|---|
| bebida con piquete (MX) | drink with a prick | a drink with some alcohol added |
| no tiene desperdicio | it has no waste | it’s worth it, it’s really good, don’t miss it |
| me da coraje (MX) | it gives me courage | it makes me angry, it annoys me. This is courage in most other Spanish speaking countries. |
| sus quince primaveras | her fifteen springs | her fifteenth birthday, turning 15. It could be a different number. |
| casi casi | almost almost | very close, just about. In Italian quasi quasi. |
| lero lero (MX) | lero lero | teasing, taunting sound, “nyah nyah”, childish mockery. This is said almost singing. LeRo Lero Lero LEro |
| (ser) gandalla (MX) | bully, unfair person | someone who takes advantage of others |
| sin querer | without wanting | by accident, unintentionally |
| ni cómo ayudarlo / ayudarla | not even how to help him / her | there’s no way to help him, there is no way s/he can be helped, this person is so dumb that is beyond help. |
| el changarro (MX) | small shack | small shop or small business, small family business. If it’s very small it’s called changarrito. |
Some of these expressions are strongly cultural. Bebida con piquete is used casually when alcohol is added to a drink, even if it is just a little. No tiene desperdicio is very positive and often used to recommend a movie, a story, or a situation that is entertaining from beginning to end.
Me da coraje is especially tricky. In English and other Spanish speaking countries, courage is positive, but in Mexican Spanish coraje usually means anger or frustration. Sus quince primaveras is a poetic and traditional way to refer to a girl turning fifteen, something very important in many Latin American cultures.
Casi casi is informal and expressive. It shows that something almost happened, or that it was extremely close. Lero lero is pure childhood. Adults usually say it jokingly or ironically. Gandalla is common in Mexico and refers to someone who cuts in line, cheats, bullies, or abuses a situation.
Sin querer is very useful in daily life and often replaces “by accident.” Ni cómo ayudarlo expresses resignation. It means the situation is so bad that nothing can be done. Finally, changarro is a very Mexican word for a small, informal business, often family-run.
Understanding these expressions will help you sound more natural and, more importantly, understand real conversations in Mexican Spanish.
