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Here are ten very common Spanish language expressions, many of them from Mexico. You will see their literal translation and what they really mean in natural English.
| Spanish expression | Literal translation | Colloquial English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| pantalones de mezclilla (MX), pantalones vaqueros (España) | mixed-fabric pants, denim pants | jeans. In México, it’s very common to hear pantalón (pant?, singular) instead of pantalones (pants). |
| ya para qué. ya pa´qué. | already for what | what’s the point now (Whatever you may do at this point, will be useless.) Probably only from Mexico. |
| estar bien mamado (MX) | very sucked | to be very muscular, ripped. Don’t use it in formal situations. |
| un depa (short for un departamento, MX) | an apartment (short) | Colloquial for an apartment. In Mexico and other Latin American countries, apartamentos are departamentos. |
| librarla | to free it | to avoid danger, to get out of trouble. Ya la libré = I managed to escape that awkward or dangerous situation, maybe an illness. |
| hacer algo en lo oscurito | to do something in the dark | to do something secretly or dishonestly |
| ser amanerado | to be mannered | One of the ways to insinuate that someone is effeminate (insult). Just learn it, but don’t say it. Still, it appears on some TV series. |
| remedar / arremedar (MX) | to imitate | to mock someone by copying how they speak |
| no dar una | not to give one | to never get anything right. ¡No das una! You can’t get anything right! |
| ya ni la amuelas (MX) | you don’t even sharpen (?) it anymore | you’re making it worse. You are hopeless. You screwed up again. |
Most of these expressions are informal and very common in Mexico. Some are neutral, some are funny, and some are rude, depending on the tone and situation. Understanding them helps you follow conversations, movies, and jokes, and also helps you understand culture better.
