Real Spanish Phrases

Llorar como una magdalena

As above, to cry non-stop This expression refers to Santa María Magdalena, the prostitute who converted to Christianity and washed Jesusʼ feet with her tears.

Mas vale tarde que nunca

Better late than never Often used in Spain!

¡Mecachis en la mar!

Damn it! Mild swearword mostly used by people over the age of 50. Ideal for when you need to swear in front of the in-laws!

¡No tengas jeta! / ¡Qué jeta tienes!

Donʼt be so cheeky / You are so cheeky (Youʼve got a real nerve!) ʻJetaʼ is another word for ʻfaceʼ, in slang, but is mostly used in this expression.

Donde hay confianza, da asco

Familiarity breeds contempt When your best friend gets away with treating you badly because they know you too damn well.

¡Qué barbaridad!

Goodness me/I canʼt believe it! This is used when you see something totally excessive, e.g. ʻ¡Qué barbaridad!, que de gente hay en el Metroʼ, meaning, ʻGoodness me, the Metro is packed!ʼ

Me ha pagado con la misma moneda

He got his own back on me Here is another example: ʻMe vendió un coche en mal estado, pero en cuanto pueda, le pagaré con la misma monedaʼ, meaning ʻHe sold me a crappy car, but as soon as I can, Iʼll get my own back on him.

Es un buen partido

Heʼs a good catch What you tell your best mate about their new boyfriend or girlfriend!

Tiene un as en la manga

Heʼs got an ace up his sleeve To have a plan B when itʼs obvious that your first course of action just isnʼt going to work out.

Está en Babia

Heʼs lost in his own world This phrase comes from a tale about one of Spainʼs ancient kings, who used to go hunting in an area in the north-west of Spain, called Babia. When people asked to see the king for advice or help, his servants would say, ʻHeʼs off in Babiaʼ, and thatʼs the origin of the phrase we use today.

Está como una regadera

Heʼs totally crazy ʻRegaderaʼ means watering can! Weʼre not sure what the connection is!

¡Qué rollo!

How boring! Used when something is boring or repetitive, e.g. a movie, homework, chores...

¡Yo alucino!

I can't believe it! Literally, ʻI am hallucinating!ʼ, the Spanish use this informal phrase whenever they are presented with an outrageous situation. Price of bread gone up 200%? ʻYo Alucino...ʼ Your friend tells you they are going on holiday for the 10th time this year? ʻYo Alucino...ʼ You will often also hear ʻAlucinoʼ used alone, or in conjunction with ʻconʼ, e.g. ʻAlucino contigoʼ, meaning ʻI canʼt believe youʼ, or ʻAlucino con el precio de la fruta...ʼ, meaning ʻI canʼt believe the price of fruit.

¡No puedo más con ella!

I canʼt cope with her anymore! ...or with a situation, e.g. ʻNo puedo más con mi trabajoʼ, meaning, ʻI canʼt cope with this job any moreʼ.

¡Soy la leche!

I rock! I am the coolest thing on the block Literally, ʻI am the milkʼ, this pretty informal phrase is the kind of thing you would tell your friends (if they donʼt know it already!) Mostly used by those under 30.

Quien no llora no mama

If you donʼt ask you donʼt get This phrase comes from breast feeding! Literally, if the baby doesnʼt cry, ʻllorarʼ, it doesnʼt get to breast feed, ʻmamarʼ. Now it is used widely to suggest that if you want something in life, you really need to go ahead and ask for it!

En el país de los ciegos, el tuerto es el rey

If you know a bit more about something than everyone else around you, you are an expert The literal meaning of this phrase is, ʻin the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is kingʼ.

Más majo que la mar salada

Incredibly nice You could replace ʻmajoʼ here with other positive personality adjectives such as bueno (good), generoso (generous) and guapo (attractive). The literal translation in the above case is funny: ʻnicer than the salty seaʼ! This is a phrase for the over-50ʼs.

No tiene ni pies ni cabeza

It doesnʼt make sense E.g. ʻTu redacción no tiene ni pies ni cabeza, es mejor que la repitasʼ, meaning, ʻYour essay makes no sense, youʼd better repeat it.ʼ

Tiene buena pinta

It looks good Literally, ʻit has a good pintʼ, you could equally answer ʻtiene buena pintaʼ to a friendʼs suggestion about a restaurant, a movie, a book, or a certain dish on a menu, e.g. ʻ¿Quieres cenar en el restaurante nuevo? - Sí, tiene buena pintaʼ, meaning, ʻDo you want to eat in the new restaurant? - Sure, it looks goodʼ.

Huele que alimenta

It smells incredible Literally, ʻit smells that it feedsʼ, this is THE essential points-winning phrase to use if you ever end up with a Spanish mother-in-law, boss, boy/girlfriend, etc, and they invite you around to dinner!

¡Huele que apesta!

It stinks! ʻApestarʼ means to stink, so this phrase has real power to describe something extremely unpleasantly smelly!

¡Ya era hora!

It was about time! ... you showed up... you did this... you called her... etc...

El mundo es un pañuelo

Itʼs a small world Literally, ʻthe world is a hankerchiefʼ. Useful when you canʼt believe you just bumped into your ex in China!

Más vale una vez rojo que 20 amarillo

Itʼs better to clear things up as soon as possible, than to let them keep annoying you over and over again For example, this is the advice you give to a friend when they tell you that someone at work is continually making their life impossible, and you think they should put a stop to the situation fast, before it keeps getting worse.

Hace un día de perros

Itʼs horrible weather today Literally, ʻitʼs a day of dogsʼ, this probably means rain, wind, grey skies... you get the picture!

¡Es una pasada! / ¡Qué pasada!

Itʼs incredible / amazing This is used to say how great something is, like a new mobile phone, a Radiohead concert, or the size of someoneʼs new house. If you think something is really impressive, say this! Can also be used with ʻdeʼ, E.g. ʻ¡Qué pasada de hotel! Me encanta la piscina que hay en el tejadoʼ, meaning, ʻWhat an amazing hotel! I love the rooftop poolʼ.

Llueve a cántaros

Itʼs pouring! ʻCántaroʼ, means jug, or pitcher, and when it rains this hard it feels like people are pouring them all over you!

Es un tostón / ¡Qué tostón!

Itʼs really really (really) boring! Tostón literally means ʻbig toastʼ, but in reality itʼs used for the most insufferably dull things you can imagine. E.g. ʻEsta película es un tostónʼ, this film is really dull. It is also commonly used at events and gatherings, for example when you are bored in a class, ʻ¡Qué tostón de clase!ʼ, or at a conference, ʻesta conferencia ha sido un tostónʼ, meaning, ʻthis conference has been really dullʼ.

Si no lo veo no lo creo

Iʼll believe it when I see it When your expectations of something actually happening arenʼt all that high!

Lo hago en un pispás

Iʼll do that in a flash ʻEn un pispásʼ means ʻin no timeʼ, so another example might be, ʻVoy para allá en un pispásʼ, meaning, ʻIʼll be there in no time.ʼ

Te veo a las tres y pico

Iʼll see you between three and four Time keeping, in Spain at least, is not an exact science, and ʻy picoʼ is commonly used to mean ʻsometime afterʼ.

Voy a tardar media hora larga

Iʼll take 30 to 45 minutes ... or considerably longer - depending on who says it!

Estoy más ancho que largo

Iʼm happy and content Literally, ʻIʼm feeling wider than longʼ, this might be used in two types of situation: when youʼre happily lying on the sofa, relaxing on a Sunday afternoon, or when you finally get something off your chest, e.g. ʻpor fin me he atrevido a hablar con mi hermano del dinero que me debe, y me he quedado mas ancha que largaʼ, meaning, ʻIʼve finally dared to speak to my brother about the money he owes me, and I feel much better.ʼ

Me muero de hambre

Iʼm starving! Literally, ʻIʼm dying of hunger.ʼ Itʼs also common to hear, ʻme muero de sedʼ, meaning, ʻIʼm dying of thirstʼ.

¡Estoy que peto!

Iʼm totally full up! A very informal phrase for when you canʼt eat another thing.

Estoy entre la espada y la pared

Iʼve come to a dead end, thereʼs nothing else I can do to solve this problem Literally, ʻIʼm between the sword and the wallʼ, this phrase is used when you seem to have run out of options.

Me he puesto morado

Iʼve eaten a lot This literally means, ʻIʼve put myself purpleʼ, and is used when you have eaten a lot, and enjoyed the food.

Tengo para dar y regalar

Iʼve got plenty to spare For example, if someone asks you for a pencil and you have a whole boxful, you might say this as you happily give one away.

¡Ya no puedo más!

Iʼve had enough! When you just canʼt take something any more! This is usually shouted when storming out of the room!

¡Déjame en paz!

Leave me in peace! Always delivered like the crack of a whip, this phrase means ʻget lost, now! Iʼve had as much as I can take!ʼ Ideal for when someone is going on and on at you, and you feel like you are about to explode!

¡No me des la lata!

Leave me in peace! Literally, ʻdonʼt give me the tinʼ, this phrase is ideal when someone is going on and on at you about something, and you canʼt take it any more!

La madre que te parió

Literally, ʻthe mother that bore youʼ, this phrase is extremely fierce, and should only be said in front of people you know very well. Likely to be used when, for example, your brother drops your camera in the swimming pool, or the dog eats your homework. Often followed by the second part of the phrase ʻ... que a gusto se quedóʼ, to give the full phrase which literally means, ʻthe mother that bore you, how happy she felt afterwardsʼ!

¡Mueve el culo un poco, guapo!

Move your butt! Get on with it! ʻCuloʼ means ʻbum/buttʼ. The ʻguapoʼ is optional, and means more ʻmate/dudeʼ in this context than ʻsexyʼ.

Me ha salido el tiro por la culata

My plan backfired When things just donʼt go the way you intended them to. ʻTiroʼ literally means ʻshotʼ, and ʻCulataʼ means ʻbutt of a gunʼ.

¡Qué fuerte!

No way! When you hear someone has been unfaithful, or has passed an exam without doing a stroke of work all year, or has received an amazing 50% salary rise. These amazing (in a good or bad sense) and somewhat unbelievable situations are always worth a quick ʻ¡Qué fuerte!ʼ

Me ha dado plantón

She hasnʼt turned up ʻPlantónʼ literally means ʻa big plantʼ! You may also hear ʻMe ha dejado plantadoʼ, once again to mean that someone has failed to show up at a prearranged meeting time.

Está en las nubes

Sheʼs on another planet Literally, ʻsheʼs in the cloudsʼ, this means that she is lost in her own thoughts, or her mind is somewhere else.

Está como un pez en el agua

Sheʼs really having a great time Sheʼs in her element, literally ʻlike a fish in waterʼ. Note: in English we say ʻlike a fish out of waterʼ to mean the exact opposite!

En boca cerrada no entran moscas

Sometimes itʼs better to keep your mouth shut Literally, ʻflies canʼt enter a closed mouthʼ. Either said to, or by, someone who has just put their foot in it, and said something they shouldnʼt have.

Me suena a cuento chino

Sounds like a tall story to me I donʼt know what the Chinese have to do with this, but the literal translation is, ʻit sounds like a chinese story to meʼ. Useful when someone tells you a tale that you just canʼt believe really happened.

No me tomes el pelo

Stop winding me up/pulling my leg In Spain they pull the hair, ʻpeloʼ, rather than the leg!

Esa chica está zumbada

That girl is crazy

Me mola mogollón

That is so cool / Iʼm really into that ʻMe molaʼ means I dig, and ʻmogollónʼ means loads. E.g. ʻEsta chica me mola mogollónʼ, ʻI really like that girlʼ, or ʻEsta coche me mola mogollónʼ, meaning, ʻI really dig that carʼ. Mostly used only by those under 40.

Me ralla mucho

That really annoys me Pretty slang this one, mostly used by those under 30! E.g. ʻMe ralla mucho este profesorʼ, meaning, ʻthis teacher really annoys meʼ.

¡Qué piropo me has echado!

Thatʼs a hell of a compliment youʼve just paid me! Sometimes you might hear ʻpiropoʼ replaced with ʻpiropazoʼ, for an even bigger compliment!

Es una mentira como una catedral

Thatʼs a massive lie Literally, ʻa lie as big as a cathedralʼ!

Me viene al pelo

Thatʼs just what I needed! Literally, ʻit comes to my hair!ʼ E.g. ʻGracias por dejarme los 10 Euros, me vienen al peloʼ, meaning, ʻthanks for lending me the 10 Euros, theyʼre just what I need right nowʼ. You will sometimes also hear, ʻMe viene como anillo al dedoʼ, literally, ʻit comes like a ring to my fingerʼ, which again means ʻthatʼs just what I needed right nowʼ.

Me parece una trola como un castillo

Thatʼs the biggest lie Iʼve ever heard Literally, ʻthat seems like a lie as big as a castleʼ. In British English weʼd call it a real ʻwhopperʼ! Note that ʻtrolaʼ is a slang word for a lie.

Ha nacido con un pan debajo del brazo

The baby has brought good fortune to the family Literally, ʻhe was born with bread under his armʼ, this is a typical phrase you might hear when a family has a lucky break (usually financial or work related) soon after a child is born.

¡Esta moto va de escándalo!

This bike goes like a dream! Not scandalous at all in fact, just fantastic! Can be used for cars or food too, e.g. ʻEste pescado está de escándaloʼ, meaning, ʻthis fish is totally deliciousʼ.

Esta tarta está de muerte

This cake is incredible Not dead, as the phrase literally seems to imply, just dead good! This construction can be used with all foods.

Este chico va a su bola / Este chico va a su aire

This kid does his own thing This is used for people who are very independent and generally do what they want, when they want, and usually on their own.

Dar esquinazo

To avoid someone on purpose E.g. ʻMi jefe me ha dado esquinazo, teníamos una reunión a las 9h y no ha aparecidoʼ, meaning, ʻMy boss is avoiding me, we had a meeting at 9 a.m. and he hasnʼt turned upʼ.

Estar enganchado

To be hooked on something Food, tele, drugs, this phrase is used for anything you can get addicted to. E.g. ʻEstoy enganchada con este libro, no puedo parar de leerloʼ, meaning, ʻIʼm addicted to this book, I canʼt put it down!ʼ

Tener mono de algo

To be really in need of, or desperate for, something E.g. ʻTengo mono de heladoʼ, meaning, ʻIʼm desperate for ice-creamʼ. This phrase originally came from drug addicts, and was used when they were desperate for another ʻfixʼ.

Tener el corazón en un puño

To be super worried about something Literally, ʻto have your heart in a fistʼ... in English itʼs usually in our mouth! E.g. ʻHace dos días que no sé nada de tu hermano, tengo el corazón en un puñoʼ, meaning ʻI havenʼt heard from your brother for two days, Iʼm really worried.ʼ

Estar a las duras y a las maduras

To be there whenever needed, in good times and bad E.g. ʻLos buenos amigos estan contigo en las duras y las madurasʼ, meaning ʻGood friends always stand by your side, even when times are toughʼ.

Llorar a moco tendido

To cry non-stop Literally to cry until snot, ʻmocoʼ, flows out of your nose! E.g. ʻRocío esta llorando a moco tendido porque ha suspendido un examenʼ, meaning, ʻRocio canʼt stop crying, because she failed an examʼ.

Escaquearse de algo

To get out of doing something E.g. ʻMi hermana se ha escaqueado otra vez de poner la mesaʼ, meaning, ʻMy sister has got out of laying the table again.ʼ

Dar en la diana

To get something right E.g. ʻHe dado en la diana. He acertado quien era el asesinoʼ, meaning ʻI guessed right. I knew who the killer was!ʼ

Dar buen rollo

To give a good impression Quite informal. E.g. ʻEsta chica me ha dado buen rollo, creo que le voy a contratarʼ, meaning, ʻThat girl made a good impression on me, I think Iʼll hire herʼ.

Tener enchufe

To have a useful contact that helps you get ahead of the rest Literally, ʻa plugʼ, an ʻenchufeʼ helps you get a job, a place on a course etc. Also, ʻEstar enchufadoʼ means ʻto have good contactsʼ.

Hacer de tripas corazón

To make an effort to do something you donʼt like/to be brave Literally, ʻto make your guts into heartʼ. E.g. ʻNo me gusta volar, pero hice de tripas corazón para ir a Tailandia en avión a pasar la luna de mielʼ, meaning, ʻI donʼt like flying, but I made an effort to go to Thailand by plane for our honeymoon.ʼ

Echar balones fuera

To place the blame elsewhere E.g. ʻFue mi compañero el que cometió el error, pero como siempre, echa balones fuera, y mi jefe culpa a todo el equipoʼ, meaning, ʻmy work mate made the mistake, but as usual heʼs placing the blame elsewhere, and my boss is holding the whole team responsible.ʼ

Cubrirse de gloria

To really screw up E.g. ʻEstá lloviendo. El hombre del tiempo se ha cubierto de gloriaʼ , meaning ʻItʼs raining. The weatherman really got it wrong.ʼ

¡Qué asco!

Urrrgh, how disgusting! When might you use this? When you see a dead animal in the street, for a gory scene in a horror film, when you find a moldy tomato in the fridge... for all things ʻyuk!ʼ

Le pillamos con las manos en la masa

We caught him in the act Literally, ʻwe caught him with his hands in the doughʼ. E.g. ʻMi hijo siempre nos decía que no fumaba, pero el otro día le pillamos con las manos en la masa en un parque cerca de casaʼ, meaning, ʻmy son said he doesnʼt smoke, but the other day we caught him in the act in a park near the house.ʼ

Nos hemos zampado todo

Weʼve eaten everything! Used at the end of a particularly good, informal meal, when there is absolutely nothing left on any of the plates!

Nos hemos ventilado el jamón

Weʼve finished off all the ham In fact you can ʻventilateʼ (polish off!) any kind of food, e.g. el queso... el pan... el helado...

Hace un día de miedo

What fantastic weather! Literally, ʻit makes a day of fearʼ, in reality this is used when the sun is out, the weather is warm, and the skies are blue!

¡Qué plasta eres!

You are a nightmare! Best reserved for family or close friends.

¡Eres un pesado!

You are a total pain! Once again the essential point here is that someone has been going on and on and on at you about something for some time, before you finally tell them what a pain in the backside they are!

¡Qué mandón eres!

You are really bossy! Wife to husband... sister to brother... you get the picture!

Eres un tiquismiquis

You are really fussy Not only for people who are fussy about food and hardly eat anything, but also for people who are obsessive, for example about how their clothes are folded, keeping the house tidy,etc.

Has dado en el clavo

You hit the nail on the head When someone makes a very astute statement about a situation, getting to the heart of the matter straight away.

Eres un catacaldos

You like to try a bit of everything From ʻcatarʼ, to try, and ʻcaldoʼ, broth. This phrase is used to describe a person that likes to try a bit of what is on everyone elseʼs plate, but can also be used in other situations, such as for someone that is constantly changing boy/girlfriends

Eres un rollero

Youʼre a bulls**t artist Excuse our language, but thatʼs just the best translation there is!

¡Qué listo eres!

Youʼre a clever one! As well as being used as a compliment, this is also often used ironically, in a sarcastic tone of voice, to mean ʻyou are too clever for your own goodʼ.

Eres un petardo

Youʼre a pain/a real bore E.g. ʻ¡Eres un petardo! ¡Te pasas el día hablando de fútbol!ʼ, meaning, ʻYou are a pain, you spend all day talking about football!ʼ

¡Te voy a dar!

Youʼre going to get it! Homer to Bart Simpson... father to moody kid... girl to impossible boyfriend... Run if you hear this one!

Estás en tu salsa

Youʼre in your element Literally, ʻyou are in your own sauceʼ, this phrase is said to someone who is obviously in their ideal situation, in their ideal place, and at the perfect time, and is very happy as a result!

¡Tienes más cara que espalda!

Youʼre so cheeky! / Youʼve got such a nerve! ʻCaraʼ (face) is often used to denote cheekiness, so if your ʻcaraʼ is bigger than your ʻespaldaʼ (back), things must be bad!

A buenas horas mangas verdes

Youʼre too late! Literally, ʻat good hours green sleevesʼ, this phrase is used when someone arrives too late, or offers help too late, to be of any use. The phrase originates from Spainʼs Guardia Civil police force, who wear a green uniform, and were famous for being slow to arrive at the scene of a crime.

Eres un bocazas

Youʼve got a big mouth For those special friends that canʼt keep secrets...

Me tienes frito

Youʼve totally worn me out ʻFritoʼ means fried. Youʼd use this for an exhausting boyfriend or a pestering child, when youʼve had enough!

No me entero de la misa la mitad

donʼt understand a thing! Literally, ʻI donʼt understand half the massʼ, this might be used in a classroom or meeting when you feel completely lost, or canʼt follow someoneʼs explanation