Growing up speaking any language, you learn a lot of slang that comes with it. Sometimes the meaning is lost in translation, but they become amusing since the phrases are nonsense. Here is a couple that I use the most often.

1. Que Pedo Guey

What a fart dude! As gross as it sounds in English, it is such a common expression in Spanish. It is used more often when your friend is doing something out of the ordinary or did something to you that you did not like. Say you like a person and your friend goes up to them and tells them. When she/he comes back, you tell them “que pedo guey, why did you do that?”

2. No Manches

“Don't stain?” Makes no sense. I know. This is a reflex phrase that is said when you are reacting to something surprising or something occurred that you did not like. It is just one of your typical phrases you say more often than you should.

3. No Seas Mamon

“Don't be a sucker” That does not sound as awful, but in Spanish, it's more vulgar than you think. This is the kind of phrase you do not say in front of your mother because if she heard you say this she would probably slap you. It can translate to do not be mean or stop being an a**.

4. Ala Madre!

I am not sure how to exactly translate this other than “wing mother” because ala is wing and madre is mother. This is another one of those phrases you say when you are reacting to something. Usually, it is something intense that you did not expect. This is the Spanish version of “Oh sh*t.”

5. Ponte Las Pilas

“Put on the baterías” If you are a Spanish speaker, you have probably heard your parents say this countless times. It means to get to work or look alive or put some energy into it.

Even though it's hard to explain some of the common phrases Spanish speakers use and their meaning gets lost in translation, they are fun to know. Maybe non-Spanish speakers can say these fun phrases, but watch out how you use them. You do not want to offend anyone in the process!