More than 10 Mexican typical expressions

Mexico definitely wins our hearts. Not only for its calm and united people, its famous and spicy food, its cultural diversity and history, its beautiful paradisiacal landscapes and its natural wealth. But also for its own language, enriched by the Caribbean humor and the Latin warmth of its people.

This nation is a mixture of many ethnic groups that has managed to find in Spanish a common communication link to which has given its own form and personality.

In this article we are going to see some expressions, specifically my favourites, that you will be able to hear if you find yourself with a native or if you travel to this wonderful country.

Later, I will write another article with simply different words that Mexicans use. On this occasion, I wanted to focus more on expressions.

‘Las famosas trajineras’

Ándale

We start with the most famous. For all non-Mexicans, the cartoon of Speedy González comes to mind.

It is used to say ‘vamos’ (let’s) to go somewhere or participate in an activity or action. In Argentina we say ‘dale’ and in Spain ‘venga’.

Another use is to affirm that we understand or show acceptance with what the other person says, such as who says ‘claro’ (sure).

Órale

Similar to the previous one, it can mean ‘apúrate’ (hurry up) just like ‘ándale’ -‘apúrale‘ would say a Mexican too-, or to express surprise as for example if I say ‘yesterday I was promoted at work’, a Mexican would answer: ‘ooorale, ¡que padre! ¡Felicitaciones! (Wow, that’s great! Congratulations!).

Que padre

This expression is one of the most common and beautiful because it means that: ‘good’, ‘nice’, ‘perfect’, ‘great’,… ’awesome’ an Aussie would say. They use it to encourage the affirmation of the other person.

We can also say ‘está padre’.

In a more vulgar, youth or street vocabulary, in Mexico they also use the word ‘chido’: ‘que chido’, ‘está chido’. It is the Mexican word to say ‘cool’, which as we saw in the previous article, ‘Is English useful for learning Spanish?’, it is used a lot in Mexico.

‘Hierve el agua’ en Oaxaca ‘está muy padre’ o ‘está muy chido’

Híjole

Also to express surprise as ‘órale’, but usually in a negative way like regretting. For example:

“Híjole, te ves bien feo con ese peinado” (Híjole, you look very ugly with that hairstyle).

Mexico always with humor.

Mande

When you call someone, they will usually answer ‘mande’ to say ‘qué necesita’ (what do you need) referring to ‘usted’ (‘you’ in formal way). However, it is a common expression, it does not have to suggest formality when addressing ‘usted’.

I usually say ‘dígame’ (‘tell me’ for ‘usted’), as a joke too. Like when you answer the phone ‘diga’.

‘Mande’ comes from the verb ‘mandar’ which means ‘ordenar’ (to order). Mexicans are very helpful or attentive, so they have traditionally adopted this expression.

This reminds me when you go to a restaurant in Mexico all the time the waiters -‘meseros’ are called there- tell you ‘para servirle’, ‘para servirle’ (‘to serve you’ like ‘a pleasure’). They are used to saying it and listening to it, and they accept it. But it shocked me a lot. «Chocar-me» say the locals when something is weird.

¿Qué onda?

It means ‘¿qué tal?’ (how are you?). ‘Onda’ comes from ‘buena onda’ or ‘mala onda’ (good vibes or bad vibes); ‘buena vibra’ they say in Mexico. They also use ‘¿qué pasó?‘ (literally: what happened?), globally adopted from the English expression ‘what’s up?’.

It is an informal, youthful expression of «coates» as they say there, colleagues or ‘colegas’ in Spain.

‘¿Qué onda? ¿Dónde andas?’

Neta

Another street expression. It is not used in a normal environment, but rather vulgar or juvenile.

It means ‘verdad’ (true) and we can say ‘¿es neta?’ or ‘¿la neta?’ when a Spaniard would say ‘¿en serio?’ (seriously? or really?). Mexicans also use the expression ‘no inventes’ (literally ‘don’t invent’) to say ‘no te creo’ (I don’t believe you).

Another situation in which this word is used a lot is when they tell you ‘te voy a decir la neta’ (I will tell you the true), instead of saying ‘te voy a ser sincero’ (I will be honest with you) or ‘ya me cansaste y te voy a soltar todo’ (you have already tired me and I will release everything).

¿A poco?

Another expression to say ‘¿en serio?’ (really?) is ‘¿a poco?’.

It sounds very funny when a native pronounces it.

Ahorita

This expression is the most difficult to understand, to not say the most irritating.

‘Ahorita’ means like a little ‘ahora’ (now), that refers to ‘this very moment’. In Spanish we use the ending ‘-ita’, or ‘-ito’ for a male noun, to make the noun smaller.

Because of their calmer pace of life and their Caribbean humor, they have adopted this phrase to say ‘one day’.

‘Ahorita’ can mean ‘in a while’, ‘in a few days’, ‘in a few months’,… or ‘never’.

So when someone says ‘sí, ahorita’, ask for a more precise answer or directly take it for granted.

Luego luego

Linked to the previous one, this expression does mean ‘at this / that specific moment’.

They mostly use it when they tell a story.

Pedo

In any Spanish-speaking country, it means human gas expelled from behind.

In some countries like Argentina, Spain and Mexico, ’pedo’ also means ‘drunkenness’.

However, in Mexico it is also used to refer to ‘problem’.

‘No hay pedo, güey’, instead of saying ‘no problem’.

Also in a more serious tone we can say ‘no es mi pedo’ when we want to say ‘it is not my problem’. In English would be ‘not my business’.

This is also a vulgar word.

Me vale

It is used to say ‘I don’t care’, that is, ‘me vale’ is the opposite of ‘me importa’.

As a good tropical culture, Mexicans use this expression a lot as saying that nothing is going to ruin my good mood.

The famous Mexican music group Maná, from which I like several songs, wrote a song entitled ‘Me vale’ that says like this: