Peru’s cultural diversity means that the Spanish spoken there borrows from many different sources. Indigenous languages, Spanish, and Asian influences mix together to produce a rich culture to only in food and customs, but also in language. Dialects of Spanish-speaking Peruvians vary across geographical locations. With migration from the mountainous regions of Peru, where Andean Spanish is the main dialect, to Lima, the mixing of dialects produces yet more slang.
Learning some of the words exclusively used in Peru gives you that extra connection and access to 30 million Spanish speakers, the fifth most populous Latin American country. Lima, being the capital, and most diverse city with a quarter of Peru’s population, is a rich source of slang terms. We don’t recommend peppering your speech with slang straight away. Learn to be comfortable with the dialect and slowly introduce some words in context.
It’s always best to try out new words with friends or acquaintances, especially those that don’t offend easily. Using Peruvian slang words and phrases out of context or in the wrong company can lead to problems, just like in any other language. As a non-native speaker, you will be given some credit for trying, and most people will find it comical, rather than offensive, to hear a rude word out of place. However, caution is advised.
¡A Su!
You will no doubt hear this one quite a bit. A su is a contraction of the phrase “A su madre”, and is a little more polite. Often used to express surprise, disbelief, or resignation, it literally means “To his/her/its”. A su madre is used just like “Wow” in English. “To your mother” would be one direct literal translation.
Be careful using this phrase outside of Peru. Any words and phrases involving someone’s mother may be construed as an insult in other dialects.
Manyas
“You know”. This word can be used as a question (“¿manyas?”) or a statement (“¡manyas!”). Very commonly used word in Peru. Used mostly among younger people but you can hear this expression anywhere.
Achorado/a
Rude/impertinent. Someone referred to as Achorada is usually a rude, aggressive, or forward person.
Gilero
Player/Romeo/seducer. A gilero is someone who flirts with all the girls constantly, with the objective of seducing them.
Jamear
To eat (verb). Ir a jamear means to go and eat. Jama is a word that also means food.
Chamba
a) Work, job, employment – “Estoy buscando chamba”. (I’m looking for a job).
b) Hard-working – “Ella es muy chamba” or “Ella es full chamba” (She’s very hard-working).
c) Carelessly, without rigor – In this case the expression is “a la chamba”. “No debes trabajar a la chamba” (You mustn’t work carelessly).
Bacán
Cool. Used just like chevere. Both words are also popular slang terms in Colombia.
Luca
1 sol (Péruvian money). Not to be confused with luca in Argentina, Venezuela, Chile, and Colombia where the word means 1000 when referring to money.
Bróder
Brother. A direct import from English. Used mostly by younger people, bróder is a cool way to refer to a close friend directly or indirectly.
Jale
Sex appeal. Describes someone’s charisma. Jorgito tine jale, ¿no? (“Georgy is good looking, no?”)
Jatear
To sleep. Voy a jatear (“I’m going to sleep”)
Chapar
To kiss. Also means “to catch”. Diego y Gabriela se estan chapando – (“Diego and Gabriela are kissing each other”)
Chupar
Literally: “to suck”. Used colloquially to mean “to drink” when referring to alcohol.
Choro
Thief, robber. The same word is used in other Latin American countries and has the same meaning. El choro le robó la cartera – (“The thief robbed her purse”)
Chela
A beer
Mi pata
This sounds a little weird when you understand the literal definition of “pata”. Referring to your friend as your leg or paw, as in “animal foot”, is a term of endearment you’ll hear in Peru that shows just how far from the original meaning the colloquial terms can go. Pata in other Latin American countries can mean “leg” but in Peru it generally means “friend”.
Example: Juan es mi pata – Juan is my friend.
Pucha
expression of relief
Mamacita
Beautiful woman
Al toque
A cool Peruvian phrase to learn that you can use in situations where you need to estimate time for something to be done. Basically, “al toque” means “right away”, but you’ll soon find out that people are quite flexible with the definition. Don’t expect anything to be done immediately. At the same time, you can use the phrase to mean anytime in the near future.
Matar el hambre
Literally: to kill hunger. To eat something in the meantime until you can have a full meal. “Voy a matar el hambre comiendo un sandwich”. (I’m going to eat a sandwich to fill up my stomach a little).
Sacar la vuelta
To double-cross, to betray, to deceive. Peruvians use this when discussing unhappy love affairs. “Esa chica me sacó la vuelta con un amigo”. (That girl double-crossed me with a friend).
Hacer de la vista gorda
To look the other way, to pretend not to know. It might occur after someone gets bribed. “El policía se hizo de la vista gorda”. (The policeman looked the other way).
Meterse una tranca
To get very drunk, to “get wasted”. “Me metí una tranca con mis amigos”. (I got wasted with my friends). (23)
Hacer el avión
To trick or fool someone. It usually involves payments or deals. “El taxista me hizo el avión”. (The taxi driver fooled me).
Hacerse el sueco
Literally: to behave like a Swede who does not know Spanish. To pretend to ignore the meaning of someone’s words or actions. “No te hagas el sueco. Esto está muy claro”. (Don’t behave like a Swede. This is quite clear).
Cabecear a alguien
Literally: to give a head butt. To rip off, to swindle. “En esa tienda me cabecearon”. (I got ripped off in that store).
Romper la mano
Literally: to break someone’s hand. To bribe, to corrupt. It involves illegal payments to government officials for favors. “A ese congresista le rompieron la mano”. (That congressman was bribed).
Ser pepeado
To be drugged with sleeping pills and then robbed. It usually occurs in discotheques, carried out by pretty women called “peperas” who slip the drugs into the drinks of unsuspecting men. “Mi primo fue pepeado anoche”. (My cousin was drugged and robbed last night).
Fumar marimba
To smoke marijuana, an illegal but fairly common action in Peru. The weed is also known as “macoña, yerba, troncho”. “Había gente fumando marimba en la fiesta”. (There were people smoking pot at the party).
Meterse tiros
Literally: to shoot yourself. To inhale cocaine. Also known as “jalar”. It occurs among high class persons who can afford the drug and wish to carry on drinking but minimizing the effects of alcohol. Not so common as smoking pot and also illegal. “A un amigo mío le gusta meterse tiros”. (A friend of mine likes snorting coke).
Saludo a la bandera
Literally: a salute to the flag. An inconsequential or worthless act. It sometimes involves words or actions carried out by government officials to pretend they are doing something useful for the people. “El discurso del ministro fue un saludo a la bandera”. (The minister’s speech was inconsequential).
Al toque
Right away, immediately. A fairly common expression used to convey alertness and prompt action. “Terminé mi trabajo al toque”. (I finished my work right away).
Sin pelos en la lengua
Literally: with no hair on the tongue. An idiom usually referring to someone’s unadorned, direct and unafraid words. “Mi amigo me contó la historia sin pelos en la lengua”. (My friend told me the story in straightforward words).
Manyar
a) To realize, to know, to understand. “¿Manyas lo que te digo?” (Do you understand what I say?).
b) To eat. Slang word derived from the Italian “mangiare”. Also known as “jamear”. “¿Quieres manyar en ese restaurante?” (Would you like to eat in that restaurant?)
Fumar pasta
To smoke a derivative from the coca leaf known as “pasta” before it becomes cocaine. A highly addictive substance employed by the lower classes because of its cheap price and linked to criminal behavior. Users are known as “pasteleros”. “Habían hombres fumando pasta en un callejón”. (There were men smoking pasta in an alley).
Comer en un huarique
To eat in a secluded, usually unexpensive restaurant but serving very tasty food. Huariques are known only by locals and offer an interesting alternative to tourist traps. You’ll need someone to take you to one because they are not well known by most people. “Comí muy rico en un huarique del Callao” (I ate very well in this huarique in Callao city).
Hacerse la vaca
Literally: to act as a cow. To miss work or school classes due to lazyness or to have a free day. “Mi compañero se hizo la vaca el viernes”. (My classmate missed classes on Friday).
Tirar cuetes
Literally: to toss firecrackers. To effusively praise someone. “Me tiraron cuetes por mi trabajo”. (I was highly praised for my job).
Estar misio
To be broke, usually temporarily due to overspending. “Estoy misio después de mi viaje a Europa” (I am broke after my trip to Europe)
Agringarse
To adopt the looks and behavior of Anglo Saxon white people. “Él está muy agringado después de su viaje a los Estados Unidos”. (He acts like a gringo after his trip to the United States).
Estar arrecho
To be eager for sexual intercourse, to be sexually aroused. It’s a vulgar expression which should only be used among intimate friends. “Estoy arrecho después de ver una película porno” (I am horny after watching a porno film).
Hacer un cachuelo
To carry out a temporary job, usually unskilled and informal until you can get proper work. “Hago cachuelos para sobrevivir” (I do any temporary jobs to survive).
Estar mostro
Outstanding, great, remarkable. Oher equivalent words are “bravazo, alucinante, bacán”. “El auto de mi amigo está mostro”. (My friend’s car blows my mind).
Que quiere decir “tomando moña” en Peru?