A Guide to Dominican Slang: Talk Like a Local

Dominican Spanish brings unique flavor to everyday conversation. You’ll find Dominican slang peppered throughout daily life, from street corners to family gatherings. This guide walks you through essential expressions that make Dominican Spanish distinct.

Essential Greetings and Expressions

  • Klk/Que lo que – The quintessential Dominican greeting meaning “what’s up?”
  • Dimelo – Another way to say “what’s up?” or “tell me”
  • To’bien – “All good” (notice the dropped ‘s’ in “todo”)
  • Dale – “Okay” or “go ahead”
  • Mani – “Hey buddy” or “friend”
  • Que hay de nuevo – “What’s new?”
  • Toy aquí – “I’m here” (shortened from “estoy aquí”)
  • Que e’ lo tuyo – “What’s yours?” (meaning “how are you?”)
  • ‘Ta to – “Everything’s good” (shortened from “está todo”)
  • Que lo que e’ – More emphatic version of “what’s up?”
  • Donde anda’ – “Where you at?” (shortened from “donde andas”)
  • Pero tipo – “But man!” (used to express surprise)
  • Que hay – Simple “what’s up?”
  • Na’ – “Nothing” (shortened from “nada”)

Common Terms

  • Tigre/Tiguere – Used for “guy” or “dude.” A versatile term that can be friendly or cautionary
  • Vaina – The ultimate catch-all word meaning “thing” or “stuff”
  • Chevere – “Cool” or “great”
  • Teteo – Party or social gathering
  • Un chin – “A little bit”
  • Guagua – Bus
  • Mangú – Beyond the famous plantain dish, can mean “mess” or “problem”

Unique Characteristics

  • S-dropping: You’ll hear “vamo” instead of “vamos,” “gracia” instead of “gracias”
  • Word fusion: “Ta to bien” instead of “está todo bien”
  • Fast pace: Dominican slang often flows at rapid speed, with words blending together

Situational Expressions

  • ¿Qué fue? – “What happened?” or “What’s going on?”
  • Dame luz – “Give me information” or “explain”
  • Ta to – “That’s all” or “we’re good”
  • Que lo hay – “What’s new?”

In Summary

Dominican slang is dynamic and expressive, characterized by shortened words, unique phrases, and a rapid-fire delivery. By incorporating these common expressions into your Spanish, you’ll sound more natural and connect better with Dominican speakers.

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