Paraguayan Spanish stands out for its unique blend of Spanish and Guaraní influences. The dialect adds distinctive markers like “luego” (not meaning “later”), “piko” in questions, and “nomás” as a softener, creating a warm, melodic way of speaking that reflects Paraguay’s friendly culture.
Most Common Daily Phrases
- ¿Qué tal luego?
- “How are you?”
- The “luego” adds friendly emphasis
- Na
- Used like “right?”
- “Hace calor, na?” (It’s hot, right?)
- ¿Qué piko?
- “What’s up?” or “What?”
- Shows surprise or seeks clarification
- Ahí nomás
- “That’s fine” or “Just there”
- Used for acceptance or directions
- Dale pue
- “Okay then”
- Shows agreement or gives permission
Useful Daily Expressions
- Tranqui nomás
- “Take it easy” or “No worries”
- Used to calm situations
- ¿Qué lo que?
- “What’s happening?”
- Shows interest or concern
- Ya ya
- “Right now”
- Emphasizes immediacy
- Ni ahí
- “No way” or “Not at all”
- Strong disagreement
- Medio medio
- “So-so” or “More or less”
- Describes average situations
Key Features of Paraguayan Spanish
- luego after phrases for emphasis
- piko in questions
- nomás at the end of phrases
- pue (from pues) to close statements
Common Situations
- Agreement:
- “Dale nomás luego” (Sure, go ahead)
- “Puede ser” (Could be)
- Disagreement:
- “Ni ahí luego” (No way)
- “No es así” (That’s not right)
- Surprise:
- “¡Mira vos!” (Would you look at that!)
- “¡Qué barbaridad!” (That’s incredible!)
Remember: Paraguayan Spanish is known for its gentle tone and frequent use of softeners that make it uniquely different from other Spanish dialects.