When you visit Peru or interact with Peruvians, you’ll encounter a vibrant world of unique expressions that set Peruvian Spanish apart. This guide will help you understand and use authentic Peruvian phrases, sayings, and idioms that go beyond textbook Spanish.
Everyday Greetings and Expressions
- ¿Qué tal? – How are you? (More casual than “¿Cómo estás?”)
- Pata – Friend/Buddy (A distinctively Peruvian term)
- Chévere – Cool/Great
- Bacán – Awesome/Fantastic
- ¿Qué fue? – What’s up? (Literally “What was?”)
Popular Peruvian Sayings
- Estar más frío que rodilla de pingüino: To be colder than a penguin’s knee (Used to describe something extremely cold)
- Meter la pata: To put your foot in it (To make a mistake)
- Por las puras: For nothing/In vain
- De repente: Maybe/Perhaps (Not “suddenly” as in other Spanish-speaking countries)
- Al toque: Right away/Immediately
Money-Related Expressions
- Estar misio: To be broke
- Hacer una vaca: To collect money as a group (Similar to “chip in”)
- Estar aguja: To be short on cash
- Una goterita: A small amount of money
- Estar chancado: To be completely broke
Food-Related Idioms
- Estar papaya: To be easy (Like a ripe papaya that’s easy to eat)
- Es una sopa: It’s very easy (Literally “It’s soup”)
- Vale un Perú: It’s worth a lot (Literally “It’s worth a Peru”)
- A la hora del lonche: At tea time (From English “lunch”)
Social Situations
- Hacer hora: To kill time
- Estar mosca: To be alert/aware (Literally “to be a fly”)
- Hablar hasta por los codos: To talk excessively (Literally “to talk even through your elbows”)
- No seas palomilla: Don’t be mischievous
- Estar en la luna: To be distracted/daydreaming
Expressions of Emphasis
- ¡Qué tal roche! – How embarrassing!
- ¡Pucha! – Darn!/Oh man! (Mild exclamation)
- ¡Qué paja! – How awesome/cool!
- ¡Ya fue! – Whatever!/Forget it!
Modern Peruvian Slang
- Huachafo: Tacky/In poor taste
- Causita: Friend (Derived from “causa,” a popular potato dish)
- Manya: Check it out/Can you believe it
- Pituco: Posh/Upper class
- Churro/a: Attractive person
Regional Variations
- Lima:
- Jerma: Woman/Girl
- Tono: Party
- Arequipa:
- Llokalla: Boy/Young man
- Firme: For real/Seriously
- Cusco:
- Waska: A lot/Too much
- Q’ala: Empty/Nothing
By understanding these expressions, you’ll connect with Peruvians on a deeper level and appreciate the rich cultural heritage reflected in their unique way of speaking. Remember that Peruvian Spanish is constantly evolving, with new expressions emerging regularly, especially among younger generations.