21 Puerto Rican Slang Terms That Are Puro Boricua

Ever notice how sometimes you have no clue what other Latinx people are talking about when they're speaking Spanish? It's no exaggeration to say that our colloquialisms and slang terms can be worlds apart. When most people think of Spanish slang, they almost always immediately think of Dominican slang because Dominicans truly have a unique way of speaking. Puerto Ricans, on the other hand, are more well known for our pasteles, our coquito, and global music sensations (like Bad Bunny and Daddy Yankee), but we also have some absolutely wild slang terms that only Boricuas truly understand.

Puerto Rican expressions can be so unique, it's actually kind of hilarious. We like to drop our "s"s, shorten literally everything, and often borrow from English and mash the two languages together, even in individuals words. We also have a way of taking words that mean one thing and making them mean something else entirely. It's weird but also kind of endearing, no? Whether you're Puerto Rican and need a good laugh, you're curious about how Puerto Rican slang terms differ from your own, or you want to brush up before your next trip to PR, check out this list of funny Puerto Rican phrases.

Puerto Rican Slang Words: Al Garete
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Al Garete

What it means: Stop annoying me.

In a sentence: Vete al garete.

Puerto Rican Slang Words: Tirar
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Tirar

What it means: To beef with someone, or diss someone

In a sentence: Voy a tirar este cabrón!

Puerto Rican Slang Words: Bregar
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Bregar

What it means: To do something with dedication

In a sentence: Tengo que bregar duro para sacar buenas notas.


Puerto Rican Slang Words: Lamón
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Lamón

What it means: Ass kisser; suck-up

In a sentence: Alex es el mayor lambón.

Puerto Rican Slang Words: Chacho
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Chacho

What it means: Shortening of the word "muchacho"; used like "boy" or "dude" or between thoughts like the word "well"; sometimes shortened to just "acho."

In a sentence: ¿Cómo estás, chacho?

Puerto Rican Slang Words: A mi, plín
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: A mi, plín

What it means: I don't care.

In a sentence: A mi, plín donde comemos.

Puerto Rican Slang Words: Corillo
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Corillo

What it means: Group of friends

In a sentence: Voy al bar con el corillo.

Puerto Rican Slang Words: Nebuloso
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Nebuloso

What it means: Not trustworthy

In a sentence: Su novio es muy nebulosa.

Puerto Rican Slang Words: Chavos
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Chavos

What it means: Money

In a sentence: Necesito los chavos que te presté.

Puerto Rican Slang Words: Revolú
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Revolú

What it means: Chaos or pandemonium

In a sentence: Hubo un revolú en la fiesta.

Puerto Rican Slang Words: Wepa
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Wepa

What it means: Yes! Let's goooo!

In a sentence: ¿Estamos listos? Weeeeepppppaaaa!

Puerto Rican Slang Words: Gufiao
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Gufiao

What it means: Cool; awesome

In a sentence: Esa chica nueva es gufiao.

Puerto Rican Slang Words: Janguear
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Janguear

What it means: To hang out

In a sentence: Vamos a janguear en la playa.

Puerto Rican Slang Words: Gufear
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Gufear

What it means: To goof off or joke around

In a sentence: Deja ya de gufear.

Puerto Rican Slang Words: Mamey
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Mamey

What it means: An easy job or easy money

In a sentence: Esto en un mamey.

Puerto Rican Slang Words: Chota
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Chota

What it means: Tattletale or snitch

In a sentence: No seas un chota.

Puerto Rican Slang Words: Bembé
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Bembé

What it means: Party

In a sentence: Mi prima me invitó a un bembé.

Puerto Rican Slang Words: Abombao
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Abombao

What it means: Rotten

In a sentence: Ese aguacate esta abombao.

Puerto Rican Slang Words: Jumeta
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Jumeta

What it means: Drunk

In a sentence: Estaba tan borracha jumeta.

Puerto Rican Slang Words: Guillao/Guilla
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Puerto Rican Slang Words: Guillao/Guilla

What it means: Arrogant, stuck-up person

In a sentence: Ella es un guilla.