List of REFRAN-Caló Words and Expressions
The following is a list of Chicano slang words and expressions, known as Caló, also spelled "Calo" and "Kalo" by modern Chicano youth. It does not list words and expressions of the language of the Spanish Roma people, which is also called Caló, except where these have been incorporated into Chicano Caló. Nor does it list Mexican slang words and expressions unless they have originated in Pachuco Caló or have been incorporated into it with altered meaning. A few words can be traced to the Nahuatl language of the Mexicas (Aztecs, pronounced "meh-shi-ka"). Others adapt English or indigenous languages of the Southwest.
The English letters W and K, which are not historically part of Mexican or Spain Spanish, are more frequently used in Caló. Spelling in general is more flexible—in tagging or on the internet, K can replace C or Q; V and B are interchangeable; Z can replace S; H can replace J.
These expressions vary by place, especially with the use of modifying suffixes. For example, the word 'chafa' (low quality) can be heard in various neighborhoods or regions as 'chafaldrana', 'chafoso', or 'chafarrafa'. Some suffixes originate in Mexican Spanish, such as "-azo"; others like "-ucha" and "-ldrana" are specific to Chicano Caló.
The use of some "classic" pachuco slang words from the 1930s and 40s has survived while others have not.
A
a ponemos chancla
(from chancla, Nahuatl for sandal) "Let's dance". The grammar is deliberately incorrect.
águila
(lit. "eagle") "Be alert"
aliviane
a form of help "Aliviáname - help me"
aguas
"to be alert, be careful". ¡Agua! ("Water!) is the cry of sellers of dodgy items when police are spotted.
Araisas
Arizona
A.T.M.
a toda madre - great, fantastic, out of sight (expression antedates the abbreviation for "automated teller machine")
B
baika: bicycle
baro
coin, money.
bironga
beer, booze
borracho
A drunk or someone on a bender.
bolillo
derogatory term for "white boy" or "white guy," similar to "cracker" in American slang. Derived from the white dinner roll of the same name. Also used in Mexican Spanish.
bola
A dollar. "Prestame una bola." "Lend me a dollar."
bomba
(also "bomb") a lowrider car or truck from the 1930s - mid-1950s
bote
(literally: "can") jail or prison; also, a lid of marijuana.
borlo
dance, party. "Vamos al borlo." "Let's go to the dance/party."
bronca
trouble or a problem with someone else
Burque
a contraction of the old spelling of Albuquerque, New Mexico (Originally spelled "Alburquerque").
C
cabulear
to "bullshit"; to "chew the fat with"
Caile
Come here, go any where
Cali
California (also "Kali")
Califas
California. In standard Spanish, it means "caliphs".
calcos
shoes
Calecia
a fond name for the border city Calexico, California in the US, The highest percentage of Mexican citizens of any city in the US (about 90%).
Caló
a language used by Chicanos or Mexican-Americans, derived from the name of the Spanish Gypsy (gitano) dialect, Caló
canicas
(lit. marbles) love; , genitals(male); also "andar a canicas"(walking around naked).
cantón
home; house; apartment
carnal
brother; close friend; homeboy, from primo carnal, "first-grade cousin." (also "karnal")
careja
all at once, burdon, blows
Carrucha
Car, Your Ride (related to "carro," car)
Carrujo
joint, marijuana cigarette
cagua
beer (related to Mexican slang for large beer, "caguama," literally "giant turtle")
catos
fistfight, fisticuffs
chafa
low quality
chale
expresses disagreement, "no way"; antonym of simón
chavala
(from Gypsy/Gitano Calo) little girl; also used as an insult for a man that lacks courage
chavalo
(from Gypsy/Gitano Calo, related to Mexican Spanish "chavo") little boy
chela
beer
chevere
cool. smooth. awesome. Possible Central American origin
chido
cool. awesome. "que chido wey" "esta chida la rola"
chingazo
a punch or a kick delivered during a fight or brawl
chorra
penis
chota
cops, police
clecha
school, class
clica
clique, social group, gang (also "klika")
con safos
(frequently abbreviated as "c/s") "Nobody can mess with this" (likely from Arabic-derived Spanish zafo = unobstructed, clear, safe, intact)
coco
bruise, cut, scrape, head, wound of some sort.
cuete
gun (from cohete = rocket)
D
dalass
Dallas, Texas
dale gas
step on it, go for it
de aquellas
(lit. "from those over there") "the best"
descuéntate
beat it, get lost
descuéntatelo
hit him
descontar
to hit, irregular conjugation (descuento, descuentas, descuenta, descuentan, descontamos)
dispensa
(also 'spensa)excuse me(?)
drapes
syn. for "zoot suit" (see below), originating in 1930s Harlem African American for stylish clothing;
E
East Los
echa la cookie
fast, as in running fast
El Pasiente
El Chuco
El Valluco
El Footdale
see machin
empanzonar
impregnate
ene
short for Norteño
ena
short for Norteña
enjaular
to lock up. Standard Spanish.
entacucharse
to dress up, more specifically, to wear a tuxedo or suit
escamado
scared. Standard Spanish.
escuelín
school
esquina
help, give a hand
esquinar
help out.
ésa
a girl
ése
a guy (lit. "that one", "that guy")
esponjes
lie as in no esponges ese
esponjes
angry, as in no te esponges == "don't get angry"
F
fajates
blew it
feria
money (literally "fair", as in "county fair," but references the homonym "fare" as a bilingual pun)
filero
knife. Spanish filo means "edge".
firme
cool (as in "hip"); good. In standard Spanish, "firm".
frajo
cigarette
fresa
prep
fusca
gun
G
gabacho/a
(also "gavacho") insulting term for a white person. Related to Mexican Spanish slang for the United States, "el gabo" (In Spain, "Frenchman").
gacho
unfortunate, inappropriate, or cruel (possibly from Basque "gaizto")
gasofas
Gas, Petrol
Good nuff
Half-ass bullshit, work ethic
grifa
marijuana (whence the US slang word "reefer"; derived from "grifo")
grifo
(lit. "faucet") marijuana addict; someone who is always "prendido", or "lit"
güacha
(also "wacha" or "wachale") "Look"; "Watch"
güaino
Wino
güero
(also "huero" or "weddo") white person; light skinned, blue eyed/blond person
güisa
(also "wisa" and "weesa") woman; girlfriend
güey
Technically means a castrated bull, but it's often used as like homeboy or dude. For example, "Que onda guey?" means, "what's up man?" Also may refer to a man who's being cheated on by his significant other. Commonly used in Mexico, but considered somewhat vulgar there, guys say it to close friends, but you shouldn't call like an old woman or padre this, as it means castrated bull. (sometimes spelled "buey" or "wey")
H
homeboy
(also "homie") 1) a very close associate usually identified as someone from one's own barrio or neighborhood; 2) a person with whom one identifies closely with implying a strong loyalty toward; possibly derivative of Spanish hombre
homes
(also "holmes") variation on the word "homeboy", used to identify a friend; can also be used as a casual greeting for anyone
Firme / Feedme
1) everythings all good
hyna
a girl, or girlfriend
J
jaina
(also spelled "hyna", "heina", and "hayna") woman; honey; girlfriend
jale
a job
jefa/jefita
mother
jefe/jefito
(lit. "boss") father
jura
police
L
lacra
low life individual
lambache
suck ass
lambiscón
suck ass
lana
(lit. "wool") money
la neta
"the truth" or an unquestionable axiom (as in "es laneta" means "that's the truth"), also tends to be followed with "que" as its universal conjunction to other words such as "laneta que el otro dia..." meaning "the truth is that the other day…". From la neta verdad, "the pure truth".
lanzar chingadazos
throw blows
laquiar
to lock
leño
marijuana cigarette. In Spanish, "wood block".
leva
coward
llantas
(lit. "tires") a term for homemade sandals or beat-up shoes, also used to refer to extra fat acquired around the waist (similar to "rolls" or "love handles")
llevanate
behave, be cool, chill out
litro
cigarette lighter
lisa
shirt
loc
(pronounced "loke") short for "loco"; a street crazy; hardcore street tough, also maddogs or heavily tinted sunglasses
locochón
crazy
Longos/Longeros
Long Beach, CA The strongest gang in Long Beach, CA, part of the South Side structure controlled by the Mexican Mafia
Los
M
machín
excellent, high-achieving, outstanding
manflora
(also manfi) derogatory for lesbian, dyke
máscara
face. In Spanish, "mask".
mayate/mayata
derogatory for a dark-skinned male/female, usually African American; der. from mayatl (Nahuatl) an irridescent black scarab
mayatero
someone who tries to "act black" such as by saying the word nigga,
mexa
from a Mexican origin
miclo
light-skinned Mexican
mojado
wetback. Any immigrant crossing the Rio Grande river (mostly Mexican). Literally, "wet".
Monda: penis
mono
movie
mono
the devil; demon. Literally "monkey".
mota
slang for marijuana (possibly from Seminole "mota" meaning tobacco; in Mexican Spanish, mota means "speck")
N
naranjas
no. Literally "oranges". In Spain the phrase "naranjas de la China" means "no way".
narices
no. Literally "noses". In Spain the phrase would be "y unas narices".
negro/a
(lit. "black") a somewhat affectionate term for a darker skinned individual of whatever race, e.g. chicano, African American or others (e.g. "vamos mi negro"), can be softened in the diminutive (negrito/a) as negro can also be derogatory
nel
no
nikle
Pronounced "nee-kleh." Five cents.
no manches
don't mess around
no hay pedo
no problem; no sweat
Norte Califas
Northern California
northerner; street chapter of the Nuestra Familia prison gang, associated with the color red and the number 14.
no te quetes
don't get depressed
O
"Right on"; "Alright!"
Ojete
asshole [example: ya no seas ojete]
Oklas
Oklahoma City or 405 used mainly by SSVL 25
P
a native or resident of El Paso, Texas, later extended to mean all Mexicans and Mexican Americans adopting aspects of Pachuco culture such as dressing in zoot suits and speaking Caló.
paisa (from 'Paisano')
(also "border brother") a somewhat affectionate term for recent immigrants from Mexico
pano/paño
a style of art, with drawings or paintings made in prison, on handkerchiefs (literally "handkerchief")
panocha
pussy
(orig. nickname for the first name "Francisco") crying or complaining, used with the verb "hacer" i.e. "tu haces mucho pancho!" meaning "you do a lot of complaining"
panzón
fat man. Standard Spanish, compare English paunch.
panzona
fat woman; pregnant woman
pásame las tres
Literally, "pass me the three". "Let me have a drag" (of a cigarette)
pase
slang for cocaine
pedo
(literally "fart") intoxicated; 'estar pedo'
pedo
problem; 'no hay pedo'
pendejo
extremely foolish person, a coward, "no seas pendejo" (don't be a fool), "me hice pendejo" (I turned a blind eye); also pubic hair (archaic) highly offensive.
perico
slang for cocaine
perromount/pussymount
paramount=smallest city in L.A. County
perrucha
very difficult; female trouble-maker (related to "perra," meaning female dog or bitch)
pestaña
(lit. eyelash) sleep
pestañear
to sleep
phoeniquera
slang for Phoenix, Arizona
picaste
did you "get" some (from Sp. picar, to poke)
pinta
jail; prison (more specifically)
pintar paredes
to masturbate
pisto
beer; can of beer (more specifically); also general term for alcoholic beverage. In Spanish, "soup"[1]
placa
(literally "badge") tattoo; the police; a person's graffiti tag
ponerse al alba
"to put oneself to the dawn", to get with it
ponerse zafado
to get high on marijuana
ponte las pilas
get your stuff together
Poros
Porterville Califas
Puñal
A knife, Gay, (homosexual) "eres Puñal"
Puto
Gay individual
putazo
a big punch.
prendido
"lit on", high on drugs; high on marijuana (most common)
Q
¿qué onda?
"what's up?"
quemar llanta
to burn rubber (as in driving)
Quilmas
San Quentin prison
¿Quiubo? (Quíhubo, Qiobo. quióboles. Q-vo)
(from "Qué hubo" meaning "What was there?"} "What's going on?"; "What's up?"
R
ranfla
car; lowrider car (more specifically)
rifamos
"We rule" Also (to take) a chance; "nos la rifamos"
rifar
to rule, have superiority in a neighborhood, in a sport, or some territory
refin
food
refinando
eating
refinar
to eat
rola
song
ruca
(literally: "old woman") girlfriend; woman
ruco
Old man
S
Sacra
safis
Oops! Some type of error.
Salas
Sancha
Girlfriend on the side; secret (or not) lover
Sancho
Boyfriend on the side; secret (or not) lover
San Jo
(pronounced "San Ho") San Jose, California
San Anto
San Fran
San Pipas
San Quilmas
San Antonio, Texas (archaic); San Quentin Prison (more common as only "Quilmas")
saurucha
saw
sentirse aviador
"to feel as an airman", to feel high or drunk
Serio/a
"seriously", for real (also spelled Cerio/a)
simón
"Yeah", often combined with ese: simónese
soda
slang for cocaine
soflamera
whiner
songas
songs
Swata
Idiot
Sur Califas
Southern California
southerner, street chapter of La eMe (or Mexican Mafia), associated with the color blue and the number 13.
Estéicis
(from shoe manufacturer "Stacey Adams") a brand of dress shoes favored by pachucos and swingers; a generic term for polished dress shoes
T
ta con madre
shortened form of "está con madre" (lit. "is with mom") the best, or something really good, outstanding.
tacuche
(literally: "suit") zoot suit; fancy clothing
talonear
"to heel", to walk, also to con
tecato
heroin addict
tinto
(literally. "dark") derogatory reffering to an African-American
tirando chancla
dancing your ass off
tira
police
tirar la masa
(lit. "to throw corn dough") to defecate
tirarlo a león
(lit. "to ignore") to blow off, to forget about it
tirar tripa
(lit. "to throw guts") to vomit
TJ
"jerry-rigged" or of inferior workmanship, (from the initials for Tijuana, a California border town where Americans go for cut-rate dentistry, auto body repair, and upholstry)
toleco
Fify-cent piece.
torcido
(lit. "twisted") jail time; locked up in prison (most specifically)
torta
(lit. "cake") derogatory slang for a fat female
lesbian
traer cola
"to carry a tail", to be on parole
tragazón
food, especially in large amounts. From tragar, "to swallow".
tramos
pants
trinquetiar
to cheat; to mess (someone) up
trola
cigarette lighter, match
trucha
(lit. "trout") "Watch out"; smart; wise
tubos
"tubes". Socks
turiquear
to get along; to communicate
U
un Abril
(also "un abro") a year's jail sentence
V
valluco
Rio Grande Valley, South Texas
vasquear
to vomit
vaisa
grip (possibly derived from vise grip)
varrio
neighborhood or 'hood (misspelling or alternate spelling of barrio)
vato
dude; guy; man
verga
(lit. "mast", "pole"), "dick" "penis" "cock"
vieja
(lit. "old lady") girlfriend, wife
volar
(lit. "to fly") to hurry
W
wango
loose, sloppy, awkward in appearance
Wachar
to watch, to look out for; also güachar
Wáchale
watch out! (interjection)
Watson
weso
westside
Wilmas
wilo, güilo
skinny
wilo, güilo
male prostitute
wino
term for someone consuming large amounts of alcohol, an alcoholic
Y
yesca
(also "yeska") marijuana. In Spanish, "a fungus to light fire".
yonka
bike
¿Y qué?
"And what?"; "So (what)?" (used to question, add emphasis, or challenge someone)
"ay wey"
" oh, shit"
Z
zafado
goofy
zafo
I'm out, I bail out. (used when asking for volunteers); derived from/related to con safos (see above)
an outfit of male clothing consisting of large pants which become narrower towards the bottom, a stylish, a nice looking jacket which matches with the pants, and a long chain running from the pocket