Panamanian Street Spanish

PANAMANIAN SLANG DICTIONARY - Plus Words and Phrases

Learn Panamanian Spanish Slang One Word At A Time

Whether traveling to el Republica de Panama as a tourist, student, or with the intention of moving there as an expatriate, this guide will serve you well. You probably already know the Spanish spoken by Panamanians is a unique idiom, bejeweled with words and phrases never taught in your high school Spanish class. Intended for English speakers, this book shares common slang words and phrases to help you communicate in everyday situations like ordering dinner in a restaurant, shopping at the mercado for fresh produce, flirting in a club, getting street directions, or hiring a taxi.

Before you go, consider taking the time to learn a few Panamanian Spanish slang words and phrases so you can speak street Spanish like a local. This guide contains a wealth of words and expressions that you can look up when you hear or read them to know what is going on around you. Even better, weeks before traveling, spend a night curled up with the book gaining familiarity with the wealth of wisdom it contains. That way, when you hear a vaguely familiar word on the street, you will know which page to consult to refresh your memory. Even if you don’t have the confidence to utter a word in Panamanian Spanish, you’ll know what was said.

Before you go, learn Panamanian-Spanish words and phrases so you can speak street Spanish like a local on the streets (las calles), in the shops (las tiendas), on the beaches (las playas), in the clubs (discotecas), and at the grocery store (el supermercado), knowing at least some street talk will pay big dividends. Instead of being seen as some soul-less gringo tourist, the locals will hold you in higher esteem. As a result, you may make new friends, and as a bonus perhaps get a better hotel room or lower prices while shopping for a mola.

Unlike most foreign language books, with their sterile lists of words (yawn), this one includes cultural references (food, dance, sex) that make the words come alive, more relevant to your life and experience, and therefore, more easily remembered. More than a dictionary replete with a compilation of words and phrases, this book shines a light on the rich tapestry of Panamanian culture.

1. Ahuevao - Stupid. Acting the fool.
2. Babylon - The police
3. Bucu - Lots (Derived from the French beacoup)
4. Cabrear - To be angry. Commonly used in place of enojar.
5. Chanti - House, crib (Shanty).
6. Chupata - A party with lots of alcohol.
7. Cornflake - Cereal.
8. Dale pues - Go for it. Okay.
9. Joven - Someone whose attention you are trying to get.
10. Fren - Friend.
11. Macaron - Pasta.
12. Pa - Derived from the Spanish para.
13. Pana - Panamanian, shortened, a fellow countryman.
14. Pelao - Dude. Referring to any guy in a casual situation.
15. Pipi sweet - A Womanizer. Sweet dick.
16. Pritti - Cool, awesome.
17. Qué cosa? - A question, asking, What?
18. Qué sopá - A question asking What’s up.
19. Ta cool - It’s cool. (Esta abbrev.)
20. Vaina - Thing, stuff, thingamabob.

So if you are going to Panama (wise choice), you could simply sit back and do nothing more ambitious than making hotel reservations and plan where to dine. Then when the plane lands at Tocumen airport, struggle to understand the cabbie hired to drive to your hotel. Speak in halting phrases when ordering supper. Struggle to understand the nuances of what’s going on around you. Or you could rather wisely invest in your future by buying this book.