This verb means to get super comfy in a place, so much so that you decide to stick around for a while. Me amañé mucho en Colombia; ¡me voy a quedar! (I felt so right at home in Colombia that I’m staying here!).

This is probably one of the most popular Colombian slang words. It’s used pretty much everywhere to say that something is really good or that you love something. ¡Ir al estadio en Medellín es muy bacano! (Going to the stadium in Medellín is awesome!).

This word means beautiful or nice, but it can also refer to something well done or to a good deed. ¡Medellín tan bonita, pero más bonito tratarla con respeto! (Medellín is beautiful, but treating it with respect is even better!).

A cacharro refers to an experience that leaves a lesson, which can be funny or serious. Le pasó un cacharro por desobedecer (He learned a lesson for disobeying).

It’s a typical Paisa breakfast made from leftover beans and rice. They’re mixed and heated up in a pot or pan—hence the name. It’s usually served with arepa, quesito, and fried or scrambled eggs. Hoy tengo antojo de desayunar calentao (I’m craving calentao breakfast today).

This word is an adjective to refer to someone talented or skilled whose work is of great quality—hence the name. It’s also used in a general way to describe a person you really vibe with. María Camila es una calidosa en lo que hace (Maria Camila is super talented at what she does); ¡Ese Juan es un calidoso! (Juan is really skilled!).

It’s a leather and cowhide bag famous for having many pockets, some of which are secret. It’s one of the typical objects used by muleteers and farmers during the Antioquia colonization. It’s also called guarniel. ¡Búsquelo en uno de los doce bolsillos del carriel! (Find it in one of the twelve pockets of the carriel!).

In Medellín, this word describes someone or something very funny. ¡Este man es muy charro! (This guy is hilarious!).

Esta expresión, también muy propia de Venezuela, es usada para expresar gusto, agrado o admiración por algo. Puede considerarse una palabra equivalente a ¨bacano¨.


¡Ay, tan chévere esa película!

It’s an adjective to express liking or admiration. It can mean the same as bacano. ¡Ay, tan chévere esa película! (Oh, that movie is so cool!).

Literally, it’s fried pork belly, a staple in Antioquia, especially because it’s an ingredient of the bandeja paisa. Figuratively, it means a really embarrassing or tricky situation. ¡Tengo un chicharrón en el trabajo que ni te imaginas! (I have a problem at work that you can’t even imagine!)

If you’re invited to a farra in Medellín, it means you’re being asked to join a party or celebration. Esta noche vamos a salir de farra; ¿quieres ir? (We’re going out tonight; wanna join?).

Junín is a famous street in Medellín known in the past for being a place to go shopping and socialize, similar to what we call today “shopping center”. If someone invites you to juniniar in Medellín, they want to stroll through this busy area, where you’ll see street performers, stores, and places to enjoy some Paisa food. Vamos al centro y de paso juniniamos un rato (Let’s hit downtown and, while we’re at it, hang out in Junín for a bit!).

It’s an informal way to refer to Medellín. ¡Vamos el fin de semana para Medallo! (Let’s go to Medallo for the weekend!).

Popularized by reggaeton, this is a shortened form of amor (love) used to affectionately refer to someone. Mor, avísame cuando llegues a tu casa (Let me know when you get home, love).

This is a classic Medellín term meaning friend, buddy, or pal, and is used to refer to someone amicably. It’s a shortened form of parcero. Parce, pasame las llaves (Buddy, pass me the keys).

We love this word! A parcero or parcera is a loyal friend, a kindred spirit, who looks out for you. Vos sos mi parcero; siempre me cuidás (You’re my buddy; you always have my back).

In Medellín, a parche can be many things, but all related to fun—a group of friends, a spot, or a plan. You can even use parchar to mean hang out. ¡Vámonos de farra con los parceros del parche! (Let’s party with the crew!); ¿Buscamos un parche para el fin de semana? (Shall we make weekend plans?)

In Medellín and the whole region, parva is the set of bakery goods for breakfasts or afternoon snacks. ¡Vaya por parva que ya está listo el café! (Go get some baked goodies because the coffee’s ready!)

It can be a noun to refer to a young person or an adjective to refer to someone who’s broke at the moment. You can also shorten it to pelao. ¡Ese pelao es muy charro! (That kid is hilarious!); No voy a salir hoy; estoy muy pelado. (I ‘m not going out today; I’m broke).

This verb has a couple of meanings: it can replace the verb mirar (to look) and the verb encontrarse (to meet). ¡Pille! Ya le mandé lo que me pidió (Look! I sent you what you asked for); ¡En un rato nos pillamos! (I’ll see you in a bit!).

It’s a lighter type of ruana, traditionally worn by muleteers and farmers to keep warm. You’ll see them a lot currently during Medellín’s Flowers Festival. ¡Aliste el poncho y el sombrero que nos vamos para el Desfile de Silleteros! (Get your poncho and hat ready; we’re heading to the Silleteros Parade!).

If someone says a place is in la porra, it means that it’s really far away. ¡Eso queda más allá de la quinta porra! (That’s way out in the boonies!).

These words refer to someone who’s had enough to drink to feel a bit dizzy but isn’t fully drunk yet. ¡Vamos para la casa! ¡Ya estoy muy prendo! (Let’s head home! I’m feeling tipsy!).

This word is used in Antioquia to describe the action of taking short trips, as in a weekend getaway, to nearby towns, ususally by car. ¡Nos encanta puebliar! El domingo vamos para Fredonia (We love taking little trips to towns! We’re going to Fredonia on Sunday).

Tinto or its diminutive tintico is the black coffee Paisas usually have after lunch. Vecino, véndame un tintico, por favor (Neighbor, can I get a black coffee, please?).

It’s an afternoon hangout plan, usually with friends and involving snacks and drinks. It’s similar to parchar. Mis amigas y yo estuvimos tardeando ayer en Ciudad del Río (Yesterday, my girlfriends and I enjoyed the afternoon in Ciudad del Río).

Made famous by Paisa singer Karol G’s song with Nicki Minaj, this word describes the feeling of sadness and loneliness after a breakup. Mor, terminé con Ricardo. ¡Tengo una tusa! (Babe, I broke up with Ricardo. I’m heartbroken!).

Literally meaning cow, this word is used figuratively in Antioquia to refer to the action of pooling money with a group for a common activity.

Hagamos una vaca con los del parche y le compramos un regalo a Juan (Let’s pitch in with the guys to buy Juan a gift).