Want this as a printable cheat sheet?
Download the Ecuadorian Slang PDF here 🇪🇨
Want to practice learning the words?
You can learn the list of Ecuadorian Slang Here
Ecuadorian Spanish is clear, expressive and surprisingly varied for such a small country 🇪🇨
The accent changes quite a bit depending on the region.
In the:
highlands ⛰️ the Spanish tends to sound slower and more polite
coast 🌊 it’s often faster and louder
Amazon region 🌿 indigenous influence becomes much stronger
You’ll also hear a lot of words influenced by:
Kichwa
the local Quechua dialect spoken in Ecuador.
Here are some of the most common Ecuadorian slang words and expressions 👇
Bacán = cool / awesome / great
A very common positive slang word.
You’ll also hear:
bacán
in a few other Latin American countries.
e.j Tu camisa está bacán
Your shirt is cool
¡De una! = for sure! / let’s do it!
One of the most useful Latin American phrases.
e.j ¿Vamos al cine? — ¡De una!
Shall we go to the cinema? — For sure!
Naño / Naña = brother / sister / close friend
Very affectionate.
Can refer to:
siblings
close friends
e.j Mi naño vive en Quito
My brother lives in Quito
Chévere = cool / nice
Very common across Latin America.
e.j Qué chévere tu idea
Your idea’s cool
Camellar = to work
Common in:
Ecuador
Colombia
e.j Estoy camellando todo el día
I’m working all day
Guagua = baby / child
Common Andean word with indigenous roots.
e.j La guagua está durmiendo
The baby is sleeping
Mande = pardon? / what?
Used politely when asking someone to repeat themselves.
e.j ¿Qué dijiste? — Mande
What did you say? — Sorry?
Full = a lot / very
Borrowed from English.
Very common in Ecuador.
e.j Había full gente
There were loads of people
Ya mismo = soon / in a moment
Important warning 😂
In some Latin American countries:
ya mismo
can mean:
immediately
eventually
sometime later
depending on context 😭
e.j Llego ya mismo
I’ll be there soon
No más = just / simply
Used to soften sentences.
A bit like:
“just”
“simply”
“go ahead”
e.j Pásame no más
Just pass it to me
🇪🇨 Indigenous Expressions from Kichwa
One of the coolest things about Ecuadorian Spanish is the indigenous influence.
You’ll hear lots of expressions derived from:
Kichwa / Quechua
Achachay = it’s cold!
e.j ¡Achachay, qué frío!
Brrr, it’s cold!
Arrarray = it’s hot!
e.j ¡Arrarray, qué calor!
Wow, it’s hot!
Atatay = ew! / gross!
e.j ¡Atatay, qué feo!
Ew, that’s gross!
Chuta = darn! / wow! / oh no!
A mild exclamation.
e.j ¡Chuta, me olvidé las llaves!
Damn, I forgot my keys!
Vacilar = to hang out / chill
Very common in lots of Latin American countries.
e.j Vamos a vacilar en la playa
Let’s chill at the beach
Farra = party
e.j Hay una farra esta noche
There’s a party tonight
Bestia = idiot / silly / goof
Usually playful rather than aggressive.
e.j ¡Eres una bestia!
You’re such a goof!
🇪🇨 Final Thought
I’ve never been to Ecuador, but the Galapagos Islands is a stones throw away.
So probably worth the visit.
Message me if you have any questions.
Check out more Spanish resources here.
Un abrazo,
Harrison
Language for living, not just learning.
