Want this as a printable cheat sheet?
Download the Uruguayan Slang PDF Here 🇺🇾
Want to practice learning the words?
You can learn this list of slang here.
Uruguayan Spanish is VERY similar to its neighbour:
Both countries share:
el acento rioplatense
which includes the famous:
“sh” sound
This is where:
“ll”
and “y”
are pronounced like:
sh
in English.
So:
Me llamo → Me shamo
La llave → La shave
😅
Uruguayans also use:
vos
instead of:
tú
The overall vibe of Uruguayan Spanish is:
relaxed
melodic
slightly Italian sounding
And like Argentina…
they are absolutely obsessed with:
maté 🧉
A lot of the slang is shared with Argentina too, but Uruguay definitely has its own flavour.
Let’s take a look at some classic:
jerga uruguaya 👇
Bo = Hey / Mate
This is the Uruguayan equivalent of:
che
in Argentina.
You’ll hear it constantly.
e.j Bo ¿qué hacés?
Hey, what are you doing?
Ta = Okay / Right / That’s it
Shortened from:
está
Used all the time as:
agreement
confirmation
filler
e.j Nos vemos mañana, ta
See you tomorrow, okay
Gurí / Gurisa = Kid / Boy / Girl
Very common way to refer to children.
e.j Ese gurí es mi sobrino
That kid is my nephew
Laburo = Work / Job
Exactly the same as Argentina 🇦🇷
e.j Estoy buscando laburo
I’m looking for work
Botija = Kid / Youngster
Another affectionate word for:
kid
youngster
e.j Ese botija juega bien al fútbol
That kid plays football well
Fiaca = Laziness / Can’t be bothered feeling
If you:
feel lazy
can’t be bothered
have zero motivation
you have:
fiaca 😴
e.j Hoy no voy, me da fiaca
I’m not going today, I can’t be bothered
Chiquilín / Chiquilina = Young guy / girl
A casual way to refer to:
kids
young people
e.j Los chiquilines están jugando en la plaza
The kids are playing in the square
Candombe = Afro-Uruguayan music / party
Originally:
candombe
is a traditional Afro-Uruguayan music and dance style 🥁
But people also use it casually to mean:
party
e.j Anoche hubo tremendo candombe en la calle
Last night there was a huge party in the street
Matear = To drink maté
A national obsession 😂
Just like Argentina, Uruguayans LOVE:
maté 🧉
e.j ¿Vamos a matear en la rambla?
Shall we drink maté on the promenade?
Bárbaro/a = Cool / Great / Awesome
Very common in Uruguay.
e.j La película estuvo bárbara
That film was awesome
Re = Very / Super
Used exactly like Argentina.
e.j Está re bueno ese lugar
That place is really great
Championes = Sneakers / Trainers
Not:
champiñones 🍄
(mushrooms 😂)
This word actually comes from the sports brand:
Champion
e.j Me compré unos championes nuevos
I bought some new sneakers
🇺🇾 Final Thought
Uruguayan Spanish feels:
relaxed
friendly
rhythmic
heavily influenced by Argentina and Italy
And like Argentina, there’s a huge:
maté culture 🧉
woven into everyday life.
So if you really want to sound more Uruguayan:
say bo
use vos
add re before adjectives
and spend your afternoons mateando 😎
If I can help you on your Spanish journey in anyway at all.
Let me know.
You can find free Youtube Videos Here.
Un abrazo,
Harrison
Language for living, not just learning.
