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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:

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.

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