Cuban expressions are, well…expressive. I recently overheard a conversation in Spanish between a man and a woman on a Havana street. A “dictionary” translation would sound something like this:
Man: “You know, Jose has no delayed steaks because he is lined. He even moved to a new house where the devil gave the three voices. Didn’t you know? You are not in anything, my partner.”
Woman: “Oh, don’t eat feces, young man! I heard on Radio Big Lip that he was finishing but he is also a big packager so you never know. I think he is eating a tremendous cable.”
What could they possibly be talking about? Translated from Cuban slang the conversation is:
Man: “You know Jose looks great because he is doing well financially. He even moved to a new house very far away. Didn’t you know? You don’t seem to be aware.”
Woman: “Oh, don’t be a fool. The gossip is he’s doing well but he is such a liar that you never know. I think he is having a hard time.
Things are frequently not what they seem when “speaking in Cuban” and using Cuban expressions.
Want the best price? Make sure you “put yourself in something” (get your act together) “tear his arm off” (negotiate well) and “don’t let them grab your ass” (take you for a fool).
Cuban expressions are rich, descriptive and fun. They can also be very confusing… unless you’re Cuban.
I would like to share some of my favorite Cuban expressions and help you understand how to use them so that next time you’re in Havana “you will be finishing” (everyone will be very impressed with you).
Expression: No comas mierda
Translation: Do not eat feces
Meaning: Don’t be a fool
Expression: Va a la Habana y apaga fuego
Translation: He goes to Havana and puts out fires
Meaning: He is very talented, does many things well.
Expression: Radio Bemba
Translation: Radio Big Lip
Meaning: Gossip, as in, I heard it on radio big lip
Expression: Comiendo un cable
Translation: Eating a cable
Meaning: Having a real hard time.
Expression: Eramos pocos y pario Catana
Translation: There were few of us then Catana gave birth
Meaning: As if things weren’t bad enough, they got even worse
Expression: Tremendo arroz con mango
Translation: A huge mango with rice
Meaning: A big confusion
Expression: Eso va a terminar como la fiesta del Guatao
Translation: That will end like the Guatao party
Meaning: That’s not a good idea or that will not end well
Expression: Canto “El Manicero”
Translation: He sang “The Peanut Vendor”
Meaning: He died
Expression: Eso dura lo que dura un merengue en la puerta de una escuela
Translation: That will last about as long as a sugary pastry at the door of a school
Meaning: That’s not going to last too long
Expression: No tiene bistec atrasado
Translation: He has no delayed steak
Meaning: He looks healthy and in good shape
More Cuban expressions
1. Cubans don’t eat hotdogs with “all the trimmings,” they eat them with “all the irons” (con todos los hierros).
2. Cubans are not “very talented,” they “go to Havana and extinguish fires” (va a La Habana y apaga fuego).
3. Cubans don’t “think something is outrageous,” they “throw a mango aggressively” (le zumba el mango).
4. Cubans don’t just give directions. When something is “very far away,” they say it is “where the devil gave the three voices, and no one heard him” (donde el diablo dio las tres voces y nadie le oyó) or “it is in the earth’s ass” (eso queda en el culo del mundo). But if the place is nearby, it is “to the rooster’s crow” (al cantio del gallo) and if the place is “too dark,” it is a “wolf’s mouth” (la boca de un lobo).
5. Cubans don’t tell you that “you have been taken for a fool,” they say that “they grabbed your ass” (te cojieron el culo).
6. Cubans aren’t just “fed up,” they are “up to their last hair” (hasta el último pelo).
7. Cubans aren’t “indifferent,” they “care three cucumbers” (me importa tres pepinos).
8. Cubans won’t tell you something was “confusing,” they’ll tell you it was a “huge rice with mango” (tremendo arroz con mango).
9. Cubans won’t say something is a “big lie,” they’ll tell you it is a “huge package” (tremendo paquete).
10. Cubans will never do something “underhandedly,” they will do it “by the left” (por la izquierda).
11. Cubans will not “cause trouble,” they will “bleat like a goat” (arme un berrinche).
12. Cubans are not just “proud,” they “cannot fit another bird seed into their butt” (no le cabe un alpiste en el culo).
13. Cubans don’t ask you to “stop being a fool,” they ask you to “stop consuming feces” (deja de comer mierda).
14. Cubans don’t think something will “end badly,” they think it will end “like Guatao’s party” (esto va a terminar como la fiesta del Guatao).
15. Cubans don’t think you are “pretentious,” they think you “polish yourself a lot” (te das tremenda lija).
16. Cubans won’t ask you to “keep a secret,” they’ll say “with a closed mouth, flies don’t enter” (boca cerrada no entran moscas).
17. Cubans don’t “die,” they “stretched a leg” (estiró la pata) or “sang the peanut vendor” (cantó el manisero).
18. Cubans don’t say you should “attack the problem at its source,” they say “if the dog is dead, the rabies will stop” (muerto el perro se acaba la rabia).
19. Cubans don’t think something “will not last very long,” they think “it will last about as long as a sugary pastry at a school’s door” (eso dura lo que dura un merengue en la puerta de una escuela).
20. Cubans don’t “go somewhere reluctantly,” they “go like the cat whose tail is being pinched” (como el gato que le están pellizcando el rabo).
21. Cubans don’t say “the situation is increasing dire,” they say “there were so many of us then Catana gave birth” (eramos tantos y pario Catana.
22. A Cuban kid is not “annoying,” he is a “cow lung” (un bofe).
23. Cubans don’t think “someone or something is meaningless,” it just “doesn’t paint anything” (no pinta nada).
24. A Cuban would never say “a woman’s dress is a poor fit,” they’ll say “she looks like a badly wrapped tamale” (parece un tamal mal envuelto).
25. Cubans don’t think “someone is lazy,” he just “doesn’t shoot a pea” (no dispara un chicharo).
26. A Cuban won’t tell you how it is,” they’ll tell you “to bread, bread and to wine, wine” (al pan, pan y al vino, vino).
27. Cubans don’t think “someone is incompetent,” they think he is a “yam with a tie” (es un ñame con corbata).
28. A Cuban is never “useless,” he is a “zero to the left” (un zero a la izquierda).
29. A Cuban won’t tell you to “stop encouraging someone” they’ll tell you to “stop cranking him up” (no le des cranque).
30. Cubans don’t “go senile,” they lose a coconut” (perdio el coco).
31. A Cuban is never “foolish,” he just “eats what the chicken pecks at” (come de lo que pica el pollo).
32. A Cuban won’t “rip you off,” he’ll just leave you “cackling and without feathers” (sin plumas y cacareando).
33. A Cuban is not “skinny,” he is a “butcher’s hook” (es un gancho de carniceria).
34. Cubans don’t “go nuts,” their “coconut skates” (le patino el coco) or they “get little mice in their coconuts” (tiene guayavitos en el coco).
35. Cubans are not “spinsters,” they’re just “left to dress saints” (se quedo para vestir santos).
36. A Cuban won’t “pretend to be innocent,” they’ll pretend to be a “little dead fly” (se hace la mosquita muerta).
37. Cubans are never in a “bad mood,” they just “woke up with a disheveled bun” (se desperto con el moño virado).
38. Cubans don’t say someone is “coming on to you,” they say “that egg wants salt” (ese huevo quiere sal).
39. Cubans didn’t “have a hard time” they “ate a huge cable” (se comio tremendo cable).
40. Cubans won’t tell you to “get lost,” they’ll tell you to “go to the crow’s nest” (vete para el carajo).
41. A Cuban is not “pretentious,” he is the “last Coca-Cola in the desert” (la ultima Coca-Cola en el desierto).
42. Cubans don’t “congratulate you for doing a good job,” they tell you “you ate it” (te la comiste) or “you are finishing” (estas acabando).
43. A Cuban doesn’t think someone “is a jerk,” they think he is a “pubic hair” (es un pendejo).
44. Cubans won’t ask you to “make a decision,” they’ll tell you to “either comb your hair or curl it.”
45. A Cuban won’t tell you she’s “not in the mood” she’ll say “this oven is not ready for pastries” (este horno no esta listo para pastelitos).
46. Cubans won’t tell you “your medical case is hopeless,” They’ll tell you “even the Chinese doctor can’t cure you” (eso no lo cura ni el medico Chino).
47. Cubans won’t say something is “inconsequential,” they’ll say it is “not a fart that will break the underpants” (no es un peo que rompa los calzoncillos).
48. Cubans don’t “give awesome parties,” they “throw the house out the door” (tiro la casa por la ventana).
49. A Cuban is not “smart,” he “knows more than the cockroaches of Guanabacoa” (sabe mas que las cucarachas de Guanabacoa) or he is a lantern (es una lumbrera).
50. Cubans are not “outspoken,” they don’t have hairs on their tongues” (no tine pelos en la lengua).
51. Cubans don’t get angry,” their “testicles snore” (le roncan los huevos).
52. Cubans aren’t “cheap,” they “walk on their elbows” (caminan con los codos).
53. A Cuban doesn’t “have a streak of bad luck,” they “have a barefoot Chinese man behind them” (tengo un Chino descalzo detras de me).
54. A Cuban won’t tell someone to not be distracted,” They’ll say “don’t be thinking of small rodents” (deja de pensar en musarañas).
55. A Cuban is “never off his game,” he “is salty” (esta salao).
56. Cubans never “admit mistakes” they “put their foot in it” (meti la pata).
57. Cubans don’t ask you to “share your food,” they’ll ask you if “you think they have a square mouth” (tengo la boca cuadrada?)
58. Cubans don’t think “its cold outside” they think it’s so cold that the rocks are breaking” (hace un frio que parte las piedras).
59. Cubans don’t think “old people are wise,” they think “the devil knows more because he is old than because he is the devil” (mas sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo).
60. Cubans don’t think “something is suspicious,” they think “there is a caged cat” (aqui hay gato encerrado).
61. A Cuban doesn’t believe “something is obvious,” they believe it “falls from the tree” (se cai de la mata).
62. A Cuban won’t tell you he “doesn’t understand,” he’ll tell you “now you’ve put it in Chinese” (ahora me los has puesto en Chino).
63. Cubans don’t think “something is severe” they’ll tell you it’s “of mother” (de madre).
64. A Cuban won’t tell you “you’re nuts,” he’ll tell you “you have sawdust on the rooftop” (tienes serrin en la azotea).
65. Cubans don’t think you “have enough of something,” they think you have it “through a tube and seven keys” (por un tubo y siete llaves).
66. Cubans don’t think “it’s cold,” they think “the monkey whistles” Chifla el mono.
67. Cubans won’t tell you to “get going,” they tell you to “put yourself in something” (ponte en algo.)
68. Cubans don’t say “a place is empty,” they’ll say there were “only four cats there” (nada mas habian cuatro gatos).
69. A Cuban won’t tell you “something is amazing,” they’ll say it is “of mother” (de madre).
70. Cubans express surprise, indignation, amusement, shock, dismay and dozens of other expressions with the statement “this has no name” (esto no tiene nombre).
I hope you enjoyed these Cuban expressions. What are some unusual expressions from YOUR background?
If you’re interested in Cuba, you might enjoy these posts.
The Perfect Cuba Itinerary: Everything You Need to Know.
10 Dos and Don’ts for Your Trip to Cuba.
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FAQs
What does Pinga mean to Cubans? ›
#4 Pinga is…
Literally translated it refers to the male genital organ. However, conjugated in a wide variety of ways and placed into all sort of different contexts, it can mean anything from “it is horrible” (está de Pinga), “amazing” (empinagado), “what the hell is up with you” (qué Pinga te pasa a tí)…
Chévere is the universal Cuban term for “cool.” It can be used to describe almost anyone or anything, whether you're paying someone a compliment about their outfit or talking about a new band that you like.
What does asere mean in Cuban? ›Asere/Acere
You'll hear this one all the time in Cuba and it's not used in any other Spanish-speaking country. It's the most popular way to address a friend, and you wouldn't use it in with someone you've just met or in a professional situation. Think “mate” or “buddy”. Often heard in the phrase: “¿Asere qué bola?”
Jeva/Jevo. A Cuban talking about his girlfriend will probably refer to her as Mi jeva. Some people even use this word to refer to women in general, but others find it vulgar, so it is not advisable to use it in that sense. Girls may as well call their boyfriends Jevo, but it is not often seen.
What does Papo mean in Cuban? ›papo [m] second or double-chin.
What does Oye Que bola mean? ›"¿Oye que bola?" = "Hey, what's up?"
What does Comepinga mean? ›comepinga [m/f] CU. foolish person.
What does Depinga mean? ›De pinga. This Cuban curse word has a pretty NSFW translation (which refers to a certain part of the male anatomy) but all you need to know is that it is used to convey frustration, anger or dissatisfaction.
What does tremendo mango mean? ›Tremendo Mangón / Tremenda Manguita
This is an expression used to describe someone that you think is drop-dead gorgeous. The masculine version, "tremendo mangón", literally translates as a tremendous big mango, and the female version "tremenda manguita" literally means a tremendous little mango.
feminine noun. Cuba) (= ramo) bouquet.
What does Que bola mean? ›
Definition: Que bola (usually written sans accent marks) is Cuban for “What's up man, how's it hangin'?” Asere is the Cuban word for “bro.” Just to be clear: Asere que bola is to Cuba as Che boludo is to Argentina or No mames wey is to Mexico as “Hella awesome dude” is to California.
How do you say beautiful in Cuban? ›1. Bonito/a. In English, this word translates to “beautiful,” “pretty,” or “lovely.” Bonito/a is widely used in Spanish-speaking countries, and it's generally a loving word. ¡Qué bonito eres!
What does Yuma mean in Cuba? ›"La Yuma" is Cuban street lingo for the United States, and "Yumas" can be Americans or foreigners from any non-Spanish speaking country. Many trace the term to "3:10 to Yuma" the cowboy classic based on an Elmore Leonard short story that arrived in Cuba after it hit U.S. theaters in 1957.
What do Cubans call their friends? ›Acere is a term of friendship, similar to “dude”, “buddy”, or “mate”. You wouldn't use it in more formal settings, but you'll hear it often among friends. This word originally comes from the Efik language of Nigeria and isn't found in other Spanish dialects.
What do Cubans call their mom? ›Mi vieja / Mi viejita
In Latin American countries, vieja or viejita are two affectionate terms for mothers.
Cuban men are passionate and romantic. They are also very family-oriented, and they take great pride in their heritage. Cuban men can be a little macho at times, but they're always gentlemen.
How do you say hey in Havana? ›1. Greetings. You probably already know that “Hola” is the Spanish word for hello. This is quite sufficient for greeting someone in Cuba, since it's a fairly informal society.
What do Papi Chulo mean? ›A direct translation of papi chulo from Spanish is “pimp daddy,” with papi being a diminutive form of “father” (and used like “baby”) and chulo meaning “pimp” but also “attractive,” “cocky,” or “cool” in colloquial settings. Chulo alone has a storied history in American English.
What does papos mean? ›Noun. papo m (plural papos) crop (pouch-like part of the alimentary tract of some animals) synonym ▲ Synonym: boche. dewlap; goitre synonyms ▲ Synonyms: barbada, papada. cheek, jowl.
What does papos mean in Spanish? ›1. (= papada) double chin ⧫ jowl. [de ave] crop. [de animal] dewlap. ▪ idiom: estar de papo de mona (Spain) (informal) to be first-rate.
How do Cubans say hi? ›
1. Greetings. You probably already know that “Hola” is the Spanish word for hello. This is quite sufficient for greeting someone in Cuba, since it's a fairly informal society.
What should you not say in Cuba? ›Don't talk about politics
If you strike up a discussion about politics or the government you'll likely make people uncomfortable, and you could end up being reported to the police for being a subversive foreigner.
¿Que bola? This is by far one of the most popular Cuban phrases. Its most literal translation is "What's up?" It's very informal and typically used among friends.
How do Cubans talk? ›How To Speak Like A Cuban (The Cuban Accent) - YouTube
How do you say beautiful in Cuban? ›1. Bonito/a. In English, this word translates to “beautiful,” “pretty,” or “lovely.” Bonito/a is widely used in Spanish-speaking countries, and it's generally a loving word. ¡Qué bonito eres!
What does pucha mean in Cuba? ›feminine noun. Cuba) (= ramo) bouquet.
What does Sapingo mean? ›On Tuesday, the Royal Spanish Academy — RAE in Spanish — which evaluates and adopts official changes in the Spanish language, said in a tweet the word “sapingo” is an offensive adjective in Cuban slang that refers to a person who is “stupid, useless or good for nothing.” Juan Camilo Gómez.
What does Salude mean in Cuba? ›"Salude" is the imperative form in Spanish to ask someone to give your regards to somebody else, so I agree with some of the answers already submitted here.
How do you say girl in Cuban? ›jeva: In Honduras, Panama, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Venezuela it is used to refer to a young women.
What do Cubans call their friends? ›Acere is a term of friendship, similar to “dude”, “buddy”, or “mate”. You wouldn't use it in more formal settings, but you'll hear it often among friends. This word originally comes from the Efik language of Nigeria and isn't found in other Spanish dialects.
What does Yuma mean in Cuba? ›
"La Yuma" is Cuban street lingo for the United States, and "Yumas" can be Americans or foreigners from any non-Spanish speaking country. Many trace the term to "3:10 to Yuma" the cowboy classic based on an Elmore Leonard short story that arrived in Cuba after it hit U.S. theaters in 1957.
What does tremendo mango mean? ›Tremendo Mangón / Tremenda Manguita
This is an expression used to describe someone that you think is drop-dead gorgeous. The masculine version, "tremendo mangón", literally translates as a tremendous big mango, and the female version "tremenda manguita" literally means a tremendous little mango.
acere m (plural aceres) (Cuba, slang, term of address) man, bro, homie.
Why do Cubans say Sere? ›Asere comes from the word Esiere comes from the efik language, also known as Ibibio-Efik, member of the Benue–Congo family of languages from Nigeria. It means Good Night, it was originally used by Cubans to salute Africans.
How do Cubans say ice cream? ›Helado (Ice cream)
Helado is probably the most common word for ice cream in Spanish. It's easily understood in the majority of Spanish-speaking countries and is the base for more elaborate preparations. In other countries you can also hear the word mantecado as a replacement. Tengo ganas de un helado.
Bizcocho (Spanish pronunciation: [biθˈkotʃo] or [bisˈkotʃo]) is the name given in the Spanish-speaking world to a wide range of pastries, cakes or cookies.