Colombia Magico
Colombian Spanish Guide
Forget what you learned in Spanish class. Colombian Spanish has its own rhythm, slang, and humor. This guide covers the phrases, expressions, and cultural cues that will actually help you navigate daily life from day one.
Everyday Essentials
28 phrases
What's up? / How are you?
Ex: Hola, que mas? Todo bien?
The universal Colombian greeting. Way more common than "como estas"
What's up then?
Ex: Que mas pues, parce?
Paisa version — you will hear this 50 times a day in Medellin
Good morning
Ex: Buenos dias, vecino
Good afternoon
Ex: Buenas tardes, don Carlos
Good night / Good evening
Ex: Buenas noches, que descanse
Used both as greeting and farewell
Hi / Hello (casual)
Ex: Buenas, todo bien?
Short form that works any time of day
You're welcome / With pleasure
Ex: Gracias! — Con mucho gusto
Colombians say this instead of "de nada"
At your service / You're welcome
Ex: A la orden, siga, que necesita?
You will hear this from every shop keeper, taxi driver, and waiter
Sorry / Excuse me / How embarrassing
Ex: Que pena, pero no tengo cambio
Does NOT mean "what a shame" — it means "I'm sorry to bother you"
So sorry to bother you
Ex: Que pena con usted, me puede ayudar?
The polite way to ask for anything
Give me (polite)
Ex: Regaleme un tinto, por favor
Literally "gift me" — the standard way to order or ask for things. Not rude at all.
Excuse me (passing by)
Ex: Permiso, necesito pasar
Neighbor (used as friendly address)
Ex: Hola vecino, como va todo?
Used for anyone nearby, not just actual neighbors
Sir / Ma'am (respectful)
Ex: Buenos dias, Don Carlos
Used with first names to show respect, especially for older people
You (very respectful, Bogota)
Ex: Sumerce, como le ha ido?
Bogota/Boyaca thing — an ultra-polite form of "usted"
Go for it / Do it / Sure
Ex: Puedo sentarme aqui? — Hagale!
Universal Colombian approval word
Ready / OK / Done / Got it
Ex: Listo, nos vemos manana
Used to confirm literally everything
Enjoy your meal
Ex: Buen provecho, vecinos!
Colombians say this to everyone, even strangers at the next table
See you later
Ex: Listo, hasta luego, que le vaya bien
Hope it goes well / Take care
Ex: Chao, que le vaya bien
Common farewell — genuinely kind, not just filler
I will treat you / I am paying
Ex: Vamos a comer, yo te invito
In Colombia, "invitar" means YOU are paying the bill. If you say "yo te invito," you are committing to pay for everything. Never say it casually unless you mean it.
"I'm on my way"
Ex: Ya voy, esperame un momentico
Usually means they have not left yet. Could be 5 minutes or 45. Do not take this literally.
I'll be right back
Ex: Ya vengo, voy a la tienda
Literally "I'm already coming" but means "I'm leaving and coming back." Could be 5 minutes, could be 2 hours.
"I'm almost there"
Ex: Ya llego, estoy saliendo
Literally "I'm arriving" — but they might have just gotten in the car. Add 15-30 minutes to whatever you think it means.
"I'm almost almost there"
Ex: Ya casi llego, estoy en camino
Adding "casi" (almost) does not make it more accurate. They are still far away.
"I'm arriving right now"
Ex: Estoy llegando, un segundito
The strongest form of "I'm close" — and still probably means 10 more minutes.
I'm leaving / I'm out
Ex: Bueno, me voy, chao!
This one is honest — when a Colombian says "me voy," they actually are leaving.
I'm heading there
Ex: Listo, voy para alla
Means they intend to come. Whether they have actually started moving is another question entirely.
Food & Restaurants
15 phrases
Set lunch (soup + main + juice)
Ex: El almuerzo corriente del dia, por favor
Usually 12,000-18,000 COP. Comes with soup, rice, protein, salad, and juice. Best deal in Colombia.
Executive lunch (upscale set menu)
Ex: Me da el ejecutivo, por favor
Same concept but fancier restaurant, 25,000-40,000 COP
Small black coffee
Ex: Un tinto, por favor
NOT red wine — in Colombia, tinto always means coffee. Usually 1,000-2,000 COP.
Hot sugarcane water with lime
Ex: Una aguapanela con limon
The national comfort drink. Served hot or cold. Pure panela dissolved in water.
Paisa platter (massive mixed plate)
Ex: La bandeja paisa, pero sin morcilla
Beans, rice, ground beef, chicharron, fried egg, plantain, arepa, avocado, chorizo. Feeds two.
Bogota-style chicken potato soup
Ex: Un ajiaco con aguacate y crema
Three types of potato, chicken, corn, guascas herb. Bogota's signature dish.
Corn flatbread
Ex: Una arepa con queso
Eaten daily. In Antioquia they are thick and plain. On the coast, fried with egg. In Bogota, thin and buttered.
Fried corn pastry with meat/potato
Ex: Dos empanadas con aji
Street food king. Always served with aji (hot sauce). Usually 2,000-3,000 COP each.
The check, please
Ex: Mesero, la cuenta, por favor
To go / Takeout
Ex: Esto es para llevar
To eat here
Ex: Para comer aqui, por favor
Milk and egg breakfast soup
Ex: Una changua para desayunar
Bogota breakfast tradition — milk, water, egg, and scallions. You either love it or hate it.
Scrambled eggs with tomato and onion
Ex: Huevos pericos con arepa
Not to be confused with the bird or the slang
Beef rib broth
Ex: Un caldo de costilla para curar el guayabo
The hangover cure of Colombia. Rib soup at 6am after a night out.
Fresh sugarcane juice
Ex: Un guarapo bien frio
Pressed fresh from cane. Different from aguapanela.
Getting Around
11 phrases
Can you take me to...?
Ex: Me lleva al centro comercial?
How much will you charge me?
Ex: Cuanto me cobra hasta el aeropuerto?
Always ask BEFORE getting in the taxi if there is no meter
Go straight
Ex: Siga derecho dos cuadras
To the right
Ex: Gire a la derecha en el semaforo
To the left
Ex: A la izquierda despues del parque
Stop here
Ex: Pare aqui en la esquina, por favor
At the corner
Ex: Dejeme en la esquina
City block
Ex: Esta a tres cuadras
Colombians give directions in blocks, not meters
License plate driving restriction
Ex: Hoy no puedo sacar el carro, tengo pico y placa
Restricts certain plates on certain days to reduce traffic
Bogota's bus rapid transit
Ex: Voy en Transmilenio, llego en 40 minutos
Bogota's main public transit. Crowded but extensive.
Drop me off at...
Ex: Me deja en el centro?
Money & Shopping
11 phrases
How much is it?
Ex: Cuanto vale este?
How much does it cost?
Ex: Cuanto cuesta la entrada?
Cash
Ex: Solo efectivo, no tarjeta
Many small shops and restaurants are cash only
Card (credit/debit)
Ex: Aceptan tarjeta?
Change (money back)
Ex: No tengo vueltas de 50 mil
Getting change for large bills is a constant battle
Mobile payment app
Ex: Le puedo pagar por Nequi?
Colombia's Venmo. Almost everyone has it. Linked to Bancolombia.
Mobile payment app (Davivienda)
Ex: Tiene Daviplata?
Second most popular payment app after Nequi
Thousands of pesos (slang)
Ex: Son veinte lucas
20 lucas = 20,000 pesos. Everyone uses this.
One thousand pesos
Ex: Me falta una luca
One million pesos
Ex: El arriendo es un palo y medio
Literally "a stick." 1 palo = 1,000,000 COP
A little extra / freebie
Ex: Me da la ñapa?
Ask for it at markets and tiendas — the vendor throws in a little extra for free
Colombian Slang
38 phrases
Buddy / Bro / Friend
Ex: Que mas, parce? Todo bien?
The Colombian word for friend. Used constantly.
Cool / Awesome
Ex: Que bacano ese lugar!
The most common way to say something is cool
Cool / Great / Nice
Ex: Que chevere que viniste!
Similar to bacano but slightly more universal across Latin America
Awesome / Cool (strong slang)
Ex: Esa fiesta estuvo una chimba!
Can also mean the opposite depending on tone. Context is everything.
Tough / Badass / Difficult
Ex: Esa subida esta muy berraca
Triple meaning: a tough person, something difficult, or someone angry
Dude / Bro (filler word)
Ex: Marica, no me lo vas a creer!
Used between close friends as a filler word like "dude." Not an insult in this context. Very common in Bogota.
Work / Job (slang)
Ex: Tengo mucho camello hoy
Literally "camel." Camellar = to work hard.
Party
Ex: Vamos de rumba esta noche!
Rumbear = to party. Rumbeadero = party spot.
Party / Night out
Ex: Anoche nos fuimos de farra
Similar to rumba. Farrear = to party hard.
Aguardiente (anise liquor)
Ex: Pidamos un guaro!
Short for aguardiente. The national drink. Served in shots.
Beer
Ex: Vamos por unas polas
Named after la Pola (Policarpa Salavarrieta), independence heroine who appeared on beer labels
Black coffee (NOT red wine)
Ex: Un tintico, por favor
In every other Spanish-speaking country this means red wine. In Colombia, it is always coffee.
Close friend / Buddy
Ex: El es mi llave, nos conocemos hace anos
Literally "key." Your llave is your ride-or-die friend.
Yes / Yeah
Ex: Sisas, parce, hagale
Informal yes. Very paisa.
Right away / Let's do it / For sure
Ex: Vamos al cine? — De una!
The enthusiastic yes. Means you are in without hesitation.
Be alert / Watch out / Pay attention
Ex: Pilas con el celular en la calle
Literally "batteries." Estar pilas = to be alert. Ponte pilas = pay attention.
Thing / Stuff / Situation
Ex: Que vaina tan complicada
The universal word for anything. Can replace any noun you forgot the name of.
Money
Ex: No tengo plata
Literally "silver." The standard word for money in Colombia, not dinero.
Kid / Young person
Ex: Ese pelado es muy juicioso
Can refer to anyone younger than you
Kid (Bogota slang)
Ex: Ese chino no para de correr
Has nothing to do with China. Bogota slang for child.
Blonde / Light-skinned person
Ex: El mono de la esquina
Literally "monkey" but used to describe light-haired or fair-skinned people. Not offensive.
Dad / Mom (slang)
Ex: Mis cuchos no me dejan salir
Informal/affectionate way to say parents. Also used for any older person.
To hang out
Ex: Vamos a parchar en el parque
Parche = hangout spot or group of friends
To make yourself a target
Ex: No de papaya con el celular
THE essential Colombian safety concept. Don't flash valuables, don't be careless.
Don't be an easy target
Ex: En Colombia, no hay que dar papaya
The unofficial national motto. Be street smart.
Well-behaved / Diligent / Responsible
Ex: Ese pelado es muy juicioso
NOT juicy. Means responsible, hardworking, on-the-ball.
Intense / Tough / Extreme
Ex: Ese examen estuvo tenaz
Can be positive or negative depending on context
Too bad / Out of luck / Messed up
Ex: No hay almuerzo? Paila!
Literally "frying pan." Means things went wrong.
To feel at home / Settle in comfortably
Ex: Ya me amañe en Pereira
The ultimate compliment to a place. When you are amañado, you belong.
Annoying situation / Drag / Bore
Ex: Que mamera este trafico
Something tedious or annoying
To stay up all night
Ex: Trasnochamos hasta las 4am
A dedicated verb for staying up late. Colombia parties late.
Expert / Really good at something
Ex: Ese mecanico es un teso
High compliment. Means someone is skilled and talented.
Preppy / Posh / Rich kid
Ex: Ese restaurante es muy gomelo
Not always negative. Describes upper-class style and attitude.
Hustle / Making ends meet creatively
Ex: Se gana la vida del rebusque
The informal economy. Street vendors, odd jobs, creative survival.
Cool (as response) / Great
Ex: Que nota ese plan!
Short affirmation that something is cool
Hangover
Ex: Tengo un guayabo terrible
Literally "guava tree." Enguayabado = hungover.
Street person / Sketchy person
Ex: Esos ñeros de la esquina
Can be mildly offensive. Describes someone from a rough background.
A moment / A little bit
Ex: Esperame un toque
Can mean anywhere from 5 minutes to 2 hours in Colombian time
Regional Differences
4 regions
Paisa (Medellin & Eje Cafetero)
Added to the end of everything
Ex: Que mas pues? Vamos pues. Listo pues.
The paisa punctuation mark. Every sentence ends with "pues."
Oh my! / Wow! / Unbelievable!
Ex: Ave Maria, que calor tan berraco!
The paisa exclamation for everything — surprise, frustration, admiration
That's terrible! / How awful!
Ex: Me robaron el celular! — Que gonorrea!
Very strong slang. Expresses outrage or frustration. Not polite but extremely common.
Rolo (Bogota)
Kid / Boy / Girl
Ex: Ese chino es muy inteligente
Bogota exclusive — not used outside the capital
You (extremely polite)
Ex: Sumerce, me puede colaborar?
Ultra-formal "usted." Comes from "su merced" (your mercy). Very Bogota/Boyaca.
Rude / Rough / Uncouth
Ex: No sea guache
Bogota word for someone with bad manners
Costeno (Caribbean Coast)
Wow! / Hey! / No way!
Ex: Eche, mijo, que calor!
The costeno exclamation — used for everything on the coast
Son / Daughter (endearment)
Ex: Venga aca, mijo
Contraction of "mi hijo/a." Used for anyone, not just family.
No way! / Come on! / Unbelievable!
Ex: Nojoda, que aguacero!
Vulgar but extremely common on the coast. The costeno version of "Ave Maria"
Caleno (Cali)
You (informal, used instead of tu)
Ex: Vos que queres hacer?
Cali uses voseo — "vos" instead of "tu" with modified verb forms
You hear? (conversation filler)
Ex: La rumba estuvo buena, oiste?
Calenos add this to the end of statements. Like "you know?"
Look / Check this out
Ex: Mira ve, esa salsa esta buena
Classic caleno expression of attention
Chistes
13 jokes
Colombian humor runs on wordplay, double meanings, and regional stereotypes. These jokes come from the tradition of Sabados Felices, Don Jediondo, and countless family gatherings. Some translate perfectly, others need the explanation, that is part of the charm.
El borracho en el bar: — Mesero! Un tequila!
— Para olvidar? — No, para ver si me acuerdo donde deje la camioneta!
Why is this funny?
Classic bar humor — the drunk doesn't want to forget, he wants to remember where he parked.
— Doctor, doctor! Tengo antonimitis aguda!
— Pues, que bueno, ya era hora!
Why is this funny?
Antonimitis = disease of saying opposites. The doctor says "how great" and "it's about time" — both wrong reactions, proving he has it too.
— Papa, papa! Me das dinero?
— Claro, hijo! Pero en la proxima vida, que ahora no me queda!
Why is this funny?
The stingy father agrees enthusiastically — but pushes payment to the next life.
— Que le dice una impresora a otra?
— Esa hoja es tuya o es una impresion mia?
Why is this funny?
Double meaning: "impresion" means both a printed page and a personal impression/feeling.
— Que hace una abeja en el gimnasio?
— Zum-ba!
Why is this funny?
Bees go "zum" (buzz) + Zumba is a Colombian-invented fitness class. Double wordplay.
— Cual es el ultimo animal que subio al arca de Noe?
— El del-fin.
Why is this funny?
Delfin (dolphin) sounds like "del fin" (of the end) — the last one aboard.
El paisa en el banco: — Ave Maria, senorita! Me presta un boligrafo?
— Claro! — No, mejor no, que me da pena!
Why is this funny?
Classic paisa stereotype — so polite and shy that they ask for something then immediately decline out of embarrassment (pena).
— Como se despiden los quimicos?
— Acido un placer!
Why is this funny?
"Acido" (acid) sounds like "ha sido" (it has been). So: "It has been a pleasure!"
— Doctor! Que tal la operacion?
— No me llame doctor! Que soy el paciente!
Why is this funny?
The person asking about the surgery realizes they are talking to the patient, not the surgeon.
— Papa, papa! Que se siente tener un hijo tan guapo?
— No se, hijo! Preguntale a tu abuelo!
Why is this funny?
The father implies he himself is the handsome one — the son should ask his grandfather what it is like.
— Que le dice un jardinero a otro?
— Nos vemos cuando podamos!
Why is this funny?
"Podamos" means both "we can" and "we prune" (from podar). Gardeners meet when they prune/can.
— Josecito, que planeta va despues de Marte?
— Miercoles, profe!
Why is this funny?
Marte = Mars AND Martes = Tuesday. The student thinks it's days of the week, so Wednesday comes after Tuesday.
The gringo at the restaurant with his Colombian friends: "Hey guys, I invite you all to dinner tonight!"
*Bill arrives* — "Wait, why is everyone looking at me?"
Why is this funny?
In Colombia, "yo te invito" means "I am paying." The gringo used it like English "I'll invite you" (just come along), but every Colombian at the table heard "dinner is on me." Expensive lesson.
Cultural Tips
9 tips
Ahorita does not mean right now
In Colombia, "ahorita" can mean in 5 minutes, in an hour, or maybe later today. "Ahora" (now) is more immediate, and "ya" (already/right now) is the strongest. If someone says "ahorita le llego," add 30 minutes to your estimate.
Manana can mean eventually
"Manana" literally means tomorrow, but in practice it often means "not today" or "sometime in the future." If a repair person says "manana lo tengo listo," it could be days. Ask for a specific time and day.
Colombian time is real
If a party starts at 8pm, most Colombians arrive at 9:30 or 10. If someone says "llego en 10 minutos," expect 30. Business meetings tend to start closer to on time, but social events run on a different clock entirely.
Everything gets a diminutive
Colombians add -ito/-ita to everything to make it smaller, cuter, or more polite. Coffee becomes "tintico," a moment becomes "momentico," and even "ahora" becomes "ahorita." It softens requests and makes everything friendlier.
No dar papaya
The unofficial national philosophy: don't make yourself an easy target. Don't flash your phone on the street, don't leave bags unattended, don't walk alone in unfamiliar areas at night. It is not about fear — it is about common sense that Colombians practice every day.
Usted is not formal here
Unlike most Spanish-speaking countries where "usted" is strictly formal, Colombians use it with friends, partners, and even children in some regions. In Bogota, couples say "usted" to each other lovingly. Don't be confused — it is not cold, it is Colombian.
A la orden means everything
You will hear "a la orden" from every shopkeeper, taxi driver, and waiter in Colombia. It means "at your service" and is used as: a greeting, a way to say you are welcome, an invitation to ask for something, and a farewell. Just nod and say "gracias."
Regaleme is not begging
When a Colombian says "regaleme un cafe" they are not asking for a free coffee. "Regaleme" (gift me) is the standard polite way to ask for or order something. It sounds strange in translation but is more polite than "deme" (give me).
Invitar means you are paying
In English, "I'll invite you to dinner" just means "come along." In Colombia, "yo te invito" means "I am paying for you." If you say it, the entire table expects you to pick up the check. This catches every newcomer at least once. If you just want someone to join you, say "vamos a comer" (let's go eat) instead.
Learning Colombian Spanish
- Start with "que mas?" and "con mucho gusto", these two phrases alone will change how Colombians interact with you. For a deeper dive into schools, apps, and immersion strategies, read our guide to learning Spanish in Colombia.
- Learn the money slang early. When someone says "veinte lucas," you need to know that is 20,000 pesos without hesitation.
- Don't be afraid of slang. Using "parce" or "bacano" in conversation will earn you instant respect and a smile.
- Pay attention to which region you are in. Saying "pues" after everything works in Medellin but sounds odd in Bogota.
- Colombian humor is wordplay-heavy. Even if you don't get the joke, laughing along builds connection.