Chilean Slang Explained

All you need to know to understand Chilean people.

Understanding Chile

David Liuzzo / Via commons.wikimedia.org

Chile is a little country in South America located next to Argentina, Perú and Bolivia. In Latino culture, Chile is like the wierd cousin, because Chilean people speak in a very different way than other Latino countries do and they do it very fast.

(In the picture, Chile is the orange-coloured country).

Chilean slang

As I was saying, Chilean people are the weird ones in Latino culture, and it's basically because of their slang. So to give you a better understanding of Chilean culture, here's some Chilean slang words explained.

Weón

In Chile, "weón" (or "huevón) is one of the most used slang words. It can mean "friend" ("Hola weón": Hey friend) or "stupid" ("Eri weón": You're stupid).

Al tiro

Literally translated, it means "at the shot (of a gun)", but Chilean people use it when they are asked to do something and they'll do it right away.

Cachai

Cachai is also a very used word in Chillean slang. It means "¿do you understand?" and some people can use it many times in a sentence.

Cahuín

Cahuín means gossip, but it can also mean mess. It can also be used as a verb (cahuinear: to gossip).

Mino/a

This is a word that is commonly used amongst teenagers. It means "attractive", in a physical kind of way.

Raja

"Raja" has three meanings.

* The first one is to be tired ("estoy raja": I'm tired).

* The second one is butt and the third one (used as "la raja") means great, excellent.

Pelar

Pelar has different meanings according to how the word is used.

* If the word is used alone, it means to gossip about someone.

* If it is used as "pelarse", it means to kiss someone (in the mouth) who you don't have a relationship with.

* If it is used as "pelar cable", it means to go crazy, to lose it.

"Se te cayó el carnet"

Translated, it means "you dropped your ID", and in Chile it is used when someone references something that older people would understand, letting the others know how old he or she is.

"Mostrar la hilacha"

This one is used when you unintentionally show someone a piece of your true self. This phrase comes from someone dress well until a loose thread comes off their clothes.

Carrete

It means party. It is also used amongst teenagers, and it can be used as a verb ("carretear": to go partying).