20 Salvadoran Slang Phrases You Should Know

Have you heard about “Tierra de Los Volcanoes” or the land of the volcanoes? That would be the small Central American country of El Salvador. If you’re planning a trip, you’ll want to learn all the Salvadoran slang so you can communicate with the locals. Continue reading to understand which Salvadoran slang words are used most often and the meanings behind them.

Understanding Salvadoran Slang

El Salvador, with its capital city San Salvador, is a country on the Pacific coast of Central America, packed with mountains and rivers and only 6 million inhabitants. The culture of this breathtaking hidden gem is partially why it’s so popular. But let’s not forget the beautiful landscape as well. It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling there for business or pleasure, you will be awestruck by the charm of this land.

Salvadoran pupusa and other street food, the temple at Tazumal, and many active volcanoes will give you a taste of what it means to be Salvadoran. But, without the knowledge of Salvadoran slang and other Salvadoran idioms, your textbook Spanish won’t be enough.

20 Salvadoran Slang Words and Their Meanings

Salvadoran Spanish is heavily influenced by the Mayan and Native American languages, some of which are still spoken in the region. We can conclude that this might be the reason Salvadoran slang is so popular, and why every person on the street is using it.

If you’re planning on visiting El Salvador, or if you’re just interested in the culture, first make sure you know the basics of Spanish and then learn the Salvadoran slang we prepared for you:

#1 - Chivo

One of the words only Salvadorans use is chivo, meaning anything positive, good, or OK. So if you’re giving anything a thumbs up, say chivo or chiva.
Example: ¡Ese es un auto chivo! - That’s a cool car.

#2 - Chucho

You will hear no one on the streets in San Salvador say "perro" for a dog. Instead, expect the Salvadoran slang chucho.
Example: ¡Aquí, chucho! - Here, dog!

#3 - Vaya pues

Another way to express your positive thoughts in Salvadoran phrases is to use vaya pues, meaning “it goes”. It’s so popular that if you don't hear it in a crowd you might just ask yourself whether you’re really in El Salvador.
Example: Estoy bien. Vaya pues. - I’m good. OK.

#4 - Bicho

This might sound like a Salvadoran bad word, but it’s actually a way to say “kid”.
Example: Este bicho está chivo. - This kid is cool.

#5 - Casamiento

Literally meaning “marriage”, this is a dish made of rice and beans, so don’t think someone is proposing to you, it’s just a Salvadoran dish.
Example: Me gustaría pedir casamiento - I’d like to order casamiento.

#6 - Buena Onda

If you’re picking up good vibes from someone, use this Salvadoran phrase to declare it.
Example: Sí, él tiene buena onda. - Yes, he has good vibes.

#7 - Bayunco

In El Salvador, they don’t say "loco", only bayunco. So, if the party is getting crazy, everyone is going to say it's bayunco.
Example: ¡Esta fiesta es bayunco! - This party is crazy!

#8 - Chele

If you’re white and visiting El Salvador, or if you haven’t seen enough of the sun this summer, you might hear this Salvadoran word used about you.
Example: Ella es chele.- She is white/has white skin.

#9 - Baboso

One of the Salvadoran insults you might hear on the streets translates to “drooler”, but you use it if you want to call someone dumb.
Example: Eres baboso. - You are dumb.

#10 - Bajonear

If you’re looking for a quick bite, you’re searching for a bajonear, or “to make it go down quickly”.
Example: Nosotros podemos ir bajonear algo.- We can go eat something.

#11 - Cora

The official currency of El Salvador is US Dollars and in Salvadoran slang, cora means a quarter or $0.25.
Example: Dos coras, por favor. - Two quarters, please.

#12 - Maje

You’re real friends if someone says you’re their maje or “dude/mate”.
Example: Él es mi maje. - He is my dude.

#13 - ¿Qué onda?

In El Salvador, friends like to ask each other what’s up by asking how the waves are.
Example: ¿Qué onda, maje? - What’s up, dude?

#14 - Balado

Looking for a way to say “thing”? Balado is the word you're looking for.
Example: Dame tres de estas balados. - Give me three of these things.

#15 - De Choto

If you want something for free, ask for de choto, or free of charge.
Example: ¿Puedo tener esta de choto? - Can I have this for free?

#16 - Pisto

One of the many Salvadoran slang words is pisto, a way to say “money”, heard most often on the streets.
Example: ¿Tienes alguna pisto? - Do you have any money?

#17 - Pupusas

A Salvadoran dish served in corn tortillas and consisting of cheese, beans, meat, and other delicious ingredients are called pupusas. This dish has become the epitome of the Salvadoran kitchen, and the name for it is even used as "tortillas" in Salvadoran slang.
Example: ¡Dos pupusas por favor! - Two tortillas, please!

#18 - Vea

If you want to emphasize your words with a “for real” exclamation, use vea. When you’re traveling to El Salvador, you will most probably hear it yourself since it’s a very popular Salvadoran phrase.
Example: Vea, ¡es verdad! - For real, it's true!

#19 - Esta Yuca

Esta yuca is a phrase used by many in El Salvador, exuding how hard something might be. Salvadorans use this term in reference to their jobs, running errands, or playing sports.
Example: El camino esta yuca. - The path is hard.

#20 - Salu

Last but not least, comes our "goodbye" in Salvadoran slang.
Example: Salu, te extrañaré. - Goodbye, I’ll miss you.

Final Thoughts

Remember, this is not an exhaustive list, so once you’re in El Salvador, you might scratch your head and think, “What does that mean?”. Don’t be afraid to ask the locals and stay curious, because that’s the best way to learn about any culture. If you’re still new to Spanish, consider taking an online Spanish class before your trip.

We hope your vacation in El Salvador will be full of adventures and new friends with which you will exercise your Spanish. Don’t forget to bookmark this list of Salvadoran slang words, in case you forget some.