what does it mean when a mexican says essay

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90+ Mexican Slang Words and Expressions (with Audio and Examples)

Looking to have a huge head start when you travel to Mexico?

You’ve gotta learn the slang.

In this post, I’m going to give you a brief introduction to the country’s unique version of Spanish—and by the time we’re done, you’ll be better prepared to navigate a slang-filled conversation with Mexicans!

The Most Common Mexican Slang Words and Expressions

1. ¡qué padre — cool, 2. me vale madre — i don’t care, 3. poca madre — really cool, 4. fresa — preppy.

• 5. ¡Aguas! — Watch out!

6. En el bote — In jail

7. estar crudo — to be hungover, 8. ¡a huevo — **** yeah, 9. chilango — someone from mexico city, 10. te crees muy muy — you think you’re something special, 11. ese — dude, 12. metiche — busybody, 13. pocho / pocha — a mexican who’s left mexico, 14. naco — tacky, 15. cholo — mexican gangster, 16. güey — dude, 17. carnal  — close friend, 18. ¿neta — really.

• 19. Eso que ni que — I agree

20. Ahorita — Right now

21. ni modo — whatever, 22. no hay tos — no problem, 23. sale — okay, sure, 24. coda / codo — someone who’s cheap, 25. tener feria — to have money/change, 26. buena onda — good vibes, 27. ¿qué onda — what’s up, 28. ¡viva méxico — long live mexico.

• 29. Pendejo — Jerk
• 30. Cabrón — Mean, not very smart, awesome
• 31. Pedo — Drunk, problem
• 32. Pinche — Ugly, cheap

33. Verga — Male genitalia

34. chingar — to f***, 35. ¡no manches / ¡no mames — no way, don’t mess with me, 36. está cañón — difficult, 37. chido — nice, cool, 38. chulo / chula — good-looking person, 39. ¿a poco — really, 40. ¡órale — right on, 41. chela — beer, 42. la tira — the cops, 43. ¿mande — what, 44. suave — cool, 45. gacho — mean, 46. ándale — hurry up, 47. chale — give me a break, 48. chamba / chambear — work, 49. bronca — problem, 50. paro — favor, 51. chido / chida — cool, 52. padre — awesome, 53. chingón — badass, 54. chamba — job, 55. vato — guy, 56. morro — kid, 57. jefa / jefe — mom/dad, 58. vieja / viejo — girlfriend, wife/boyfriend, husband, 59. carnalito — little brother, 60. chiquitín — little one, 61. chavito / chavita — young guy/young girl, 62. camión — bus, 63. chulear — to show off, 64. chingar — to bother, 65. estrenar — to wear or use something for the first time, 66. guacala — yuck, 67. huevón — lazy person, 68. jato — car, 69. mamacita — attractive woman, 70. pisto — money, 71. ¿que pex — what’s up, 72. rola — song, 73. ¿sapbe — what’s up , 74. valedor — friend, 75. vato loco — crazy guy, 76. wacha — look / watch, 77. ¡ya nos cargó el payaso — we’re in trouble, 78. cuate — buddy, 79. jeta — face, 80. madrazo — a strong hit, 81. nalga — buttocks, 82. ñero — dark-skinned person, 83. pacheco — drunk, 84. pirata — fake, 85. relajo — mess, 86. riata — belt, 87. sobres — okay, got it, 88. tapado — conceited, 89. troca — truck, 90. zarape — blanket or shawl, what you need to know about mexican spanish, resources for learning more mexican slang, quick guide to mexican slang, na’atik language and culture institute, why you should learn mexican slang, mexican slang quiz: test yourself, and one more thing….

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Mexican slang could be a language of its own. 

Just a word of warning: some terms on this list may be considered rude and should be used with caution.

This phrase’s literal translation, “How father!”, doesn’t make much sense at all, but it can be understood to mean “cool!” or “awesome!”  

¡Conseguí entradas para Daddy Yankee! (I got tickets for Daddy Yankee!)

¡ Qué padre , güey! (Awesome, dude!)

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This phrase is used to say “I don’t care.”  It’s not quite a curse, but it can be considered offensive in more formal situations.

If used with the word que  (that), remember you need to use the subjunctive . 

Me vale madre lo que haga con su vida. (I don’t care what he does with his life).

Literally translated as “little mother,” this phrase is used to describe something really cool.

Once again, this phrase can be considered offensive (and is mostly used among groups of young men).

Esta canción está poca madre . (This song is really cool).

Literally a “strawberry,” a fresa is not something you want to be.

Somewhat similar to the word “preppy” in the United States , a fresa is a young person from a wealthy family who’s self-centered, superficial and materialistic.

Ella es una fresa. (She’s preppy/rich/stuck up).

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5. ¡Aguas! —  Watch out!

This phrase is used throughout Mexico to mean “be careful!” or “look out!”

Literally meaning “waters,” it’s possible that this usage evolved from housewives throwing buckets of water to clean the sidewalks in front of their homes.

¡Aguas!  El piso está mojado. (Be careful! The floor’s wet).

The word  bote  means “can” (as in a can of soda).

However, when a Mexican says someone is  “en el bote,”  they mean someone is  “in the slammer,” “in jail.”

Adrián no puede venir, ¡está en el bote ! (Adrian can’t come, he’s in jail!)

Estar crudo  means “to be raw,” as in food that hasn’t been cooked.

However, if someone in Mexico tells you they’re crudo, it means they’re hungover because they’ve drunk too much alcohol. 

Estoy muy crudo hoy. (I’m really hungover today).

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Huevos (eggs) are often used to denote a specific part of the male anatomy —you can probably guess which—and they’re also used in a wide variety of slang phrases.

¡A huevo! is a  vulgar way to show excitement or approval. Think “eff yeah!” without the self-censorship.

¡Ganamos el partido! (We won the game!)

¡A huevo! Me alegra. (**** yeah! I’m glad)

This slang term means something, usually a person, who comes from Mexico City.

Calling someone a chilango is saying that they’re representative of the culture of the city.

¿Eres chilango ? (Are you from Mexico City?)

This literally means “you think you’re very very” but the slang meaning is more of “you think you’re something special,”  or “you think you’re all that.”

Often, this is used to power down someone who’s boastful or thinks they’re better than anyone else.

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Te crees muy muy desde que conseguiste ese trabajo. (You think you’re all that since you got that job).

Supposedly, in the 1960s members of a Mexican gang called the Sureños  (“Southerners”) used to call each other “ese” (after the first letter of the gang’s name). 

However, in the ’80s, the word ese  started to be used to refer to men in general, meaning something like “dude” or “dawg”.

It’s also possible  ese  originated from expressions like  ese vato (“that guy”), and from that, the word  ese started to be used to refer to a man.

“¿Qué pedo, ese ?” “What up, dawg?”

Metiche is a slang word for someone who loves to get the scoop on everyone’s everything. 

Some people would refer to this sort of person as a busybody!

¿De qué hablaste con tu amiga? (What did you talk about with your friend?)

Nada, ¡no seas tan metiche ! (Nothing, don’t be such a busybody!)

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This Mexican slang term refers to a Mexican who’s left Mexico or someone who’s perhaps forgotten their Mexican roots or heritage.

It can be used as just an observatory expression, but also as a derogatory slang word used to point out that someone’s at fault for not remembering their heritage.

Mis primos pochos vienen a visitar este fin de semana. (My  pocho cousins are coming to visit this weekend).

Naco is a word used to describe  someone or something poorly educated and bad-mannered.

The closest American equivalent would be “tacky” or “ghetto.”

The word has its origins in insulting indigenous and poor people, so be careful with this word!

Me parece un poco naco . (It seems a bit tacky).

Although the word  cholo  can have several meanings, it often refers to Mexican gangsters, especially Mexican American teens and youngsters who are in a street gang.

Vi unos cholos en la esquina. (I saw some gang members on the corner).

This one is pronounced like the English word “way” and it’s one of the most quintessential Mexican slang words.

Originally used to mean “a stupid person,” the word eventually morphed into a term of endearment similar to the English “dude.”

¡Apúrate, güey ! (Hurry up, dude!)

Carnal  comes from Spanish  carne  (meat).

It’s perhaps for this reason that carnal  is used to describe a close friend who’s like a sibling to you, carne de tu carne  or flesh of your flesh. 

Allí está mi carnala Laura . (There’s my close friend Laura).

“Truth?” or “really?” is what someone’s saying when they use this little word.

This popular conversational interjection is used to fill a lull in the chatter or to give someone the opportunity to come clean on an exaggeration.

Oftentimes, though, it’s just said to express agreement with the last comment in a conversation  or to clarify something. 

¿ Neta ? Pero ¿qué pasó? (Really? But what happened?)

19. Eso que ni que —  I agree

Don’t try to translate this literally—just know that this convenient phrase means that you’re in agreement with whatever’s being discussed. 

Es muy bueno para bailar. (He’s really good at dancing).

Sí, baila mejor que todos, eso que ni que . (Yes, he dances better than everyone, no doubt about it).

This translates as “little now” but the small word means right now, or at this very moment.

¡Tenemos que irnos ahorita ! (We have to leave right now!)

Ni modo , which can be literally translated as “not way” or “either way,” is possibly one of the most popular Mexican expressions. 

It’s generally used to say “eh, whatever” or “it is what it is.”

Ni modo  can also be used with  que  (that) and a present subjunctive to say you can’t do something at the moment or there’s no way you’d do it.

It’s like saying “there’s no way” or “are you nuts?” in English.

Ni modo , hay mejores chicas/chicos en el mundo. (Oh well, there are better girls/guys in the world)

Ni modo que conteste, güey. (There’s no way I’m answering, man).

No hay tos  literally means “there’s no cough,” but it’s used to say “no problem” or “don’t worry about it.”

Lo siento, me olvidé mi billetera. ¿Tienes plata? (Sorry, I forgot my wallet. Do you have cash?)

No, pero no hay tos , comamos en la casa. (No, but no problem, let’s eat at home).

Sale  means “okay,” “sure,” “yeah” or “let’s do it,”  so it’s normally used in situations when someone suggests doing something and you agree.

It can also be used as a question tag when you want someone’s opinion or to see if they’re on the same page as you.

¿Vamos al concierto? (Shall we go to the concert?)

Sale , pero tendrás que prestarme lana. (Sure, but you’ll have to lend me some money.)

Codo literally means “elbow” in English but Mexican slang has turned it into a term used to describe someone who’s cheap.

It can be applied to either gender, so pay attention to the -a or -o ending of this descriptive noun.

¡Ese codo ni pagó la cena! (That cheapskate didn’t even pay for dinner!)

Feria means “fair” so the literal translation of this expression is “to have or be fair.”

However, feria also refers to coins when it’s used in Mexico. So, the phrase basically means “to have money” or “to have pocket change.”

¿Tienes feria ? (Do you have money?).

Buena onda literally translates to “good wave” but it’s used to indicate that there are good vibes or a good energy present.

Tienes buena onda . (You give off good vibes). 

This slangy Mexican expression translates to “what wave?” but is a cool way to ask “what’s up?”

It’s another feel-good, casual conversational expression that really adds a lot of good feelings to any chat.

¿ Qué onda ? ¿Cómo has estado? (What’s up? How have you been?)

¡Viva México! literally means “long live Mexico!”

It’s the unifying phrase that says the country should grow, prosper and see happy times for its citizens and visitors.

It’s often shortened to “¡viva!” which means the same as the full phrase .

¡Ganamos el mundial! ¡ Viva México ! (We won the world cup! Long live Mexico!)

29. P endejo — Jerk

Pendejo is one of those magical words that appear in almost every Spanish variety but have a different meaning depending on where you are.

In Mexico, it has a rather rude meaning: “unpleasant or stupid person,” “jerk.”

No me hables, pendejo . (Don’t talk to me, jerk).

30. C abrón — Mean, not very smart, awesome

While technically cabrón means “big [male] goat,” it has plenty of other meanings.

Used as a rude word its meaning is quite similar to pendejo, but cabrón  is higher in the rudeness scale: meaning unpleasant, mean or not very bright.

But change the tone a bit and you might, instead, be saying someone is  awesome!

The word can even be used in place of the f-bomb, very often following bien— very, to mean you’re really awesome at doing something.

Soy bien cabrón jugando a Minecraft. (I’m friggin’ awesome at playing Minecraft).

31. P edo — Drunk, problem

A  pedo  is a fart, literally. 

This word has lots of different meanings, depending on how you say it and the situation:

• Estar pedo — to be drunk
• Peda — drinking session
• Ser buen pedo — to give off good vibes
• Ser mal pedo — to be unfriendly or hostile
• ¿Qué pedo? — what’s up?
• Pedo  — problem or argument
• Ponerse al pedo — to want a fight, or to have an attitude of defiance
• ¿Qué pedo contigo, cabrón? (What’s your problem, man?)

Here’s Mexican actress Salma Hayek explaining qué pedo  and other Mexican slang:

32. P inche — Ugly, cheap

The word  pinche  may sound quite unproblematic for many Spanish speakers because it literally means “kitchen helper.”

However, when in Mexico, this word goes rogue and acquires a couple of interesting meanings.

It can mean “ugly,” “substandard,” “poor” or “cheap,” but it can also be used as an a ll-purpose enhancer, much like the meaner cousin of “hecking” is used in English.

Eres un pinche loco . (You’re effing crazy).

Originally, the  verga  was the horizontal beam from which a ship’s sails were hung, but this word has come to mean a man’s schlong in Spanish nowadays.

You can also use this word as a standalone exclamation with the meaning of the f-bomb. 

Here are a few more uses of the word:

• Creerse verga — to think you’re all that
• Valer verga — to be worthless
• Irse a la verga — a “lovely” way of telling someone to eff off
• Tus palabras me valen verga . (Your words mean nothing to me).

Chingar  means “to do the deed.” It’s Mexico’s version of the f-word. Simple. 

Chingar is a word that’s prevalent in Mexican culture in its various forms and meanings. 

¡Deja de chingar ! (Stop f***ing around!)

These two phrases are essentially one and the same, hence why they’re grouped together.

Literally meaning “don’t stain!” and “don’t suck,” these are used to say  “no way! You’re kidding me!” or  “don’t mess with me!”

No manches is totally benign, but no mames is considered vulgar and can potentially be offensive.

¡No manches!   ¿Pensé que habían terminado? (No way! I thought they had broken up?)

Here are actors Eva Longoria and Michael Peña explaining  no manches  and other Mexican slang words:

When you say that something is está cañón  (literally, “it’s cannon”), you’re saying “it’s hard/difficult.”

Some believe that the phrase arose as a more polite euphemism for está cabrón.

As a Spaniard, I find this meaning quite funny, because  estar cañón  means “to be very attractive” in Castilian Spanish.

El examen estuvo bien cañón . (The exam was very difficult).

This word is simply a fun way to say “nice” or “cool” in Mexican Spanish.

Despite its status as slang, it’s not vulgar or offensive in the least—so have fun with it!

It can be used as both a standalone exclamation (¡qué chido! — cool!) or as an adjective.

Tienes un carro bien chido. (You have a really cool car). 

When it comes to Mexico, chulo  is used as an adjective to refer to people you find hot, good-looking or pretty.

You can also use it to refer to things with the meaning of “cute,” however if you travel to Spain, don’t use this word to refer to people—since a chulo  is “a pimp.” 

¿Viste ese chulo en la panadería? (Did you see that hot guy in the bakery?)

There’s no way to translate this one literally, it just comes back as nonsense. Mexicans, however, use it to say “really?” when they’re feeling incredulous.

Ale dijo que ganó la lotería! (Alex said that he won the lottery!)

¿ A poco ? ¿Lo crees? (Really? Do you believe him?)

This exclamation basically means “right on!” or in some situations is used as a message of approval like “let’s do it!”

Órale is another Mexican slang word that’s considered inoffensive and is appropriate for almost any social situation. 

It can be said quickly and excitedly or offered up with a long, drawn-out “o” sound.

Creo que te puedo ganar. (I think I can beat you). 

¡Órale! A ver. (Bring it on! Let’s see).

Simple enough, chela is a Mexican slang word for  beer.

In other parts of Latin America, chela is a woman who’s blond (usually with fair skin and blue eyes).

No one is quite sure if there’s a link between the two, and it seems unclear how the word came to mean “beer” in the first place.

¿Quieres tomar unas chelas ? (Do you want to have a few beers?)

A tira  is a “strip,” but when you use it as a Mexican slang word, you mean  the cops.

¡Aguas! ¡Ahí viene la tira ! (Watch out! The fuzz are coming!)

This is used in Mexico in place of ¿qué? or ¿cómo? to respond when someone says your name.

Luis, ¿estás allí? (Luis, are you there?)

¿ Mande ? ¿Me llamaste? (What? Did you call me?)

Technically, suave  translates to “soft,” but  suave  is a way to say “cool.”

¡Ese mural es suave ! (That mural is cool!)

This literally means “slouch,” but it’s used to say something is mean or ugly . 

Enrique es gacho . (Enrique is mean.)

Andar  means “to walk,” so  ándale  is a shortened version of the verb combined with the suffix “- le ,” a sort of grammatical placeholder that adds no meaning to the word.

Use this to tell someone to hurry up . 

¡ Ándale ! Necesitamos estar ahi a las 8. (Hurry up! We need to be there at 8.)

Chale  doesn’t really have a clear literal translation, but it’s most often used to show your annoyance. 

It’s similar to the English “give me a break.”

Su coche tardará dos semanas en arreglarse. (Your car will take two weeks to fix.)

¡Chale!   (Give me a break!)

Chamba and chambear mean “work”  and “to work,” respectively.

No me gusta mi chamba. (I don’t like my job.)

The word bronca means “problem,” and it’s used in expressions like no hay bronca (“no problem”) and tengo broncotas (“I’m in big trouble”).

Mi familia tiene broncas con mi hermano. (My family has problems with my brother.)

Though the official word for “favor” in Spanish is the cognate favor, paro is another way of referring to a favor in Mexico.

Hazme el paro means “do me a favor.”

Puedes hacerme el  paro ? (Can you do me a favor?)

Though “cool” in Spanish is commonly expressed as genial , chido is a colloquial way of describing something as cool or awesome in Mexican slang.

Esa película estuvo bien chida . (That movie was really cool!)

Similar to chido , padre is another slang term used to convey that something is awesome or great.

¡La fiesta estuvo bien padre ! (The party was really awesome!)

Chingón is an informal term used to describe something or someone as extraordinary, impressive, or badass.

¡Ese tatuaje está bien chingón ! (That tattoo is really badass!)

Chamba is a slang term used to refer to work or a job.

Tengo mucha chamba esta semana . (I have a lot of work this week.)

Vato is a slang term for a guy or dude.

Ese vato es muy amable . (That guy is very friendly.)

Morro is an informal term for a young boy.

Mi hermanito es un buen morro . (My little brother is a good kid.)

Jefa and jefo, which both mean “boss” are just informal terms for “mom” and “dad.”

Mi jefa siempre cocina delicioso . (My mom always cooks deliciously.)

Vieja and viejo , which technically mean “old,” are similar to the English saying of “old man,” referring to a boyfriend, or “old lady,” referring to one’s girlfriend or wife.

Salí con mi vieja al cine . (I went to the movies with my girlfriend.)

Carnalito is a diminutive form of carnal , referring to a younger brother.

Mi carnalito siempre quiere jugar . (My little brother always wants to play.)

Chiquitín is an affectionate term for someone small or younger.

¡Hola, chiquitín ! ¿Cómo estás? (Hi, little one! How are you?)

These are affectionate slang terms for a young man or young woman.

Ese chavito es muy talentoso . (That young guy is very talented.)

Camión which literally means “truck,” is a colloquial term for a bus.

Voy a tomar el camión a la escuela . (I’m going to take the bus to school.)

Chulear  literally means “to pimp,” but in Mexico, it’s a verb used to describe showing off or flaunting something.

Deja de chulear tu nuevo auto . (Stop showing off your new car.)

Here’s a great explanation of  chulear  (in Spanish):

Chingar is a versatile verb with various meanings, but it can be used to express annoyance or bother.

No me chingues , estoy ocupado . (Don’t bother me; I’m busy.)

Estrenar is a verb used when someone wears or uses something for the first time.

Voy a estrenar mis zapatos nuevos hoy .

This expression is an informal way to express disgust or dislike, similar to saying “yuck” in English.

¡ Guacala ! Esta comida no tiene buen sabor . (Yuck! This food doesn’t taste good.)

Used to describe someone who is lazy, this term is derived from the word huevo, meaning “egg,” which is associated with laziness.

Mi amigo es muy huevón , siempre está descansando . (My friend is very lazy, he’s always resting.)

While the standard term for “car” is coche , jato is a slang word used in Mexico to refer to a car or automobile.

Vamos en mi jato al cine esta noche . (Let’s go to the movies in my car tonight.)

Used as a term of endearment, mamacita refers to an attractive or beautiful woman.

¡Ay, mamacita , estás muy guapa hoy! (Oh, beautiful, you look very pretty today!)

This slang term is used to refer to money, similar to saying “cash” in English.

Necesito un poco de pisto para el transporte . (I need some cash for transportation.)

An informal and colloquial way of asking “what’s up?” or “what’s going on?”

¿ Qué pex, cómo estás? (What’s up, how are you?)

Used to refer to a song or piece of music, rola is a common slang term in Mexican Spanish.

Esta rola es mi favorita. (This song is my favorite.)

An alternative and informal way of asking “what’s up?”

Sapbe , nos vemos en el centro . (What’s up, see you downtown.)

Literally meaning “brave,” this slang term simply means “good friend.”

Mi valedor siempre está allí para ayudarme . (My friend is always there to help me.)

Describes someone as a crazy or wild guy, often used in a lighthearted or affectionate manner.

Mi amigo es un vato loco , siempre hace cosas divertidas . (My friend is a crazy guy, always doing funny things.)

Wacha , which is taken from the English “watch,” is an informal and colloquial way of saying “look” or “watch.”

Wacha esa película, está buenísima . (Look at that movie, it’s really good.)

This expression is used to convey that a difficult or troublesome situation has arisen. It literally means “the clown has already killed us.”

Se nos olvidaron las entradas, ya nos cargó el payaso . (We forgot the tickets, we’re in trouble.)

An informal term used to refer to a friend or buddy, indicating camaraderie.

Ese cuate siempre me ayuda cuando lo necesito . (That buddy always helps me when I need it.)

Used to refer to someone’s face, especially when expressing a negative emotion. It’s just like the English “mug.”

No me gusta su jeta , siempre está enojado . (I don’t like his face, he’s always angry.)

This slang term is used to describe a strong hit or punch.

Le di un madrazo al balón y entró en la portería . (I gave the ball a strong hit and it went into the goal.)

This slang term, literally “cheek,” is used informally to refer to this part of the body.

Le dieron un golpe en la nalga . (They gave him a hit on the buttocks.)

Although “dark-skinned person” is a direct translation, ñero is a colloquial term used in some regions to describe someone with a dark complexion. Be careful not to offend with this one.

No importa si eres ñero o güero, todos somos iguales . (It doesn’t matter if you’re dark-skinned or fair-skinned, we are all equal.)

Pacheco is often used in Mexico to describe someone who is intoxicated or inebriated.

No puedo hablar con él cuando está pacheco . (I can’t talk to him when he’s drunk.)

Go deeper into  pacheco  here:

Literally meaning “pirate,” this term is often used in Mexican slang to describe counterfeit or knockoff items.

No compres ese reloj, es pirata . (Don’t buy that watch, it’s fake.)

This literally means “relax,” but in Mexican slang, it means a mess, or a chaotic or disorderly situation.

No quiero más relajo en casa . (I don’t want more mess in the house.)

This slang term for a belt is often used in casual or regional contexts.

Me apreté la riata para que no se me cayera el pantalón . (I tightened the belt so my pants wouldn’t fall.)

Literally meaning “envelopes,” this term means “I got it,” a casual way of expressing understanding or acknowledgment.

—¿Vamos al cine mañana? —¡ Sobres ! (Are we going to the movies tomorrow? – Okay, got it!)

While “covered” is the direct translation, tapado is a slang term used in some regions to describe someone who is arrogant or full of themselves.

No me gusta hablar con él, está muy tapado . (I don’t like talking to him, he’s very conceited.)

Instead of the standard camión , troca is commonly used in Mexico to refer to a pickup truck or a large vehicle.

Vamos a cargar la troca con las cosas para la mudanza . (Let’s load the truck with the things for the move.)

Zarape specifically refers to a colorful Mexican blanket or shawl often used for warmth or decoration.

Me envolví en el zarape porque hacía frío . (I wrapped myself in the blanket because it was cold.)

Check out this video to hear some of these Mexican slang words in context:

Here’s some good things to know about Mexican Spanish:

• In Mexican Spanish, the pronoun t ú is used for the second-person familiar form.  Mexicans don’t use v os . 
• The pronoun vosotros isn’t used in Mexican Spanish. Mexicans use ustedes even in informal settings.
• Mexican Spanish features more loanwords from English than other national dialects.  You will hear a lot more English words in Mexican Spanish than other dialects.

This is a compact volume filled with definitions, example sentences, online links and lots of relevant information about Mexican Spanish.

There are more than 500 words and phrases included in this book. 

“Mexislang” is the end result of a blog that was intended to teach readers about Mexican slang. 

It offers insight into the history of slang expressions  and tips for how to use each word or phrase.

The option to stay with Mexican families to immerse in the language is a great way to learn about culture—including slang!

But if you’re not up for traveling, courses are also available in online one-on-one or small group format.

Online classes focus on grammar and conversational skills, so you’re sure to pick up plenty of slang along the way.

Also, they have a fantastic blog that’s both informative and entertaining.

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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Like with English, Spanish is spoken differently depending on the country—in fact, you could argue that Spanish differs even more than English!

In order to understand and be understood in Mexican Spanish, it’s pretty essential that you learn some common Mexican slang. 

If you’re not convinced, here are some reasons you might want to learn the lingo:

• To avoid awkward situations.  Don’t count on every Spanish word being transferable from place to place—something that is perfectly polite in Spanish from Spain could be considered rude in Mexican Spanish.
• If you’re learning Spanish in the United States. Considering that the States has such a huge Mexican population, chances are that you’ll encounter lots of Mexican Spanish speakers!
• For travel in Mexico.  For both safety reasons and to ensure smooth travels, it’s a good idea to brush up on your slang.
• To sound more fluent.  Of course, learning slang words is one of the surest ways of making your Spanish sound more natural and fluent!

Slang is perfect for instantly turning “program” Spanish into street Spanish.

More importantly, they offer insight into some cultural nuances that language learners don’t always get to see.

Use slangy terms to power up conversations and go from basic to vivid in a heartbeat!

If you've made it this far that means you probably enjoy learning Spanish with engaging material and will then love FluentU .

Other sites use scripted content. FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the Spanish language and culture over time. You’ll learn Spanish as it’s actually spoken by real people.

FluentU has a wide variety of videos, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive transcripts. You can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used. If you see an interesting word you don’t know, you can add it to a vocab list.

Review a complete interactive transcript under the Dialogue tab, and find words and phrases listed under Vocab .

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU’s robust learning engine. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you’re on.

The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you’re learning, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. Every learner has a truly personalized experience, even if they’re learning with the same video.

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20 Mexican Slang Terms That Are Funny as Hell

Mexicans are known for our food, music, incredible beaches, rich traditions, and beautiful history. But when it comes to our culture, one of the things I love the most is our colorful colloquialisms. It doesn't take much time around Mexican-Americans to notice that there is a whole different set of terminology on top of the already beautiful and rich traditions that make up Mexican cultura . Like most Latin American countries, a lot of our terms and slang come from observing nature and Indigenous languages. And similar to Dominican and Puerto Rican slang , Mexicans love to play on words.

We say things like "buena onda," which means "good deep" but also describes someone easygoing and cool. We say things are "gacho" when they're bad and "chafa" when something is of bad quality. Not to mention, there are way too many terms that have to do with farts and sex organs. Here are 20 Mexican slang words that you may have heard and should definitely know.

Mexican Slang Word: Mames

What it means: "Mamar" means "to suck." "No mames" is generally a response, like "stop messing around," "stop messing with me," and "quit bullsh*tting."

In a sentence: "My friend told me she's dating J Lo. I told her, '¡No mames!'"

Mexican Slang Word: Pedo

What it means: Pedo translates to "what fart." It's a way of saying "no way," "what's up?" or "what's the problem?" You can also jazz it up by saying "puro pedo," or "pure farts." It means "you're full of sh*t" or "you're lying."

In a sentence: "Why are you giving me attitude? Que pedo?"

Mexican Slang Word: Cabron

What it means: Technically a cabron is a male goat. It can also mean "assh*le" and "dumb*ss." But when Mexicans say that a situation is a male goat, they typically mean that it's difficult or "that sucks."

In a sentence: "Comadre my sister is getting evicted."

"No pos wow, esta cabron."

Mexican Slang Word: Ahuevo

What it means: "Huevo" means "egg" or "testicle" depending on the context. You're basically saying "egg/balls" as a way of saying "hell yeah," "of course," or "for sure." It can also be used as a way of expressing you're being forced to do something.

In a sentence: "The medicine was gross but I had to take it. ¡Ahuevo!"

Mexican Slang Word: Órale

What It means: "Órale" is a way of expressing many emotions. It can be celebratory. It can indicate surprise or discomfort. It can be used as encouragement or as in "hurry up." It can also be used to agree with someone.

In a sentence: "¡Órale mija! I've been waiting for 15 minutes."

Mexican Slang Word: Pendejo/a

What it means: Stupid person.

In a sentence: "¡Eso es lo que te pasa por pendeja!"

Mexican Slang Word: Güey

What it means: "Güey" literally means "ox" or "slow and stupid." But it's basically Mexico's version of "dude."

In a sentence: "Ese güey me cae gordo."

Mexican Slang Word: Morra/o

What It means: "Morro/a" can mean "buddy" or "dude," or it may refer to a small child.

In a sentence: "Me gusta la camisa que trae esa morra."

Mexican Slang Word: Cruda/o

What it means: "Crudo/a" means "raw." It also means "hungover."

In a sentence: "I only had three drinks last night. ¡Me siento bien cruda!"

Mexican Slang Word: Aguas

What it means: It literally translates to "waters" but is often used to mean "watch out" or "be careful."

In a sentence: "¡Aguas! Don't fall down."

Mexican Slang Word: Chiflado/a

What it means: "Chiflar" means "to whistle." A chiflado is someone who is always calling attention to themselves by showing off, bragging, or being conceited.

In a sentence: "No quiero salir con Rudy, es bien chiflado el güey."

Mexican Slang Word: Fresa

What it means: Strawberry, but also a rich, spoiled girl/child.

In a sentence: "¿Qué quiere la niña fresa?"

Mexican Slang Word: Neta

What it means: "Seriously," "real talk," or "the truth is."

In a sentence: "La neta, I don't like exercising. Let's go eat!"

Mexican Slang Word: Padre

What it means: It means father but also means cool.

In a sentence: "Gas esta carsimo, que padre que vivo cerca del centro commercial."

Mexican Slang Word: Chorro

What it means: "Chorro" refers to a jet of water. It can mean "a lot," "a ton," or "a bunch."

In a sentence: "Ese morro me gusta un chorro."

Mexican Slang Word: Pinche

What it means: It can mean "damned," "sh*tty," or "f*cking."

In a sentence: "¡No encuentro mis pinches llaves!"

Mexican Slang Word: Chula/o

What it means: Cute, pretty, or attractive.

In a sentence: "Te ves bien chula."

Mexican Slang Word: Chamba

What it means: Job or work.

In a sentence: "Ya me voy a poner a chambear."

Mexican Slang Word: Gacho

What it means: "Gacho" can mean "awful," "bad," "ugly," or "mean," depending on the context.

In a sentence: "¡No seas gacho!"

Mexican Slang Word: Me Vale Verga

What it means: "Verga" refers to the male genitalia. "Me vale" means "it's worth to me." "It's worth d*ck" is a way of saying "I don't care" or "I don't give a damn."

In a sentence: "Me vale verga si no quieres salir. ¡Nos llama la calle!"

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Neta no vas a leer este artículo? La neta te conviene. Are you really not going to read this article? Honestly, you better!

Neta no. Neta sí. Es neta. Dime la neta. 

Neta is one of the most common slang words in Mexico. Its origin traces back to the Spanish word “neto,” meaning “net” or “clear.” Over time, “neto” evolved into “neta,” and it was adopted as a fundamental part of Mexican Spanish. Today, the word has different meanings, including truth, honesty, authenticity, coolness and sincerity. It serves as a linguistic tool for expressing agreement, affirmation, or emphasis, depending on the context.

–”¿Es cierto que van a cerrar la tienda?” (Is it true that the store is closing?)

–”Sí, es neta. La dueña ya lo confirmó.” (Yes, it’s true. The owner already confirmed it.)

–”¿Confías en él?” (Do you trust him?)

–”¡Sí, ese wey es súper neta.” (Yeah, that dude is super legit.)

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Mexico News Daily (@mexiconewsdaily)

Example 3: 

–¿Te cae bien? (Do you like her?)

–¡Sí, ella es la neta! (Yes, she is super cool!) 

In these examples, “neta” is used to affirm the truthfulness of a statement or to emphasize the authenticity, honesty of a person. It adds a layer of sincerity and certainty to the conversation, making it a powerful tool for effective communication in Mexican Spanish.

Example 4: 

–Supiste que Karla ya no va a ir al viaje? (Did you know that Karla is ditching the trip?) 

¿Es neta?, ¿por? (Are you serious? why?) 

–La neta ni idea (I really I don’t know) 

Whether used to express agreement, confirm information, or convey sincerity, when you hear the word “neta,” know that the truth is being spoken in the most authentic way possible.

Paulina Gerez is a translator-interpreter, content creator, and founder of Crack The Code, a series of online courses focused on languages. Through her social media, she helps people see learning a language from another perspective through her fun experiences. Instagram: paulinagerezm / Tiktok: paugerez3 / YT: paulina gerez

Breeze through your virtual meetings with these Spanish phrases

MND Where to Live in Mexico 2024 Guide: Pacific Trio

When my husband and I decided to retire, we devised a plan. We wanted to rent out our home in California and visit the UNESCO World Heritage city of Guanajuato.

We planned on staying in the city for just six months, but 20 years later, we now live in Mexico as expats part time.

Even though my husband and I have been living in Mexico part time for two decades years, I'm still surprised at how different the culture is compared to the American culture I have lived in all my life.

The biggest cultural differences are always in the way we communicate.

People in Mexico tend to be more indirect

I found Americans to be very direct. In Mexico, however, if I speak bluntly and to the point, it can be misinterpreted as rude and offensive since it clashes with a more diplomatic communication style. The priority, as in other Latin countries , is to preserve harmony.

To avoid conflict or confrontation, the Mexicans I met rarely say "no" directly but rather speak in a roundabout way to convey their message. If asked a "yes" or "no" question, they might meander around inconclusively before reaching a vague answer like: "Let me think about it."

For example, in my yoga class , one member coordinates a monthly breakfast. A few weeks ago, I chuckled when I read the message she wrote to the group. She took 160 words to basically say, "We need to decide where to have breakfast this month."

It's different from my minimalist English style .

For some Mexicans, lateness is acceptable

As an American, I have noticed some Mexicans have a casual attitude toward time, which can be frustrating.

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Recently, for example, I had an appointment with the director of a nonprofit to discuss updating the agency's newsletter. Before arriving at her office , I was already flustered because her directions had been ambiguous — at best — and in Guanajuato's nonlinear streets, house numbers aren't consecutive.

When I finally arrived, her staff told me she was out of the office and would be back ahorita, which means "soonish."

Instead of recognizing that she was late only by my definition, not hers, I started to feel unimportant and ignored. When she showed up half an hour later, I felt less confident in my Spanish. While I'm fluent in the language, my conversational ease still fluctuates depending on different circumstances, and that day, it wasn't as strong as usual. I left feeling very deflated.

My takeaway is not to take lateness personally in Mexico.

Cheeky jokes are the norm

The Mexicans I met like to tease each other, give friends cheesy nicknames, and make jokes about things that in the US would be inappropriate.

For example, at a concert I attended, one of the musicians referred to another as gordito, meaning plump. I can't imagine a performer joking about someone's weight in the US — and never in front of an audience.

Personal space and alone time isn't important to most Mexican people

In Guanajuato — the city in central Mexico where we live — there are many festivities with crowds, and as a gringa, I still find all the jostling and physical contact with strangers unsettling at times.

A few years ago, our 25-year-old Spanish tutor told my British husband Barry that after her sister married, she would have a room to herself for the first time. He could think of nothing better.

"Isn't that wonderful?" he said.

"Oh, no," she said. "I'll be lonely."

Their respective reactions reflected very different cultural values .

Most Mexicans I meet appreciate simple courtesies

When we first bought our home, I didn't realize how important courtesy is in Mexico. Thankfully, I have since softened and, in fact, have grown very fond of the gentle niceties many Mexicans use.

If, for example, I'm asking directions or entering a shop, I know to first say Buenos días or Buenos tardes . Similarly, I always greet the driver and my fellow passengers when getting on a bus. When leaving a restaurant, I'm sure to say, as many Mexicans do, Buen provecho (meaning bon appetit ) to the remaining diners.

Some courtesies make me laugh. If a person walks down the street in Mexico and sneezes, complete strangers from a block away will exclaim, Salud!, which means "good health" but also "cheers."

After almost 20 years of living in Guanajuato, I'm still discovering quirky-to-me aspects of Mexican communication. The unexpected twists in the way Mexicans express themselves occasionally confuse me, but they are mostly a source of laughter and pleasure.

Watch: How firearms smuggling actually works, according to a weapons specialist

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24 Spanish Slang Terms Commonly Used By Native Speakers

• Read time 13 mins

Sounding like a fluent Spanish speaker requires a mastery of Spanish verbs , a wide Spanish vocabulary and, believe it or not, a little bit of slang!

Although they don’t always teach you the full range of colloquial terms in Spanish classes and schools, slang words and phrases are a staple of social interactions and are used abundantly in conversations between friends.

You might therefore be feeling a bit like an outsider among native speakers if you’re just getting used to Spanish slang, but ¡no te preocupes!

With this list of commonly used Spanish slang words and phrases you’ll soon be able to catch some of the quirkier expressions, slang phrases and colloquialisms that are used by the natives.

Why is Spanish slang important and when should it be used?

Spanish slang is important for various reasons.

Not only does using certain phrases help you sound like a native Spanish speaker, you will be able to fully immerse yourself in informal dialogues and understand the more subtle, nuanced meanings of conversations between friends.

Because, just like Spanish greetings , context is key and dictates how you should speak with others, you should always be aware of who you are speaking to and who else might be present when using Spanish slang.

After all, you wouldn’t address your boss or in-laws with the word ‘mate’, would you? 😊

A good friend might use a range of slang terms when they speak to you because they are familiar with you. You’re their tío / tía (in this context, good friend/dude), and the context is informal. They know that you’ll completely understand their intended meaning because they’ve known you for a very long time.

Native speakers reserve their Spanish slang for the right conversations and the right people, and that’s exactly what you should do as well.

Now you know why Spanish slang is important, here is our list of Spanish slang words, phrases and colloquial expressions that you’ll frequently hear from native Spanish speakers.

Take a look — which ones have you heard recently?

Spanish slang phrases that have negative connotations (and insults)

Sometimes you’ll need a slang word that conveys a negative meaning, or to express how annoyed something has made you feel. These are some of the common colloquial Spanish words and phrases that have a negative connotation behind them.

They might help you vent your frustration, but always consider the context in which you use them!

Ser un pijo/ser una pija (to be a brat/spoiled)

This slang phrase is used by Spaniards when referring to a ‘posh’, ‘snobby’ person who might have inherited a lot of money and gained their wealth without working very hard. When using this slang term, be careful!

In some Spanish speaking countries un pijo can mean ‘penis’. 🤣

Usage example:

Que no seas una pija. No te comprare nada mas.

Ser cutre (to be stingy)

The Spanish slang term cutre refers to someone who supposedly never has any money.

They are ‘stingy’ when it comes to covering the tab, so you can bet that a person who is cutre will never offer to pay for a round of drinks.

Nunca me ha regalado nada en toda mi vida. Es que, es tan cutre.

Joder (shit, f**k)

This slang term is also a palabrota or swear word , which has a range of meanings. Commonly exclaimed when someone wants to express their annoyance or disapproval, joder is a word that you’ll frequently hear in Spanish movies.

If your friend says it, you’ll know they’re irritated, upset or angry.

¡Joder! El Barca ha perdido el partido. ¿Pero, como es posible?

Es una cotilla (he’s/she’s a busybody, a snooper)

This Spanish slang phrase is an epithet used to describe someone who gossips a lot or knows too much about other people’s lives.

Chances are, if you’re in Spain, you’ll probably have a vecino (neighbour), who is a typical cotilla .

Mi vecina es una cotilla. Está siempre escuchando los escándalos de la gente.

Caray/caramba (damn)

We use the Spanish slang term caray , which is short for caramba , when we’re shocked, annoyed or appalled by something unjust that might have happened.

If someone is constantly nagging or nitpicking, and you feel frustrated by it, you might use this term to express how annoyed you are.

¡Cállate mujer, caray! Que no seas una cotilla. Siempre hablas demasiado.

Estar en la luna (absent-minded)

Though this Spanish slang term literally means ‘to be at the moon’, we use it to describe someone who is figuratively a million miles away or ‘absent-minded’.

If you’re en la luna , it means you are not focused or concentrating at that moment.

Pero, estáis en la luna hoy. No me estáis escuchando.

Tirar la toalla (concede/surrender)

This Spanish slang phrase might bring to mind the English expression ‘throw in the towel’, as the Spanish noun toalla translates as ‘towel’.

As with the English phrase, it means that you plan to abandon a difficult task or to admit you’ve been beaten by an impossible challenge.

Es la hora de tirar la toalla. No me puedes vencer ahora.

Me cae mal/me cae gordo (he/she annoys me)

We use this Spanish phrase to describe someone who has given you a bad impression of themselves — or to refer to someone who annoys you.

The phrase me cae gordo similarly conveys this meaning, and can also refer to the bad gut feeling or intuition a person gave you.

Este tío me cae mal. Es muy presumido y arrogante. No sabe cuando callarse.

Spanish slang phrases that have positive connotations

There are so many occasions where you’ll need to express your respect for someone, to address your group of friends with a positive or inclusive phrase, or use a term that shows how much you admire them.

Check out these Spanish slang terms that connote positivity or admiration.

Ser mono/ser mona/eres tan mono (to be adorable, cute)

Don’t get confused by this Spanish slang phrase — while mono translates as ‘monkey’, when used with the verb ser its meaning changes.

We use the colloquial adjective ser mono / mona to refer to someone who is cute or adorable.

Mira, ¡eres tan mono y precioso que no tengo palabras!

Molar/cómo mola (cool)

This common Spanish word is heard everywhere in Spain! Used in a similar way to the phrase que guay , something described with the word molar is ‘awesome’ or ‘cool’.

Este coche es muy grande. Tiene mucho espacio. ¡Cómo mola!

Guay (cool)

Guay is another Spanish slang term for ‘cool’. With young people using it frequently, you’ll hear it everywhere in Spain.

Like the word mola , it’s a common word that can be used to compliment a situation or express admiration for someone on account of how amazing they are.

Que guay, tío. Me alegro que estéis mas felices que antes.

Tío/tía (dude, chico, chica)

In Spain, you’ll hear young people referring to their friends as tío / tía all the time.

A direct translation would give you the word ‘uncle’ or ‘aunty’, but among friends it means ‘dude’ or ‘mate’.

¡Has comprado una casa! Pues, que guay, ¡tío!

Chaval/chavala/chavales (guys)

There are many meanings to this Spanish slang term. The phrase ser un chaval refers to someone who is young in terms of their attitude.

It has connotations of being inexperienced or naïve, but it’s also a colloquial term used between friends meaning ‘dude’ or ‘guys’.

¿Que pasa chavales? ¿Ya estáis cenando? Llegare dentro de cinco minutos.

Qué chulo/chula (how cool, how stylish)

If something is described as chulo / chula , we mean that object is cool, stylish or amazing.

It’s a compliment, so you can use this slang phrase to express how much you like your friend’s new iPhone or their new car.

¡Tienes botas muy chulas! ¡Que envidia!

Hincar los codos/voy a hincar los codos (to study a lot)

Have you pulled an all-nighter before an all-important exam? The Spanish slang phrase you’ll need to convey just that is hincar los codos .

It means ‘study hard’ and might bring to mind the English expressions ‘put some elbow grease into it’ or ‘roll your sleeves up’ because your codos are your elbows in English.

Quiere aprobar el examen de ciencias. Tiene que hincar los codos.

Es la leche (it’s awesome/amazing)

It’s easy to get confused by the many Spanish terms that feature the word leche or milk. A person might be in a bad mood, in which case you might say está de mala leche. But in this context, the slang term es la leche refers to how amazing something is.

That really cool book you finished reading last week — if it was fantastic and resonated with you, you might describe it as la leche .

Hombre, esta peli es la leche. A mi me gustó un montón.

Spanish slang terms for amazement, shock or disgust

If something has stunned you silent and you just don’t know how to express your feelings, these Spanish slang words might describe the situation perfectly.

Take a look at these colloquial expressions that are frequently used by native Spanish speakers when there simply are no ideal words.

Hostia/la hostia (wow, no way!)

Though the word hostia is literally the Spanish term for the wafer given to you during communion, it also means ‘my God!’ and is commonly used to express shock or complete surprise caused by something or someone.

¡Hostia! Que barbaridad, los politcos siempre son corruptos.

Ostras (wow, oh my!)

If you’re looking for a way to express your shock and surprise in a ‘non-blasphemous’ way, the Spanish slang term ostras is one option.

It is the same as exclaiming hostia , and conveys the same meaning, but is an expression typically used to avoid saying ‘oh my God’.

¡Ostras! Tienes mucho dinero. ¿Que vas a hacer con eso?

Flipar/te vas a flipar (freak out, go nuts)

Flipar is a Spanish slang expression that conveys shock or astonishment. It means ‘go crazy’ and can be used in a range of contexts. You might have discovered that someone is having an affair.

Or perhaps someone you know has suddenly inherited a fortune…

The phrase you’re going to need if you’re going to tell someone about that shocking news is te vas a flipar .

You’re going to freak out… I’m going to marry her!

Estar como una cabra (he’s/she’s nuts)

Though this slang term literally translates to English as ‘to be like a goat’, in Spain we use this phrase to refer to or describe someone who is totally crazy or behaving in a peculiar, silly way!

¿Pero, está borracho? ¡Está como una cabra!

Other frequently used Spanish slang terms

The world of Spanish slang is vast and varied. There are so many colloquial terms that Spaniards use on a daily basis.

We’ve only scratched the surface! Here are a few more that might be of interest to you.

Me piro/pirarse (I’m leaving)

The full phrase sometimes used by Spanish speakers is me piro vampiro . It’s a funny slang term similar to ‘see you later alligator’.

The verb pirarse means ‘to leave’, so if you want to decline an invitation from your friends to go for more drinks later in the evening you can say lo siento, me piro.

No tengo ganas de ir a la fiesta. Lo siento, me piro.

Tomarse el pelo (pulling someone’s leg/having you on)

The literal translation of tomarse el pelo would be ‘pulling my hair’, but this slang term is used when someone is teasing you or making fun of you.

Sin duda, hombre, esa mujer te estaba tomando el pelo. No puede ser que ella tenga 59 años.

Es un lío/liar (it’s a mess/screwed up)

We use the slang term es un lío when we’ve made a mistake or done something wrong.

One example of this could be if someone has an affair, which we would describe by using the verb liarse . If something is un lío we mean it’s a mess.

Es todo un lio. Esta vez, no creo que entienda.

Duro/no tengo un duro (penniless, broke)

Duro is a Spanish slang term that means ‘money’. If you don’t have any, you can say no tengo un duro.

Lo siento, no te puedo comprar la bici. No tengo un duro.

How can you sound like a native when using Spanish slang?

The key to sounding like a native — and to avoid using the wrong Spanish slang term — is not only to consult lists and examples, but to listen to native speakers and actually hear the colloquial terms used in context.

When in doubt, consider how the person speaking to you addresses you and analyse the way they speak.

By listening and taking note of the phrases they use, you’ll soon be able to use them yourself.

Every person is unique, though. You might not use the exact same Spanish slang terms as your friends on every occasion. But having a good knowledge of these common terms is important as it will enhance your understanding.

There are also some excellent Spanish courses and apps that cover slang terms in greater detail.

Did I miss any Spanish slang terms?

Comment below!

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Bruna Misuno Child

Really nice article, thank you! I speak more Latin American Spanish so I didn’t know some of these words. Now I’m going to use both!

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As new real estate agent rule goes into effect, will buyers and sellers see impact?

New rules for the residential real estate market mean that starting Saturday, anyone in the market to buy or sell a home will encounter unfamiliar processes, and possibly a bit of confusion.  

The “practice changes” stem from a 2023 legal decision over the way real estate agents were compensated.   

Traditionally, when a home was sold, a commission of roughly 5% to 6% was paid by the seller and divided between the agents for the buyer and the seller. That structure helped keep commissions higher than they would otherwise be, the lawsuit alleged. It also meant a seller had to pay the agent representing the other side of the deal, a practice many observers thought was inappropriate.  

“So much of the industry doesn’t make sense from a common sense point of view,” said Stephen Brobeck, a senior fellow with the Consumer Federation of America, who’s been advocating for realtor commission changes for decades. “The key argument was it’s just not fair for sellers to pay both the listing agent and the buyer’s agent.” 

Now, a seller will need to decide whether, and how much, to pay a buyer’s broker. Whatever the decision, that information can no longer be included in what’s known as the “multiple listing service” or MLS, the official real estate data service used by local realtor associations.  

Whatever the seller decides about compensation may, however, be communicated personally by phone or text, or advertised by social media, a sign on the lawn, or other informal means.  

Buyers, meanwhile, will be required to sign an agreement with their own broker before starting to view homes. The buyer and the agent must agree, and put in writing, how much the agent can expect to receive from the buyer. 

There's some latitude on what exactly that means. A recent explanation of the rules from the National Association of Realtors says it must be "objective (e.g., $0, X flat fee, X percent, X hourly rate) – and not open-ended (e.g., cannot be 'buyer broker compensation shall be whatever the amount the seller is offering to the buyer')."

“Any time we have the opportunity to have a conversation with the consumer about the value that we bring to the transaction, the services that we’ll be able to give to them in what is likely one of the largest financial transactions of their lives, and that we expect to get paid for it which is entirely negotiable, that’s a good thing,” said National Association of Realtors President Kevin Sears.

The group is a powerful Washington lobby with more than 1.5 million member agents – about 85% of the real estate agents in the country.  

“The more the consumer is educated and empowered, the more conversations we have with consumers, the better off everyone will be,” Sears said.

Many elements of the new practices are familiar to many real estate agents, buyers, and sellers. Many states have long required buyers to sign a broker agreement before starting the process. The rise of alternative brokerage models, such as Redfin, means many homeowners are aware they have options beyond the typical method of paying 3% to a listing agent and 3% to a buyer’s agent.  

But questions about what the changes will mean in practice are stymying agents across the country. What happens if a buyer has the money to compensate her broker up to a certain amount, but falls in love with a home that would cost more than the commission would work out to? On the flip side, what happens if it turns out that the seller of a particular home is also willing to compensate a buyer’s broker?  

Many real estate agents say a process that was meant to bring transparency is just creating more confusion.

“Now a buyer’s agent has to reach out to every listing they’re going to show to figure out what the commission is,” said Aaron Farmer, owner of Texas Discount Realty in Austin.  

In Austin, where a booming pandemic market turned sharply , leading to unsold inventory piling up, Farmer thinks it’s only natural that sellers will want to compensate buyer’s brokers, as a deal sweetener. That may not be the case everywhere, however, and Farmer also worries egos may get in the way of smart business decisions in some transactions.  

Andi DeFelice, owner of Savannah, Georgia-based Exclusive Buyer’s Realty, thinks first-time buyers stand to lose the most from the rule changes. Many who are already strapped for cash may have trouble also coming up with the money for the commission, forcing them to negotiate on their own, she thinks.  

"Don’t force our clients into a situation where they have no representation in the biggest transaction in their lives,” DeFelice said. “If you’ve never done it before, it’s not easy. There are so many steps to buying a house. Do you know a good termite inspector, a good insurance agent, a good lender? There are so many aspects to the transaction.” 

DeFelice says she’s confident the industry will move past what she calls the “hiccup” of the Saturday deadline and adapt relatively quickly, but others expect bigger changes ahead. 

“For consumers, things are not going to change much in the immediate future,” Brobeck told USA TODAY. "But it’s like a dam that’s springing a leak. I’m fairly confident that within five years the industry will look quite different.” 

Farmer, of Texas Discount Realty, agreed.

"I'm already seeing a lot of people saying, 'I’m going to get out of the industry, I don’t want to deal with the changes,'" he said. "The way I’ve always looked at it is if there’s fewer agents, it helps the industry. You could drop commission rates that way and do more volume."

Andrea Riquier covers the housing market.

Watch CBS News

Fact checking DNC 2024 Day One speeches from Biden, Hillary Clinton and other Democrats

By Laura Doan , Amelia Donhauser

Updated on: August 20, 2024 / 9:54 AM EDT / CBS News

CBS News is fact checking some of the statements made by  speakers  during the 2024 Democratic National Convention, which is taking place in Chicago from Monday, Aug. 19 through Thursday, Aug. 22. 

The convention began with unity as the theme, and the featured speakers Monday were President Biden and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, as well as a host of others.

Some of the comments that CBS News' Confirmed team fact checked involved Democrats' comments about GOP nominee Donald Trump's record as president, as well as the Biden administration's record.

CBS News is covering the DNC live. 

Fact check on Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez's claim that Trump promises "to terminate the Affordable Care Act": Misleading

Details:  In 2016, former President Donald Trump promised to repeal and replace the nation's health care law, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), if elected. During his presidency, he backed attempts by Republicans to repeal parts of the law while carrying over other parts.

In this election cycle, Trump has continued to criticize the law but has said he doesn't support terminating all of its policies outright. In November, Trump said he intends to  "replace"  the Affordable Care Act with another package of health reforms. 

In March, he  said  that he was "not running to terminate the ACA" but instead to make it better and cheaper.

By Alexander Tin, Amelia Donhauser 

Fact check on California Rep. Robert Garcia's claim that Trump "told us to inject bleach into our bodies": False

Details:  In an April 2020 White House  news briefing  with members of the government's coronavirus task force, Trump, who was then president, speculated about combating COVID-19 by injecting disinfectant into the body. He suggested doctors should study this possibility, but he did not tell people to inject bleach into their bodies.

"I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute, one minute," Trump said. "And is there a way we can do something like that — by injection inside or almost a cleaning — because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it'd be interesting to check that, so that you're going to have to use medical doctors with, but it sounds interesting to me." 

The Trump White House later offered differing excuses for the remark. It first  said  Trump's comments were taken out of context. A day later, Trump  told  reporters that he was being sarcastic when he raised the possibility of injecting disinfectants.

"I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen," he said.

By Amelia Donhauser

Fact check on Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin's claim that the U.S. economy added 16 million jobs during the Biden administration: True, but needs context

Details:  Under President Biden, the U.S. economy has added more than 15.8 million jobs, according to July data from  the Bureau of Labor Statistics . 

However, it's important to note that the number includes roughly 9 million jobs that were lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. economy under Mr. Biden has seen an increase of approximately 6.4 million jobs above February 2020 levels, according to  the Bureau of Labor Statistics . 

By comparison, 6.7 million jobs were created in the first three years of former President Donald Trump's term between January 2017 and February 2020, before the pandemic left Trump with record job losses. 

By Laura Doan

Fact checking Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's claim that Vance thinks women should stay in violent marriages, and pregnancies from rape are "inconvenient": Misleading

Beshear: "JD Vance says women should stay in violent marriages and that pregnancies resulting from rape are simply inconvenient."

Details:  Before he was a Republican Ohio senator,   JD Vance spoke of being raised by his grandparents and their relationship at an  event  in 2021. He contrasted their commitment to each other during an "incredibly chaotic" marriage with modern divorce rates.

"I think the sexual revolution pulled on the American populace, which is the idea that, like, 'Well, okay, these marriages were fundamentally, you know, they were maybe even violent, but certainly they were unhappy," he said. "And so getting rid of them and making it easier for people to shift spouses like they change their underwear, that's going to make people happier in the long term." 

"And maybe it worked out for the moms and dads, though I'm skeptical," Vance added. "But it really didn't work out for the kids of those marriages." 

Vance has repeatedly said these remarks were taken out of context. In a  statement  to VICE News in 2022 he said, "In my life, I have seen siblings, wives, daughters, and myself abused by men. It's disgusting for you to argue that I was defending those men."

In 2021, Vance was  asked  if anti-abortion laws should include exceptions for rape or incest. He replied: "It's not whether a woman should be forced to bring a child to term, it's whether a child should be allowed to live, even though the circumstances of that child's birth are somehow inconvenient or a problem to the society. The question really, to me, is about the baby," he continued. "We want women to have opportunities, we want women to have choices, but above all, we want women— and young boys in the womb — to have the right to life." 

In July, Vance  told  Fox News, "The Democrats have completely twisted my words. What I did say is that we sometimes in this society see babies as inconveniences, and I absolutely want us to change that." 

By Amelia Donhauser 

Fact checking Biden's claim there are fewer border crossings today than when Trump left office: True, needs context

President Biden : "There are fewer border crossings today than when Donald Trump left office." 

Details:  In July, migrant apprehensions along the U.S. southern border dropped to  56,408 , the lowest level since September 2020, according to  U.S. Customs and Border Protection  data. When Trump left office in January 2021, the number of apprehensions was around 75,000. 

The decline in illegal border crossings had been dropping steadily since the spring and accelerated after Mr. Biden issued a  proclamation  on June 4 banning most migrants from seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. Officials have also said scorching summer temperatures and Mexico's efforts to stop migrants have contributed to the drop.

Yearly apprehensions at the U.S. southern border also reached record highs during Mr. Biden's term, according to the  data . In fiscal year 2023, the number reached 2.2 million. The number of yearly apprehensions under Trump peaked at around 852,000 in the fiscal year 2019. 

By Camilo Montoya-Galvez,   Laura Doan    

Alexander Tin contributed to this report.

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Laura Doan is a fact checker for CBS News Confirmed. She covers misinformation, AI and social media.

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2024 Election

The dnc roll call featured a musical salute to each state. here's what your state chose.

DJ Cassidy performs during the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on Tuesday in Chicago. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption

The NPR Network will be reporting live from Chicago throughout the week bringing you  the latest on the Democratic National Convention .

DJ Cassidy and the Democrats played special tracks for each state and territory during Tuesday night's roll call.

WATCH: The full Democratic National Convention celebratory roll call

But what song — or songs, in some cases — repped your state? We found them all so you don't have to. Better yet, we offer some reasons behind the choices.

Alabama : Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd

While Lynyrd Skynyrd's ode to Alabama might seem like an obvious choice, the band was formed in Jacksonville, Fla.

Alaska : Feel It Still - Portugal. The Man

The rock band is from Wasilla, Alaska, where two of its members met in high school and began playing music together.

American Samoa : Edge of Glory - Lady Gaga

The song choice is a tongue-in-cheek nod to the territory's position as the southernmost territory in the United States.

Arizona : Edge of Seventeen - Stevie Nicks

Singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks, known for both her solo career and her work in the band Fleetwood Mac, is from Phoenix.

Arkansas : Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac

Speaking of Nicks, her band's track "Don't Stop" became the official song of Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign, with the band even uniting to perform at the former president's first inaugural ball. Clinton is famously from Hope, Arkansas, and served as the state's governor from 1979 to 1981 and again from 1983 to 1992.

Then-President Clinton shakes hands with Michael Jackson as Stevie Nicks sings during inauguration festivities in Landover, Md. AFP/via Getty Images hide caption

California : The Next Episode - Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg, California Love - Tupac Shakur, featuring Dr. Dre, Alright - Kendrick Lamar, Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar

Nearly all of the above artists are legendary California musicians, with Dr. Dre and Kendrick Lamar born in Compton, and Snoop Dogg born in Long Beach. Only Tupac stands out among the native Californians, having been born in New York City.

Colorado : September - Earth, Wind & Fire

Philip James Bailey, one of two lead singers of Earth, Wind & Fire was born in Denver. What's more, he turned to Denver East High School friends Larry Dunn and Andrew Woolfolk to shore up the band after some original members left, according to the Colorado Music Hall of Fame .

Connecticut : Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) - Stevie Wonder

It’s “kind of a perfect campaign song,” as Chris Willman, the chief music critic at Variety , notes on Morning Edition . Wonder is from Michigan, but that didn’t stop Barack Obama from making “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” a hallmark of his two presidential campaigns.

Delaware : Higher Love - Kygo & Whitney Houston

Higher Love has been a staple of President Biden's campaign, with the track playing at the end of his 2020 acceptance speech.

President Biden delivers remarks after his election on Nov. 7, 2020. JIim Watson/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Democrats abroad: Love Train - The O'Jays

Washington, D.C. : Let Me Clear My Throat - DJ Kool

The legendary rapper was born and raised in our nation's capital.

Florida : I Won't Back Down - Tom Petty

Tom Petty was born in Gainesville, Fla. His “American Girl” was also used by Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

Georgia : Turn Down For What - DJ Snake and Lil Jon

Lil Jon made a surprise convention appearance to express his support for Kamala Harris. The rapper is from Atlanta, while DJ Snake, his counterpart on the track, is from Guam : Espresso - Sabrina Carpenter

The summer hit, which has over a billion streams on Spotify, is one of several songs that may have been chosen simply for their mass appeal — and understandably so. In June, Carpenter became the first artist since The Beatles to have two songs debut within the top three spots on the Billboard Hot 100.

Hawai’i : 24K Magic - Bruno Mars

R&B and funk musician Mars is from Honolulu, Hawai'i.

Idaho : Private Idaho - The B-52's

"Private Idaho" was a single off the Georgia band's second album, though they didn't play a show in the state of Idaho until 2011.

Illinois : Sirius - The Alan Parsons Project

"Sirius" was the walk-on music for the Chicago's NBA team, the Bulls.

Indiana - Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson

Jackson was born in Gary, Ind. — the eighth of 10 children.

Iowa : Celebration - Kool & The Gang

A classic party anthem, Kool & The Gang actually hail from New Jersey. Meanwhile, Iowa passed on their hometown heroes of the band Slipknot.

Kansas : Carry On Wayward Son - Kansas

The band Kansas was formed in the state in 1973, hailing from its capital city of Topeka.

Kentucky : First Class - Jack Harlow

Rapper and singer Harlow was born in Louisville, Ky., and raised in Shelbyville.

Louisiana : All I Do Is Win - DJ Khaled

Rapper and producer DJ Khaled is from New Orleans.

Maine : Shut Up and Dance - WALK THE MOON

It’s a universally adored pop hit, even if the state did borrow it from a Cincinnati, Ohio, band.

Maryland : Respect - Aretha Franklin

Using an anthem by the queen of soul — with roots in Tennessee and Michigan — is the only reason we can think of to pass on Billie Holiday, Toni Braxton and David Byrne, who are among other talent with Maryland ties.

Massachusetts : I’m Shipping Up to Boston - Dropkick Murphys

The American Celtic band was formed in Quincy, Mass. The song itself describes a sailor with a missing leg, who is going to Boston in search of a wooden prosthetic.

Michigan : Lose Yourself - Eminem

The rapper famously grew up in Detroit and his 2002 movie 8 Mile is set in the Motor City.

Minnesota : Kiss - Prince & The Revolution, 1999 - Prince & The Revolution

The celebrated musician was born in Minneapolis, Minn., in 1958. The singer also died in his home state in Paisley Park in 2016 at the age of 57.

Mississippi : Twistin' the Night Away - Sam Cooke

One of the most influential soul singers of all time, Cooke was born in Clarksdale, Miss.

Missouri : Good Luck, Babe! - Chappell Roan

The 26-year-old from Willard, Mo., has found herself on a meteoric rise to stardom following the release of her 2023 album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.

Montana : American Woman - Lenny Kravitz

Several of the songs remaining in the DNC roll call playlist veer towards simply keeping the party going, with no obvious ties between the tracks and their assigned states. But these hits are on-brand for a party building momentum around the goal of putting a woman in the White House.

Nebraska : Firework - Katy Perry

Nevada : Mr. Brightside - The Killers

The rock band was formed in Las Vegas in 2001 by Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning.

New Hampshire : Don’t Stop Believin' - Journey

New Jersey : Born in the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen

"The Boss" is famously from Long Branch, N.J.

New Mexico : Confident - Demi Lovato

The singer-songwriter was born in Albuquerque, N.M.

New York : Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys

The song serves as an ode to New York City by the two artists, who are from Brooklyn and Manhattan respectively.

North Carolina : Raise Up - Petey Pablo

The rapper and record producer is from Greenville, N.C.

North Dakota : Girl on Fire - Alicia Keys

Northern Mariana Islands : Ain’t No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

Ohio : Green Light - John Legend featuring André 3000

Legend was born in Springfield, Ohio, while André 3000 hails from Atlanta.

Oklahoma:  Garth Brooks - Ain't Goin' Down ('til the Sun Comes Up)

Country singer Brooks was born in Tulsa, Okla., but raised in Yukon.

Oregon : Float On - Modest Mouse

The rock band was formed in Issaquah, Wash., in 1993, but is now based in Portland, Ore.

Pennsylvania : Motownphilly - Boyz II Men, Black and Yellow - Wiz Khalifa

Vocal group Boyz II Men is from Philadelphia, with the music video for "Motownphilly" filmed across locations in their home city. Wiz Khalifa's "Black and Yellow" is about growing up in Pittsburgh, Pa. The colors represent that city's NFL team, the Steelers.

During their 2011 Super Bowl match-up against the Green Bay Packers, the team used the track as their fight song, while their opponents used a remix, "Green and Yellow," as their own.

Puerto Rico : Despacito - Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee

Both Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee hail from San Juan, Puerto Rico. A remix of the hit track featuring Justin Bieber was released in 2017.

Rhode Island : Shake it Off - Taylor Swift

Swift owns the single most expensive home in the state of Rhode Island — an entire estate called High Watch, which she purchased in 2013.

South Carolina : Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine - James Brown

James Brown was born on May 3, 1933, in Barnwell, S.C.

South Dakota : What I Like About You - The Romantics

Tennessee : 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton

Country music star Dolly Parton was born in Pittman Center, Tenn., and currently lives just outside of Nashville. Her Dollywood theme park and resorts are located in Pigeon Forge.

Texas : TEXAS HOLD EM' - Beyoncé

This one's a little self-explanatory.

Beyoncé accepts the Innovator Award onstage during the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for iHeartRadio hide caption

Utah : Animal - Neon Trees

The rock band formed in Provo, Utah, in 2005.

Vermont : Stick Season - Noah Kahan

The 27-year-old is from Stratfford, Vt.

Virgin Islands : VI to the Bone - Mic Love

The rapper hails from the Virgin Islands.

Virginia : The Way I Are - Timbaland featuring Keri Hilson and D.O.E.

Timbaland is from Norfolk, Va., while Keri Hilson is from Decatur, Georgia, and D.O.E. is from New York.

Washington : Can’t Hold Us - Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

The rapper is from Seattle, while Ryan Lewis is from Spokane, Wash.

West Virginia : Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver

While Denver is from New Mexico, his hit song describes the natural beauty of West Virginia, including the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah River.

Wisconsin : Jump Around - House of Pain

The 1992 hit is played at University of Wisconsin home football games as students and fans jump and cheer, becoming synonymous with the state's flagship university.

Wyoming : I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas

The DNC also released a playlist of all the included songs you can find here.

Correction Aug. 21, 2024

A previous version of this story misspelled Bruce Springsteen’s birthplace. It is Long Branch, New Jersey. It also incorrectly identified when The Killers formed, which was in 2001, and misspelled Noah Kahan's hometown, Strafford. We have also corrected Macklemore's birthplace to Seattle and James Brown's to Barnwell, S.C.

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• election 2024

For Latinos, a Spanish word loaded with meaning

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When Boyle Heights shop owner Arturo Macias hears fellow Latinos use the Spanish word for “wetback,” he doesn’t necessarily take offense.

Macias, who crossed illegally into the U.S. through Tijuana two decades ago, has heard the term “ mojado ” for much of his life and sees it less as an insult than a description of a common immigrant experience.

“As a country of immigrants,” he says in Spanish, “in one way or another, we’re all mojados .”

Macias is very offended, however, when he hears a non-Latino say “wetback.” That distinction befuddles his 20-year-old daughter Karina.

“It definitely is a term to divide people,” she said. “You can’t use it as a term of endearment at all, whether it’s someone outside of your culture or not.”

An Alaska’s congressman’s reference to “wetbacks” during a radio interview last week stirred an uproar and he was forced to apologize. In Latino communities, the episode highlighted how cultural reactions to the word have changed through generations.

Everyone seems to agree that the English version of the term is highly offensive to Latinos when others use it. But when Latinos use mojado — which literally means “wet” but is also used to describe illegal immigrants in the United States — it’s different.

“My grandfather, for all practical purposes, was a mojado . They call each other mojados ,” veteran Latino activist Arnoldo Torres said. “It’s about understanding the complexity. Of seven, eight, nine, generations of Latinos that have lived in the United States.”

Torres was already dealing with the fallout of the word 30 years ago.

In 1983, Ernest Hollings, a South Carolina senator running for the Democratic presidential nomination, used the English term at a dinner during a campaign stop in Des Moines. Hollings apologized and met with a group of Latino leaders, including Torres, then the executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens.

“We said, ‘Look, this is why it’s offensive.’ We weren’t looking for some astronomical apology,” Torres said. “Our hope was very simple. If we’re able to educate him, maybe he can tell others.”

Each time the word resurfaces, it carries with it a long history and a nuanced reputation.

The English term, originally coined after Mexicans illegally entered the U.S. by swimming or wading across the Rio Grande, evolved to include a broader group of immigrants who entered into the country on foot or in cars. The Spanish translation espaldas mojadas , is typically shortened to just mojado or mojada , depending on the person’s gender.

In 1954, as the U.S. economy sputtered to find its footing after the Korean War, the government launched the now-infamous Operation Wetback, a deportation drive that sent Mexicans back to Mexico in droves and roused complaints of racial profiling and fractured families.

During that decade, the term was still splashed across the pages of the country’s major newspapers.

In 1952, the New York Times ran a story under the headline: “Hero in Korean War Deported as Wetback; Served in Army 3 Years After Entering U.S.” Three years later, the Associated Press wrote a story about “the ‘wetback invasion’ across the Mexican border.” And Angelenos at the time read headlines like “Wetback, 16, Gets School Diploma in Jail” and “Roundup of Wetbacks in L.A. Still On,” in the Los Angeles Times.

Amin David, a Latino rights activist from Orange County, remembers when Latinos could joke with one another about the term — “One of the jokes that we used to say was that if we crossed the Rio Grande we wouldn’t even get our backs wet because there was no water,” he recalled.

“It moved from a humorous-type label to a very derogatory one,” David said, adding that he noticed the shift begin in the 1960s.

Gustavo Arellano, editor of the OC Weekly and author of the syndicated ¡Ask a Mexican! column, said the term started to drop off in the 1980s and ‘90s. As its usage waned, “illegal alien” gained footing.

“When you want to insult Mexicans, calling them a ‘wetback’ is so 1950s,” Arellano said. “It’s so dated.”

The Alaska congressman who sparked the most recent furor is Republican Don Young. He spoke of “50 to 60 wetbacks” who picked tomatoes at his father’s farm in California.

“I used a term that was commonly used during my days growing up on a farm in Central California,” he said in an apology Friday. “I know that this term is not used in the same way nowadays, and I meant no disrespect.”

For Raul Ruiz, a professor of Chicano Studies at Cal State Northridge, Young’s apology was a bit off. He conceded that the term used to be more common, but doesn’t think it used to be any less offensive.

Ruiz, 70, admits some Latinos use mojados freely. But he says it has a different meaning coming from an Anglo.

“I’m not trying to excuse it, but the word mojado isn’t totally a pejorative in the way Mexicans use it in referring to themselves,” Ruiz said. “It really isn’t as mean-spirited at all.”

Back at Macias’ clothing shop in Boyle Heights, his family continued to discuss the term.

For Karina Macias, a UC Berkeley student who spent a recent afternoon during her spring break helping her parents run the shop, Young’s words are surprising given the growing political clout of Latinos.

“As the Latino population increases, the Latino impact on society increases,” she said. “If there’s a Latino in office, you can’t put ‘wetback’ in the headlines.”

She turned to her mother, who was leaning on the counter near the cash register, and asked her, in Spanish, what she thought about the word “ mojado .”

The raven-haired woman with a sweet smile put her hand on her chest and raised her eyebrows. “Wow,” she said, shocked to hear her daughter use the term. “I think it’s offensive, it has always been offensive.”

Arturo simply smiled and shrugged.

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What Fed Chair Powell's Jackson Hole Speech Could Mean for Markets

Colin is an Associate Editor focused on tech and financial news. He has more than three years of experience editing, proofreading, and fact-checking content on current financial events and politics. He received his M.A. in journalism from The New School and his B.A. in history and political science from McGill University.

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Key Takeaways

• Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will speak Friday morning at the Fed's annual Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium.
• Economists expect Powell to forgo committing the U.S. central bank to a specific path for monetary policy, although he could emphasize continued inflation risk after last week's strong economic data.
• Markets already have priced in a September interest-rate cut, potentially limiting the upside for stocks.

The highlight of this week will be the annual central bank symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, which kicks off on Thursday night and runs through Saturday. And the show-stopper of that event, at least for Wall Street, is likely to be Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech, scheduled for 10 a.m. ET Friday. 

The annual symposium comes at a critical juncture for the U.S. economy . Interest rates have been at their highest level in decades for more than a year, pushing inflation down and slowing economic activity. The unemployment rate simultaneously has risen, giving Wall Street reason to believe the Fed will begin to cut interest rates in September. 

And the Fed has set the stage for interest-rate cuts. After years of focusing on inflation, policymakers have in recent months begun saying they're equally concerned with the strength of the labor market, the second component of the Fed’s dual mandate . Powell echoed those comments after the Fed’s most recent policy meeting. 

Investors will be looking to Powell’s speech on Friday for any hints about the trajectory of monetary policy , including the magnitude of the Fed’s first interest-rate cut in years and the potential pace of subsequent cuts. 

What Could Jerome Powell Say at Jackson Hole

Analysts don’t expect Powell’s speech to deviate too much from his press conference after July’s Fed meeting. 

“He will likely acknowledge that the Fed is prepared to ease quickly if labor markets deteriorate,” wrote Nomura analysts in a note on Friday. The health of the labor market was called into question earlier this month when data showed the unemployment rate jumped to 4.3% in July, triggering the Sahm Rule recession indicator. 

“That said, we expect his remarks to be more balanced than at the July press conference–noting upside inflation risks, as well,” the analysts added. 

Recession fears were quelled somewhat last week after a strong consumer spending report and a slight decrease in unemployment claims pointed to the economy’s resilience. 

Subsequently, markets settled into a relative calm as expectations for Fed rate cuts moderated. Last Monday, traders were pricing in a 50% chance of the Fed cutting rates by 50 basis points next month, according to federal funds rate futures trading data. Now, markets see just a 23% chance of a cut of that magnitude.

The market's quiet, Nomura notes, "should allow Powell to emphasize that the Fed can be patient and data-dependent, pushing back modestly on recent market pricing for an aggressive start to the easing cycle.”

Economists at Deutsche Bank wrote Monday that they expect Powell won’t “pre-commit to any particular rate-cut trajectory but [will] signal that the Fed has gained sufficient confidence that it will soon be appropriate to begin easing policy.”

How Will the Market React?

Even a dovish stance from Powell might not have much of an impact on the market.

Bank of America Securities analysts recently noted that the S&P 500 historically has had a limited reaction to Jackson Hole. Granted, there are exceptions: Stocks plummeted in 2022 after Powell struck a hawkish tone when addressing the need to restore price stability. 

But this year, they forecast, isn't likely to be exceptional. “With rate cuts already priced into the market, upside on even a dovish Jackson Hole speech is likely limited,” the analysts wrote.

Nomura Securities. “US Economic Weekly - Jackson Hole Ahead.”

CME Group. “ FedWatch Tool .”

Deutsche Bank. “Early Morning Reid - Aug. 19, 2024.”

Bank of America Securities. “ Trading Catalysts - Eyes on Jackson Hole, Minds on NVDA .” (Registration required.)

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Spanish slurs and stereotypes for Mexican-Americans in the USA: A context-sensitive account of derogation and appropriation

Peyorativos y estereotipos para los mexicano-americanos en ee. uu.: una consideración contextual del uso despectivo y de apropiación.

Slurs such as spic , slut , wetback , and whore are linguistic expressions that are primarily understood to derogate certain group members on the basis of their descriptive attributes (such as their race or sex) and expressions of this kind have been considered to pack some of the nastiest punches natural language affords. Although prior scholarship on slurs has uncovered several important facts concerning their meaning and use –including that slurs are potentially offensive, are felicitously applied towards some targets yet not others, and are often flexibly used not only derogatorily to convey offense towards out-group members but also non-derogatorily to convey affiliation with in-group members– the literature remains largely focused on slurs that typically target African Americans ( nigger ), male homosexuals ( faggot ), and sexually active females ( slut ). Since no account of slurs that typically target Hispanics or Mexican-Americans has so far been proposed, here I offer the first systematic and empirically informed analysis of these that accounts for both their derogatory and appropriative use. Importantly, this article reviews over a dozen Spanish stereotypes and slurs and explains how the descriptive attributes involved in a stereotype associated with a slur can contribute to the predication of certain content in the application of that slur toward its target in context. This article further explains how the psychological effects of stereotype threat and stereotype lift can be initiated through the application of a relevant slur towards its target in context as well.

Las expresiones peyorativas tales como spic (‘spic’), slut (‘zorra’), wetback (‘espalda mojada’) y whore (‘puta’) son expresiones lingüísticas que se entienden principalmente para minusvalorar ciertos miembros de un grupo sobre la base de sus atributos descriptivos (como la raza o el sexo). Se ha considerado que las expresiones de este tipo conllevan algunos de los puñetazos más desagradables que el lenguaje natural puede proporcionar. Aunque la literatura especializada sobre expresiones peyorativas ha descubierto varios hechos importantes en cuanto a significado y uso –entre los que se incluyen que tales expresiones son potencialmente ofensivas, apuntan efectivamente hacia unos objetivos pero no hacia otros, y con frecuencia se utilizan con flexibilidad no sólo despectivamente para ofender a miembros por fuera de un grupo, sino que también de forma no despectiva para afiliar con miembros dentro de un mismo grupo–, tal literatura sigue centrada en gran medida en las expresiones peyorativas que típicamente apuntan contra los afroamericanos ( nigger ‘negro’), los homosexuales varones ( fagot ‘maricón’), y las mujeres sexualmente activas ( slut ‘zorra’). En tanto que no se ha propuesto al momento dar cuenta de expresiones peyorativas dirigidas contra hispanos o mexicano-americanos, en este trabajo se ofrece el primer análisis sistemático y empíricamente informado de tales expresiones, tanto en sus usos despectivos y de apropiación. Es importante destacar que en este artículo se revisan más de una docena de estereotipos y expresiones peyorativas en español, además de explicar cómo los atributos descriptivos que participan de un estereotipo asociado con una difamación pueden contribuir a la predicación de determinados contenidos en la aplicación de esa expresión hacia su objetivo en contexto. Asimismo, en este artículo se explica cómo comienzan los efectos psicológicos de la amenaza estereotipada y el realce estereotipado cuando se emplea una expresión peyorativa relevante contra un objetivo en contexto.

© 2014 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Articles in the same issue.

All photos by Jorge Santiago

Emilio Uranga

The philosophy of Mexicanness

With a new introduction and commentary by carlos alberto sánchez & robert eli sanchez, jr.

To believe in the substantiality of human existence is not just false, it is inhuman

Carlos Alberto Sánchez & Robert Eli Sanchez, Jr

Today Mexican philosophy is enjoying something of a renaissance. Emerging from the Mexican Revolution of 1910, philosophers in Mexico grappled with questions concerning Mexican identity, including the identity of Mexican philosophy, and formed a distinct philosophical tradition known as la filosofía de lo mexicano , or the philosophy of Mexicanness. At its core, this golden age of Mexican philosophy (1910-60) aimed to uncover the essential characteristics of Mexican culture in order to reaffirm them in light of a history of conquest and colonialism. Thus, the philosophy of Mexicanness represents an effort to achieve liberation from the dominant paradigms of Western thought, as well as a genuine desire for self-knowledge – what the Mexican philosopher Emilio Uranga (1921-88) referred to as ‘autognosis’.

On a relatively standard account, the philosophy of Mexicanness begins with Profile of Man and Culture in Mexico (1934) by Samuel Ramos, so it is not surprising that Uranga begins his ‘Essay on the Ontology of the Mexican’ (1951) by quoting Ramos at length. Uranga highlights the central thesis of the text: that the defining characteristic of the Mexican mind is that the Mexican suffers from an ‘inferiority complex’. Like Ramos and other intellectuals of this period, Uranga sought to comprehend the characteristics that define the Mexican people. Mexicans are sentimental, Uranga claims, and full of melancholy. They have a peculiar fascination with death and dying. Readers today need think only of Coco (2017), Pixar’s portrait of Mexican culture: even though it is a children’s movie, it is fundamentally about loss and the threat of being forgotten. However, unlike Ramos, Uranga proposes an ontological account of Mexican sentimentality, melancholy and inferiority, concluding that these are but symptoms of an ‘ontological insufficiency’ – of the fact that to be Mexican is to fundamentally lack that which would otherwise make one sufficient .

Born in Mexico City in 1921, Uranga was a founding member of el grupo Hiperión , a group of young Mexican philosophers influenced by German and French existential phenomenology. Considered the most capable member of the group and referred to as primus inter pares (first among equals), Uranga presents a novel interpretation of Mexican life in his essay on the ontology of the Mexican. ‘Mexicans are creatures of melancholy,’ he writes, making clear that he is not referring to a psychological disposition toward sadness, but to an ontological condition of being groundless and, more to the point, of being conscious of one’s lack of permanent foundation. ‘Ontologically speaking’ – a phrase Uranga repeats – the Mexican is an ‘accidental’ being.

At the centre of Uranga’s ‘ontology’ is the scholastic distinction between substance and accident. A substance is that which endures and survives change. It is what remains the same despite change – the thing itself, which is characterised by permanence. By contrast, an accident depends on a substance for its existence – x must be an accident of something – and is by definition impermanent. Applied to the human being – something that the phenomenologist Martin Heidegger does not do – this ontological difference manifests itself in the feeling of power, a sense of self-sufficiency and permanence on the one hand, and a fundamental sense of insecurity and impermanence on the other hand. In historical terms, it is the difference between the modern European’s belief in her power over nature and inferior human beings, and the various forms of Mexican dependence and self-denigration.

Like Ramos’s unflattering portrait of the Mexican in the Profile , the purpose of Uranga’s analysis of Mexican sentimentality is not simply to put the Mexican on trial. Instead, there is an underlying lesson about the human condition that the Anglo-European can learn from Mexican self-examination. To be accidental is not the tragic fate of Mexicans – the peculiar source of their misery or fascination with death. Instead, it is an essential feature of being human. In other words, if Uranga is right, the belief in the self-sufficiency or substantiality of human existence that defines modern European history – a belief that provided Europeans with a justification for a history of conquest, colonialism, exclusion and exploitation – is not just mistaken or false, it is inhuman.

It is worth pointing out that Uranga’s use of ‘ontology’ is problematic, given that the object of his analysis is the specific being of the Mexican . As the philosopher Guillermo Hurtado of the National Autonomous University of Mexico pointed out in 2011, Uranga engages in a ‘micro-regional ontology’, not ontology proper. Hurtado asks: ‘How far can the regionalisation of an ontology be taken?’ However, the seeming regionalisation of ontology did not bother Uranga, as he believed that the results of the analytic would show that Mexican being, as insufficient and accidental, represents being in general. So, for Uranga and el grupo Hiperión , or los hiperiones, the existential analytic of Mexican existence (or Dasein , as Heidegger might have it) would open the path to a greater truth, ‘the Mexican is human and the human is Mexican’. Thus, while it might be problematic for a more traditional phenomenologist, we like to see Uranga’s appropriations of the phenomenological-existential method as creative, a refusal to employ an approach that already exists and a willingness to adjust the method to match the (historical) object of study.

Uranga’s ‘Essay on the Ontology of the Mexican’, as well as other influential texts in la filosofía de lo mexicano , can be found in Mexican Philosophy in the 20th Century (2017), the inaugural volume of Oxford University Press’s new series, Oxford New Histories of Philosophy . It is a shorter version of Uranga’s more robust Análisis del ser del mexicano (1949-52), or ‘The Analysis of Mexican Being’, soon to be translated into English. Uranga’s essay ‘The Mexican and Humanism’ has been translated into English in The Modern Mexican Essay (1965). Other noteworthy works include Literary Tricks ( Austicias literarias , 1971), and Who Owns Philosophy? (¿ De Quien es la filosofia? 1977), which both testify to a struggle for and against the traditional postulates of philosophy and the philosophical life.

Carlos Alberto Sánchez is professor of philosophy at San José State University. He is the author of several books, including ‘Contingency and Commitment: Mexican Existentialism and the Place of Philosophy’ (2016). He is also the co-editor of ‘ Mexican Philosophy in the 20th Century: Essential Readings’ (2017) which is a volume of the Oxford New Histories in Philosophy series and a project of the Center for New Narratives in Philosophy . He lives in San José, California.

Robert Eli Sanchez, Jr is an assistant professor of philosophy at Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles. He is the co-editor of ‘ Mexican Philosophy in the 20th Century: Essential Readings’ (2017) which is a volume of the Oxford New Histories in Philosophy series and a project of the Center for New Narratives in Philosophy . He lives in Los Angeles, California.

From ‘Essay on the Ontology of the Mexican’, translated by Carlos Alberto Sánchez With a new commentary by Carlos Alberto Sánchez & Robert Eli Sanchez, Jr

Samuel Ramos dedicates a section in his book Profile of Man and Culture in Mexico to a ‘psychoanalysis of the Mexican character’. In that essay, he writes:

Others have spoken about the sense of inferiority of our race, but no one, as far as we know, has systematically used the idea to explain our character. For the first time, in this essay, we make methodological use of these old observations, rigorously applying [Alfred] Adler’s psychological theories to the Mexican case. What must be presupposed is the existence of an inferiority complex in all those individuals who manifest an exaggerated preoccupation with affirming their personality; who take a strong interest in all things or situations that signify power, and who have an immoderate eagerness to dominate, to be the first in everything. Adler affirms that the sense of inferiority appears in the child in realising the insignificance of his strength in comparison with his parents. At its birth, Mexico found itself in the civilised world in the same way that a child finds itself with his elders. It appeared in history at a time when a mature civilisation already prevailed, something that an infantile spirit can barely understand. From this disadvantageous situation emerges the sense of inferiority that is aggravated by the conquest, mestizaje , and even by the disproportionate magnitude of nature.

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How Mexicans and Americans view each other and their governments’ handling of the border

Mexicans hold generally positive views of the United States, while Americans hold generally negative views of Mexico – a reversal from 2017 – according to Pew Research Center surveys conducted in both countries earlier this year.

In this analysis, we’ll take a closer look at how Mexicans and Americans view the other country, as well as their attitudes about how each government is handling the large number of migrants seeking to cross the border from Mexico in the U.S.

This Pew Research Center analysis focuses on how Mexicans and Americans view each other and how they rate their governments’ handling of the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border. The analysis also explores Mexicans’ opinions of U.S. presidents and other world leaders.

For Mexico data, this analysis draws on a nationally representative survey of 1,042 adults conducted from Feb. 23 to April 27, 2024. The survey was conducted face-to-face.

In the United States, we surveyed 3,600 adults from April 1 to April 7, 2024. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the ATP’s methodology .

To compare educational groups across countries, we standardize education levels based on the UN’s International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED).

Prior to 2024, combined totals were based on rounded topline figures. For all analyses beginning in 2024, totals are based on unrounded topline figures, so combined totals might be different than in previous years. Refer to the 2024 topline to see our new rounding procedures applied to past years’ data.

Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and the survey methodology .

How Mexicans view the U.S., and how Americans view Mexico

Mexicans and Americans view the other country in opposite ways:

• Most Mexicans (61%) have a favorable view of the U.S., compared with 33% who hold an unfavorable view.
• By contrast, 60% of Americans have an unfavorable view of Mexico, while 37% have a favorable view of their southern neighbor.

These attitudes have changed markedly over time. As recently as 2017 – when Donald Trump was the president of the U.S. – only 29% of Mexicans had a favorable opinion of their northern neighbor. And 65% of Americans had a favorable opinion of Mexico.

Related: Globally, Biden Receives Higher Ratings Than Trump

(It’s important to note that our U.S. surveys are now conducted online . Prior to 2020, we conducted U.S. surveys by phone, which means that findings before and after the change in survey mode may not be directly comparable.)

Differences by age, race and ethnicity, and party

In Mexico and the U.S. alike, views of the other country differ by age and other factors. For example, 71% of Mexican adults under 30 have a positive view of the U.S., compared with only half of Mexicans ages 65 and older.

Similarly, younger Americans are more positive toward Mexico than older Americans are. Around half of U.S. adults under 30 (48%) have a favorable view of Mexico, compared with just 25% of those ages 65 and older. Americans’ attitudes toward Mexico also differ by race and ethnicity. Around half of Hispanic Americans (53%) see Mexico positively, compared with only 30% of White, non-Hispanic Americans. Other racial and ethnic groups are more evenly divided in their sentiments.

There are also large partisan differences in the U.S.: 52% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents have a favorable view of Mexico, compared with only 22% of Republicans and Republican leaners.

When we first asked this question in 2007, Democrats and Republicans were about equally favorable toward the country (49% and 45%, respectively). Notably, views of Mexico have become more negative among Americans in both parties since 2017.

Views of the U.S. government’s handling of the border

Americans are much more critical than Mexicans of the way the U.S. government is dealing with the large number of migrants seeking asylum at the U.S. border with Mexico. (The survey was conducted before a recent decline in migrant encounters at the border due to asylum policy changes in the U.S. and Mexico.)

More than eight-in-ten Americans (83%) say the U.S. government is doing a bad job dealing with migrants at the border, including half who say the government is doing a very bad job. By comparison, a much smaller share of Mexicans (52%) say the U.S. government is doing a bad job, including just 13% who say it’s doing a very bad job.

Differences by education, income and party

In both countries, higher levels of education and income are associated with more negative views of the U.S. government’s handling of the border situation. For example, Mexicans with higher levels of education are 13 percentage points more likely than Mexicans with less education to rate the U.S. government’s handling of the situation poorly.

When it comes to party, however, Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say the U.S. government is doing a bad job managing the border (92% vs. 76%). In Mexico, those who support the governing political parties and those who do not have similar views on this question.

Related: Latinos’ Views on the Migrant Situation at the U.S.-Mexico Border

Views of the Mexican government’s handling of the border

We also asked people in both countries to rate the Mexican government’s handling of the large number of people seeking asylum at the border.

Again, Americans express much more negative views than Mexicans. Two-thirds of U.S. adults say the Mexican government is doing a bad job, including 48% who say it is doing a very bad job. A much smaller share of Mexicans (38%) say their government is doing a bad job, and only 9% say it is doing a very bad job.

Differences by education, income, age and party

In both countries, those with higher levels of education tend to have more negative views of the Mexican government’s handling of the border situation. For instance, Mexicans with more education are 17 percentage points more likely than Mexicans with less education to rate the government’s border response poorly.

When it comes to income, views differ in the U.S., but not in Mexico. Americans with higher incomes are more likely than those with lower incomes to say Mexico is doing a bad job handling the border.

Americans ages 65 and older are much more likely than U.S. adults under 30 to say the Mexican government is doing a bad job at the border (80% vs. 50%).

While U.S. partisans generally rate the Mexican government poorly when it comes to the border, Republicans are much more likely than Democrats to hold a negative view (80% vs. 58%). And in Mexico, those who do not support the governing parties are more likely than those who do support them to say their government is doing a bad job (48% vs. 29%).

How Mexicans view Biden and Trump

Mexicans’ confidence in the U.S. president has shifted dramatically depending on who is in office.

Trump was very unpopular with the Mexican public in 2017, as was his call for the building of a wall on the Mexico-U.S. border. More than nine-in-ten Mexicans opposed the construction of a border wall, and 93% had no confidence in Trump’s ability to lead in 2017.

Mexicans’ views rebounded somewhat when Joe Biden took office in 2021. But today, six-in-ten Mexicans have little or no confidence in Biden. This remains below the 86% of Mexicans who today lack confidence in Trump. (This survey was conducted when Biden was still actively seeking reelection.)

More broadly, Mexicans have little to no confidence in all the world leaders we asked about in our survey, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Chinese President Xi Jinping and others.

Note: Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and the survey methodology .

• Border Security & Enforcement
• Immigration Attitudes
• International Issues
• Unauthorized Immigration

Jacob Poushter is an associate director focusing on global attitudes at Pew Research Center .

Jordan Lippert is a research analyst focusing on global attitudes research at Pew Research Center .

Sarah Austin is a former former research assistant focusing on global attitudes research at Pew Research Center .

State of the Union 2024: Where Americans stand on the economy, immigration and other key issues

Latinos’ views on the migrant situation at the u.s.-mexico border, u.s. christians more likely than ‘nones’ to say situation at the border is a crisis, how americans view the situation at the u.s.-mexico border, its causes and consequences, migrant encounters at the u.s.-mexico border hit a record high at the end of 2023, most popular.

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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER  Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of  The Pew Charitable Trusts .

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Why ‘Latinx’ Is Succeeding While Other Gender-Neutral Terms Fail to Catch On

T here are plenty of gender-neutral terms that people have tried to make a thing in American English. Take upstart pronouns like xe or zir , which have had champions for centuries and remain little-used. Consider “first-year student,” which is gaining steam but has a long way to go before supplanting freshman . Or recall the discussions about genderless military titles , like “midshiperson,” which have yet to leave port.

There have also been success stories, from flight attendant to alum . And it appears that the adjective Latinx — an alternative to Latino or Latina — is headed in that direction. Academic centers are adding the word to their titles. The term is becoming de rigueur among artists and politically active youth. Media outlets like NPR are using it without remark or explanation. Another sign that this word has staying power: dictionaries have recently taken the time to define it .

Latinx (adj.): Relating to people of Latin American origin or descent (used as a gender-neutral or non-binary alternative to Latino or Latina)

The word, which bubbled up from college campuses, has appeal on several levels.

For some, using Latinx can feel feminist. Cristina Mora , an associate professor of sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, says she first encountered it as a gender-neutral term that young people were using because they were “tired of reaffirming the patriarchy inherent in language.” For example: In Spanish, a group of women is referred to as Latinas, while a group of men or a mixed group — even one that is mostly women — is a group of Latinos. Feminists might balk at this the same way they’d balk at using he as a default pronoun or referring to mixed groups as “guys” but never “gals.” The subtext is the same: It’s a man’s world, you ladies are just in it.

Latinx gives people a way to avoid choosing a gender for a group or an unknown individual, much like using singular “they” avoids the choice between “he” or “she” in English. Both are gaining steam in a time when America is rethinking gender and whatever boundaries might come with it.

Mora notes that there have been other attempts to avoid this awkwardness in the past, like including both endings when writing about ethnicity ( Latino/a) or writing the word as Latin@, because that symbol looks like the offspring of a feminine “a” and masculine “o.” But using a slash is clunky. And while there has been criticism that it’s not clear how to pronounce Latinx — many say “La-TEE-nex,” like Kleenex — it’s even less obvious how to utter “@.”

The “x” also jibes with LGBTQ politics that have been permeating the culture. A growing number of young people reject the notion that everyone falls into the binary categories of male or female (just like a growing number refuse to identify as either totally gay or totally straight). People who describe themselves as non-binary might feel that neither box fits or that both do or that their feelings can change over time. “This is a generation that has emerged with different understandings about gender and sexuality,” Mora says. And for some, the label Latinx “pushes against that idea that we should be gendered in the first place.”

The letter X can refer to unknown locations or quantities and has a rebellious patina. “There’s something visually arresting about the letter,” says linguist Ben Zimmer. “It looks good on a poster announcing your group is meeting on campus.” He says that the “x” helps the label immediately appear to be a political statement. Think Malcolm X, who used that letter as a way to buck a system in which many black Americans had ended up with the last names of slave owners. Zimmer also notes that the description has become popular enough to inspire imitation: Chicano is being recast as Chicanx; Filipina, as Filipinx.

Katherine Martin, head of Oxford’s U.S. dictionaries, points out the similarity to the gender-neutral honorific Mx. , which people can use instead of Mr. or Mrs. if they want to leave their gender undeclared. She says that, per their research, the word Latinx was thrust into the American consciousness after the horrific shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in 2016. It was a gathering spot where patrons were likely to have roots in both the LGBT community and Latin American culture, and the word cropped up time and again in the media coverage about what happened there. “That was the inflection point,” Martin says.

While many view the label as inclusive, the word also has detractors. Ed Morales, a lecturer at Columbia University’s Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race, says that Latinx sounds futuristic — and while some consider that a good thing, others would prefer tradition. Critics have suggested that it sounds too American, erasing a Spanish language that needs to be preserved by immigrant communities. Others have said the word creates distance between Americans and people in Latin America who aren’t using the term. “Some people just think it sounds odd, maybe forced,” Morales says. And some conservatives see the label as just one more example of unnecessary political correctness.

There is a long history when it comes to political labels that have been adopted by — and forced upon — Americans with Latin American or Spanish roots. “No label has ever been perfect,” says Mora, the Berkeley professor. People have objected to the word Hispanic because it has vestiges of colonialism, she says. People have objected to Latin American for sounding “too foreign,” while Latino was “too vague.”

The tussling over labels mirrors a complex history of attempting to politically unite people from disparate backgrounds under a single umbrella, finding common cause for Cubans, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans, for example. Mora suggests that some prominent immigrant rights groups may see a word like Latinx as a distraction in a time when they’re still trying to “affirm that Latinos belong to the U.S.”

Others see the rather mysterious-looking Latinx as the perfect label for a group that is hard to define. Morales may be biased, having decided to use the word in the title for his upcoming book about race and politics in the U.S. But he believes people will only see more of the word, one that his students have recently started wearing on T-shirts. “I see less and less resistance to it,” he says, “and I think it may actually become standard.”

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Translations dictionary

or esse [ es -ey] or [ ey -sey]

What does ese mean?

Ese , amigo , hombre . Or, in English slang, dude ,  bro , homey . Ese is a Mexican-Spanish slang term of address for a fellow man.

Related words

Where does ese come from.

Ese originates in Mexican Spanish. Ese literally means “that” or “that one,” and likely extended to “fellow man” as shortened from expressions like ese vato , “that guy.”

There are some more elaborate (though less probable) theories behind ese . One goes that a notorious Mexican gang, the  Sureños  (“Southerners”), made their way from Mexico City to Southern California in the 1960s.  Ese is the Spanish name for letter S , which is how the gang members referred to each other. Or so the story goes.

Ese is recorded in English for a “fellow Hispanic man” in the 1960s. It became more a general term of address by the 1980s, though  ese remains closely associated (and even stereotyped) with Chicano culture in the US.

Ese is notably found in the Chicano poetry of José Antonio Burciaga and Cheech & Chong comedy routines (Cheech Marin is Mexican-American.)

White confusion over ese was memorably parodied in a 2007 episode of the TV show South Park . On it, the boys think they can get some Mexican men to write their essays , but them men write letters home to their eses .

Examples of ese

Who uses ese?

For Mexican and Mexican-American Spanish speakers,  ese has the force of “dude,” “brother,” or “man,” i.e., a close and trusted friend or compatriot .

I needa kick it wit my ese's its been a minute — al (@a1anxs) February 1, 2019

It’s often used as friendly and familiar term of address…

Always a good time with my ese. 😎 pic.twitter.com/xxM4YroWDV — | Y | G | (@yg_monroe) January 12, 2019

…but it can also be more aggressively and forcefully.

Cypress Hill 2018: Who you tryin' ta mess with, ese? Don't you know I'm seeking professional help for my deep rooted emotional problemsssssss?!? — JAY. (@GoonLeDouche) June 30, 2018

“You’d have to be crazy to swipe left.” Who you tryna get crazy with, ese? Don’t you know I’m loco? Sorry, always wanted to say that. Anyway, swipe left. Might actually be crazy. — Why I Swiped Left (@LeftyMcSwiper) December 17, 2018

Ese is associated with Mexican and Chicano American culture, where it can refer to and be used by both men and women. The term is also specifically associated with Mexican-American gang culture.

What's up ese? pic.twitter.com/0vAQxZZ6SO — AlesiAkiraKitsune© (@AlesiAkira) January 21, 2019

It is often considered appropriative for people outside those cultures to use ese , especially since some non-Mexican people may use  ese in ways that mock Mexicans and Mexican-American culture.

This is not meant to be a formal definition of ese like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of ese that will help our users expand their word mastery.

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What Does "Ese" Mean?

ese = dude, bro, homie

Ese is also the singular masculine form of the Spanish demonstrative pronoun meaning this , as well as a letter in the Spanish alphabet .

As a term of address , this term was popularized in Spanish-speaking regions of the United States. The word on the street is that it came about as a shorthand way for speakers of Mexican Spanish to say ese vato or ese güey ( that dude ).

While not commonly used in Mexico, you're quite likely to hear it in California, for example. But, ¡aguas! ( be careful! ) In some parts of California ese is used by members of certain gangs to self-identify. Most of the time, though, it just means dude or bro .

Check out these examples of ese .

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Donald J. Trump intends to bring independent regulatory agencies under direct presidential control. Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times

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By Jonathan Swan Charlie Savage and Maggie Haberman

• Published July 17, 2023 Updated July 18, 2023

Donald J. Trump and his allies are planning a sweeping expansion of presidential power over the machinery of government if voters return him to the White House in 2025, reshaping the structure of the executive branch to concentrate far greater authority directly in his hands.

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