Learn Colombian everyday words, informal expressions and regional food names.
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Colombian slang words and everyday conversation
Parcero/parcera means a close friend, and bacano/bacana means cool or great. They are informal; usage varies across Colombia and beyond it.
These are selected Colombian uses, not words spoken by every Colombian or used only in Colombia. The pronunciation guide gives clear learning forms rather than one regional accent.
el parceroclose friend (Colombian informal) · el pahr-SEH-roh
bacanocool / great (Colombian informal) · bah-KAH-noh
el camellojob (Colombian slang) · el kah-MEH-yoh
rumbearto go partying (Colombia) · room-beh-AHR
la rumbaparty / night out (Colombia) · lah ROOM-bah
la tusaheartbreak after a breakup (Colombia) · lah TOO-sah
la lochalaziness / reluctance (Colombia) · lah LOH-chah
la cantaletarepeated scolding (Colombia) · lah kahn-tah-LEH-tah
la mameraboring nuisance (Colombia) · lah mah-MEH-rah
la vainathing / stuff (Colombian informal) · lah BAHY-nah
Colombian words for everyday objects and places
El trancón is a traffic jam. La droguería commonly means a pharmacy in Colombia; it need not mean the same kind of shop elsewhere.
Las onces is a light snack or meal, especially in central Colombia. Compare everyday objects in house vocabulary.
el trancóntraffic jam (Colombia) · el trahn-KOHN
la busetasmall bus (Colombia) · lah boo-SEH-tah
la drogueríapharmacy (Colombia) · lah droh-geh-REE-ah
el esferoballpoint pen (Colombia) · el ehs-FEH-roh
el pocillocup / mug (Colombia) · el poh-SEE-yoh
las oncesafternoon snack (central Colombia) · lahs OHN-sehs
el teterobaby bottle (Colombia) · el teh-TEH-roh
la cobijablanket (Colombia) · lah koh-BEE-hah
la cachuchacap (Colombia) · lah kah-CHOO-chah
la ñapalittle extra given free (Colombia) · lah NYAH-pah
Colombian food and drink vocabulary
In Colombia, un tinto is usually black coffee, not a glass of red wine. La arepa names a corn-based preparation with many Colombian and Venezuelan varieties.
Food names can be shared across borders while recipes differ. Find broader ingredient vocabulary in food in Spanish.
el tintoblack coffee (Colombia) · el TEEN-toh
la arepacorn cake (Colombia) · lah ah-REH-pah
el pandebonoColombian cheese bread · el pahn-deh-BOH-noh
la almojábanacheese-and-corn bread roll · lah ahl-moh-HAH-bah-nah
el ajiacoColombian chicken-and-potato soup · el ah-HYAH-koh
el sancochohearty meat-and-root-vegetable soup · el sahn-KOH-choh
el patacónfried flattened plantain · el pah-tah-KOHN
el mecatosnack food / sweets (Colombia) · el meh-KAH-toh
el lulolulo fruit · el LOO-loh
la panelaunrefined cane sugar block · lah pah-NEH-lah
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Colombian Spanish Words: the full list
Review the vocabulary by topic, then use the printable worksheet to check your recall.
Quick answer:close friend (Colombian informal) is el parcero, cool / great (Colombian informal) is bacano, job (Colombian slang) is el camello, to go partying (Colombia) is rumbear, party / night out (Colombia) is la rumba, heartbreak after a breakup (Colombia) is la tusa, laziness / reluctance (Colombia) is la locha, repeated scolding (Colombia) is la cantaleta, boring nuisance (Colombia) is la mamera, and thing / stuff (Colombian informal) is la vaina.
