Learning Spanish slang can be a fun and essential way to sound more like a native speaker! 🤩 Whether you’re chatting with friends, watching TV shows, or just want to sound cooler in Spanish, knowing how to say 'cool' is a must. In this blog, we’ll cover the most popular slang words for 'cool' and 'chill' in Spanish. Let’s dive in! 🏊♂️
😎 How do you say 'cool' in Spanish slang?
In Spain, the word 'cool' is commonly translated as 'guay', a word that’s often used in informal contexts. This is a go-to term used by Spanish speakers of all ages to describe something fun, exciting, or great. It’s used to express approval or excitement about something, similar to how you would use 'cool' in English. It can describe anything from a person’s outfit to a fun activity or a place.
Example: ¡Qué guay está tu coche! (Your car is so cool!)
Example: La fiesta estuvo guay. (The party was cool.)
In Spain, guay is definitely the most common and versatile way to express that something is cool! It’s widely used in conversations between friends or even in more casual settings.
🌟 Origin of the word 'guay'
'Guay' is a quintessential Spanish slang term, widely used in Spain. But do you know where it comes from?
The exact origin of 'guay' isn’t clear, but there are some theories. One popular theory is that it could be derived from 'guapo' (meaning good-looking or handsome) and evolved to describe anything that is 'great' or 'cool'. In this sense, calling something 'guay' means it’s as good as or even better than good-looking!
Another theory suggests that 'guay' might be related to the Basque language. In the Basque language, there is a word 'guai', which is used to express something pleasant or nice. Over time, this word could have spread into mainstream Spanish slang.
Regardless of its origin, 'guay' has become the go-to term in Spain for describing anything that's cool, fun, or exciting. Whether you’re talking about a friend’s new car or a great party, if it’s awesome, it’s 'guay'!
💥 Other ways to say 'qué guay' in Spanish
Spanish slang is full of colourful expressions that vary depending on the region. Here are some of the most common words used to say 'cool' or 'chill' in Spanish, along with the contexts in which they are used:
In Spain, there are also other ways to express the same enthusiasm or approval as 'Qué guay!' Here are some popular alternatives:
😍 ¡Cómo mola!
Meaning: Similar to 'qué guay', it means something is cool, amazing, or great.
Example: ¡Cómo mola ese vestido! (That dress is so cool!)
🤩¡Qué chulo!
Meaning: Informally used to express that something is awesome or cool. It’s often heard among younger people.
Example: ¡Qué chulo está ese lugar! (That place is so cool!)
😎¡Qué guapo/a!
Meaning: Although 'guapo/a' literally means handsome/pretty, it can also be used to express approval for something, like saying it’s cool.
Example: ¡Qué guapo/a está este lugar! (This place is so cool!)
💥 ¡Qué bestia!
Meaning: Used to express how amazing, powerful, or 'out of this world' something is. More commonly used in Andalucia.
Example: ¡Qué bestia es este coche! (This car is crazy awesome!)
💪 ¡Qué fuerte!
Meaning: An expression of surprise or admiration, equivalent to saying 'That’s amazing!' in English.
Example: ¡Qué fuerte que estás aquí! (It's amazing that you're here!)
🌞 Popular slang words for 'cool' and 'chill' in Spanish
Spanish slang is full of colourful expressions that vary depending on the region. Here are some of the most common words used to say 'cool' or 'chill' in Spanish, along with the contexts in which they are used:
1. Guay 🇪🇸
Meaning: Cool or Awesome
Context: Guay is widely used in Spain. It's an informal, everyday word to describe something good, fun, or exciting
Example: ¡La película estuvo guay! (The movie was cool!)
2. Chido 🇲🇽
Meaning: Cool or Great
Context: Chido is extremely popular in Mexico and is often used in conversations between friends. It’s also a common word in pop culture, such as in music and movies.
Example: ¡Qué chido está este lugar! (This place is so cool!)
3. Bacán 🇨🇱
Meaning: Awesome or Great
Context: Bacán is widely used in Chile, but it can also be heard in other South American countries. It’s used to describe something that is amazing or very cool. You can use it to talk about an event, experience, or a person.
Example: ¡Esa fiesta estuvo bacán! (That party was awesome!)
4. Chévere 🇻🇪
Meaning: Cool or Fantastic
Context: In Venezuela, Colombia, and other Caribbean countries, chévere is commonly used to describe things that are awesome or impressive.
Example: ¡Está chévere lo que hiciste! (What you did is cool!)
5. Tranquilo/a 😌
Meaning: Chill, calm down
Context: Tranquilo/a is one of the most common ways to tell someone to relax or calm down in Spanish. It's perfect for informal situations when you want to ease someone’s stress.
Example: Tranquilo, todo va a estar bien. (Chill, everything will be fine.)
6. Relax 😎
Meaning: Relax (just like in English!)
Context: This word is used in both Spain and Latin America and is quite familiar. It’s often used in informal situations to tell someone to calm down, similar to the English 'relax'.
Example: ¡Cálmate y relax! (Calm down and chill!)
🌟 Saying 'That’s cool' or 'Oh, cool' in Spanish slang
When you want to say 'That’s cool' or 'Oh, cool' in Spanish, these are the most common expressions:
¡Eso está guay! – That’s cool (Spain)
¡Está chido! – That’s cool (Mexico)
¡Eso está bacán! – That’s cool (Chile)
¡Está chévere! – That’s cool (Venezuela/Colombia)
You can also use expressions like '¡Qué guay!', '¡Qué chido!', '¡Qué bacán!', or '¡Qué chévere!' to express excitement, similar to saying 'Oh, cool!' in English.
🌍 Awesome in Spanish slang
Looking for a word for awesome in Spanish? Here's how you say it:
¡Qué brutal! (Great/awesome) – Commonly used in Spain and parts of Latin America.
¡Qué impresionante! (Awesome) – Common in many Spanish-speaking countries.
📝 Other useful slang expressions to sound like a native speaker
Here are more fun expressions that will help you sound like a true native:
¡Qué fuerte! – That’s amazing! or I can't believe it!
¡Vale! – Okay! (Used in Spain)
¡Qué pasa! – What’s up! (Friendly greeting)
¡No me digas! – No way! or You’re kidding!
😜Expressing coolness with 'guay'
Now that you know what 'guay' means and where it comes from, let’s dive into common expressions in Spanish that use this fun word! You’ll often hear 'guay' in Spain and other Spanish-speaking regions, especially when talking about something cool or awesome. Here are some common expressions to help you sound like a native:
😍 ¡Qué guay!
Meaning: How cool!
Context: This is probably the most popular way to express that something is cool or amazing. You can use it to describe anything that surprises or excites you.
Example: ¡Qué guay está tu nueva camiseta! (How cool is your new t-shirt!)
🤩 ¡Es guay!
Meaning: It's cool.
Context: A simple and direct way to express that something or someone is awesome.
Example: Ese coche es guay. (That car is cool.)
😎 Los guays
Meaning: The cool people.
Context: A playful expression used to describe people who are considered cool, popular, or trendy.
Example: Ellos son los guays de la clase. (They are the cool kids in the class.)
😏 Ir de guay
Meaning: To act cool or to show off.
Context: Used to describe someone who is trying to appear more important or impressive than they actually are.
Example: No vayas de guay, que todos sabemos que no tienes tanta experiencia. (Don’t act cool, we all know you’re not that experienced.)
🏖️Está guay
Meaning: It’s cool.
Context: A more casual and colloquial way to describe a thing or event that is cool or enjoyable.
Example: La fiesta de ayer estuvo guay. (The party yesterday was cool.)
🎉¡Guay, guay!
Meaning: So cool!
Context: Repeating 'guay' intensifies the excitement, similar to saying 'so cool!' in English.
Example: ¡Guay, guay! ¡Vamos a la playa! (So cool! Let’s go to the beach!)
🌟Parece guay
Meaning: It seems cool.
Context: Used when something looks cool or seems to be a good idea, even if you haven’t experienced it yet.
Example: La película parece guay, ¿la vemos hoy? (The movie looks cool, shall we watch it today?)
🎶 Cool Spanish song 🎤
For some musical inspiration to get in the mood for 'cool' Spanish expressions, check out this catchy Spanish song! This upbeat track will help you connect the word 'guay' with fun music. 🕺
🎶 Listen to the song and enjoy the rhythm while practicing your Spanish slang! 💃
🌟 Wrapping it up: Keep it cool!
Now that you're equipped with all these cool Spanish expressions, you're ready to impress your friends with your knowledge of slang! 😎 Whether you're saying '¡Qué guay!' or '¡Está chido!', remember that using these phrases will help you sound more like a native speaker and connect with Spanish-speaking cultures. So, go ahead, use 'guay' and other cool slang in your everyday conversations, and don’t forget to practice your new skills! ✨
📝 Interactive quiz: Test your knowledge of 'cool' in Spanish! 😎🌟
🧑🏫 Let’s practice!
Let’s see how well you’ve learned the different ways to say 'cool' in Spanish. Choose the correct slang term for each situation. Ready?
Now that you know some fun ways to use 'guay' in different expressions, try them out next time you’re talking with your Spanish-speaking friends! You can use these expressions to sound more like a local and express your excitement in a fun way. 😄
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