Appendix:Glossary of Panamanian Spanish

Panamanian Spanish is the Spanish language as spoken in Panama. It is also spoken by people of Panamanian descent in other countries. It has similarities with other Central American and Caribbean Spanish variants, and due to its history has absorbed a significant portion of its vocabulary from the English language. Panamanian dialect also borrowed words from languages of other ethnic groups, like Italians, Greeks, East Indians (including Hindi and Gujarati), and Chinese.

Examples of Panamanian slang

• ¡Ajo! = Euphemism for "carajo" (prick). Literally means "garlic."
• a vergazo/a pingazo/a balazo = Fast. But vergazo can mean a really hard punch
• a balazo = "Like a gunshot." To do something quickly. Ex. Hazlo a Balazo = Do it quickly.
• alla Onde Uno = From the TV show 'Hecho en Panama', it means "from where one is", usually means the place where the 'campesinos' come from or grew up, their hometown. Ex: Tu eres de alla onde uno?
• arranque = means to go out, party and get drunk. Or to do cocaine
• arrecho = horny or angry. Depends on the region, Chiriqui would use it as angry.
• arroz con Sombrero = rice with a fried egg on top
• awebao = taken from the root word ahuevado (egg-headed), it can be either derogatory in its use (idiot) or friendly, (dude) depending on the tone. Pronunciation varies depending on the speaker either awebado, awebao, aw or aoaooo. Is is one of the most common words among Panamanians.
• awebason = Awebason or Ahuevason expression used for things that are foolish or just dumb.
• ayyyyyyy = Expression that denotes gay behavior. Same as oombeeeee. ex: 'ayyyyyyy miralo tocando bola'. From "¡Ay!", Spanish language interjection expressing pain (Its meaning varies from "ouch" to "woe to"), pronounced slowly and femininely to denote fragility, therefore "a fragile man, an effeminate man, a gay".
• ayala ñex = Expression that denotes surprise or amusement. Very similar to Holy ####.
• babylon = Slang used for the police
• badbuay = from Jamaican English. Means bad boy (bad bwoy)
• bagre = referring to a catfish it means a really ugly person normally worse that a gargola. Synonym to 'cangreja'. Means "catfish". It can be used to describe men and women.
• bajapanti = Popular and cheap "wine" called Night Train Express. Literally means, "panty remover".
• bajito'e sal = Gay. Literally means "low on salt".
• balato pa' ti = Stereotipically, the price you always get from the "chinese" store. (Inexpensive for you)
• batea y corre pa tercera = Slang that refers to gay people. It's rough translation means "Hits and runs to third", resembling someone who hits the ball and runs to third base in the game of baseball.
• batiBuay = Gay. From Jamaican English "Batty Bwoy".
• bergington = is derived from the word berga (penis) but means "Holy shit!" or an expression made when somebody is amazed or excited. This comes from the television program doble vida (double life). It is normally said ex: Ayala bergington.
• beri beri = see Faracho. Derived from epilepsy attacks.
• bicicletear = to go somewhere, voy a bicicletear (I'm going bicycling.)
• bien cuida'o = the guy who hangs out in the street and offers to watch your car when you park it for a tip, saying "Bien cuida'o!" ("Well cared for!")
• birria = 1. to play a friendly sport or game 2. to be hooked in some kind of activity. (e.g. 1. Vamos a echar una birria de beisbol. 2. Juan tiene una birria de jugar nintendo que no se la quita nadie) Also used as a verb, "birriando" ex. Estoy birriando esa cancion
• blanco = Cigarette.
• bocarest = Bad breath.
• bochinche = gossip, especially malicious gossip.
• bochom = Reverse of chombo (black guy)
• borrador = The flamboyantly painted, unruly, (partially) repaired school buses that would mow people down before they got banned in 2010. More commonly known as Diablo Rojo.
• borriguero = A low ranking employee. In construction work el borriguero is the person who does all the hard work.
• botella = Slang to refer to a useless employee hired into a position because of his connections (see palanca), rather than whether he is actually qualified or willing to do the job.(The word botella actually means bottle.)
• breham = hungry (reverse of hambre) Eg. Tengo breham, ¿qué hay de comer?
• brother surfer = Stereotypically, how surfers call each other.
• buco = from the French beaucoup (many); Buco de rantan (a lot)
• bulto = A person who you don't want around you since he/she will just give you inconvenience.
• cabrear = (ver.) it's one of the must common verbs in Panama, it is used when someone is getting tired of doing something or when someone is bothering a lot. (e.g. Estoy cabreado=I'm tired of this, Me tienes cabreado=I'm Fed Up with you.
• cacha-cueco/revuelve-porotos/saca shit/muerde-nuca = Gay lover. ex: ¡Tu eres un cacha-cueco! - You are a gay lover!)
• cafá = A slap in the face (lash) or head (coscorrón).
• camarón = an odd job or chore. Literally "shrimp," but derived from the English "come around." Back in Canal Zone days, residents of the Zone would ask Panamanians to "come around" on weekends to do gardening work or other small jobs.
• canchalarga = Used to describe a person who can keep partying forever. Party animal. Literally "Long field."
• cagalitroso = Old man. Also cagalitroso junior (around 50 yrs old) or cagalitroso senior (over 70)
• calientahuevo = term used to describe girls that tease. Translates to "egg-heater" or "egg-warmer".
• cangreja = An unattractive woman. Literally "Female crab."
• casa del culo = A place that is very far away. Middle of nowhere. Literally "House of the ass."
• casa Bruja = Very poor house (shanty) made out of wood scraps and/or zinc built on invaded lands. Literally "Witch's house."
• catribolia = Woman with too much sexual activity.
• cha = Short for "chucha" mostly used to denote surprise "cha la tas botando"
• chacaleria = people of the ghetto. Beware, they can kill you. See "chakalito".
• chacara = "A countryman's bag". Commonly used as a nickname for balls (testicles).
• chacaron(a) or Chacarudo(a) = superlative for Chacara means a very lazy man (or woman) or someone who relies in everybody else to solve his (her) problems.
• chaineado = From the English "Shiny or shined up". To dress up-
• chakalito= Also "chakal, chacalito". Someone from the ghetto (often used in a stereotypical, pejorative way). The stereotype usually involves and individual that listens to reggae dancehall music (or reggaeton), wears gold teeth, gangsta clothing (reccently also swagster style, with a mix of punk hairstyling) and lives a "thug life". Compare Mexican "chaka", Nicaraguan “pinta”, Venezuelan "niche", Chilean "flaite", Argentine "turro" & "wachiturro" and other Latin terms like "amixer", which portray a similar, stereotypical ghetto youth image.
• chamai = Yellow cloth to wipe and dry a car. A chamois.
• chambón = A clumsy person
• chantin = Home, House. Example: Vamos pa' mi chantin (Let's go to my house). Yegate a mi chantin. (Come to my house).From English "Shanty".
• chapot = From the English "Shaped up". Used to refer to someone that is very well dressed. As in Estas bien chapot.
• chata = Person that does not have too much ass.
• chicha 'e piña = literally it means "pineapple juice", but in Panama means "easy" or unimportant. example: eso ta chicha 'e piña; "that's easy".
• chicha = Watered-down fruit juice (jugo, zumo); also used in other countries.
• chichi = Baby
• chichón = A protrusion on the body (usually the head) caused by swelling after impact with a hard surface or object.
• chifiar = To ignore a person. Ex: Chifea ese awebao (see awebao) que es un loser - Don't invite that guy because he is a loser.
• chilin = Relax, taking it easy. From english "chill"
• chirrisco = Homemade alcoholic beverage. Battery acid is sometimes added to accelerate the fermentation process, found in the country side of Panama.
• chiswiz = Name given to any snack, such as Doritos, Tostitos...Originates from the English "Cheese Whiz". Usually pronounced "chee-WEE".
• chiva = literally means female goat, but it also means "small bus". Not to be mistaken with a "diablo rojo". (e.g. Me voy en chiva pa' Chitre)
• cholometal = A mestizo-looking or indigenous person (brown skin), who dresses and acts like a rock and roller.
• cholopop = Person from the countryside, trying to impress by wearing rocker outfits.
• chombo = derogatory term use to refer to black people
• chota = derogatory slang for a large police car, pickup truck or van used to haul a larger number of detainees in public disturbances or curfews. As in Corre, ¡viene la chota! (Run, here come the policemen!)
• chucha = In the literal sense, it means "pussy" as in "vagina". However, this usually is not used as a vulgar way of referring to the female reproductive organ. Instead, it is simply used as an interjection that expresses surprise or shock. This word can be used in dozens of connotations. It can denote anger, happiness, surprise, sadness, speechlessness. Examples: Chucha, ¡que bien me fue! Chucha, ¡que mal me fue! Chucha ¡no se como me fue! Also, Estoy en chucao. (I'm angry).
• chuchita = Someone who is always being taken advantage of by another.
• ¡Chuleta! = An exclamation of surprise or shock. The literal meaning is "chop [of meat]," but a very common euphemism for "chucha."
• chupata = A party that involves a lot of alcohol, for example: 'let's invite some friends and have a 'chupata'
• churrusco = Same as cus-cus. Extremely curly hair.
• chuzo!!!! = Non-vulgar way of saying "chucha" to mean "Darn it," etc. Same concept as saying "fudge" instead of "fuck".
• cicsa = Definition of fast drink. Also can be refer as lame product.
• cinta = "Story". Term of cocoa and bochinche (hey te tengo una cinta! Hey, I have a story!) Literally, a tape.
• cizaña = From cizaña (darnel), a damaging gramineous plant that grows on tillages. To grow discord; to cause strife between two persons. Usually used with "meter" in "meter cizaña/sizaña" (to introduce darnel) or "sembrar cizaña(sizaña" (to sow darnel), which means "to talk gossip" or even "to lie in order to cause discord". Its noun form is "cizañoso/siañozo" (Literally "darnel-ous"). ex ¡Eres un sizañoso! = You're a trouble maker!
• click = That's the sound of the phone, as you attempt say "goodbye" in ending a telephone conversation with a Panamanian. No goodbyes or any other formality, just the sound of the phone being hung up.
• cocobolo = Totally bald. Baldhead, skinhead (the overall meaning, not the specific group).
• cocodrila = from the reptile cocodrile, used as slang for ugly woman.
• comearroz = Child or baby (Literally "Rice eater")
• cómico = Someone unimportant, a joke of a person Ej. "Jorge es un cómico, no sirve para nada."
• comiste En Paila = a chatter box. When a person is talking a lot, excessive "ex. Fidel Castro"
• como el huevo = slow, stupid, lit. "like the egg".
• como ñinga ño = yes.
• concolón = The rice that gets burnt into the pan when you make fried rice. The origin of this word is said to have come from the voyagers who traveled with Christopher Columbus, whose Spanish name is Cristobal Colon. If you ate 'concolon' you were said to eat with the captain, who ate last, or literally 'con Colon'.
• congo = Someone who is always taken advantage of, an idiot.
• cranear = To think very hard.
• cuara = A 25-centavo coin. Cuara is derived directly from the English word "quarter".
• cuatrera = Prostitute.
• cuatro gatos = Very few people. Literally, "Four cats." Ex. La ciclovía la usan cuatro gatos.
• cucurucho = tiny ugly house or place
• cueco/a = Gay and lesbian. Disrespectful way to say gay (cueco-male) or lesbian (cueca-female). Equal to English derrogatory term "faggot".
• culantron = big ass. From "culantro" (coriander), which is used with the connotation of "ass" for having a similar pronunciation to "culo" (ass).
• culicagao = Literally "ass-shitted", very young person: laopecillo, pelaito.
• culillo = Terrible fear.
• culitripi = Person skinny + ugly + weak. Not to be confused with "gulicripa", a Dancehall dance move whose name comes from the Jamaican slang "Gully Creepa", which literally means "A street/ghetto backstabber; someone who embraces the badboy/thug live just to hide from the police then attack his/her own friends to take their belongings.
• culo De Botella = "Ass (bottom) of the bottle (coke bottles). Referring to extra thick eyeglasses.
• culo = Ass, butt.
• cus cus = hard short wire-like hair on the scalp. Nappy hair.
• daim = Ten-centavo coin. From the English "dime."
• dale valor = to give value to something. Generally used when turning up the volume to a stereo. Fren, dale valor a esa plena.
• de alante = "From the front/top". Meaning that something is awesome, great or cool.
• de kñoon/ de ley = something that is happening no matter what.
• de la hai/ high = Describes someone who hails from a sophisticated neighborhood and has the fancier things in life.
• demencia = Something really awesome. "Que demencia ese carro aoeao".
• desguañangao = ###### up, badly dressed or beaten up.
• diablo rojo = large city bus, lit. "red devil". Also known as "liquid paper", "borrador" (eraser)in the sense that they often travel at high speeds and cause accidents or run over people.
• doble cara = Literally "double-faced", and has the same meaning non-literally (deceitful, hypocriictal). ex. "¡Eres manso doble cara! = "You're such a hypocrite!"
• echar un cinco = "Take 5". 1. To Sleep for a little while. 2. To fight.
• el Chino = a corner store (bodega), lit. "the Chinaman". Originates from the fact many Chinese migrated to Panama to help build the Panama Railroad, and many corner stores are owned and run by Chinese immigrants. Other countries have similar social patterns, for instance, the "Arab" corner store of France.
• el de las pelotas = English Translation of = "Of the balls" see juega vivo
• en panga = un-cool, un-interesting, not hip. From "panga", whose usage in Latin America varies but overall refers to a small water vehicle; the use comes from the fact that a panga navigates slowly, therefore it "is left behind" by the current trends. "Tas en panga" (You suck)
• emparapetao = To fix something in a very unreliable way. usually with adhesive tape. Example: Tienes el bumper del carro todo emparapetao
• en Bosnia = "In Bosnia" Means you are no where to be found. Example: "Ese man esta en Bosnia".
• enculado = Very in love, especially at the beginning of a relationship. Example: Rodolfo está enculado.
• engomado = when you wake up after a night when you have drink a lot, when you have a hangover.
• eso ni es = Literally "That isn't even (something)". When something is not right. ex. man eso NI ES
• faracho = ataque, heart attack (e.g. Le dio un faracho! = le dio un ataque/colapso). Syn. beri-beri, jaratac.
• firi-firi = very skinny man or woman (Ana es una firi-firi). On its superlative form BIEN FIRI-FIRI (extremely skinny!).
• flus = Cash money. From Arabic "fulus" (a small amount of money), Maltese "flus" (money). Ex. Que va, hoy voy a chupar en mi chantin porque no tengo flus.
• focop/focoot = Fucked up
• fren = Friend
• frulo = Have fear of something.
• fula/o = blonde
• gallo = meaning awful, distasteful, sucky, used commonly to express cheap objects. (e.g. Ese restaurante estaba bien gallo. = That restaurant was very sucky.)
• gargola = Applied to a really ugly woman (i.e.: Marta es mansa gargola = Marta is ugly as ####)
• garra = friend. (from the english "paw") See "fren"
• guachiman = guard. (from the English "watchman")
• gufi = goofy. Crazy person, sometimes pronounced "bufi"
• grajo = Body odor. A very nasty smell coming from the armpits. Example: hueles a grajo. (you are stinky)
• gruvear = To fool around with someone, such as a one night stand. Also to bug someone or kid around with them. The word originated when Mireya Moscoso cheated on Arnulfo Arias with a man by the last name Gruber. People would say that Mireya was "grubeando". She eventually married Gruber and became Mireya Moscoso de Gruber. The word stuck around. It could also be said that it came from the English word "Groove" as in "We're grooving."
• guarapo = non-alcoholic drink made of sugar cane.
• guaro = referred to any type of alcoholic beverage, but truly means sugar cane liquor fermented from guarapo. Can be spelled "waro".
• guial = Young woman. Derived from the English word "girl", through Jamaican English "gyal".
• guilla'o = pot high, stoned, baked; but "quema'o" (Burning, as in the English slang "Blazin'" from "blazing up marijuana") is sometimes prefered instead. Overall it denotes a state of being unaware of something or anything at all. Its verbal form, gillarse (reflexive), has earned more meanings, such as "being astonished" (Eso me guilló = That astonished me), "being scared" (¡Que mala guilla! = ¡What a really scray thing!), "being confused" (Ando guilla'o = I'm confused/astonished/scared), etc.
• hablar con los monstruos = Talk to the monsters. See "Llamar a Hugo".
• hablas paja =Meaning you talk alot,Literal meaning “drooler” as in you got verbal diarrhea also sh*t talker ex:“Tu si hablas paja” = “You talk a lot of sh*t”
• hasta la tuza = phrase generally used to express "up to..." when drunken
• hasta la verga = Extremely drunk or fucked up. Also: Hasta la zapatilla, hasta la wacha, hasta la wacharneta, hasta la requete
• hijo de la Luna = "Moon man". Referring to an Albino Native Panamanian.
• hooooombeee... = same as ayyyyyyyy.
• huevear = "To egg around". An expression used to describe the action of not doing anything productive, as in "loafing around". (Hoy solo vamos a webiar= today we aren't going to do a thing; today we'll loaf around). Comes from "awebao". Also used as a synonym of hanging out. (see "parkear")
• ir a tocar el arpa = Idiomatic phrase comming from the common image that Heaven's angels play the harp, therefore "going to play the harp" is "going to Heaven", i.e. dying.
• inchi pinchi = inseparable friends. amigos que siempre están juntos. Ej. "Jorge es inchi pinchi de Irán".
• irse al kinder = To make a mistake, made popular in panamanian boxing tv show. Example: Jorge Cáceres se fue al kinder.
• is = reversed for si, affirmation or simply yes. It has become customary for Panamanians to reverse words as a form of slang.
• ¡Jo! = expression used to denote affirmation, surprise, exaggeration, admiration or anything that shocks depending on the used tone. Equivalent to English interjection "Damn!". (e.g. ¡Jo! Esa negra esta hermosa. = That black woman is beautiful.) A shortened version of ¡Carajo!
• jumarse = used commonly instead of emborracharse (to get drunk)
• keton = a box of cigarette.
• la botaste = meaning that you did something awesome, great or cool (comes from the English phrase: you hit it out of the park).
• la hace = "It does it", something cool or awesome.
• la kenton = When someone promises you something and does not deliver. "Rafa me hizo la kenton, me dijo que iba a venir yme dejó esperando. Syn. la pacheca.
• la ultima coca cola del desierto = Literally means "The last Coca-Cola of the Desert" as in "the last resort", therefore "something very valuable". Something (usually someone) that is the best of the best. ex. ¡Ay, ese man se cree la ultima coca cola del desierto, aw! = "Damn, that dude thinks he's so important!"
• laope = reversed form of "pelao". See pelao for meaning.
• laopecillo = From "pelaito". Diminutive expression for "little boy"
• lechero/lechudo = Fortunate person. "Joaquín es un lechudo, gana todas las apuestas".
• llamar a Hugo = To vomit. It comes from the sound drunks make while vomiting.
• llesca = Reversed of calle. Example: "Vamos pa la llesca" (Let's go to the street, let's go out)
• lokario or lokoide = A person very, very crazy! It might be used too as a greeting (this obviously if your very aquaintanced with this person).
• lírica = watch cinta ex. tiraa tu lírica freen!
• machín candao = A phrase said in playgrounds that prevents others from kicking you in the butt if you have to bend over to pick something up, or for whatever reason.
• maleante = Literally "bad-doer". "Gang member, criminal, etc." Racataca's male mate (see "racataca"). Usually belongs to a gang in the ghettos.
• manzanillos = A rich/famous person's entourage and leech off of them. Buddies that follow and take advantage of someone for interest (ex. Roberto Duran has tons of Manzanillos)
• marias = maid, popular because many maids share this name (María).
• maricon = butterfly, gay
• mariflor = syn gay
• marimacha = Woman who acts and dresses like a man, a tomboy.
• mascabola = Literally "ball-chewer". A cock sucker. Also "Masca Verga"
• matapuerco = "pig killer". A punch thrown without any technique.
• me sabe a cake = lit. "It tastes like cake to me" means I don't give a damn.
• me lo paso por los huevos = see "me sabe a cake".
• meneito = cheese chips or also song by Gaby or butt movement "shaking your tail feather"
• meña = see maleante.
• meto = a word from the Province of Chiriqui that is said when someone has screwed up. See "Chuzo". In other regions of Panama, it is used pejoratively as a way to identify Chiricans, similar to the pejorative relationship given to "eh" and Canadians in places like USA.
• micha = Literally "pussy" in both senses (little cat or vagina). In theory, means the same as chucha (vagina). However, to Panamanians this usually the main slang for vagina, and therefore "chucha"'s meaning is often restricted to other idiomatic expresions.
• micho = cat
• micro onda = term used to describe girls that tease. From Microwave, because they heat up but do not eat ("Calienta pero no come").
• mili = From militarely. To do something with disregard for authority, odds, or common sense. Ex. "Dale mili"= go anyway.
• mopri = reversed for primo, meaning cousin and used as buddy in English.
• morrina = rotten dog food, also used for any rotten food.
• motete = Farmer's bag to carry/transport products from the farm (bolsa de campesino);
• nítido = cool, awesome
• nístido = cool, awesome
• ni chicha ni limonada = neither one thing nor the other. (neither juice nor lemonade)
• nueve letras = Popular name for the highest selling brand of Seco in Panama, Herrerano, which has nine letters.
• ñame = A starchy root often used in soups. Used to refer to someone who is crazy
• ñampiao = gone crazy, gufi
• Ñangara = Disrespectful name for a Communist
• ñañeco = crybaby.
• ñaño/ñorro/cueco = homosexual, gay. (e.g. El ñaño de Juan gusta de Pepe).
• ñinga = cat excrement.
• offi = Means O.K., comes from "oficial". Double "ff" influenced by English "official".
• on = reversed for no, negation or simply no.
• osea = a way of expressing surprise, disgust; commonly used by yeyes (see "yeye").
• oye eso = would you listen to that? Expression showing approval after hearing a cool story. You: "Ayer me levanté a 3 guiales" Friend: "Oye eso!!"
• pa = short for "para" (for), as in "esto es pa' ti" (this is for you)
• pai pai y no estoy = Panamanian boxing technique made famous by former world champ Jaime Rios. It consists of hitting your opponent and then stepping back.
• pai (Pay) = from the word Pie, a beautiful girl. Supposed to come from the perverted perception of a Panamanian man while staring at the front of a woman's bikini bottom (resembling a slice of pie). Hence the expression "Que pai".
• palante = union of the words para adelante (literally: go forward) but actually means leaving or abandoning a party or place. Example: Fui palante (I left)
• palanquear = to use one's influence to help another person get a job or pick up a member of the opposite sex.
• palo = one dollar (buck) used as in Me costó 5 palos (it cost me 5 bucks) Used also for "tree." Example: "Voy a mear atras del palo. "I'm going to pee behind that tree"
• pato = Gay. Literally, "duck". Note: Greek "Pathos" (literally "suffering") has been used with the same connotation during certain ages.
• pavo = A bus driver's (see diablo rojo) helper/co-worker, usually hangs by the door announcing the route the bus is on and instructs to "dale pa' tras" "go all the way back" meaning there is still room, even though people are standing up. Literally "Turkey."
• pebre = Food
• pela = A beating, mostly sports-related (e.g. Los Bravos le dieron una pela a los Yankees.)
• pelao = slang meaning dude. (e.g. Yo conozco ese pelao. = I know that dude.)
• pelar el bollo = To die. Lit. "To peal the tamale"
• pelonera = Young boys game where the loser gets hit in he head by the others until he reaches the machin. To slap someone in the back of the head repeatedly. Usually performed by one or more individuals at school.
• perro = Someone who has many girls and/or cheats very often. Compare English slang "player" and Jamaican "gallis".
• petatearse = To die.
• pichazo = A lot of. Ex. Un pichazo de gente= A lot of people. Lit. A dickful
• pichi = Cocaine.
• piedrero = A homeless person that has a deep addiction to "crack cocaine". Crack in Panamanian Spanish is often called "piedra"("stone"/"ice"). Can also be used to tell a person that the way they are poorly dressed and not good looking. Lit. Stoner
• pifa o Pixbae = A wild fruit; called "chontaduro" in other Latin American countries
• pifia: Word used in the 80's to describe something cool.
• pilar = to study
• pilinki = a cheap person (persona tacaña)
• pilla = from the verb "to look" or "Gotcha". Mirar, Observar, atrapar. "pilla esto" = "look at this", "te pillé" = "I Gotcha".
• piñatero = In baseball, when a batter swings at a very high pitch and misses he is called a Piñatero, as in trying to hit a Piñata.
• pindin = The typical music of Panama's central provinces, also called Musica Tipica or just Tipico.
• pipi sweet = Womanizer or a "Don Juan." Literally, "Sweet dick".
• pitufo = Small pick up truck or small 2 door sedan, it literally means 'smurf' (from the TV show) but it can be also for the trucks the police use in riots that shoot out water.
• plantintá = From "plantain tart". An empanada made with plantain inside.
• plena = Panamanian version of reggae, Also a word for reggae en Espanol in Panama. Example: "DJ pon plena" (DJ play some plena). From "bomba" and "plena", two traditional music genres from Puerto Rico, whose meaning was taken out of context. To the date, "bomba y plena" are used in common language out of their original context to refer to Dancehall & Reggae en Español music.
• policia muerto = Speed bump. Example: Dale suave que viene un policia muerto (Go slow, there is a speed bump coming) Literally, "Dead policeman", due to the bumping it produces as if one had "passed over a policeman".
• polla(o) = Someone's girlfriend/boyfriend. Example: "Esa es la polla de Marc."
• ponchera = Something unusually cool, unexpected or scandalous party. Example: Hoy se formo tremenda ponchera en la discoteca.
• por fuera = it means out, I'm gone.
• puesto quemao = playground way of preventing others from taking your seat
• puñete/puñetazo = a punch with the fist.
• puro Tilin Tilin Y Nada De Paleta = "All bells and no popsicles". A saying that describes a person who says is going to do or has something and doesn't have it "tilin" stands for the sound of a bell of the ice cream man as he passes through the neighborhood. Could be also for a guy that says he is a lady's man but then they notice he is a fake.
• push = a "love motel", i.e. a hotel catering primarily to people seeking a venue for discreet sexual encounters, usually offering hourly rates
• qué xopá = common expression meaning "What's up? What's new?" Sometimes shortened to just xopa, the equivalent of "Wassup". Reverse of "Que paso?".
• que bestia/Ayala bestia = some type of expression non vulgar. "What a beast." It substitutes bestia for the vulgar "verga".
• que Chucha Te Pasa? = to be used when very angry with someone. Literally means "What the fuck is wrong with you?"
• que lo coors light = Qué locura
• quemao = Stoned on weed. Same as Tostao.
• quemar = To be unfaithful. Betray. To cheat. Literally, to burn.
• quenque = Also Kenke Marihuana or pot, ganja, weed, reefer, joint. "Mastul" is also used by yeyes.
• rabiblanco = term used to describe old money people. Literally translated to "white-tailed".
• rabo = dick (Te voy a cortar el rabo = I'm going to cut your dick)
• racataca / Rakataka / Raka = a female ruffian, a ratchet woman, a miscreant, an aggressive woman. It's the female "maleante". Racatacas wear lots of big bracelets and earrings so when they walk they click together and go "raca-taca raca-taca raca-taca."
• racataca = A very unsophisticated person - the stereotype usually involves listening to reggae dancehall music (or reggaeton), wearing gold teeth, wearing Hip Hop styled clothing, multisyllabic composite names like SURISABEL or YAMIURKA. The term has been replaced (to some extent) by xacalito/xakalito/chacalito (literally "little jackal"). Compare Mexican "chaka" and other Latin terms like "amixer", which convey a similar meaning.
• raspaito = Scratch-off lottery tickets.
• raspao = Cone of scraped ice, usually filled with very colorful and sweet syrups.
• ratita mopri awebao = Stereotypically, how rich kids call each other.
• real = A 5-centavo coin.
• recula = See "revosh".
• refine = Means a meal or to eat (refinar).
• rejeros = Refers to a group of men who only hang out with males. They usually go out in packs to try to pick up women, but often fail at doing so. During weekends they will typically hang out at a guy's house and drink amongst themselves. Also, they can be spotted at strip clubs too. A man who belongs to this group is know as a "rejero". The word became popular after a TV Show (La Cascara) ran a skit based on four fictional rejeros.
• repellar = To eat, eventhough you just ate.
• reventar, detonar, romper to tease or mock another person
• revosh = Reverse in a car.
• rochadera = Make out session.
• rompe pecho = Refers to a large glass bottle of beer or soda, meant to be drunk by one person. Approximately 750 mL.
• sacapulmón = see "mata puerco". A punch to the stomach with very bad technique. Translates literally to "pulling out the lungs".
• sacar la chucha = 1. To beat up 2. to be involved in a really bad accident. (Sacale la chucha a ese man - Beat that guy up; el carro se saco la chucha - the car got all ###### up)
• sae = Shortened form of the Spanish verb "saber" (To know).
• saina = Refers to a poser or one who tries to imitate and insinuate stuff they're not about just for show and impress (a "fronter").
• sainear = To pose a certain look or impression you want to give off. What a "saina" does.
• sakakaka = A popular game, when they hit you in your ass. Comes from "saca" (take out) "caca" (shit)
• salió el fulo = The sun just came out.
• sapote = a big version of chucha (see Chucha) Literally, toad.
• sarao = tacky school dances done throughout the school year.
• se le moja la canoa = ("His canoe is getting wet or sinking") it refers when a man does or acts in a "gayish" way ex: A ese man se le ta mojando la canoa.
• seco con vaca = Popular liquor Seco mixed with milk. (Seco with cow)
• sin suan = A playground swing. (Swing swang).
• sizaña = Ver "cizaña".
• solido = Referring to something that is cool or awesome. Literally "Solid".
• sopa = In basketball, a blocked shot. Also, sopón.
• sopa = The pool of sweat that forms in the underarm of a shirt. Literally, "Soup."
• soplamoco = Literally "mucus-blow, mucus-blower". A punch or slap in the face.
• surra surra = Literally "slide slide". A playground slide.
• ta cruel = when something is really bad, or really good.
• ta = short for está (it is), as in "Ta bueno" (It's good)
• taquilla = Like lie in English Example " pura taquilla" = "It's all lies"
• tarrantantan = see Buco. Buco tarrantantan (too many). Ex: Hay buco tarrantantan de hembras en la llesca = There's a lot of girls in the street.
• tas ahueva/o!" could mean "You egghead!" or "you idiot!"
• tas pescando = a person who is going to go out and pick up someone of the opposite sex/sexual partner. Literally, "going fishing."
• tas' ahorcando al padre = You have a wedgie. Literally "you are choking the priest".
• tas loco!" = Like the english "WTF!!" Made popular in panamanian boxing tv show.
• tatai = good bye in baby talk. It originated from the Chinese language.
• tatequieto = A punch that leaves someone knocked out (without movement).
• tavuel = Reversed form of vuelta. Vamos a dar una tavuel, would mean to go out (sometimes pronounced Taswel).
• tella = a way to call the bottle of alcohol.
• tembol (Triki) = Playground way of calling a "time out"
• tongo = policeman or "cop"
• tortillera = Disrespectful way to say lesbian. Literally, "tortilla maker." Equivalent Colombian "arepera"
• tostao/a = Literally "toasted". Used when someone has just smoked weed (Julio esta tostao de tanto fuma.). Similar to English slang "baked".
• totuma = Dried coconut fruit used by natives to carry water and taking a shower. Could also mean a type of haircut.
• toy = Short form of "estoy". Meaning "I am there"
• tralalai-la = gay
• tranque = Traffic jam. Example: Llegué tarde por el tranque (I was late because of the traffic jam)
• trepa que sube = A very bad situation. Also known as arroz con mango.
• trifulca = Huge brawl. Made popular by Barrios de Trifulca, a newspaper column.
• tripear = Derived from the English "Trippin'". To enjoy.
• tuti-fruti = fruit cocktail in a can usually used on Jell-O and at every birthday party. If refering to a juice or "chicha" flavor, its simply means a mixed fruit juice.
• un blanco = cigarette (cigarillo). Literally "a white one", refering to cigarette's color.
• una pinta / Una fría = a beer (una cerveza); una fría = "a cold one"; cerveza is also used.
• vaina = used to fill out blank spaces in conversations, also used like "cosa" (thing). Example: dame esa vaina meaning "give me that thing". Sometimes considered swearing, therefore equated to "shit" as in "give me that shit".
• vamos pal cuero = means let's go at it or let's do it, meaning to perform any non-specific action.
• vamos pal war = Let's have sex. Literally, "Let's go to the war.". It may also mean "going to a gunfight".
• verguero = A very big problem. (Que verguero se le formo al presidente.)
• wari-wari = Language spoken by the people of the Bocas del Toro province years ago. It's a creole language originating from English, Spanish and French.
• welemedia/soksniffa = Literally, "sock sniffer." Also, a person who sucks up.
• xopá = a special greeting word derived from the reversal of "pasó", from "¿qué pasó?" meaning "what's up?", lit. "what happened"
• yeye = a wealthy person who likes to show off a lot. Preppy kid. For example someone who lives in Punta Paitilla, drives multiple luxury cars, and refuses to eat fried fish at beach side locals restaurants.
• yeyooo = Greeting among Panamanian youth. Meaning everything is cool. Comes from singer "El Kid"
• zambito/a = In the region of Azuero (The Provinces of Los Santos and Herrera) is a slang meaning dude, child or teenagers (boys) Zambita fem. slang meaning dude, child or teenagers (Girls)
• zocarest, golpe de ala or grajo = bad smell under armpit.