Regional words

The same thing can have a different name from country to country, and a word that's fine in one place can be rude in another.

Be careful with these

to take, to catch (coger)

coger
fine in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Spain
tomar, agarrar
use these in Mexico, Argentina and much of Central America

Coger is a vulgar word for sex in Mexico, Argentina and parts of Central America.

bug (bicho)

bicho
fine in most countries
insecto
safe everywhere

Bicho is vulgar in Puerto Rico.

seashell (concha)

concha
fine in most countries
caracol
safe everywhere

Concha is vulgar slang in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Peru, so say caracol there.

mixed Black and white heritage (mulato)

mulato, mulata
heard in the Caribbean, Brazil and Colombia

It's usually traced to mula (mule) and comes from colonial racial categories, which is why many people find it offensive. Some people in the Caribbean use it neutrally or for themselves. Don't use it for someone else unless you know they're fine with it.

Indian, Indigenous person (indio)

indio, india
often an insult
indígena
safe everywhere

In much of Latin America, indio has been used to call someone uneducated or backward, so it can really sting. Say indígena. In the Dominican Republic it has long described skin color, and usually isn't meant as an insult.

Black, as a nickname (negro, negrita)

negro, negra
fine for the color; nickname use varies
mi negra, negrito
affectionate in the Caribbean and elsewhere

Between family and partners these can be terms of endearment, whatever the person's color. Said by a stranger or a foreigner, they can land very differently. Understand them when you hear them, and don't copy them.

fat, as a nickname (gordo, gordita)

gordo, gorda
direct, can be rude
gordito, mi gorda
often affectionate

People may call a partner or child gordita with real affection, whatever their size. That doesn't carry over to strangers, where it comments on someone's body.

Asian people (chino)

chino, china
used across Latin America
asiático
safe everywhere

People of any East Asian background often get called chino. It's not always meant badly, but many find it dismissive, so use the person's actual nationality or asiático. In Mexico, chino also means curly-haired.

right now (ahorita)

ahorita
means different things by country

In Mexico it can mean right now or in a while. In the Caribbean it often means later, sometimes much later, so ask if timing matters.

Getting around

bus

guagua
Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic
camión
Mexico
colectivo
Argentina
bus
Colombia, Central America
autobús
understood everywhere

car

carro
Caribbean, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela
auto
Argentina, Chile
coche
Spain

tire

goma
Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic
llanta
Mexico, Colombia, Central America
rueda
Spain

gasoline

gasolina
most countries
nafta
Argentina, Uruguay

to drive

manejar
most of Latin America
conducir
Spain, also understood everywhere

to park

parquear
Caribbean, Colombia
estacionar
Mexico, Argentina, Chile
aparcar
Spain

Food and drink

beans

frijoles
Cuba, Mexico, Central America
habichuelas
Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic
caraotas
Venezuela
porotos
Argentina, Chile
judías
Spain

banana

plátano
Cuba, Mexico, Spain
guineo
Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic
cambur
Venezuela
banana
Argentina

In the Caribbean, plátano often means plantain, the larger cooking variety.

orange

naranja
understood everywhere
china
Puerto Rico

papaya

papaya
most countries
fruta bomba
Cuba

Use fruta bomba in Cuba. Papaya is vulgar slang there.

avocado

aguacate
Caribbean, Mexico, Colombia
palta
Argentina, Chile, Peru

corn on the cob

mazorca
Colombia and others
elote
Mexico, Central America
choclo
Argentina, Chile, Peru

juice

jugo
Latin America
zumo
Spain

soda

refresco
Caribbean, Mexico, Spain
gaseosa
Colombia, Argentina, Peru

drinking straw

popote
Mexico
pitillo
Colombia, Venezuela
sorbeto
Puerto Rico
sorbete
Argentina
pajita
Spain

Around the house

refrigerator

nevera
Caribbean, Colombia, Venezuela, Spain
refrigerador
Mexico, Central America, Cuba
heladera
Argentina

apartment

apartamento
Caribbean, Colombia
departamento
Mexico, Argentina, Chile
piso
Spain

to throw away

botar
Caribbean, Colombia, Mexico
tirar
Spain, Argentina, also widely understood

Everyday things

cell phone

celular
Latin America
móvil
Spain

computer

computadora
most of Latin America
computador
Colombia, Chile
ordenador
Spain

pen

pluma
Mexico, Caribbean
lapicero
Colombia, Central America, Peru
bolígrafo
Spain, also widely understood

Slang

money (slang)

baro
Cuba
chavos
Puerto Rico
cuartos
Dominican Republic
lana
Mexico
plata
South America

Dinero is correct everywhere. These are informal.

friend, buddy (slang)

asere
Cuba
pana
Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela
cuate
Mexico
parcero
Colombia
che
Argentina

cool, great (slang)

chévere
Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela
padre, chido
Mexico
bacán
Chile, Peru
guay
Spain