Culture Shock! Chile - A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette

200 CultureShock! Chile

Chilean Slang English Meaning

fome boring

Gabachos French

gallo a guy, a man

la gallada the people

gringos Americans and Britons

gordo/a

term of endearment, literally

fat or fatty

guagua baby

harto

1) adjective—a lot, plenty;

2) verb—estar harto/a—to be fed

up, unable to stand or support

something anymore

huevón/ona

(noun.& adjective)

can be a vulgar expression or an

affectionate chiding. To say this

while holding one hand palm

up, fingers curled, as if holding

an apple, is a very obscene and

insulting gesture.

lolo/a teenager

luca

1,000 (commonly used to refer

to 1,000 pesos)

mina woman

mono

a monkey; a cartoon; a doodle,

depending on the context.

negro/a a term of endearment

onda

the essence or spirit of something,

often used in the expression Qué

onda? meaning What’s up? or

What’s your problem?

oye!

an informal greeting, roughly

the equivalent of “hey,” but much

more widespread

pacos police officers

palta Chilean for avocado