The Words — Page 2

me cae bien - a young man giving a thumbs up about someone as he walks with a friend

me cae bien: Approval that stops well short of romance Jul 30, 2026

echarse un taco - a young man walking toward a taco stand at golden hour

echarse un taco: Two coworkers, 2pm, already halfway out the door Jul 29, 2026

chingar - a woman rolling her eyes and covering her ears at the drilling coming through the ceiling

chingar: One verb that can mean work, fail, steal, break, or worse Jul 28, 2026

de plano - a woman with a mug wagging a finger while a younger woman listens

de plano: Sounds neutral. Lands like a door closing Jul 27, 2026

jefa - a young man caught taking a pan off the stove while his mother stands in the doorway

jefa: Literally 'boss lady'. Mexicans mean their mother Jul 26, 2026

nel - a man in sunglasses flatly refusing a watch a street seller is holding up

nel: Two letters longer than 'no', and far more final Jul 25, 2026

cálmate - a woman with her head in her hands at a table while a friend puts a hand on her arm

cálmate: One word that has never calmed anybody down Jul 24, 2026

guácala - a woman recoiling from an old container she has just opened at the fridge

guácala: A six-year-old at the dinner table, and every adult agreeing Jul 23, 2026

pedo - a young man walking off fast while a woman whispers to a friend behind him

pedo: Fart, problem, drunk, and party. Same four letters Jul 22, 2026

echar los perros - a young man leaning on the wall over a woman, laying on the charm

echar los perros: You throw dogs at someone. Somehow that means you like them Jul 21, 2026

quemado - a young man backing away from a jar he has just smashed on a shop floor

quemado: Caught out, in front of exactly the wrong people Jul 20, 2026

al tiro - a delivery rider outside a shop pulling his helmet on while checking his phone

al tiro: Being told to be sharp, usually right after you were not Jul 19, 2026

broder - two friends high-fiving over a skateboard on a Condesa corner

broder: An English word, and you are still saying it wrong Jul 18, 2026

¿qué hongo? - two friends greeting each other outside a cafe near the university

¿qué hongo?: Nonsense on purpose. Only works with people who know you Jul 17, 2026

me da hueva - a young man slumped on some steps waving off a friend holding a soccer ball

me da hueva: You have the energy. You do not have it for this Jul 16, 2026

relajo - a woman laughing off a kitchen argument while a man gestures over a burnt quesadilla

relajo: Chaos, but the kind everyone enjoyed Jul 15, 2026

me cae - two women on a park bench, one insisting on something with both hands

me cae: A gut reaction, used as a way to swear you mean it Jul 14, 2026

raite - two friends pulling on helmets beside a motorbike outside a taco stand

raite: It is the English word 'ride', wearing a Mexican spelling Jul 13, 2026

pinche - a man with a briefcase glaring up at the floor counter of an elevator

pinche: Perfectly normal with friends. Career-limiting at work Jul 12, 2026

cotorrear - three friends leaning on a wall with coffees, all talking at once

cotorrear: Three hours of talking and nothing was decided Jul 11, 2026

morro - two older men on a bench pointing out a teenager on a skateboard

morro: Called across a field at somebody's little brother Jul 10, 2026

tranquilo - a woman on a park bench holding up both hands to a man standing over her

tranquilo: Says relax. Can land as 'stop overreacting' Jul 9, 2026

hasta atrás - a young man sitting on a curb at night holding his head while a friend crouches beside him

hasta atrás: Third mezcal in, and the friend has gone quiet Jul 8, 2026

órale pues - a woman on the phone at a sidewalk table, agreeing to something with a grin

órale pues: 'Now' plus 'then'. Somehow that is a goodbye Jul 7, 2026