Spanish Gen Z Slang You Won’t Learn in School

Language has never been able to develop as quickly and as easily as it can today, thanks to the internet! Now, new terminology can spread like wildfire, and different languages are able to make contact easier than ever before. It’s no surprise that modern Spanish Gen Z slang revolves around technology and social media, but you may be surprised to hear how many are actually borrowed from English. If you’re struggling to find a way to express yourself in Spanish the way you do in English, look no further.

Even the youngest, trendiest teacher might not be completely aware of these popular new slang terms taking the Spanish-speaking world by storm. Hopefully putting these terms into practice helps you feel more confident sounding like a native speaker and making Spanish friends.

Language is always changing

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Just like how “groovy” and “tubular” went out of style, these terms will peak and decline too. It’s helpful to stay up-to-date on words your peers are using, not only to sound native, but also to be able to understand your peers. One of the biggest challenges when speaking to native Spanish speakers is that they don’t sound like a textbook, they sound like a real, human person who might talk too fast, mumble a little, and use words you won’t find in a classroom.

Therefore, some of the best ways to keep up with modern slang is to watch movies in Spanish, read current articles and books in Spanish, and even seek out Spanish content on social media. That way, you can keep current on real, non-academic words while learning academic Spanish in school, while studying abroad or learning online.

Spanish Gen Z slang terms

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This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it’s a great starting point! Learn these terms and you’ll start to see them everywhere.

Slang borrowed from English

You’ll surely recognize these phrases! These Gen Z slang terms were popularized on the internet and were borrowed from English.

1. Cringe (adj.)- cringe
   • Use with the verb ser to describe something that is or was cringe, or with the verb dar.
   • Ex: Fue muy cringe. Da muy cringe. It was very cringe.
2. Simp (n.)- simp
   • Use with the verb ser to describe someone as a simp.
   • Ex: Es un simp. He is a simp.

Slang terms in Spanish but stemmed from English

These words are in Spanish, but they are translated or approximated versions of English words.

1. La cabra- the G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time)
   • Although the noun is feminine, it’s used for any gender that you are describing as the GOAT.
2. Stalkear- to cyber-stalk
   • While perseguir e acechar are other great verbs to say stalk, this is an updated, casual way to specifically refer to cyber-stalking someone’s social media.

Slang terms in Spanish that stemmed from Spanish

These words are slang terms that emerged from other Spanish words, so these might be the least recognizable for English speakers learning Spanish. Context is especially important for these phrases to learn where the words originated from so you can better memorize them.

1. Hacer un sinpa– to leave a place without paying.
   • Sinpa comes from sin pagar o without paying.
   • Ex:
2. En plan- it’s a filler word used like the English word “like”
   • Ex: ¿Y yo dije, en plan, de verdad? And I said, like, really?
3. Molar- to be cool
   • This is a gustar-like verb!
   • Me mola esta peli. This movie is so cool.

Spanish texting terminology

When you first add a new Spanish-speaking friend on WhatsApp, don’t be surprised when you start seeing these acronyms!

1. ntp (no te preocupes)– don’t worry
2. tqm (te quiero mucho)- I love you a lot
3. cdt (cuídate)– take care

There’s so much more where these came from! What other Spanish Gen Z slang words or phrases do you want to learn how to say?