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Spanish speakers, what are some funny Spanish phrases?

07/08/25 5:03pm

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Alejandra Alfonzo
Language Instructor

07/16/25 1:43am

1. No tengo pelos en la lengua 😛
- Literal translation: I don’t have hairs on my tongue."
- Meaning:I speak my mind. (No filter, no regrets.)

2. Tirar la casa por la ventana 🪟
- Literal translation:To throw the house out the window.
- Meaning: To spare no expense (e.g., a wedding, party, or midlife crisis).

3. La media naranja 🍊
- Literal translation: The half orange.
- Meaning: Your soulmate. (Because love = finding your fruity other half.) Ejemplo: Ella es mi media naranja (she’s my soulmate)

4. Está más loco que una cabra 🐐
- Literal translation: Crazier than a goat.
- Meaning: Absolutely nuts. (Goats: nature’s comedians.)

5. Está más loco que mono con navaja 🔪
- Literal translation: Crazier than a monkey with a knife.
- Meaning: Very crazy

6. Me importa un huevo 🥚
- Literal translation: I care an egg.
- Meaning: I don’t give a damn. (Argentine indifference)

7. Sos más falso que billete de 3 pesos
- Literal translation: You’re faker than a 3-peso bill. 💵
- Meaning: You are so fake. (A currency that doesn’t exist)

8. Más raro que perro en moto 🏍️
- Literal translation: Weirder than a dog on a motorcycle."
- Meaning: Bizarre AF.

9. Estar hasta la p*** madre
- Literal translation: To be up to the mother’s [you know]."
- Meaning: Fed up. (When patience evaporates.)

10. Más lento que tortuga con tapones. 🐢
- Literal translation: Slower than a turtle with earplugs.
- Meaning: Painfully slow.

11. No es por nada, pero…
- Literal translation: It’s not for anything, but…
- Meaning: Proceeds to roast you.

12. Cagarse de la risa 🤣
- Literal translation: To crap oneself from laughing.
- Meaning: Laughing uncontrollably.

13. Ser un sapo 🐸
- Literal translation: To be a toad.
- Meaning: A snitch.

14. Metí la pata 🦶
- Literal translation: I put my paw/foot in it.
- Meaning: I messed up. (Oops, my bad)

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Hunter Rising
wikiHow Staff

07/08/25 5:04pm

There are many weird Spanish phrases that sound funny when they're translated literally but make total sense in Spanish. Here are a few standout Spanish phrases with their English translations and meanings:

No saber ni papa de algo (Not knowing a potato about something): another way to say "I don't have a clue"
No ver tres en un burro (Can't see 3 people on a donkey): used to describe someone with bad eyesight
No tener pelos en la lengua (Has no hairs on their tongue): used to describe someone who's blunt and says how they're feeling directly
Ponte las pilas (Put your batteries in): another way to say "Hurry up!" or "Let's get going!"
Ser pan comido (To be eaten bread): another way to say something is really easy
La última coca cola desierto (The last Coca-Cola in the desert): a way to describe someone who thinks they're really important or attractive
Estar como una cabra (To be like a goat): used to describe someone who's acting a little crazy or bizarre
Tomar el pelo (to take the hair): used when you're making a joke, similar to "You're kidding"
Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda (Although the monkey is dressed in silk, it remains a monkey): used to describe someone who is trying to look like or be someone or something they're not
Camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente (The shrimp who falls asleep is washed away by the current): another way to say act quickly or you'll miss out, similar to "You snooze, you lose!"