Spanish Slang and Expressions used in Cuba

Chévere - cool, great

Guagua - bus

Chisme - gossip

Chancleta - flip-flops

Jeva - girlfriend

Bacán - wealthy, fancy

Coger - to take (in Cuba, this word means "to take" but in other Spanish-speaking countries it can have a more vulgar connotation)

Ché - hey

Cándela - trouble, problems

Guajiro - person from the countryside

Camello - a long line of people waiting for something (often used to refer to a line for transportation)

Chivatón - snitch

Yuma - foreigner (specifically from the United States)

Tumbao - rhythm, style

Candela - hot (both in temperature and in personality)

Chivato - tattletale

Churro - mistake, error

Picar - to flirt, to hit on someone

Botar la pelota - to pass the buck, to blame someone else

Chispa - a spark, energy.

Embullo - enthusiasm, excitement

Jinetero/a - hustler, someone who tries to take advantage of tourists

Pila - a lot, a ton (of something)

Cachar - to understand, to catch on

Caña - a beer (also can refer to sugar cane, which is a common crop in Cuba)

Dar bala - to talk a lot, to babble

Despelote - chaos, disorder

Empingao - stiff, stuck-up

Fula - ugly

Guapería - machismo, arrogance

Mariposa - gay man (can be considered offensive)

Jodedor - someone who likes to joke around, a prankster

Merienda - a snack or light meal

Pilón - a little extra something (like a bonus or a little gift)

Poner los pelos de punta - to give someone goosebumps, to be scary or thrilling

Rayado - crazy, out of one's mind

Salir del closet - to come out of the closet, to reveal one's homosexuality

Sobaco - armpit

Tener mala leche - to have bad luck, to be unlucky

Tocayo - someone with the same first name.

Tronco - dude, guy

Tumbador - someone who knocks things over, or a burglar

Papi chulo - an attractive man (can also have sexual connotations)

Jitomate - a tomato (in some regions of Cuba, this word is used instead of the standard Spanish word, "tomate")

Jaba - a bag or purse

Guapería - brashness, boldness, showiness

Chiflado - crazy, insane

Chamba - work or job

Poner los pelos de gallina - to give someone goosebumps, to be scary or thrilling

Yeyo - cocaine (can also refer to someone who is high on cocaine)

Tostón - a coin worth two pesos in Cuba

Sato - cheap or low quality

Rumbón - a big party, or a party animal

Muela - a lie, a false story

Machetazo - a heavy blow or hit (can also refer to a sudden, violent event)

Estar al tiro - to be alert or ready for anything

Chambelán - someone who is good at flirting or seduction (can also refer to a courtier or attendant)

Sereno - calm, cool, collected

Malanga - a root vegetable that is a common staple in Cuban cuisine

Tremendo/a - amazing, incredible, impressive.