Spanish Slang and Expressions used in Ecuador

Chuchaqui - hangover

Guagua - baby

Chévere - cool, great

Huevón - lazy, dumb

Bacán - awesome, cool

Chuta - darn, shoot

Pana - friend, buddy

Cana - police

Chamba - job, work

Guambra - young person, kid

Cholo - person of indigenous or mixed race

Echar una mano - to lend a hand, to help

Chupar - to drink alcohol

Coger - to grab, to take (note: this word can have different meanings in different countries, so be careful with its use!)

Maje - guy, dude

Papaya - easy target, someone who is easily fooled

Pelo - hair

Taita - father, dad

Ñaño/Ñaña - brother/sister (often used as a term of endearment for close friends or family members)

Achachay - expression used to express coldness or surprise.

Pelado/Pelada - guy/girl

Vale - okay, sure, thanks

Chiro - stylish, fashionable

Pato - drunk

Chuta madre - expression of surprise or frustration (similar to "oh my gosh" or "darn it")

Pinche - annoying, bothersome

Mandar fruta - to talk nonsense, to make things up

Tinto - black coffee

Mote - a type of corn-based food commonly eaten in Ecuador

Pinta - appearance, look

Chucha - vagina (note: this word can be considered vulgar and offensive in some contexts)

Sapo/Sapa - gossip, someone who gossips

Chévere serenito - expression meaning "everything is okay"

Chamba foránea - work done in another city or country

Chévere al pelo - expression meaning "everything is perfect"

Pana sinvergüenza - expression meaning "shameless friend"

Mandado/a - someone who is controlled or manipulated by their partner or significant other

Tirar la casa por la ventana - to spend a lot of money on something

Aguafiestas - party pooper, someone who ruins the fun

Montubio - person from the rural areas of Ecuador, especially those from the coast.

Chuchaqui moral - a feeling of guilt or regret after a night of drinking

Engrupido/a - someone who is arrogant or conceited

Sapito/a - someone who is inexperienced or naive

Chamba buena/mala - good/bad job

Cachudo/a - someone who has been cheated on or cuckolded

Guata - stomach, belly

Huevada - something trivial or unimportant

Pendejo/a - someone who is foolish or stupid

Pucha - expression of surprise or disappointment (similar to "oh no" or "darn it")

Chévere chuta - expression meaning "cool, but difficult"

Machete - cheat sheet, notes used to cheat on a test

Chupete - pacifier, but can also mean alcoholic drink

Pelucon/a - someone who is wealthy and/or conservative

Canguil - popcorn

Cuero - leather, but can also mean attractive person

Chévere rato - expression meaning "cool, for a little while"

Boludo/a - someone who is stupid or slow-witted

Plata - money

Chamba fija - steady job or employment

Cholo pobre - someone who is poor and of indigenous or mixed race background.