15 Funny Spanish Phrases Native Speakers Use in Everyday Conversations
Being up-to-date with the latest funny Spanish phrases is important. These phrases are always changing. They show how language changes too.
When you know the new funny phrases, you understand the language better. And these phrases don’t always make sense when translated word-for-word, literally. But if you explore them, you really learn how the Spanish language truly works.
Spring Spanish has made a great video where you can guess 10 of these funny Spanish sayings and phrases:
And one more thing: funny phrases also tell you a lot about the culture. They come from shared experiences and inside jokes. That means that using these phrases helps you connect with Spanish speakers.
Be up-to-date with 15 funny Spanish phrases – click on any of these to learn more about them:
| Spanish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I’m fed up or exasperated with something | |
| An expression of anger or frustration | |
| You’re crazy or acting weird | |
| You’re awesome or amazing | |
| I’m extremely tired or fed up | |
| I don’t care at all | |
| You’re very attractive or good-looking | |
| You’re a big liar or exaggerator | |
| To be very cunning or street-smart | |
| To be very hopeful or persistent against all odds | |
| To be completely broke or penniless | |
| To be completely clueless or disoriented | |
| To be a big liar or exaggerator | |
| To be extremely skinny or thin | |
| To be very, very old |
1. ¡Estoy hasta la coronilla!
Literal meaning: “I’m up to the little crown!”
Meaning: I’m fed up or exasperated with something.
Usage: You can use this phrase when you’re really tired of a situation or feeling extremely annoyed. It’s a way to express your frustration in a humorous way.
In an actual dialogue, it would appear as:
Ana: ¡Estoy hasta la coronilla! [I’m fed up!]
Bianca: ¿Qué pasó? [What happened?]
2. ¡Me cago en la leche!
Literal meaning: “I defecate in the milk!”
Meaning: An expression of anger or frustration.
Usage: This is a vulgar phrase, so be careful when using it. It’s a strong way to show you’re really mad or upset about something. Use it with close friends or in informal settings.
During a real exchange, it would look like this:
Aurelio: ¡Me cago en la leche! [Damn it!]
Riqui: Tranquilo, no te alteres. [Calm down, don’t get upset.]
3. ¡Estás como una cabra!
Literal meaning: “You’re like a goat!”
Meaning: You’re crazy or acting weird.
Usage: If someone is behaving strangely or in a silly way, you can use this phrase to tease them or point out their unusual behavior in a funny way.
In a realistic interaction, it would be:
Sergi: ¡Estás como una cabra! [You’re acting crazy!]
Gavi: ¿Qué? ¿Por qué dices eso? [What? Why do you say that?]
4. ¡Eres la hostia!
Literal meaning: “You’re the communion wafer!”
Meaning: You’re awesome or amazing.
Usage: This is a positive phrase to compliment someone or express your admiration for them. It’s a way to say they’re really great or talented at something.
When conversing in the real world:
Hernan: ¡Eres la hostia! [You’re awesome!]
Miquel: Gracias, tú también. [Thanks, you too.]
5. ¡Estoy hasta el moño!
Literal meaning: “I’m up to the hair bun!”
Meaning: I’m extremely tired or fed up.
Usage: Similar to “¡Estoy hasta la coronilla!”, but this one specifically refers to being very tired or exhausted. Use it when you’re feeling drained or fed up with something.
In a natural, everyday conversation, it would take the form of:
Gabi: ¡Estoy hasta el moño! [I’m exhausted!]
Jessi: Deberías descansar un poco. [You should rest a bit.]
6. ¡Me importa un pepino!
Literal meaning: “A cucumber matters to me!”
Meaning: I don’t care at all.
Usage: This is a casual way to express that you’re not interested or don’t care about something. Use it when you want to dismiss or show indifference towards a topic or situation.
In a spontaneous, unscripted dialogue, it would be expressed as:
Ariadna: ¡Me importa un pepino! [I don’t care at all!]
Miranda: Vaya, qué directo. [Wow, how straightforward.]
7. ¡Estás que muerdes!
Literal meaning: “You’re biting!”
Meaning: You’re very attractive or good-looking.
Usage: This is a playful way to compliment someone’s appearance or say they look really good. It can be used in a flirtatious way or just as a friendly compliment.
In an authentic, real-time exchange:
Lukas: ¡Estás que muerdes! [You look stunning!]
Sergio: Gracias, tú también estás guapísimo/a. [Thanks, you look great too.]
8. ¡Tienes más cuento que Calleja!
Literal meaning: “You have more stories than Calleja!”
Meaning: You’re a big liar or exaggerator.
Usage: Use this phrase when someone is clearly stretching the truth or making up stories. It’s a humorous way to call them out for their lies or exaggerations.
When engaging in a realistic, unplanned dialogue, it would sound like this:
Maria: ¡Tienes más cuento que Calleja! [You’re such a liar!]
Georgina: ¡Oye, es verdad! [Hey, it’s true!]
9. ¡Estar más salado que el Océano Pacífico!
Literal meaning: “To be saltier than the Pacific Ocean!”
Meaning: To be very cunning or street-smart.
Usage: This phrase is used to describe someone who is very savvy, clever, or experienced in dealing with difficult situations or people. It’s a way to compliment their resourcefulness or survival skills.
Let’s take a look at this real-life exchange:
Anja: ¡Estar más salado que el Océano Pacífico! [You’re so street-smart!]
Blanca: Gracias, la experiencia es una gran maestra. [Thanks, experience is a great teacher.]
10. ¡Tener más moral que el Alcoyano!
Literal meaning: “To have more spirit than Alcoyano!”
Meaning: To be very hopeful or persistent against all odds.
Usage: This phrase refers to having a lot of determination and never giving up, even when the odds are stacked against you. Use it to praise someone’s unwavering spirit or resilience.
In an actual, face-to-face interaction:
Luis: ¡Tener más moral que el Alcoyano! [You’re so persistent!]
Pepe: Nunca me rindo fácilmente. [I never give up easily.]
11. ¡Estar más seco que la mojama!
Literal meaning: “To be drier than dried tuna!”
Meaning: To be completely broke or penniless.
Usage: This phrase is used to describe someone who is completely out of money or has no financial resources. It’s a humorous way to say they’re broke.
A real-life exchange would be:
Roger: ¡Estar más seco que la mojama! [You’re completely broke!]
Joseph: Sí, este mes ha sido duro. [Yes, this month has been tough.]
12. ¡Estar más perdido que un pulpo en un garaje!
Literal meaning: “To be more lost than an octopus in a garage!”
Meaning: To be completely clueless or disoriented.
Usage: Use this phrase when someone seems totally confused or has no idea what’s going on. It’s a funny way to point out their bewilderment or lack of understanding.
A Spanish conversation with this phrase could be:
Jennifer: ¡Estar más perdido que un pulpo en un garaje! [You’re so clueless!]
Roland: ¿Podrías explicarme de nuevo? [Could you explain it to me again?]
13. ¡Tener más cuento que Calleja!
Literal meaning: “To have more stories than Calleja!”
Meaning: To be a big liar or exaggerator.
Usage: This phrase is used to call out someone who is known for telling tall tales or exaggerating stories. It’s a humorous way to accuse them of being a liar.
In a real-time Spanish dialouge:
Ronald: ¡Tener más cuento que Calleja! [You’re such a storyteller!]
Fernando: ¡Pero si es verdad! [But it’s true!]
14. ¡Estar más delgado que las patas de un gallo!
Literal meaning: “To be thinner than a rooster’s legs!”
Meaning: To be extremely skinny or thin.
Usage: This phrase is used to describe someone who is very thin or has lost a lot of weight. It’s a playful way to comment on their slender appearance.
Here’s how you can use this funny Spanish phrase:
Emma: ¡Estar más delgado que las patas de un gallo! [You’re so skinny!]
Nina: Sí, he perdido peso últimamente. [Yes, I’ve lost weight lately.]
15. ¡Ser más viejo que andar a pie!
Literal meaning: “To be older than walking!”
Meaning: To be very, very old.
Usage: Use this phrase to humorously point out that someone is really old or has been around for a long time. It’s an exaggerated way to refer to their advanced age.
A candid, real example of this sentence could look like this:
Ainoa: ¡Ser más viejo que andar a pie! [You’re so old!]
Balboa: ¡Oye, respeta a tus mayores! [Hey, respect your elders!]
How to learn funny Spanish phrases
Time to admit: learning funny Spanish phrases is… fun. 🙂
But how do you do it?
You need to listen and read a lot of Spanish. You can check out easy Spanish books, for example.
You can also watch the best Spanish Netflix shows and exercise with Lingopie (It’s a great app: read our Lingopie review.)
You can even learn Spanish with music. Or with Spanish podcasts.
The most important thing you can do to remember these funny Spanish phrases is to write them down. Use it with AI language learning apps, use it with your native speaker friends and/or tutors.
And don’t forget that learning Spanish (or for that matter, any language) is a fun experience itself. Humor makes learning enjoyable. Don’t be too serious 🙂
Practice funny Spanish phrases with pre-made exercises
It’s your lucky day! You stumbled upon this website where you not only learn Spanish, but you can practice it, too.
And this was just a glimpse of what we have to offer. Sign up now and see our Full Practice Worksheet Library!
Learn funny Spanish sayings for everyday use with Conversation Based Chunking
One more tip that will be useful is trying the Conversation Based Chunking method. It’s a perfect method to use these new Spanish sentences in context.
The chunking method focuses on the natural building blocks of the language, instead of teaching you grammar. If you sign up right now, you will have access to essential Spanish chunking lists, practice exercises, and my favorite resources to learn Spanish.
Time to start a funny journey!
