21 Dominican Slang Terms That You Probably Use All the Time (2024)
Can we just take a second to acknowledge that Dominicans are some of the funniest people on the planet? It doesn't matter what we're going through, you can always count on us to come through with the playful jokes and Dominican comedy. With that said, part of our humor is rooted in how we play with language. There's no denying that Dominicans have their own version of Spanish — that's why, why when other Latinxs find themselves in a room filled with chatty Spanish-speaking Dominicans, they can't always keep up or understand what we're saying.
We love to break up words and even merge English with Spanish. For instance, while most Latinxs refer to gum as goma, Dominicans like to refer to it as chicle, which comes from the gum brand Chiclets. Most of us grew up hearing our parents refer to cereal as conflé, which comes from the Kellogg's Corn Flakes cereal brand. So much slang (like vaina and vacano) has become a part of everyday language — Dominican comedians like Aida Rodriguez regularly drop our slang words in their standup. While these words and phrases aren't officially in the dictionary, they might as well be — you won't find a Dominican who doesn't frequently use most of the slang terms ahead. If you're Dominican, you'll nod along, and if you're not, you'll feel like you're legit learning a new language. But one thing's for sure: you'll laugh at the meanings and find yourself obsessing over a word or two.
Yala is probably one of my favorite Dominican slangs. This is a common word used in informal settings around friends. It's a common way to say, "okay." If something is okay or alright, then “yala” is the word you want to use. So next time you want to say “o*kay” in the DR make sure to use “yala”.
Your pana is your buddy, your pal, your bro—take your pick! A term of endearment and closeness, but also a cool word to use, it's something you can use with all your new friends in the Dominican Republic! This word is also used in many other countries to mean the same thing.
Te Quiero – Te Amo. “Te amo” translates directly to, “I love you.” You might be thinking, “Isn't that exactly what 'te quiero' meant?” Well, yes —and no. Saying “te amo” is much more romantic and affectionate, and should be reserved for serious relationships and immediate family members.
Borrowed by English, papi is a Spanish colloquialism for “daddy,” extended as a general term of endearment like “buddy” for a friend or “my man” for a romantic partner.
In Spanish slang, "white girl" is typically referred to as "gringa" or "rubia." These terms are often used to describe a Caucasian female, specifically one who may be perceived as being privileged or having a certain level of entitlement.
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