Language: Learning Slang on Site

Learning a new language is a lengthy process that requires a lot of determination, patience, and curiosity. My intentions when I first began learning Spanish in high school were solely to fulfill the foreign language requirement of graduation. However, I discovered a passion for the language, and even more, craved the feeling of accomplishment that couples with the acquisition of a new language. Therefore, I continued my Spanish education at Gustavus, though I started in a low level class: 102. Those who have experienced the journey of learning a language know the struggles that go along with it. Not only are you expected to memorize the vocabulary and grammar, you also need to understand the culture and background. A major part of culture is slang, and for me, this has been my favorite challenge while learning Spanish.

Before diving into some of the slang that I have learned in Spain, I want to talk a little about why slang is so crucial in language acquisition. Slang is a type of communication that you will not find in a textbook, but is vital to clear communication. During conversations with your friends and family, how often do you use slang? You may not realize it, but I guarantee that it is often and has significance in the context of the conversation! This is the case in all cultures, including Spain.

Because slang is used universally by native speakers, knowing it helps you connect more with the locals. Therefore, this important reason to learn slang applies mostly to those who wish to study abroad or reach the near-native level. You can not truly become immersed in a culture if you don’t know the slang. Since the main goal of this trip was to experience cultural immersion, I spent a lot of time trying to learn and understand the common street words. However, it was not until I arrived in Spain and began speaking with the locals that I realized I knew virtually NONE! Because of this, I often felt uncomfortable in informal conversations, even with my host mom. As I started learning some of the most important words such as “vale” and “claro,” I had more fun interacting with the locals because I felt like I was one of them! “vale” is the Spanish version of “okay” and is used A LOT, while “claro” translates more or less to “clear,” and is used to affirm ideas or agree with someone. A couple of other popular phrases that are used universally are shortened versions of what I learned in high school. For example, rather than saying “Buenos d​í​as,” locals seem to prefer “Buen d​í​a.” It is also extremely common to greet someone with “Qu​é​ tal” which basically means “What’s up.” Before this trip, I had never used that phrase, because I learned to use “Como est​á​s.” However, I could sense the different reactions depending on which phrase I used. I definitely felt a greater sense of belonging and easiness when using the slang version. Saying goodbye to someone rarely involves the actual word for goodbye “adios.” Rather, “Luego” conveys the message of “later!”

After I realized these phrases were used by locals, I used them in many conversations with my host mom, the local volunteers that we worked with, and strangers on the street and in stores. And while this slang was sufficient to add a level of comfort in conversations, it was not enough to make me feel as though I was a local. To experience that greater degree of immersion, there were several more phrases that I needed to learn. Luckily, my Spanish teacher was only 28 years old, super funny, and up-to-date on current slang! Each day we learned new slang, and even had entire class periods dedicated to it. Here is a list of some of my favorites!

Eric drinking from a fountain in Xativa. This is a moment where you would say, “Eric, t​ú​ est​á​s como una cabra!” which means he is acting crazy like a goat.

No hay prisa= No hurry Ni fu ni fa= not good, not bad, just meh No pasa nada= No worries, all is well, no big deal

I used this one ALL the time! Because I am a pretty chill person, it honestly was my favorite saying!

Para gustos, colores= to each their own, everyone has their own opinion Pasta= cash, money No te flipes= don’t flip out

Tio/tia= dude No quiero lios= I don’t want problems Qu​é​ asco= EW! Bueno, se hace tarde= It’s getting late (A spanish version of the Minnesota passive-aggressive way to say you want to leave) Ya veremos= We will see Qu​é​ guay= how cool Qu​é​ mono= how cute

THEN, there’s some fun insults that can be used when interacting with friends. Eres un loro= you talk a lot Eres un burro= you are dumb Estas como una cabra= you are crazy

Eres una gallina= you are chicken

When all is said and done, I feel like my communication skills improved vastly through this study abroad experience. However, there were definitely times where I felt overwhelmed and defeated because I couldn’t grasp the context of a conversation, or convey my thoughts and opinions properly. For example, during the community service, the local volunteers sometimes held conversations while we were working on a project or playing a game together. I would do my best to try to pick up on words, but since they were only speaking with each other, there was a lot that I couldn’t understand. This was frustrating because when I was directly involved in a conversation with those same men, I could easily communicate. Therefore, even though I know some of the most popular Spanish slang, I still have a lot of work ahead of me if I really want to be proficient in the language. However, I loved my time in Spain and am feeling more inspired than ever to keep learning. For now, I am content with learning the slang from Spain, but maybe someday I will have the opportunity to learn the slang in some Latin American countries! First, I’m going to take my time readjusting to the USA/GAC culture. Afterall, “No hay prisa!”