Venezuelan Spanish

Venezuelan Spanish is a dialect of the Spanish language spoken in Venezuela.

Spanish was introduced in Venezuela by the conquistadors. Most of them were from Andalusia, Galicia, Basque Country, and the Canary Islands. Perhaps the latter has been the most fundamental influence on modern Venezuelan Spanish, to the point that Canarian and Venezuelan accents may seem indistinguishable to other Spanish speakers. Italian and Portuguese immigrants came later in the late 19th and early 20th century, their linguistic contributions, Italian for the most part, defined this dialect.

The Spaniards additionally brought African slaves. This is the origin of expressions such as chévere ("excellent"), which comes from Yoruba ché egberi. Other non-Romance words came from Native languages, such as guayoyo (a type of coffee) and caraota (common bean).

The Venezuelan (sometime) upper-class and middle class "snob" (or "sifrino" in colloquial Venezuelan Spanish) accent is often thought of as the "pretty-boy" or "boy band" accent of Spanish. This is hardly the case for the majority of spoken Venezuelan Spanish, widely ranging from its occasional formal form, to the more common—highly slang spiced—every day form, to the heavily "thug" or "thuggish" ("malandro" in Venezuelan Spanish) inflected manner, often found in the slums or "barrios" of the country.

Dialectal features

• Venezuelan Spanish often shortens words, for example, changing para ("for") into pa. In addition, /d/ between vowels is often dropped (elision): helado ("ice cream") becomes /elaˈo/. Originally from southern Spain and the Canary Islands, these traits are common to many other Spanish variations.
• Another common feature is the aspiration of syllable-final -s, whereby adiós ("goodbye") becomes [aˈðjɔh]. Common to most coastal areas in America, the Canary Islands, and the southern half of Spain.
• As in most American dialects, also, Venezuelan Spanish has yeísmo (a merger of /ʎ/ and /ʝ/), and seseo (traditional /θ/ merges with /s/). That is, calló ("s/he became silent") and cayó ("s/he fell") are homophones, and casa ("house") is homophonous with caza ("hunt"). Seseo is common to all of America, the Canary Islands, and southern Spain, and yeísmo is prevalent in most Spanish variations.
• A characteristic common to the Venezuelan, Dominican, Cuban and Costa Rican dialects is the use of the diminutive -ico and -ica instead of the standard -ito and -ita, restricted to words with -t in the last syllable; for example, rata ("rat") becomes ratica ("little rat").
• The second-person singular informal pronoun is usually tú, as in most of Latin America and also in Spain. This practice is referred to as tuteo. However, in Zulia and some parts of Falcón and Trujillo, it is common to find voseo, that is, the use of vos instead of tú. This phenomenon is present in many other Latin American dialects (notably Rioplatense), but Zulian voseo is diptongado, that is, the conjugation preserves the diphthongs of the historical vos conjugation that have been monophthongized in Rioplatense (which means the Zulian forms are the same as those used in Spanish from Spain for the second person plural vosotros): instead of tú eres, tú estás, Zulian says vos sois, vos estáis (compare with plural forms in Spanish from Spain vosotros sois, vosotros estáis; and with Rioplatense forms vos sos, vos estás). Another exception to the tuteo of Venezuelan Spanish is the use of the second-person singular formal pronoun Usted interchangeably with tú, a practice that is unique to the states of Mérida and Tachira.
• The word vaina is used with a variety of meanings (such as "shame", "thing or topic", "pity", and many others) and often as an interjection or a nonsensical filler.
• Venezuelan Spanish has a lot of Italianisms and Anglicisms.

Regional variations

There are several sub-dialects within Venezuelan Spanish.

• The Caracas dialect, spoken in the capital: is perceived and projected by the media to be the standard Spanish of Venezuela, with its variants generally related to the social classes found therein. It is mostly used in the capital, Caracas, and in other areas of the country such as Valencia.
• The Zulian dialect in the north-west of the country, also called maracucho or marabino, which uses voseo.
• The Lara dialect, where voseo is also used, but where the Old Spanish verbal declensions -ades, -edes, -odes gave -ais, -eis, and -ois ("vos cantáis", "vos coméis", "vos sois").
• The Andean dialect, in particular the state of Táchira near the Colombian border. It is characterized by a non-aspirated pronunciation of 's' and use of Usted instead of tú, even within informal contexts. Another variant, in the states of Mérida and Trujillo, still uses Usted instead of tú, but lacks the non-aspirated pronunciation of the s.
• The Margaritan dialect, spoken in Isla Margarita and in the north-east of mainland Venezuela. The Margaritan dialect presents sometimes an interdental when pronouncing pre-vowel 's' and use of a strong 'r' instead of 'l' in most of the words.

Some examples of Spanish words common in Venezuela, including some native Venezuelanisms (slang)

• Achanta'o/Achantá = adj. A person of slow thought or slow reasoning. Someone passive, or lacking seduction skills.
• Amapuche = n. A passionate demonstration of affection. A warm hug.
• Amuñuñar = v. To tightly yet disorderly put things together.
• Agarrado(a) = adj. Selfish. See Pichirre.
• Alborotado = adj. To be excited or in a frenzy.
• Arepa = n. Armpit sweat marks. In Baseball it can also mean a score of zero. Lit. Venezuelan corn bread bun.
• Arrapado = adj. Excited (profane).
• Arrecharse = v. To get angry (profane).
• Arrecho = adj. Superlative attribute for an object or situation, namely extremely good, bad or difficult (profane).
• Arrecochinar = v. To gather people disorderly in a small space.
• Arrocear = v. To turn up at a party without being invited.
• Arrocero = n. Party crasher.
• Bachaco = n. A blond or redhead mulatto. Lit. Leafcutter ant.
• Bajarse de la mula = exp. To pay for something. To be demanded for money. To be robbed. Lit. "To get off the mule".
• Bajáte de esa mata e' coco = exp. To get your heads out of the clouds. Lit. "To get off that coconut tree."
• Bala fría = n. Junk food. A quick snack. Lit. "Cold bullet".
• Balurdo = adj. or n. (from French Balourd) An awkward or ridiculous person. A low-class person or behavior. See Chimbo
• Barrio = n. Poor neighborhood. Often built upwards on hillsides, they are a distinct and noticeable feature of the landscape in large cities in Venezuela.
• Becerro = n. A goofy person. Lit. To calf. Example: "Si eres Becerro" = You're such a goofy.
• Bicha = adj. of bitchy behavior, foxy lady, vixen.
• Birra = n. Beer.
• Bochinche = n. A gathering or noisy party. Disorder, chaos.
• Bolo = n. A single unit of Venezuelan currency. Similar to calling the U.S. Dollar a "buck."
• Bolsa = n. (or Bolsiclón) a moron.
• Bucear = v. To ogle discreetly. To peep furtively. Lit. To skin dive.
• Bululú = n. A fuss. See Bochinche
• Burda = adv. or adj. (superlative) Very much. Example: "Caminamos burda" = We walked a lot. "Ella es burda de linda" = she's very pretty.
• Buzo = n. Peeper.
• Cachapera = n. A lesbian (pejorative). Lit. woman who makes Cachapas.
• Cacharro = n. Old, worn out vehicle. A piece of junk.
• Cachicamo = n. Armadillo.
• Cachúo = adj. Someone who has been cheated on by his partner. Lit. with horns (See cuckold.)
• Caerse a palos = exp. To engage in heavy drinking. To get drunk. Lit. "To fall with sticks". See "Palos".
• Calarse = v. To tolerate something bad.
• Cambur = n. A well remunarated job in government. Lit. Banana.
• Caña = n. Booze, an alcoholic drink.
• Carajo(a) = n. A dude (profane). Lit. Crow's nest.
• Carajazo = n. See Coñazo (profane).
• Carajito(a) = n. A kid (sometimes pejorative). Diminutive of "Carajo".
• Caraotas = n. Beans. In Venezuela, Caraotas are black by default. Should beans be of a different color, the name of the color must be used. Example: "Caraotas blancas" = white beans, "Caraotas rojas" = red beans.
• Catire(a) = adj. or n. Generic for a beer. Also a nickname for the sun. Derived from the literal meaning of catire as blond person.
• Chamo(a) = n. Boy/girl. With suffix -ito: a kid; also means son or daughter. Venezuelans are well known among Spanish speakers for their love and constant use of this word, which is used repeatedly in the same fashion as the American slang dude.
• Chao = exp. (from the Italian "ciao") To bid farewell, similar to "bye".
• Chaparro = n. Slang for penis. See "Güevo". Lit. Short person, shorty.
• Chévere = adj. Fine, cool.
• Chimbo(a) = adj. Lousy. Of low quality. Bootleg. Ill made. Fake. Uncool.
• Chino(a) = n. Andean expression for a boy or girl, particularly in the Trujillo State. Lit. Chinese person.
• Chivo = n. The Boss, someone at a high position in an organization. Lit. Goat. Example: "El Chivo que más mea" (The goat who pisses the most) = the most important person.
• Chulo = n. Person who lives from/takes advantage from others, often financially. Lit. pimp.
• Churupo(s) = n. Money.
• Chola = n./adj. Flip-flops/Slippers. Accelerator pedal. Also means "speedy", for example: "Dale chola!" (Hurry up!!) or "Yo iba demasiado chola" (I was going too fast). A popular radio personality in Venezuela has the nickname "Full Chola" (Speedy)
• Choro = n. Thief, robber (pejorative).
• Coger cola pa'l (para el) cielo = exp. Masculine masturbation (profane). Lit. Hitchhike to heaven.
• Coñazo = n. A violent hit or strike (profane).
• ¡Coño! = exp. Damn! (somewhat profane, widely used).
• Coño de madre = n. A rotten bastard. (profane). Lit. "His mother's cunt".
• ¡Coño de la madre! = exp. "Oh, my fucking God!", used to denote high frustration and anger (very profane). Lit. "Mother's cunt!"
• Compinche = n. Partner, friend, or buddy.
• Contorno = n. A side dish. From Italian.
• Corotos = n. Stuff, belongings. Word derives from Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot's last name.
• Costilla = n. An affectionate way of a man to name his female partner. The term is a reference to the origin of Eve. Lit. Rib.
• Criollo = n. A local. A native of Venezuela. Something typically native. Lit. Creole.
• Cuaima = n. A very jealous/possessive and untrusting wife/girlfriend. Lit. Bushmaster (a kind of poisonous snake).
• Culo = n. A young woman (profane). Lit. Ass.
• Culillo = n. Lots of fear (profane). Lit. Small Ass.
• Curdo = adj. Drunk.
• De pinga = exp. Cool, superb, excellent (profane). See "Pepiado".
• Epa/Épale = exp. Hi or Hello (informal greeting; "What's up"). Close to the Lit. Hey.
• Fajado = n. Someone who works pretty hard/much on something. No matter if it's weekend or holiday, this person will work anyways. See Fajarse.
• Fajarse = v. To work the hardest on something until getting it done. Example: "¡Tienes que fajarte con eso!" = You have to work very hard on that!
• Filo = n. Hunger. Lit. Edge. Example: "Llevo el filo parejo" = I am very hungry.
• Franela = n. T-shirt.
• Fregar = v. To suffer the consequences of a wrong decision. To annoy. To kill. To scrub.
• Fumado = adj. or n. Stoned. Crazy, disheveled, difficult to understand. Lit. smoked a joint.
• Gafo = adj. or n. Dumb or stupid, comes for the Italian word "cafone" or "gavone" which means dumb peasant.
• Gargajo = n. Spit, a loogie.
• Gocho = adj. or n. A native of the Andean parts of Venezuela, particularly the states of Mérida, Táchira or Trujillo.
• Gringo = n. American.
• Guachicón = n. (Northeastern Venezuelan usage) An athletic shoe, sneaker.
• Guachimán = n. A vigilant o guard, derived from "watch man".
• Guáramo = n. Iron will. Courage.
• Guasa = n. To make fun of something or someone.
• Guasacaca = n. A sauce made from avocados and spices. Resembles Mexican Guacamole.
• Guaro = n. A native of Lara state.
• Guayabo = n. To be romantically disillusioned. To have the Blues. Lit. Tree of the guava fruit.
• Guayoyo = n. Slightly watered down black coffee. Commonly served after meals.
• Güevo = n. Dick, penis. Nuisance (profane). Derives from Huevo (Egg).
• Huevón (or Güebón) = n. Sucker, asshole, stupid (profane).
• Huele Verga = n. See Huevón.
• Hablame el mío/Hablame la mía = exp. Similar to "What's up?" or "What's going on?". Lit. Talk to me dude/Talk to me girl.
• Igualado(a) = adj. A demeaning term to describe someone who pretends to be of a superior financial/intellectual level than the person really is.
• Jalar Bola = v. To abuse flattering. Sweet talking, intended to get benefit from someone with selfish purposes. Similar to the expression "scratch your back". Lit. To Pull Ball.
• Jamón = n. A French kiss. Something very easy to do. A nice girl. Lit. Ham
• Jeva = n. Woman.
• Latas = v. To make out. Darse las Latas. Lit. "to give each other the cans"
• Lambucio = n. A glutton. To request food or goods in a rude way.
• Ladilla = adj. or n. Something annoying or boring. A boring or annoying person. Lit. Crab louse.
• Macundales = n. Gear, stuff. Derivated from the brand "Mac and Dale" (a belt to carry tools used by the oil industry workers in Venezuela). See Corotos.
• Malandro = n. Gangster, thug, thief, burglar, robber.
• Mamar = v. (In the continuous tense) To be penniless. Example: "Estar Mamando". (In the past participle tense) To be tired. Example: "Estar Mamado". Lit. To Suck.
• Mamahuevo = n. (or Mamagüevo) Cocksucker. A hustler (profane).
• Mamarracho = n. Someone who makes things of a very bad quality. adj. Badly done.
• Manganzón = n. A lazy person.
• Maracucho = n. (or Marabino) A native of Maracaibo or its neighborhoods.
• Marico = n. Commonly used as 'dude' between friends. 'Marica' may also be used between girl friends (profane/pejorative). Lit. A gay man.4
• Mariquera = n. (or Maricada) A little thing. A non-transcendental fact. A synonym for Vaina.
• Matar un tigre = exp. To moonlight. To have a temporary job. Lit. "To kill a tiger".
• Matraquear = v. To blackmail, to demand compensation in exchange of something, especially by corrupt cops.
• Mojón = n. A piece of defecation. A lie.
• Mojonero = n. Liar. Person who propagates "mojones". See above.
• Musiú = n. (from French Monsieur) A foreigner. A white person from a non-Hispanic country. Used to describe someone not familiar with local Venezuelan customs, awkward. "Hacerse el musiú" ("pass as a foreigner") is an expression used when someone pretends that he/she does not understand a situation to avoid involvement.
• ¡Na' Guará! = exp. An expression to denote surprise, bewilderment. Most commonly used in Lara state.
• Negrear = v. To treat someone badly, to forget somebody, as an allusion to when black people were victims of racism. Despite its origin, nowadays the term has no racist undertone. Any person can say the word to another one regardless of the color of their skin. Example: "Me negrearon" = they treated me badly, they forgot me.
• Nevera = n. Derivated from the first brand of refrigerators "New-Era".
• Niche = adj. See "Chimbo(a)". Of low class.
• No joda = exp. (or Nojoda). Venezuelan equivalent of the English curse word "Goddammit" (profane).
• Nota = n. Something nice, neat, or pleasant. A drug trip, to be "high". Lit. Note. Verbal form: Ennotarse.
• O sea = exp. A form to say whatever. Lit. Or Like. Example: "¿O sea, cómo lo hicíste?" (Like, how'd you do it!?).
• Paja = n. Bullshit. "Hablar Paja" = to bullshit someone. "Hacerse la paja" = to masturbate (profane). Lit. Hay.
• Pajizo(za) = adj. (from Paja) Someone who masturbates a lot (profane). Lit. Wanker.
• Pajúo = n. A loose synonym for Pendejo or Güevón.
• Paisano = n. From the Italian "Paesano", meaning a Venezuelan or Italian (or southern European). Abbreviated as Paisa usually refers to a native of Colombia.
• Paliza = n. See Rumba de Coñazos. See also Rumba de Palos.
• Palo = n. Alcoholic beverage. Lit. Stick. Example: "¡Tómate un palito, pues!" = Have a little drink (then)!
• Palo de agua = n. Torrential rain. Lit. Stick of water.
• Pato = n. Gay man (pejorative). Lit. Duck.
• Pana = n. Friend, buddy, dude. Interchangeable with Chamo.
• Pantallero: n. A show-off, "Pantallear". v. To lavishly flash oneself or anything of value. Derived from Pantalla (Screen).
• Papeado = adj. Of muscular or build. Buff. Derives from Papa (Potato).
• Papear = v. To eat.
• Parcha/Parchita= n. Gay man. Lit. Passion fruit.
• Pargo = n. Gay man. Lit. Red Snapper.
• Pasapalos = n. Appetizer. Snacks. Hors d'oeuvres.
• Pava = n. Bad luck, ill omen.
• Pavo, pava = adj. or n. Trendy or well dressed adolescent, kid, youngster. Lit. Turkey.
• Peaje = n. Illegal fee. Lit. Toll. See also Bajarse de la mula.
• Pelona = n. An impersonation of death. The Grim Reaper. Example: La pelona.
• Pelúo = adj. Hard, very difficult. Lit. Hairy.
• Perico = n. Venezuelan-style scrambled eggs. Also used to describe cocaine. Lit. Parakeet.
• Pendejo = n. A pushover. See Huevón.
• Peorro = adj. Mediocre, inferior (profane).
• Pepiado adj. (or Pepeado) Cool, superb, excellent.
• Perol = n. A coroto, a kettle.
• Picado/Picada = adj. Ticked off, feeling upset (most likely after being insulted or proven wrong) while at the same time hiding or denying the feeling. Lit. Stung.
• Picar = verb. To say or do something that would lead a person to become "Picado" o "Picada". Also, eat a snack. Lit. Sting, or Slice.
• Pichirre = adj. Selfish, stingy, miser, cheap.
• Pipi Frío = exp. Someone that has been single for a long time. Someone lacking social skills or uninteresting. Lit. "Cold Penis".
• Plaga = n. A swarm of mosquitoes. A mischievous person, a pest. (See Rata).
• Planetario(a) = adj. Crazy, insane. "No soy loco(a), soy planetario(a)"(I'm not crazy, I'm planetaruy), became a popular catch-phrase after it was used by a patient in a mental institute during the filming of a documentary.
• Pollo/Polla = n. A childish, naive or immature person. Lit. Chicken.
• Polvo = n. Coitus. Copulation. Lit. Dust.
• Puta = n. Used in many cases to mean slut. Lit. whore, prostitute.
• Queso = n. Sexual drive, Lust. Mostly applied to men. Lit. Cheese. Example: "Tengo queso" = I'm horny.
• Quesúo = adj. To be horny, lustful.
• Rabipelado = n. Opossum.
• Rata = n. An evil or treacherous person. Lit. Rat.
• Ratón = n. Hung over Lit. Mouse. Example: "Tengo ratón" = I've got a hangover.
• Real or Rial = n. Money.
• Rico(a) = adj. or n. An attractive person. Delicious, pleasurable. Lit. Rich.
• Rumba = n. A party.
• Rumba de Coñazos = exp. To violently and exaggeratedly hit or strike for a while (profane). Example: "¡Te voy a dar una rumba de coñazos!" = I'm gonna kick your ass/I'm gonna kill you.
• Rumba de Palos = exp. To be beaten up. In a sports context, whenever a team wins over another with a large score.
• Rumbero(a) = n. A partygoer.
• Rancho = n. A precarious makeshift home found in barrios made out of whatever the builder may find, including cardboard, wood, metal rods, zinc sheets. These have a tendency to evolve into brick houses and often 3-story buildings as the owner acquires more materials. Lit. Ranch.
• Santamaría = n. Rollup metal fence that covers the front part of a store when closed.
• Sifrino = n. A wealthy, snobby, arrogant person. adj. Posh, applied to people and things, such as an accent or clothes.
• Tequeño = n. A deep-fried flour roll filled with cheese, similar to cheese sticks. Lit. A native from the city of Los Teques.
• Teta = n. A source of guaranteed income. Lit. Female breast.
• Tigre = n. Second job or night job. See Matar tigre
• Tripeo = n. Something very enjoyable. Example: "Que tripeo esta vaina" = This is really fun. Also used as a verb; "tripear."
• Ubicate = exp. To get real. Lit. Locate yourself.
• Vacilar = v. To enjoy something/have a good time. Example: "Estoy vacilando" = I am having fun. Also used as a noun: "Vacile," as in "qué malvacile" = What a bad time. Lit. Vacillate
• Vaina = adj. or n. Thing, annoyance, problem, predicament, situation, endeavor, liaison. Vaina is one of the most versatile Venezuelan words, not necessarily having a negative connotation (mildly profane). Lit. Pod, sheath.
• Verga = n. Male sexual organ. An exclamation to convey a feeling shock, disgust or alert. In the Western part of the country, especially in Zulia state, it is a nonsensical filler as an alternative to vaina.
• Vergación = adj. superlative form of Verga.
• Vergatario(a) = adj. For something excellent, or someone who has done something very well.
• Yesquero = n. A lighter.
• Zanahoria = n. Someone who zealously takes care of his/her own health. A vegetarian. A person that behaves well, nerd. Straight, clean. adj. A boring, dull person. Lit. Carrot.
• Zancudo = n. Mosquito. Lit. "The one that walks on stilts" as a metaphor for the insect's long legs.
• Zapatero = exp. To loose in a game with zero points. Lit. Shoemaker.
• Zapato de goma = n. Sneakers. Lit. Rubber soled shoe.
• Zapato de patente = n. Patent-leather shoe.
• Zumba'o = adj. Forward, crazy, nutty, careless person.

See also

• Academia Venezolana de la Lengua

References

• Español venezolano, Español maracucho and Voseo in the Spanish Wikipedia.
• Alexandra Alvarez & Ximena Barros (2000). "Sistemas en conflicto: las formas de tratamiento en la ciudad de Mérida, Venezuela.". Lengua y Habla. http://www.linguisticahispanica.org/aam/alvarez_17.htm. 

External links

• (Spanish) Diccionario de Venezolanadas (Forums and dictionary, great resource on the topic!)
• (Spanish) Jergas de Habla Hispana Spanish dictionary specializing in slang and coloquial expressions, featuring all Spanish-speaking countries, including Venezuela.
• (English) (Spanish) Venezuelan Colloquial Spanish For English Speakers (English translations of Venezuelan slang)