25 Iconic Mexican Spanish Phrases That Tell a Story

The Power of Mexican Spanish Expressions

Mexican Spanish is one of the most colorful and expressive variations of the Spanish language. Rich in idioms, humor, and cultural references, it brings life to everyday conversations. Understanding Mexican Spanish phrases not only improves your language skills but also gives you insights into the country’s history, humor, and way of thinking.

If you want to dive deeper into Mexican Spanish and practice it in an engaging way, Short Stories in Mexican Spanish is an excellent resource. This book offers entertaining short stories filled with essential Mexican vocabulary, helping you improve your comprehension naturally.

Why Mexican Spanish is Unique

Mexican Spanish stands out because of its indigenous influences, colonial history, and regional diversity. Many phrases incorporate words from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, while others have evolved from historical events, pop culture, and even wordplay. Whether you are visiting Mexico or just want to sound more natural when speaking Spanish, mastering these expressions will help you blend in like a local.

25 Iconic Mexican Spanish Phrases and Their Meanings

1. ¡Aguas!

Literally meaning “waters,” this phrase is a warning that translates to “Watch out!” It originated from colonial times when people used to throw out dirty water onto the streets, shouting “¡Aguas!” to warn passersby. Today, it’s used in situations requiring caution.

• ¡Aguas con el escalón! (Watch out for the step!)
• ¡Aguas! Ese perro muerde. (Be careful! That dog bites.)

2. Echar la hueva

A very informal phrase that means “to be lazy” or “to do nothing”. "Hueva" comes from huevo (egg), metaphorically referring to laziness, as if a person were just sitting like an egg, doing nothing.

• Hoy es domingo, voy a echar la hueva todo el día. (Today is Sunday, I’m going to be lazy all day.)
• Deja de echar la hueva y ponte a estudiar. (Stop being lazy and start studying.)

3. No manches

This phrase is widely used to express surprise, disbelief, or frustration. It's a toned-down version of "No mames", which is vulgar. “No manches” is safe to use in any setting.

• ¿Sacaste 10 en el examen? ¡No manches! (You got a 10 on the test? No way!)
• No manches, el tráfico está terrible hoy. (Come on, traffic is terrible today.)

4. Ponte las pilas

Literally meaning “Put on your batteries”, this phrase encourages someone to wake up, focus, or be more productive.

• Tienes examen mañana, ponte las pilas y estudia. (You have an exam tomorrow, get serious and study.)
• Si quieres ese ascenso, ponte las pilas. (If you want that promotion, step up your game.)

5. Estar hasta la madre

A strong expression meaning "to be fed up" or "to have had enough." It's commonly used when someone is frustrated or annoyed.

• Estoy hasta la madre del tráfico en esta ciudad. (I’m fed up with the traffic in this city.)
• Mi jefe me hizo trabajar todo el fin de semana. Estoy hasta la madre. (My boss made me work all weekend. I’ve had enough.)

6. Vale madre

This phrase can have different meanings depending on the context, but it usually means “It doesn’t matter” or “It’s worthless”. It can also be used to express frustration.

• No estudié para el examen, pero vale madre. (I didn’t study for the test, but whatever.)
• Se descompuso mi celular... ¡Vale madre! (My phone broke… Damn it!)

7. Mala copa

A term used to describe someone who gets aggressive, emotional, or annoying when drunk.

• No invites a Pedro, es bien mala copa. (Don’t invite Pedro, he’s a bad drunk.)
• Juan se puso mala copa y empezó a pelear. (Juan got drunk and started fighting.)

8. Se me fue el avión

Literally translating to “The plane left me,” this phrase is used when someone forgets something or loses their train of thought.

• Iba a decirte algo, pero se me fue el avión. (I was going to tell you something, but I forgot.)
• Perdón, se me fue el avión y no te llamé. (Sorry, I completely forgot to call you.)

9. Chido

A slang word that means “cool” or “awesome”. It’s commonly used to describe something positive.

• Tu carro está bien chido. (Your car is really cool.)
• Fue un concierto chido, la pasamos increíble. (It was an awesome concert, we had a great time.)

10. Neta

Short for "la neta del planeta", meaning "the truth", this word is used to emphasize sincerity or seriousness.

• ¿Neta? No lo puedo creer. (Really? I can’t believe it.)
• La neta, no me gusta esa película. (Honestly, I don’t like that movie.)

11. Estar en la luna

Equivalent to "to be daydreaming", this phrase describes someone who is distracted or lost in thought.

• Siempre estás en la luna en clase. (You’re always daydreaming in class.)
• Le hablé tres veces y nada, estaba en la luna. (I talked to him three times, and nothing. He was totally out of it.)

12. A darle que es mole de olla

This phrase is used to encourage action, meaning "Let’s do it" or "Let’s get to work". Mole de olla is a slow-cooked Mexican dish, so the phrase suggests doing something with enthusiasm.

• Tenemos mucho trabajo hoy, a darle que es mole de olla. (We have a lot of work today, let’s get to it.)
• Ya empezó la carrera, ¡a darle que es mole de olla! (The race has started, let’s go for it!)

13. Tirar la toalla

Borrowed from boxing, where a coach throws in the towel to signal surrender, this phrase means "to give up".

• No tires la toalla, sigue intentándolo. (Don’t give up, keep trying.)
• Después de tantos intentos, tiró la toalla. (After so many attempts, he gave up.)

14. Me cayó el veinte

Used when someone finally understands something, similar to "It clicked" or "I got it".

• No entendía el problema, pero ya me cayó el veinte. (I didn’t understand the problem, but now I get it.)
• Después de leerlo tres veces, me cayó el veinte. (After reading it three times, it finally clicked.)

15. Hacerse pato

Literally meaning “to act like a duck”, this phrase is used when someone pretends not to notice something to avoid responsibility.

• Mi hermano se hizo pato cuando le pedí ayuda. (My brother pretended not to hear me when I asked for help.)
• No te hagas pato y lava los platos. (Don’t pretend you didn’t hear me, wash the dishes.)

16. Echarle ganas

This phrase means “to give it your all” or “to put in effort”. It’s commonly used to encourage someone to try harder.

• Tienes que echarle ganas si quieres pasar el examen. (You have to give it your best if you want to pass the test.)
• Aunque el trabajo sea difícil, échale ganas. (Even if the job is tough, give it your best.)

17. Quedarse como el perro de las dos tortas

This phrase describes a person who, in trying to choose between two options, ends up with neither. It originates from a fable about a dog who had two sandwiches but hesitated so much that he lost both.

• No aceptó el primer trabajo esperando una mejor oferta, y ahora no tiene nada. Se quedó como el perro de las dos tortas. (He didn’t accept the first job waiting for a better offer, and now he has nothing. He ended up with neither.)
• Salía con dos chicas, pero ninguna lo quiso. Se quedó como el perro de las dos tortas. (He was dating two girls, but neither wanted him. He ended up with nothing.)

18. Más vale tarde que nunca

This common saying translates to "Better late than never" and is used to emphasize that it’s always good to complete something, even if it's delayed.

• Finalmente terminó la universidad a los 40. Más vale tarde que nunca. (He finally finished college at 40. Better late than never.)
• Perdón por el retraso, pero más vale tarde que nunca. (Sorry for the delay, but better late than never.)

19. Se pasó de lanza

This phrase is used when someone goes too far—whether they are being mean, reckless, or crossing a boundary.

• Mi jefe me hizo trabajar hasta las 11 de la noche, se pasó de lanza. (My boss made me work until 11 p.m., he went too far.)
• Se pasó de lanza con el chiste que contó, fue muy grosero. (He crossed the line with that joke, it was really rude.)

20. Estar como agua para chocolate

A phrase used to describe someone who is extremely angry, it comes from the process of making hot chocolate, where water must be at a boiling point.

• Cuando vio que le rayaron el coche, estaba como agua para chocolate. (When he saw that his car was scratched, he was fuming.)
• No le hables ahorita, está como agua para chocolate. (Don’t talk to him right now, he’s really mad.)

21. Cada quien su santo

This expression is used to say “To each their own” or “Everyone has their own way”. It acknowledges different perspectives or personal choices.

• A mí me gusta madrugar, pero cada quien su santo. (I like waking up early, but to each their own.)
• Él gasta mucho en ropa de marca, pero cada quien su santo. (He spends a lot on designer clothes, but that’s his choice.)

22. Dar el avión

This phrase means to pretend to pay attention but not actually listen. It’s commonly used when someone is ignoring another person to avoid an argument.

• Le estaba contando mi problema, pero solo me dio el avión. (I was telling him about my problem, but he just ignored me.)
• No me des el avión, dime la verdad. (Don’t just pretend to listen, tell me the truth.)

23. Ser la neta del planeta

An exaggerated way of saying "to be the best" or "to be awesome." It emphasizes that something is truly great.

• Ese restaurante es la neta del planeta, la comida es deliciosa. (That restaurant is amazing, the food is delicious.)
• Mi abuelita cocina increíble, es la neta del planeta. (My grandma cooks amazingly, she’s the best.)

24. No tener pelos en la lengua

This phrase means “to speak frankly” or “not to sugarcoat things”. It describes someone who is very direct and says things as they are.

• Mi tía no tiene pelos en la lengua, siempre dice lo que piensa. (My aunt is very blunt, she always says what she thinks.)
• No me gusta la comida de ese lugar y te lo digo sin pelos en la lengua. (I don’t like the food at that place, and I’m telling you straight.)

25. A ojo de buen cubero

This phrase means "roughly estimated" or "by eye." It originated from cuberos, who made barrels and estimated their measurements without tools.

• No tengo regla, pero a ojo de buen cubero esto mide un metro. (I don’t have a ruler, but by eye, this is about a meter.)
• A ojo de buen cubero, creo que hay como 50 personas en la sala. (Roughly estimated, I think there are about 50 people in the room.)

How to Use These Phrases in Daily Conversations

Mexican Spanish phrases add depth, humor, and authenticity to your speech. Whether you’re chatting with locals in Mexico or just want to understand Mexican media better, incorporating these expressions will make your Spanish sound more natural.

One of the best ways to learn these phrases in context is through stories. Short Stories in Mexican Spanish offers a fun and immersive way to practice, helping you internalize expressions while enjoying engaging narratives.

Final Thoughts on the Beauty of Mexican Spanish

Mexican Spanish is more than just a way of speaking—it’s a reflection of history, culture, and humor. These phrases tell stories of daily life, struggles, and creativity, making the language vibrant and dynamic.

By learning and using these iconic expressions, you’ll not only improve your Spanish but also connect more deeply with the people and culture of Mexico. So, ponte las pilas and start practicing!