Typical colloquial phrases in Colombia: Speak like a local!

Would you like to better understand Colombians and sound more natural when you speak Spanish?

Spanish in Colombia is known for its warmth, joy, and countless colloquial expressions that are part of everyday life. In this article, we'll show you some of the most commonly used colloquial phrases in Colombia, their meanings, and how to use them.

This way, you'll be able to communicate like a true Colombian! 🇨🇴

Colloquial phrases are informal expressions that people use in everyday conversations.

• Learning typical Colombian phrases will help you:

• Sound more natural and authentic in your conversations.

• Better understand Colombians in real-life situations.

• Feel more connected to the local culture.

In addition, mastering colloquial expressions will give you a great advantage in integrating more quickly into your Spanish-speaking environment.

Here's a selection of the most popular phrases you'll hear if you visit or live in Colombia:

Phrase:  ¿Qué más pues?

Meaning: ¿Cómo estás? / ¿Qué tal? -  How are you? / How are you?

Example of use: "¡Hola, parcero! ¿Qué más pues?" - "Hello, mate! What else?"

Phrase:  ¡Qué pena contigo!

Meaning: Perdón / Disculpa - Sorry / Excuse me.

Example of use: "¡Qué pena contigo, se me cayó tu café!" - "I'm sorry for you, I dropped your coffee!"

Phrase:  Nos vemos ahorita

Meaning: Nos vemos pronto - See you soon!

Example of use: "Termino de trabajar y nos vemos ahorita." - "I'm finishing work and I'll see you soon."

Phrase:  Hágale, que sí se puede

Meaning: Adelante, tú puedes - Go ahead, you can do it!

Example of use: "¿Te animas a estudiar español? ¡Hágale, que sí se puede!" - "Do you dare to study Spanish? Go for it, you can do it!"

Phrase:  Un tinto, por favor

Meaning: Un café negro, por favor - A black coffee, please.

Example of use: "Voy a la tienda a tomarme un tinto." - "I'm going to the store to have a coffee."

Phrase:  Está lloviendo a cántaros

Meaning: Está lloviendo muy fuerte - It's raining very hard.

Example of use: "No podemos salir, está lloviendo a cántaros." -  "We can't go out, it's pouring rain."

Phrase:  Parce

Meaning: Amigo / compañero - Friend / Companion.

Example of use: "¡Parce, vamos a la fiesta esta noche!" - "Friend, let's go to the party tonight!"

Phrase:  Qué nota

Meaning: Qué bueno / Qué divertido - How good / How fun.

Example of use: "La clase de español estuvo ¡qué nota!" - "The Spanish class was amazing!"

Phrase:  ¡De una!

Meaning: Claro / Inmediatamente - Clear / Immediately.

Example of use:  "-¿Vamos al cine? - ¡De una!" - "-Shall we go to the movies? - Right away!"

Colombia has one of the clearest and most neutral Spanish languages ​​in Latin America, ideal for foreign students.

Learning Colombian expressions will not only improve your fluency, but will also allow you to:

• Break the ice in conversations.

• Better understand Colombian movies, songs, and TV shows.

• Enjoy your trip or stay in Colombia even more.

1. Listen to Colombians: TV shows, songs, and podcasts are great tools.

2. Practice in real-life situations: Use one or two phrases each time you speak Spanish.

3. Don't be afraid to make mistakes: Colombians are friendly and will gently correct you.

At Spanish Learning Tips, we help you learn Spanish in a practical, fun, and conversational way.

Learn real-life expressions, like the ones you saw here, and start speaking like a native.

Ready to take your first step?

Book your free class and start mastering Colombian Spanish with us.