How to Sound like a Local in Chile

Quick Answer

Planning a trip to Chile? As you pack your bags and prepare to take in the sights, people, and culture of this amazing country, be sure to consult this list of common slang words and phrases! You’ll be partying with the locals in no time!

Calbuco Volcano in Chile

¿Cachai? = You know?

You'll probably hear this at the end of every other sentence. It's used informally to engage in conversation, in the same way that you know is used in English.

examples
No lo molestes. Es un hombre muy ocupado, ¿cachai? Don't bother him. He's a very busy man, you know?

Pololo / Polola = Boyfriend / Girlfriend

When in Chile, you’ll inevitably hear the locals refer to their boyfriend or girlfriend as pololoor polola. And be careful when using novioor novia; Chileans still use these words, but they're typically used to refer to one's fiancé or fiancée.

examples
¿Cuánto tiempo has estado saliendo con tu polola? Llevan casi un año juntos, ¿verdad? How long have you been going out with your girlfriend? You’ve almost been together a year, right?

Al tiro = Right away

Literally meaning at the shot, the phrase al tiromeans that something is happening or is going to happen at this exact moment. Make sure you reserve this phrase to describe events that are literally about to unfold, or for yourself if you are in a rush and are about to quickly go from one place to another.

examples
¡Alejandra acaba de ponerse de parto! Nos vamos al tiro al hospital. Alejandra just went into labor! We’re leaving for the hospital right now.

Flaite = Sketchy

The word flaitecan be used to describe dark alleys, abandoned houses, creepy white vans—you get the idea. You can even use flaite as a noun to describe a person who looks very shady or unsophisticated.

examples
Niño, aléjate de ese edificio en decadencia. Se ve bien flaite. Kid, get away from that dilapidated building. It looks very sketchy.

Carrete = Party

As opposed to a normal fiesta, Chileans use the word carreteto refer specifically to a party that serves alcohol. In the same context, you might hear your friends say salir de carreteor carretearto mean that they are going out to party.

examples
De ti no sé, pero dudo que sobreviviría salir de carrete tres noches seguidas. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I’d survive going out partying three nights in a row.

¡Sí, po! = Yeah, of course!

In the phrase, ¡Sí, po!, po is an expression that comes from the word pues, meaning well, as in, well, of course! While traveling around Chile, you'll likely hear po—such as in ¡sí, po! or ¡no, po!—just as much as you'll hear cachai.

examples
El otro día Julio me preguntó si me gustaba y si quisiera ser su polola, y respondí, "¡Sí, po!" The other day, Julio asked me if I liked him and if I would like to be his girlfriend, and I responded, "Yes, of course!"

¡Qué lata! = How boring!

¡Qué lata!is a phrase that’s used to describe something lame, boring, or dreadful. You can say it to a friend when she or he can’t go out, or you might hear children say it when their parents make them pose for yet another photo.

examples
Quiero ir a la cena de tu cumple pero mañana tengo un examen de matemáticas importante. Yo sé, ¡qué lata! I want to go to your birthday dinner but tomorrow I have an important math test. I know, how lame!

Buena onda = Good vibe

Though this phrase literally means good wave, it’s used to describe people that you like. You can say that someone is buena onda, implying that she or he is likable, or you can say that you have a buena onda with someone. Good vibes, good people. Why would you ever leave Chile?

examples
¿Conoces a Mario? Es muy buena onda. Do you know Mario? He's really cool.

Fome = Boring

This word is a casual way to say boring and is used among friends and family. You can use fometo talk about events, books, food, and even people!

examples
Las charlas que dan ese profesor son tan fomes. Cada clase es una lucha de mantenerme despierta. That professor gives such boring lectures. Each class is a fight to stay awake.

¿Te tinca? = You think?

¿Te tinca?is a phrase used by Chileans to ask someone’s opinion about something in a casual way. The word tincain this phrase actually comes from the English word think.

examples
Quiero llevar este vestido negro al carrete. ¿Te tinca? I want to wear this black dress to the party. What do you think?

Valparaíso, Chile

¿Vas a Chile al tiro?Now you’re equipped with the vocabulary to travel to Santiago, Valparaíso, or Chillán. Remember to take this list with you on your journey!