Millions of people learned their first Spanish words with Narcos. The problem: most of them aren’t in any textbook. Here’s what Pablo and his men are really saying.
Narcos slang dictionary
| Word | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Parce / parcero | Buddy, mate | The most paisa word there is |
| Gonorrea | A terrible, despicable person | Yes, like the disease. Very strong |
| Hijueputa | Son of a b**** | Fast form of hijo de puta. Between friends it can even be affectionate |
| Malparido | Bastard | Literally “badly born”. Very strong |
| Plata o plomo | Silver or lead | The bribe or the bullet |
| Plata | Money | Silver = money in most of Latin America |
| Sapo | Snitch, informer | Literally “toad” |
| Sicario | Hitman | |
| Tombo | Cop | Colombian slang |
| Berraco / verraco | Tough, brave, awesome | “¡Qué berraco!” = how awesome |
| Bacano / chévere | Cool | |
| ¿Qué más? | How’s it going? | Colombian greeting |
| Pues | Well / so | Paisas put it everywhere: “Sí, pues” |
| Mijo / mija | My son / my dear | From “mi hijo” |
| Listo | OK, done | The Colombian “vale” |
Why does Pablo Escobar sound different in Narcos?
Pablo Escobar is played by Wagner Moura, a Brazilian actor whose first language is Portuguese. He learned Spanish for the role, and many Colombian viewers noticed that his accent doesn’t sound like a real paisa from Medellín. If his Spanish sounds “different” to you, you’re not wrong. The supporting cast includes actors from Colombia and other Latin American countries, so you hear a mix of accents.
Famous Narcos phrases
“Plata o plomo.” → The bribe or the bullet.
“Yo soy el que manda.” → I’m the one in charge.
“¿Usted sabe quién soy yo?” → Do you know who I am?
“Tranquilo, parcero.” → Easy, buddy.
Notice usted: in Colombia people often use the formal “usted” even with friends and family. In Spain we’d say “tú”.
Learn Spanish with Narcos (the right way)
Watching with Spanish subtitles is great input, but slang won’t help you order a coffee in Madrid. That’s why my Narcos Spanish mini course uses the series to teach real, useful Spanish, with episodes like Narcos episode 1, La llamada and Plata o plomo. For the Spanish swear words from Spain, read Spanish swear words from Spain.
The Narcos mini course comes with my book
How to Speak Spanish includes the Narcos mini course, Spanglish stories and extras, for $14. You can add a 30-minute call with me for $27.
See the book →FAQ
What does parce mean in Narcos?
Parce, short for parcero, means buddy or mate in Colombian Spanish, especially in Medellín.
What does gonorrea mean in Colombian slang?
It means a terrible, despicable person. It is a strong insult in Colombia.
What does plata o plomo mean?
Silver or lead: accept the bribe (plata) or get shot (plomo).
Is Wagner Moura Colombian?
No. He is Brazilian and learned Spanish for the role of Pablo Escobar.
Can you learn Spanish by watching Narcos?
It helps your ear, but the slang is very Colombian and very strong. Combine it with everyday Spanish and real conversation.
— Monica Bernabe Perez
$54 · 30 minutes · with Mónica
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