Quick answer: your first week in Madrid is all about cita previa (appointments), the padrón (registering your address at the town hall), finding a piso (flat) and dealing with your casero (landlord). Key phrases: “Quería pedir cita previa”, “Vengo a empadronarme” and “¿Me lo puede repetir más despacio?” Moving to Madrid is exciting. Then you […]

Quick answer: Spain and Mexico speak the same language, but many everyday words change: a car is coche in Spain and carro in Mexico, a phone is móvil vs celular, juice is zumo vs jugo. And a few innocent words in Spain, like coger, are vulgar in Mexico. It’s the classic story every Spaniard in

Quick answer: Narcos is full of Colombian slang from Medellín (paisa Spanish). Parce / parcero means buddy, gonorrea is a terrible person, hijueputa is “son of a b****” (sometimes even friendly), sapo is a snitch and plata o plomo means “silver or lead”: take the bribe or take a bullet. Millions of people learned their

Quick answer: the Madrid slang you’ll hear first is mola (it’s cool), flipar (to be amazed), tío/tía (dude), guay (cool), currar (to work), pasta (money), quedar (to meet up) and ni de coña (no way). You studied Spanish for years. Then two madrileños start talking at the next table and you understand… “tío”. That’s it.

Quick answer: vale means “OK” in Spain. Spaniards use it to agree (“Vale, nos vemos a las 8”), to check you understood (“¿Vale?”), and to end a conversation (“Venga, vale”). It comes from the verb valer (to be worth), which also gives “¿Cuánto vale?” (How much is it?). Spend one day in Madrid and count

Quick answer: the main coffees in Spain are café solo (espresso), cortado (espresso with a dash of milk) and café con leche (half coffee, half hot milk). To order, say “¿Me pones un café con leche?” In summer, ask for a café con hielo and you’ll get your coffee plus a glass of ice. Ask

Quick answer: in Spain, say “¿Me pones una caña?” A caña is a small draft beer, the standard order in any bar. Want more? Ask for a doble (bigger glass) or a jarra (big mug). A tercio is a 33cl bottle, a clara is beer with lemon soda, and a sin is alcohol-free. Say “una

Quick answer: go straight to the bar, catch the waiter’s eye with “¡Perdona!” and say “¿Me pones una caña y unas bravas?” (Can I have a small beer and some patatas bravas?). In many Madrid bars a small free tapa comes with your drink. For more, order a ración (full plate) or media ración (half).

Quick answer: guiri is a colloquial Spanish word for a foreign tourist, especially one from northern Europe, the UK or the US who clearly doesn’t know the local codes. It’s usually teasing or affectionate, not a real insult. Think “tourist”, with a wink. Socks with sandals. A map open in the middle of Puerta del

Los calzoncillos siguen sucios. Esta historia es un poco loca… y honestamente, me da un poco de vergüenza contarla. Pero tengo que hacerlo. Y tú tienes que escucharla. La Historia (Que Viene Después) Hay historias que no puedes planear. Que te pasan. Que no tienen título limpio ni moraleja bonita. Que simplemente son — incómodas,