I love the Spanish language—it’s full of vibrant expressions and quirky sayings. I’m still working on perfecting my accent, but I’ve picked up a few funny phrases in Spanish over the years that never fail to make me smile—or at least give me a reason to laugh at myself when I use them wrong. If you’re just dipping your toes into the language, these 16 funny phrases will not only help you sound more like a local but also add some humor to your conversations. So, let’s dive into the following 16 funny Spanish phrases you can use in everyday conversations:
16 funny Spanish phrases to use in everyday conversations
When You Just Don’t Care (or Know Nothing)
I.
“Me importa un pepino.”
Literally: It matters to me like a cucumber.
Meaning: I don’t care at all.
When to use it: When something really doesn’t matter to you—like the score of a sport you don’t follow, or whether pineapple belongs on pizza.
II.
“No saber ni papa.”
Literally: Not to know a single potato.
Meaning: To not know anything about a topic.
Compliments and Personality Traits
I.
“Eres un sol.”
Literally: You are a sun.
Meaning: You’re amazing or you brighten someone’s day.
When to use it: To compliment someone who’s kind, helpful, or just makes your day better.
II.
“Tener más cara que espalda.”
Literally: To have more face than back.
Meaning: To be very bold or shameless.
When to use it: When someone is being outrageously bold—like asking for a favor after ghosting you for weeks.
III.
“Ser un manitas.”
Literally: To be a little hands.
Meaning: To be good with your hands, particularly at fixing things.
IV.
“Tener mala leche.”
Literally: To have bad milk.
Meaning: To be in a bad mood or have a bad temper.
When to use it: To describe someone who woke up on the wrong side of the bed—or is just being downright mean.
Heads up: It can also mean someone is naturally spiteful, so tone and context matter here.
Silver linings
I.
“No hay mal que por bien no venga.”
Literally: There’s no bad from which good doesn’t come.
Meaning: Every cloud has a silver lining.
When to use it: When trying to stay positive after a setback.
II.
“Más vale tarde que nunca.”
Literally: Better late than never.
Meaning: It’s better to do something late than not at all.
When to use it: Pretty much anytime you’re apologizing for being late.
Scatterbrained, Dreamy, or Just a Bit Weird
I.
“Estar como una cabra.”
Literally: To be like a goat.
Meaning: To be a little crazy or eccentric.
When to use it: When describing a fun, unpredictable friend—or yourself on a Monday morning.
II.
“Ir a su bola.”
Literally: To go to one’s ball.
Meaning: To do your own thing, without worrying about others.
When to use it: When someone lives in their own world and doesn’t follow the crowd—or the rules.
III.
“Estar como pez en el agua.”
Literally: To be like a fish in water.
Meaning: To be completely comfortable in a situation.
When to use it: When you’re in your element—like an avid reader in a bookstore or a foodie at a tapas bar.
IV.
“Estar en las nubes.”
Literally: To be in the clouds.
Meaning: To be daydreaming or distracted.
V.
“¡Qué chido!”
Literally: How cool!
Meaning: Something really awesome or amazing.
VI.
“Se me fue la olla.”
Literally: The pot went away from me.
Meaning: To forget something or lose track of your thoughts.
VII.
“Estar como un flan.”
Literally: To be like a flan.
Meaning: To be nervous or shaky, like a wobbly dessert.
VIII.
“Más perdido que el hijo de Lindbergh.”
Literally: More lost than Lindbergh’s son.
Meaning: Very lost or confused.
Fun fact: This expression refers to a real historical event—Charles Lindbergh’s son was tragically kidnapped in the 1930s. It’s dark humor by today’s standards, but it’s still widely used to describe someone who has no idea what’s going on.
Thank you for reading! Those were just a few of the funny Spanish phrases I’ve come across.
Are there funny phrases in Spanish that I forgot to mention? Send me an email: team [@] lisanneswart.com.
And did you already sign up for my Tiny Bits newsletter? Sign up here.
