We listen to it full blast, we sing the lyrics at the top of our lungs, and even relate to the song, but perhaps there are times we are unsure of what we’re actually singing — and that’s OK, because Billboard has curated the ultimate Latin urban dictionary of reggaetón and trap music.
In this edition, we specifically focus on Puerto Rican slang, decoding the meaning of words such as “puñeta,” “chavos,” and “la movie,” to name a few, found in the most popular lyrics.
“Puerto Rico is the epicenter of everything that happens with urban music in the entire world,” Siggy Vázquez, Puerto Rican hitmaker who’s worked with Myke Towers, Shakira, and more, tells Billboard. “There are many countries that have contributed to our music, we owe a lot to Panama, Jamaica, and the United States, but Puerto Rico maintained that essence and knew how to globalize the movement. I think that the slang that we Boricuas use is unique. It dates back to the neighborhood, from the experiences we go through every day, and I think that connection is marked and reflected with the slang that we use in reggaetón lyrics. Currently, it’s one of the important characteristics by which our music is influencing and reaching larger markets.”
Evidently, Puerto Rican slang has transcended the Caribbean island and expanded into other countries. Colombian star Karol G released the empowering “Bichota” deriving from the Puerto Rican term “bichote” that describes someone who’s powerful; Dominican artist Natti Natasha dropped the provocative “Algarete”; and “Bellakeo” finds Brazilian sensation Anitta and Mexican phenomenon Peso Pluma singing about being turned on.
“I think it’s great that other countries use our vocabulary,” reggaetón and trap artist Brytiago says to Billboard. “In this way we maintain our culture and vocabulary, and it’s a way to represent our flag and roots to other diverse cultures in music. Music is a universal language, it belongs to all of us. If our vocabulary inspires others, that’s a great thing because it helps us continue to represent the beginnings of our movement.”
“I think that was the main goal: to let the world know about our slang and have other countries be nurtured and help us diversify,” adds Vázquez. “I think the most important thing about this is that when you listen to the music and there’s a word that you don’t understand, you search its meaning and its origin. At the same time, we are talking about education and we are doing proactive things so that people can be oriented about our movement and culture.”
From “al garete” to “corillo” to “tiraera,” check out the list below.
Slang Meaning: Deriving from the word “muchacho” (guy), “acho” is a popular Boricua expression.
Lyric Example: “What? ACHO PR, ser de aquí es mi mayor trofeo, ah” (“Acho PR [Puerto Rico], being from here is my biggest trophy”) — “ACHO PR,” Bad Bunny, Ñengo Flow, Arcangel & De La Ghetto
Slang Meaning: Someone who is well dressed and fashionable.
Lyric Example: “Fendi, Louis, Dior/Hasta la muerte acicalao” (“Fendi, Louis, Dior/I’m fashionable to death”) — “Hasta la muerte acicalau,” Bryant Myers & Jon Z
Slang Meaning: To approach and get close to someone until they are body to body.
Lyric Example: “Desde el Caribe yo vengo directo aquí/ Para asegurarte que Milagros tiene bomba para afincar” (“From the Caribbean, I come straight to tell you that Milagros has it all to afincar“) — “Bomba para Afincar,” Vico C
Slang Meaning: To go crazy as hell or do something out of control.
Lyric Example: “Tamo’ a lo loco nos fuimos al garete” (“We’re crazy, we’re going out of control”) — “Al Garete,” Julio Voltio
Slang Meaning: The act of bravery. Someone who is courageous and not afraid.
Lyric Example: “Hay quienes creen que tienen babilla por que se atreven a matar” (“There are those who believe that they have courage because they dare to kill”) — “Babilla,” Vico C
Slang Meaning: To dance
Lyric Example: “En la disco bailoteo/ Mezclamo’ un fumeteo, eh-oh” (“In the club, we dance/ We’ll mix in some smoke”) — “Eso Perro,” Wisin y Yandel
Slang Meaning: A term used to call your girlfriend, “baby.”
Lyric Example: “Bebecita, lo de nosotros es un secreto, que nadie se entere” (“Baby, what we have is a secret, may no one find out”) — “Secreto,” Anuel AA, Karol G
Slang Meaning: This term is used to describe someone who is sexually aroused.
Lyric Example: “Pero lo que me mata/ Es cuando pone cara de bellaca” (“What kills me, is when she gets turned on”) — “Me Mata,” Bad Bunny, Arcángel, Almighty, Bryant Myers, Baby Rasta, Noriel & Brytiago
Slang Meaning: Spanish for “bug,” but in reggaetón lyrics, the word is also used to describe a man’s private parts.
Lyric Example: “Te gustan las mujeres, pero te encanta el bicho” (“You like women, but you like the penis”) — “La Ocasión,” De La Ghetto, Arcangel, Ozuna, Anuel AA
Slang Meaning: A word that describes someone who’s the champion or the best at what they do.
Lyric Example: “Un nuevo cangri con un nuevo ranking” (“A new champion with a new ranking”) — “El Cangri,” Daddy Yankee
Slang Meaning: Another term used for money
Lyric Example: “Mejor háblame de chavos que esos sí que uno se los disfruta” (“Talk to me about money instead, I enjoy those more”) — “Mujeres y Chavos,” Ñejo
Slang Meaning: Used to describe a person who has the “whole package”
Lyric Example: “Y es que yo quiero la combi completa, ¿qué?” (“I want the whole package”) – “En La Cama,” Nicky Jam
Slang Meaning: A term used to reference a group of friends.
Lyric Example: “Que Dios bendiga mi corillo” (“May God bless my squad”) — “Que Dios Bendiga (Remix),” Arcangel
Slang Meaning: Its literal translation means “hard,” but in urban lyrics, “dura” is used to describe a woman who’s all that.
Lyric Example: “Que estás dura, mano arriba porque tú te ves bien” (“You’re all that, throw your hands up because you look good”) – “Dura,” Daddy Yankee
Slang Meaning: To act pretentiously or show off
Lyric Example: “Por eso le fronteo hasta aquel que critica lo ajeno” (“That’s why I confront even those who criticize other people’s things”) — “Naci Pa’ Ser Bueno,” Myke Towers
Slang Meaning: Also used as “La Pelicula,” the term describes someone who creates a fantasy of their life
Lyric Example: “Son muchos que dicen que ni a mi movie le van a poner stop” (“It’s a lot of people who have said that they will put a stop to my movie”) — “Liberace (Remix),” Farruko
Slang Meaning: Simply put, “mera” is another way of saying “mira,” which means “to look.”
Lyric Example: “I-I-Iah, diablo, mera, woo/ No me mire’ así, que me desespero” (“Damn, look/ Don’t look at me that way that I get desperate”) — “MERA,” Dalex, Tainy & Alvaro Díaz
Slang Meaning: To dance reggaetón erotically, with hip and thigh movements all the way down.
Lyric Example: “Mujeres pa’ la disco a perrear/ Pero que él no se crea, puede jugar” (“Women, let’s go to the club to dance/ But may he not think he can play” — “Yo Quiero Bailar,” Ivy Queen
Slang Meaning: To ignore someone
Lyric Example: “Ante’ tú me pichaba’ (tú me pichaba’)/ Ahora yo picheo (mmh, nah)” (“Before you would ignore me/ But now I ignore you”) — “Yo Perreo Sola,” Bad Bunny
Slang Meaning: Having a lot of swag
Lyric Example: “Pero es que tú chica, con ese piquete” (“Look at you girl, with all that swag”) — “Me Niego,” Reik & Ozuna
Slang Meaning: Similar to acho, puñeta is an expression that can be used with any emotion (happy, sad, confused, surprised, and so on).
Lyric Example: “Perreo flow discoteca, aunque es paisa dice ‘acho puñeta” (“Dancing flow nightclub, even though she’s paisa (Colombian), she says ‘acho puñeta’”) — “Puñeta,” Blessd, Juanka, Brray, J King & KEVVO
Slang Meaning: A term used in Latin urban when there are two artists in a lyrical battle.
Lyric Example: “Mi forma de tiraera, chequea, que me los gano a mi manera” (“Check out my form of battling, I’ll win my own way”) — “Mi Forma de Tiraera,” Vico C
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