If you translate Spanish idioms word-for-word into English, you’ll end up with bizarre sentences like “I’m going to put my batteries in” or “He is imported a cucumber.”
Every language has funny figures of speech, but Spanish idioms are uniquely colorful and expressive. Here are 10 popular Spanish idioms that will entertain you and make your Spanish sound natural!
1. Ponerse las pilas
- Literal Translation: To put in one’s batteries.
- Actual Meaning: To get your act together, work hard, or wake up.
- Example: “Mañana tengo un examen importante, así que tengo que ponerme las pilas.” (I have an important exam tomorrow, so I need to get my act together.)
2. Me importa un comino / un pepino
- Literal Translation: It matters a cumin seed / cucumber to me.
- Actual Meaning: I don’t care at all / I don’t give a hoot.
- Example: “Lo que diga la gente me importa un pepino.” (I couldn’t care less about what people say.)
3. Estar como una cabra
- Literal Translation: To be like a goat.
- Actual Meaning: To be crazy, wild, or eccentric.
- Example: “¡Tu hermano saltó a la piscina helada! Está como una cabra.” (Your brother jumped into the freezing pool! He is completely crazy.)
4. Ser del año de la nana / de la catapulta
- Literal Translation: To be from the year of the lullaby / catapult.
- Actual Meaning: To be super old or ancient.
- Example: “Ese teléfono es del año de la catapulta.” (That phone is from the Stone Age.)
5. Tener mala leche / mala uva
- Literal Translation: To have bad milk / bad grape.
- Actual Meaning: To have a bad temper or to be in a bad mood.
- Example: “Ten cuidado con el jefe hoy, tiene muy mala leche.” (Be careful with the boss today, he’s in a terrible mood.)
6. Quedarse de piedra
- Literal Translation: To stay like a stone.
- Actual Meaning: To be stunned, shocked, or speechless.
- Example: “Cuando me contó la noticia, me quedé de piedra.” (When she told me the news, I was utterly stunned.)
7. Ser pan comido
- Literal Translation: To be eaten bread.
- Actual Meaning: A piece of cake / super easy.
- Example: “No te preocupes por el examen de español, es pan comido.” (Don’t worry about the Spanish exam, it’s a piece of cake.)
8. Tomar el pelo
- Literal Translation: To take someone’s hair.
- Actual Meaning: To pull someone’s leg / to tease.
- Example: “¿De verdad ganaste la lotería o me estás tomando el pelo?” (Did you really win the lottery or are you pulling my leg?)
9. Dar en el clavo
- Literal Translation: To hit on the nail.
- Actual Meaning: To hit the nail on the head / to guess right.
- Example: “¡Diste en el clavo! Esa era la respuesta correcta.” (You hit the nail on the head! That was the right answer.)
10. Meter la pata
- Literal Translation: To put one’s leg/paw in it.
- Actual Meaning: To mess up / to put your foot in your mouth.
- Example: “Metí la pata cuando le pregunté por su ex novio.” (I put my foot in my mouth when I asked her about her ex-boyfriend.)
Summary Table
| Idiom | Literal Meaning | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Ponerse las pilas | Put in batteries | Get energized / get to work |
| Ser pan comido | Be eaten bread | A piece of cake |
| Estar como una cabra | Be like a goat | Be crazy |
| Tomar el pelo | Take hair | Pull someone’s leg |
| Meter la pata | Put in paw | Mess up / screw up |