Dominican Spanish: Common Phrases, Slang, Food, and Transportation

¿Qué lo qué? / Klk

What's up? | Very common greeting, especially among younger people. Casual.

Dímelo

Tell me / What's up | Another casual greeting, means "what's going on"

¿Cómo tú tá?

How are you? | Dominican version of "¿Cómo estás?" - note the shortened form

Buenas

Hello / Good day | Universal greeting, works any time of day

Tranquilo/a

Chill / Calm / No worries | You'll hear this constantly. Can mean "relax" or "it's all good"

Dale

Okay / Let's do it / Sure | Super versatile word meaning agreement or "let's go"

Ta' to / Tato

Everything's good / All set | Shortened form of "está todo bien"

Diache

Damn / Shoot | Mild expletive, like "darn it"

Wepa

Woohoo! / Yeah! | Exclamation of excitement or celebration

Papi

Dude / Man / Bro | Used between men casually, not romantic. Very common.

Mami

Girl / Woman | Female equivalent of papi, used casually between women

Vaina

Thing / Stuff | Super versatile word for "thing" - "¿Qué vaina es esa?" = "What's that thing?"

Tíguere/Tíguera

Streetwise person / Hustler | Can be positive or negative depending on context

Chin

A little bit | "Un chin" = "a little bit"

Guapo/a

Brave / Tough | Can also mean good-looking, but often means tough/brave in DR

Concho

Shared taxi/motorcycle taxi | Public transportation option

Colmado

Corner store | Social hub where people hang out, buy things, drink beer

Fría

Cold beer | Literally "cold one" - "Dame una fría" = "Give me a cold beer"

Un palo

A beer | Literally "a stick" - slang for beer

Manito

Little brother | Term of endearment between guys

Loco/a

Crazy one | Used affectionately like "dude"

Brutal

Awesome / Great | Positive slang - "Eso está brutal" = "That's awesome"

¿Tu me entiende?

You know what I mean? | Common filler phrase, often shortened

Pai

Bro / Dude | Shortened version of "papi," very casual

Socio

Partner / Friend | Literally "partner," used like "buddy"

Me da _____, por favor

Can you give me _____, please | Polite way to order

Dame _____

Give me _____ | More casual/direct ordering, totally normal

¿Qué tiene?

What do you have? | When there's no menu

Está sabroso / Está rico

It's delicious | Complimenting food

La Bandera

The Flag | National dish: rice, beans, meat, salad

Mangú

Mashed plantains | Breakfast staple

Tostones

Fried green plantains | Side dish

Sancocho

Dominican stew | Hearty stew with meat and root vegetables

Morir Soñando

To die dreaming | Orange juice and milk drink

Lonche

Lunch | From English "lunch"

Provecho

Enjoy your meal | Said when someone is eating

La cuenta, por favor

The check, please | Asking for the bill

Para llevar

To go | Takeout

Para aquí

For here | Dining in

Mamajuana

Traditional Dominican drink | Rum-based drink with tree bark, herbs, honey - considered aphrodisiac

Presidente

Dominican national beer | The most popular beer, light lager

Brugal

Dominican rum brand | Most popular rum in DR

Barceló

Dominican rum brand | Another major rum brand

¿Dónde queda _____?

Where is _____? | Asking for directions

¿Cuánto cuesta?

How much does it cost? | Essential for taxis, shopping

Muy caro

Too expensive | For negotiating

¿Me puede hacer un descuento?

Can you give me a discount? | Polite haggling

Vamos

Let's go | Ready to leave

Espérame

Wait for me | Asking someone to wait

Más despacio, por favor

Slower, please | When you don't understand

¿Puede repetir?

Can you repeat that? | Asking for clarification

Bendición

Blessing | Said to elders as sign of respect, they respond "Dios te bendiga"

Salud

Cheers / Health | Toast before drinking

Arriba, abajo, al centro, pa' dentro

Up, down, center, down the hatch | Common drinking toast

Pelota

Baseball | Literally "ball" but refers to baseball (national sport)

Motoconcho

Motorcycle taxi | Common cheap transportation

Guagua

Bus | Public bus

Buscones

Scout/Agent | Baseball scouts who find talent

Doña / Don

Ma'am / Sir | Respectful titles for older people

Compadre / Comadre

Close friend / Godparent | Deep friendship term

Fiesta

Party | But also refers to any social gathering

Dame

Give me | From "dar" - very commonly used

Ponme

Put me / Hook me up with | Casual ordering: "Ponme una cerveza"

Tráeme

Bring me | Casual request

Échame una mano

Give me a hand | Asking for help

Echar un pie

To help someone out | Literally "throw a foot"

Tigueraje

Street smarts / Hustling mentality | Important cultural concept of being clever/resourceful

Sanky panky

Male gigolo in tourist areas | Beach boys who romance female tourists

Colmadeo

Hanging out at the colmado | Social activity of drinking/socializing at corner stores

Chin chin

Cheers | Toast when clinking glasses

La pela

Baseball game | Going to watch pelota

Bochinche

Gossip / Drama | Community gossip or commotion

Janguear

To hang out | From English "hang" - spending time with friends

Perreo

Reggaeton dancing | Grinding/close dancing to dembow/reggaeton

Fast speech

Dominicans speak very quickly | Words blur together, don't be discouraged

Ayuda

Help | Emergency help

Necesito un médico

I need a doctor | Medical emergency

¿Dónde está el baño?

Where's the bathroom? | Essential phrase

No entiendo

I don't understand | Being honest about comprehension

Hablo poco español

I speak little Spanish | Setting expectations

Estoy perdido/a

I'm lost | Asking for help with directions

Tengo el estómago sensible

My stomach is sensitive | Politely declining risky food

No gracias, estoy bien

No thanks, I'm good | Polite refusal

Ahorita

Right now / In a bit | Can mean "now" or "later" - context dependent

Ya

Already / Now / Soon | Very versatile time word

Después

Later / After | Time reference

Mañana

Tomorrow / Morning | Context dependent

En un chin

In a little bit | Soon-ish

Chevere

Cool / Nice | Positive descriptor

Bacano

Cool / Awesome | Another positive term

Duro

Hard / Tough / Cool | Can mean difficult or awesome depending on context

Suave

Smooth / Easy / Nice | Positive, relaxed vibe

Fino

Fine / Nice / Classy | Something good quality

Merengue

Fast Dominican dance music | National music style with accordion

Bachata

Slower romantic dance music | Dominican guitar-based romantic music

Dembow

Dominican urban/reggaeton style | Modern party music

Perrear

To dance reggaeton/dembow | Grinding/close dancing

Juan Luis Guerra

Legendary Dominican musician | Everyone knows his music - learn his songs!

Romeo Santos

Modern bachata king | Formerly of Aventura, huge star

El Alfa

Dembow superstar | Modern party music artist