![\"Spanish](\"https:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/8-frases-que-solo-he-escuchado-en-colombia-2.jpg\")
With Marcela, my Colombian wife, I always joke, telling her how formal things are that are generally very informal. For the same phrase, for example, in Peru we would say “I’m going to suck with my legs”, in Argentina “I’m going to get into trouble with the kid” and in Chile “I’m going to heal with the goats” And what does it mean? All that, translated into Colombian?: “I’m going to drink with my friends.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If, as they say, language creates realities, I believe that this perception that all foreign travelers that we are in Colombia have and that we consider our home – I speak of the perception that Colombians are probably one of the most beloved and friendly peoples on the planet – It has a lot to do with how Colombians speak and communicate with each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are 8 unique phrases from Colombia that I have only heard here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. \u201cQu\u00e9 pena con usted\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n![\"Que](\"https:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/8-phrases-ive-only-heard-in-colombia-3.jpg\")
“Que pena con Usted”<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis is one of the phrases I hear most frequently in everyday life. Once I started to count how many times they said it to me in a day, and they were\u2026 17! It should be clarified that here in Colombia \u201cgrief\u201d is used as \u201cshame\u201d and not referring to something that is pitiful. It is basically a very nice way of saying “excuse me” or “sorry” and is used for things as small as when you accidentally bump into walking or as big as when the teller tells you that the bank account surprisingly went to zero.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Qu\u00e9 pecao!<\/h1>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"\u00a1Qu\u00e9](\"https:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/8-phrases-ive-only-heard-in-colombia-4.jpg\")
\u00a1Qu\u00e9 pecao!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis is a bit difficult to explain and ‘translate’, I hear it mainly from women, and it is used on several occasions. A very cute baby? \u00a1Qu\u00e9 pecao!<\/em> A very old man and a very old woman who go hand in hand? \u00a1Qu\u00e9 pecao! <\/em>Something bad, but not very serious, happened to someone? (like a little boy crying because the ice cream fell) \u201c\u00a1Ay, qu\u00e9 pecao!\u201d.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n3. Su merced<\/h1>\n\n\n\n![\""Su](\"https:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/8-phrases-ive-only-heard-in-colombia-5.jpg\")
Refer to me as: \u201cSu Merced\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne of my favorites for how wonderfully anachronistic it sounds. Although it is no longer heard as much in the younger generations, it is still very common to hear that people say to each other \u201cSu Merced\u201d (pronounced \u201csu Merc\u00e9\u201d<\/strong>), Obviously, those who refer to others in this way, never, they would allow themselves to address others using a familiar form.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf your mercy is interested, here they are: The 8 best islands in Colombia.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Juemadre!<\/h1>\n\n\n\n![\"Colombian](\"https:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/8-phrases-ive-only-heard-in-colombia-6.jpg\")
\u00a1Ay Juemadre!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe anger builds up, but you are not in the right place or company to say “F\/%$ck!” (\u201cSon of a…\u201d, for more clarification 🙂), so instead the blow is softened with a very Colombian \u201cJuemadre!\u201d<\/strong>. Clearly more suitable but less soft than the nondescript \u201cJuepucha\u201d. Also, valid to highlight a surprise (good or bad – see photo).<\/p>\n\n\n\n5. Me regalas\u2026?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n![\"\u00bfMe](\"https:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/8-phrases-ive-only-heard-in-colombia-7.jpg\")
It is not necessary to do all this when they ask you, “\u00bfMe regalas?” In Colombia<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn several occasions I have seen Colombians in other countries having misunderstandings for their use of “\u00bfme regalas?”<\/em>, I remember once in Buenos Aires in a McDonald’s, that the guy who was attending answered in a very Buenos Aires way to a Colombian girl who did your request “Here we do not give anything away che, everything is paid”. The truth is that in Colombia when you borrow something for a moment or ask for something to be passed on to you, you say “\u00bfMe regalas?\u201d<\/em> which means: can you give me a gift?” and not “can I borrow?” or “can you pass me?” Don’t get confused.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Con gusto<\/h1>\n\n\n\n![\"\u201cCon](\"https:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/8-phrases-ive-only-heard-in-colombia-8.jpg\")
\u201cCon Gusto\u201d, \u201dCon Gusto\u201d, \u201cCon Gusto\u201d.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOr its variations “With much pleasure”, “With much pleasure”. They are as common as “qu\u00e9 pena…<\/em>” and it is basically a “There is no why” or “You’re welcome.” Considered an extremely respectful phrase in other Spanish-speaking countries, it is – like other phrases – a legacy of more formal times.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n7. A la orden<\/h1>\n\n\n\n![\"Colombia](\"https:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/8-phrases-ive-only-heard-in-colombia-9.jpg\")
\u00a1A la Orden!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIt is another very correct variation of “you’re welcome” but it is also a way of saying “at your service” and is used a lot to<\/strong>, for example, “call” people in markets or places like the top of Cerro Monserrate where there are many small shops of souvenirs and typical restaurants where everyone (EVERYONE) invites you to go to the shout of “Alaordenalordenlardenlaorden …”<\/p>\n\n\n\n8. Este culicagao!<\/h1>\n\n\n\n![\"Culicagadas](\"https:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/8-phrases-ive-only-heard-in-colombia-10.jpg\")
A couple of divine culicagadas in front of the Salto de Tequendama.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe first time Marcela told me like this, I didn’t know what to think, the first thing that came to mind was the literal image and I even felt a little offended, imagine it. It turns out that culicagao <\/em>is said to children colloquially, and it is not difficult to know where the concept comes from: culi<\/em> (Little ass) – cagao (Craped).<\/strong> You also tell someone when they are immature – as in my case.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere are many more words and phrases that are 100% Colombian, but these are the ones that most catch my attention because of how every day they are.<\/strong> Living in Colombia with the eyes of a foreigner is incredible not only because of the customs and landscapes but because it is also a pleasure to listen to its people speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDon’t forget that you can quote your experience in Colombia here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nJL<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is one of the phrases I hear most frequently in everyday life. Once I started to count how many times they said it to me in a day, and they were\u2026 17! It should be clarified that here in Colombia \u201cgrief\u201d is used as \u201cshame\u201d and not referring to something that is pitiful. It is basically a very nice way of saying “excuse me” or “sorry” and is used for things as small as when you accidentally bump into walking or as big as when the teller tells you that the bank account surprisingly went to zero.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a bit difficult to explain and ‘translate’, I hear it mainly from women, and it is used on several occasions. A very cute baby? \u00a1Qu\u00e9 pecao!<\/em> A very old man and a very old woman who go hand in hand? \u00a1Qu\u00e9 pecao! <\/em>Something bad, but not very serious, happened to someone? (like a little boy crying because the ice cream fell) \u201c\u00a1Ay, qu\u00e9 pecao!\u201d.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One of my favorites for how wonderfully anachronistic it sounds. Although it is no longer heard as much in the younger generations, it is still very common to hear that people say to each other \u201cSu Merced\u201d (pronounced \u201csu Merc\u00e9\u201d<\/strong>), Obviously, those who refer to others in this way, never, they would allow themselves to address others using a familiar form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your mercy is interested, here they are: The 8 best islands in Colombia.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The anger builds up, but you are not in the right place or company to say “F\/%$ck!” (\u201cSon of a…\u201d, for more clarification 🙂), so instead the blow is softened with a very Colombian \u201cJuemadre!\u201d<\/strong>. Clearly more suitable but less soft than the nondescript \u201cJuepucha\u201d. Also, valid to highlight a surprise (good or bad – see photo).<\/p>\n\n\n\n On several occasions I have seen Colombians in other countries having misunderstandings for their use of “\u00bfme regalas?”<\/em>, I remember once in Buenos Aires in a McDonald’s, that the guy who was attending answered in a very Buenos Aires way to a Colombian girl who did your request “Here we do not give anything away che, everything is paid”. The truth is that in Colombia when you borrow something for a moment or ask for something to be passed on to you, you say “\u00bfMe regalas?\u201d<\/em> which means: can you give me a gift?” and not “can I borrow?” or “can you pass me?” Don’t get confused.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Or its variations “With much pleasure”, “With much pleasure”. They are as common as “qu\u00e9 pena…<\/em>” and it is basically a “There is no why” or “You’re welcome.” Considered an extremely respectful phrase in other Spanish-speaking countries, it is – like other phrases – a legacy of more formal times.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It is another very correct variation of “you’re welcome” but it is also a way of saying “at your service” and is used a lot to<\/strong>, for example, “call” people in markets or places like the top of Cerro Monserrate where there are many small shops of souvenirs and typical restaurants where everyone (EVERYONE) invites you to go to the shout of “Alaordenalordenlardenlaorden …”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first time Marcela told me like this, I didn’t know what to think, the first thing that came to mind was the literal image and I even felt a little offended, imagine it. It turns out that culicagao <\/em>is said to children colloquially, and it is not difficult to know where the concept comes from: culi<\/em> (Little ass) – cagao (Craped).<\/strong> You also tell someone when they are immature – as in my case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many more words and phrases that are 100% Colombian, but these are the ones that most catch my attention because of how every day they are.<\/strong> Living in Colombia with the eyes of a foreigner is incredible not only because of the customs and landscapes but because it is also a pleasure to listen to its people speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don’t forget that you can quote your experience in Colombia here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n JL<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Qu\u00e9 pecao!<\/h1>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
3. Su merced<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
4. Juemadre!<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
5. Me regalas\u2026?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
6. Con gusto<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
7. A la orden<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
8. Este culicagao!<\/h1>\n\n\n\n