They say understanding a language’s humour is a sign of its mastery. That can sometimes mean you’re the only one laughing of course… luckily, whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’ll find yourself chuckling at these funny Spanish phrases and their actual meanings.
Now, we never recommend translating literally but we’ll make an exception this time. 😉
Have you ever noticed that many idioms and funny phrases have to do with animals or food? Well, these examples fit that bill. But first, we start with a king.
1. hablando del rey de Roma!
Hablando del rey de Roma means speaking of the king of Rome. In English, we would say speaking of the devil. Fortunately, in Spanish, the phrase sounds more like a compliment. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather be called a king (or queen) than the devil.
Now that we’re done with royalty, we can move on to animals…firstly, specifically insects.
2. Por si las moscas
Por si las moscas literally means for if the flies. This phrase means just in case.
I can understand the sentiment behind this, but I still wonder why not mosquitos?
So, you could say: Let’s get extra toilet paper before the lockdown, por si las moscas.
The next funny Spanish phrase involves a creature a little larger than a fly. Ok, much larger.
3. No ver tres en un burro
What’s the most obvious thing you would see and notice without a doubt? Did you possibly think “a three (3) on a donkey?”
Then you’ve guessed correctly!
No ver tres en un burro means to not see 3 on a donkey, which is just to say that someone is missing something very obvious or that is right in front of their eyes.
How are you not seeing the purple elephant riding a motorcycle? Oh my gosh, no ves tres en un burro!
We’ve looked at translated Spanish idioms with animals that reside on land and air. Now all we’re missing is water…
4. Me pica el bagre
Although not overly pleasant sounding, this phrase does exactly describe the feeling. That is, me pica el bagre means the catfish is biting me.
Can you imagine when you would feel like a catfish is biting you?
Obviously, it’s when you’re hungry. Before you get too hangry next time, be sure to loudly yell me pica el bagre!!! (Just make sure someone understands you.)
Talking about eating is a nice segue into the next phrases about food.
5. A huevo!
If you’re an enthusiastic person who likes to say yes and likes to eat eggs, then this phrase is for you. A huevo means literally to egg. However, it has various meanings: heck yes, yes, of course, for sure, etc.
Like many words and phrases, meaning often depends on the region in which it’s used. But using it as an affirmative is quite popular.
Do you want a million dollars?
Uh, a huevo!
The next phrase in Spanish has to do with pumpkins – what could be more appropriate for the autumn/winter season?
6. Dar calabazas
While Americans are crazy about pumpkins, it seems that Spanish speakers may not be so much. Dar calabazas (to give pumpkins) is what someone does when they don’t return another person’s affection.
For example: I feel dejected. The guy I like me ha dado calabazas. I wish he felt the same way towards me as I do him. ☹
Why doesn’t the Spanish language like pumpkins? Some say it was because the Greeks were not a fan of pumpkins and thought them to be anaphrodisiacs.
So, giving pumpkins means you don’t much care for someone. What if you gave a papaya instead?
7. No dar papaya
To not give papaya is no dar papaya in Spanish. While you might think this is related to the pumpkin phrase, it’s actually not.
No dar papaya means to be careful so as to not be taken advantage of. Papayas are precious and should be guarded.
Example: Avoid looking down at your phone all the time when you’re walking on a busy street. ¡No da papaya!
We’re giving away pumpkins and papayas left and right. Get ready. It’s about to get a lot more violent.
8. Le zumba el mango
Now we’re flinging mangos! Le zumba el mango means to fling the mango. You can say this when you find something hard to believe. You could say the English Get out of here! is an equivalent phrase.
That’s it for fruit phrases in Spanish – at least for the moment.
Le zumba el mango!
9. Hacer de canguros
Very creative? Yes. Nothing to do with what it describes? Yes. Although… somehow very accurate and the perfect description? Also yes.
Hacer de canguros is a Spanish phrase meaning babysitting! Looking after children can be a challenging task and this phrase captures the energy children give off perfectly, while also giving suggesting how hard it is to keep them contained. A cute phrase that can be endearing, but you can DEFINITELY also imagine the exasperation.
It probably belongs in the context of Estoy agotado! He estado haciendo de canguros!
10. Creerse la última coca-cola del desierto
Creerse la última coca-cola del desierto is a phrase used to describe someone who is full of themselves or arrogant. The English translation literally means to think you’re the last coke in the dessert.
I guess if you’re the last of anything, you would naturally be the best. I’m not sure we could argue with that statement.
Next time you think someone is full of themselves, you can just say it under your breath in Spanish. Just make sure they don’t happen to know what this phrase means…
Finally, our last Spanish phrase and it’s back-translation have nothing to do with food or animals.
11. Tomar el pelo
Tomar el pelo means to take hair. This is similar to the English saying to pull someone’s leg, which also means to fool or trick them.
Which of the two phrases do you think makes more sense? Which phrase do you think is funnier?
Conclusion
Hopefully, you’ve had fun learning these ten Spanish phrases and their funny translations. Feel free to add them to your Spanish or Spanglish vocabulary. You’re sure to impress many people.
Looking for more fun? Check out our article on funny German words to really get the laughter rolling.
What other funny Spanish phrases do you know? What funny sayings do you have in your own language?
Let us know in the comments below. We love hearing from you!
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Why funny Spanish phrases resist literal translation
Spanish idiom leans heavily on food, weather and the body, and those images rarely survive the crossing into English. The meaning usually does, which is why a good translator replaces the picture rather than preserving it.
Regional variation makes this harder than a phrase list suggests. An expression that is everyday in Madrid can be unknown in Buenos Aires or mean something else entirely, so the first question on any Spanish project is which market the text is for.
If you are learning rather than working, start with Spanish words for beginners. For professional work, see our Spanish translation service.
More Spanish phrases, literal against real meaning
The gap between the literal words and the intended meaning is where these expressions live. Read the middle column first, then the right-hand one, and the logic usually appears.
| Phrase | Literally | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Estar en las nubes | to be in the clouds | to be daydreaming |
| Ser pan comido | to be eaten bread | to be very easy |
| Tomar el pelo | to take the hair | to pull someone’s leg |
| Estar como una cabra | to be like a goat | to be a bit mad |
| No tener pelos en la lengua | to have no hairs on the tongue | to speak bluntly |
| Meter la pata | to put the paw in | to put your foot in it |
| Ponerse las pilas | to put your batteries in | to get your act together |
Where these phrases come from
A large share of Spanish idiom traces back to farming, food and bullfighting, the three things that shaped daily vocabulary for centuries. That is why animals and meals turn up so often, and why the images feel rural even in city speech.
It also explains why they resist translation. An English equivalent usually exists, but it carries a different picture, so a translator swaps the image and keeps the register rather than preserving the words.
Frequently asked questions
Are these phrases used everywhere Spanish is spoken?
No. Several are specific to Spain, and Latin American countries have their own stock of expressions. Ponerse las pilas travels widely; estar como una cabra is much more peninsular.
Can I use idioms if I am still learning?
Use them sparingly and only when you have heard them in context. An idiom slightly misused stands out more than plain phrasing, because it signals confidence the sentence does not support.
How do translators deal with idioms in business documents?
They usually remove them. In contracts, manuals and safety content the priority is one unambiguous reading, so the idiom is replaced with plain language and the colour is lost deliberately.
If you are starting out, see Spanish words for beginners. For professional work, our Spanish translation service.
