5 Colombian Expressions you won’t Find in a Dictionary

In Colombia, we use different expressions for different situations we face every day, either happy or sad, and these expressions cannot be found in any dictionary. I have already spoken about the 10 Colombian slang expressions you should know and use, and this time we will learn about the colombian dictionary, the words we normally use and you won’t find in any other place.
1. Yeyo: “Me va a dar un Yeyo!” This word was born in the area of the Caribbean Coast and is now used by all of Colombia. It refers to someone that is feeling bad and feels as though they are going to faint. Moms, for example, use it when they get upset they say they are going to have a Yeyo due to something you did which was wrong. Try not to make her say Yeyo!
2. Patatús: It’s similar to Yeyo, but is refers strictly to a bad health condition. When you are not doing well and normally you are sick, or you are about to become sick, you will have a Patatús.
3. Abeja: Or in English “Bee”, is used in a negative way to refer someone who is always taking advantage over someone. We say that someone is Abeja when this person wants to skip the queue, leave without paying or cheat during an exam.
4. Tragado: This is a funny one. Tragar means “Swallow” and we normally say “Más tragado que calzoncillo de torero” (More swallowed than bullfighter’s underwear). Can you imagine what this stands for? Yes! When you are deeply in love! You are as lost as the bullfighter’s underwear, that we can’t even see you around (a friend of you will say this to you).
Guayabo: This is the Colombian expression for Hangover. It comes from the word Guayaba, an exotic fruit that has little clean worms inside and this expression represents that they went up to your head and you can’t stand anymore!


Excellent writing! :-)