Colombian Spanish for beginners

Colombian Spanish is generally referred to as the most standard or neutral version of Latin American Spanish. On this page I would like to introduce my maybe not so standard but very Colombian version of it. If you plan a trip here, make sure you get familiarized with these words and expressions.

(Note to those who prefer to watch than to read: this is a photo-free page...!)

Lesson 7: A la orden

This is another very typical phrase you will hear a lot. Some people use it when picking up the phone, as in "hello?" - "a la orden?".
Then it is often used by plumbers, taxi drivers, security guards or anybody else offering you a service; for example when you thank or say goodbye to them they might answer "con mucho gusto, cualquier cosa estamos a la orden", or simply "a la orden".
My favorite, however, is when you compliment someone on their car, apartment or finca, and they will answer with "está a la orden" - which basically means what is mine is yours, feel free to use it anytime. Of course you wonder if they really mean it, but that's another question! In the meantime, a very common exchange could be: "está genial el carro" - "está a la orden", "qué bonito tu apartamento" - "gracias, está a la orden", or "su finca es preciosa" - "está a la orden".

Lesson 6: Con mucho gusto

I wasn't aware this is a typically Colombian expression until someone told me after having traveled to various South American countries without coming across this expression as frequently as you do here. Con mucho gusto can either be used literally, as in "sure" or "my pleasure". For example when you ask someone for help they might answer with "claro, con mucho gusto". But it is very often used as "you're welcome": "Muchas gracias" - "Con mucho/muchísimo gusto".

Lesson 5: Greetings

When people greet each other, they like to pick and choose from a variety of phrases, combining at least three:

Hola!
Kiubo [Qué hubo]?
Qué más?

Buenos días! Buenas (tardes)! Buenas noches!

Cómo está/estás?
Cómo ha/has estado?

Cómo (me) le va?
Cómo le/te ha ido?

Qué ha hecho? Qué cuenta?

So for example, you could greet someone with: "Hola, qué más, cómo te ha ido, qué has hecho?" or "Hola, buenos días, cómo me le va?" or "Buenas, cómo está, qué más, qué ha hecho?". Just pick and choose as many as you like from the above!

Lesson 4: Doctor / Doctora

This one is a little trickier as it touches upon one of the very characteristics of Colombian society, namely its (very marked) social differences. When someone is addressed as "Doctor(a)", it says nothing whatsoever on the person's educational background. Of course there are "real" medical doctors or Ph.D. degree holders who actually deserve being addressed as such, but in 95% of the cases the use of "Doctor(a)" is a mere sign of respect or social differentiation.

For example, a lot of professionals, especially lawyers, address their colleagues as "Doctor(a)". Interestingly, professors at law school would also call their students "Doctor(a)".

However, in most cases you could think of the title "Doctor(a)" as the Colombian equivalent for the French "Monsieur / Madame", with the big difference that it is not used by the two speakers reciprocally. To put it very bluntly, the cleaning ladies, security guards, nannies, taxi drivers, waiters or receptionists use "Doctor(a)" to refer to their clients / guests / employers, but would not be addressed as such themselves.


Lesson 3: Ay qué pena

Bogotanos tend to apologize a lot even if there is nothing to apologize for. Qué pena is often used as a way to open a conversation, ask a question, attract someone's attention, or ask them for a favor:

Ay qué pena, me regala un vaso con agua?

Ay qué pena, me puede ayudar a cargar estas bolsas?

Ay qué pena, será que se puede cambiar la cita para mañana?

Ay qué pena, se me olvidó.

Lesson 2: Diminutivos

Colombians, especially Bogotanos, use an incredible amount of nouns and adjectives in their diminutive form in everyday speech. This softens the overall tone of the language and creates a certain level of familiarity and closeness between the speakers. Interestingly, the diminutivos are not meant to designate small objects or people, but just form part of colloquial language. At the beginning it takes some getting used to, but the more you use it, the more natural it comes along. For example:

Cómo te va con tu carrito nuevo? - How's your new car? (even it it's a huge SUV)

Saquemos al perrito. - Let's take the dog for a walk. (even if it's a doberman)

Quieres un tintico/cafecito/lechecita/salsita/panecito/frutica/juguito/arepita? - Any type of food can be used with the diminutivo.

Ponte un saquito. - Put on a sweater.

Comamos alguito. - Let's have a bite.
Estuvo justito/apenitas. - That was close/not so good.

Grandecito. Bajito. Gordito. Flaquito. Viejito. Cortico. Larguito. Blandito. Durito. - Most adjectives can be used in their diminutivo. Funnily enough, you cannot use a diminutivo with "chévere" (see Lesson 1 below).
Ahí abajito/al ladito/arribita/encimita. - You can even give directions using diminutivos.

Of course, you can always add a diminutivo to the diminutivo:

Sólo quiero un poquitico. - I will just have a little.

Es una cosita así de chiquitiquitiquitica. - To describe something very tiny.

Lesson 1: Chévere

Chévere is probably THE Colombian word. It is an adjective that can mean anything from good to great to fantastic, amazing, congratulations, well done, awesome, impressive, interesting, cool, beautiful - basically anything positive. Chévere can qualify people, places, events, animals, food, just about anything. You will hear it everywhere and it is even the official slogan of [French hypermarket chain] Carrefour in the country. Here are some examples of the everyday use of chévere:

How was the movie/trip/party/meeting/vacation/yoga class...? - Chévere!
I am French/German/Italian... - Chévere!
They are having a baby. - Uy qué chévere! (something like very chévere)
These pants/shoes/this dress/sweater... look really chévere on you.
I found a new job/apartment/boyfriend... - Chévere!