Chévere
An adjective meaning good, nice or great, common in Puerto Rico and across much of the Caribbean and South America. It works for a person, a plan or a place, and it is one of the most useful words a visitor can learn. On the island it coexists with brutal, used the same way with more punch.
Example
Calling a place chévere approves of it without overselling, and it works for a beach as easily as for a person.
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Wepa
An exclamation of joy and approval, the local shout of celebration. It comes out when the good song starts, when...
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To go out or hang around with no fixed plan, a direct adaptation of the English hang out. The noun is jangueo and it...
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Friend or buddy, in an informal and affectionate register. It appears in the phrase mi pana for someone you trust and...
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Boricua
The word Puerto Ricans use for themselves, derived from Borikén, the Taíno name of the island. It carries pride and...
Frequently asked questions
Is it only Puerto Rican?
No. It is used in Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere with similar shades.
What does brutal mean here?
It means excellent rather than violent. If someone calls a plan brutal, they are recommending it.
