10 Cuban Words Your Grandma Always Says

If you grew up with a Cuban abuela, you already know that she has her own entirely unique, dramatic, and incredibly loving vocabulary. Her words are usually a mix of ancient home remedies, gentle (or not-so-gentle) scoldings, and pure Caribbean flavor.

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Here are 10 classic Cuban words and phrases that every abuela seems to have hardwired into her vocabulary:

1. ¡Alabao!

• What it means: Short for “Alabado sea el Señor” (Praised be the Lord). It is the ultimate expression of shock, surprise, or dismay.

• How she uses it: Whenever you tell her a piece of scandalous news, or when she sees how much you paid for your ripped jeans.

• Abuela says: "¡Alabao, mijo! ¿Tú saliste a la calle con esa ropa?"

2. El Sereno

• What it means: The damp evening breeze or night dew. According to Cuban medical science (aka your grandma), el sereno is the root cause of every known human illness, from the common cold to arthritis.

• How she uses it: To force you to wear a jacket even when it's 80 degrees outside.

• Abuela says: "Ponte un abrigo que te va a caer el sereno y te vas a enfermar."

3. Patatús

• What it means: A dramatic, sudden fainting spell, heart attack, or generalized collapse brought on by stress or bad news.

• How she uses it: To guilt-trip you into behaving or to emphasize how shocked she is.

• Abuela says: "Cuando vi ese reguero en tu cuarto, casi me da un patatús."

4. Tarecos

• What it means: Junk, useless clutter, or random objects lying around the house.

• How she uses it: When it's time to clean the house or when she's complaining about your room.

• Abuela says: "Haz el favor de recoger todos esos tarecos de la mesa para poder comer."

5. Empacho

• What it means: Severe indigestion or an upset stomach, usually caused by eating too quickly. It cannot be cured by modern medicine—it can only be cured by her rubbing your stomach with warm oil or measuring your arm with a special string.

• How she uses it: When you refuse to eat your third plate of food because your stomach hurts.

• Abuela says: "Tú lo que tienes es un empacho, ven acá para curarte."

6. Fajarse

• What it means: To fight, argue, or get into a physical altercation.

• How she uses it: Yelled from the kitchen when you and your siblings or cousins are getting too loud in the living room.

• Abuela says: "¡Muchachos, dejen de fajarse que me tienen la cabeza loca!"

7. Arroz con Mango

• What it means: Literally "rice with mango," but used to describe a massive mess, a ridiculous situation, or total confusion.

• How she uses it: To describe family drama, a disorganized event, or a chaotic situation.

• Abuela says: "La boda de tu prima terminó siendo un arroz con mango."

8. Bochinche

• What it means: Gossip, noise, or a dramatic rumor. Cuban abuelas run on a very specific fuel, and that fuel is bochinche.

• How she uses it: When she's on the phone with her sister or a neighbor, speaking in a hushed tone.

• Abuela says: "Siéntate aquí y tómate este cafecito, que te tengo un bochinche tremendo."

9. Pasmo

• What it means: A muscle spasm, lockjaw, or illness caused by a sudden change in temperature (like opening the fridge when you are sweating).

• How she uses it: To warn you against the dangers of mixing hot and cold environments.

• Abuela says: "No abras el refrigerador descalzo que te va a dar un pasmo."

10. La Chancleta

• What it means: A flip-flop. But in the hands of a Cuban abuela, it transforms into a heat-seeking, aerodynamic disciplinary weapon.

• How she uses it: As the ultimate deterrent for bad behavior. She rarely actually throws it anymore; just taking it off is enough to command absolute silence.

• Abuela says: "¡Te vas a ganar un chancletazo si no te portas bien!"