How to Speak Like a Mexicano: ¡Madre!

You thought “madre” just meant “mother”, didn’t you?

Here in Mexico, “madre” can be used in quite a few different ways. Some of these I learned the hard way.

Madre: mother

Qué Poca Madre: (lit: how little mother) How uncool of you! Jerk!

Estar Poca Madre: (lit: to be a little bit of mother) to be awesome

                “Wey, esta fiesta está poca madre!”

A Toda Madre: (lit: full mother) very, very, very awesome

Hasta la Madre (1): (lit: up to the mother) completely full

                  “Ya vámonos… este bar está hasta la madre de gente.”

Hasta la Madre (2): fed up

                  “Ya me tienes hasta la madre con tus sermones.”

Hasta la Madre (3): extremely drunk

                  “Wey, anoche me puse hasta la madre en la fiesta de Jorge!”

Me Vale Madres: (lit: it’s worth mothers to me) I don’t give a sh**

Madrazo: (lit: a hit by a mother) a very strong punch, hit, fall, etc.

Esa Madre: (lit: that mother) that thing over there

               “Qué es esa madre?”

Dar en la Madre/Romper la Madre: (lit: to give in the mother/to break the mother) to punch very very hard

Ni Madres: (lit: not even mother) zip, zero, squat, heck no!

A Madres: (lit: of mothers) something that is unappealing to the senses

                   “Estos tacos asquerosos saben a madres.”

                   “Tu perfume chafa huele a madres.”

Puta Madre: (lit: prostitute mother) a very bad phrase expressing alarm, like “sh*t!”

Hope this will help you avoid some of the mistakes I made!