Today I have 4 essential Spanish phrases for life in Latin America. If you are vacationing in Latin America these phrases may or may not be helpful to know. But if you are living in Latin America — or even if you are not living in Latin America, but have Latino friends or a Spanish-speaking significant other– these phrases are good to know.
1. No te metas en esto – Don’t put yourself in this.
This is a Spanish phrase that I could use with quite a few American, Canadian, British, and Australian tourists who come to Colombia. They’ll occasionally ask me about obtaining two things of interest they that really should not get themselves involved in for their own safety. Yes, I am talking about the two things that you are thinking about.
I will tell them in English “don’t get involved in that.” Or in Spanish . . .
No te metas en eso.
(Don’t involve yourself in that.)
Here’s a “dicho” or saying in Spanish:
No te metas donde no te llaman.
Literally, it means “don’t put yourself where they don’t call you.” A similar saying in English is “don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
The phrase “no te metas en lo que no te importa” also means “don’t put yourself in what does not concern you” or “don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
At the risk of going off topic, I do want to clarify that contrary to popular belief, Colombia does not have a drug problem. The U.S. and Western Europe have a drug problem!
2. Eso no se hace – “one does not do that” or “you should not do that.”
“Eso no se hace” is another Spanish phrase that would be helpful for me when speaking to Americans and other foreigners who come to Colombia and want to risk their safety for “vicios” (vices or bad habits).
By the way, “vicio” is another Spanish word that you will hear frequently if you live in Latin America. Here’s a Spanish “dicho” or saying with the word “vicio”:
Los vicios son los hijos del ocio.
“Vices are born from idleness” or literally, “vices are the sons of idleness.”
3. Dejar las cosas así – leave things the way they are
The phrase “dejar las cosas así” has been one of the most indispensable Spanish phrases for me while living in Colombia. Whenever I want to end a relationship with a “novia” (girlfriend) and she wants to continue the relationship, I just say:
Quiero dejar las cosas así.
I want to leave things just the way they are.
O.K. I’ll admit the truth . . .
I am so familiar with this phrase because I’ve been told “quiero dejar las cosas así” on more than one occasion by a Colombian “novia.”
4. Si las cosas salen bien
If things go well.
If everything turns out fine.
This is another useful phrase. For example, “si las cosas salen bien . . .” as in “if everything goes well (in a relationship.)”
