Dominican Slang 101: Words You Only Hear Back Home 🇩🇴😂

If you grew up in a Dominican home—or you’ve ever spent five minutes with a group of Dominicans—then you know: we speak our own language. Dominican slang is fast, funny, flavorful, and full of personality.

Here are some of our favorite Dominican expressions that you won’t find in your Spanish textbook:

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1. Vaina

The ultimate Dominican word. It can mean thing, mess, situation, problem, or basically... anything.
“Pásame esa vaina.” “¿Qué es esa vaina?”

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2. ¡Ta’ To’!

Short for “Está todo bien”, it means “It’s all good.” We say this to agree, confirm, or just sound chill.
“Nos vemos a las 6.” “Ta’ to’.”

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3. Jevi

Cool. Awesome. Nice. You’ll hear this in any convo.
“Esa música está jevi, loco.”

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4. Un chin

A little bit. Just a touch. And somehow always not enough.
“Dame un chin de arroz, por favor.”

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5. Diache

Our version of “Dang!” or “Wow!”—used for surprise or frustration.
“¡Diache, se me olvidó la cita!”

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6. No bulto

No lie. No joke. It’s real.
“Yo fui al concierto, no bulto.”

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7. Tiguere

A street-smart guy. Sometimes slick, sometimes trouble. Always sharp.
“Ese tiguere no se le va una.”

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8. E’ pa’ lante que vamos

An iconic phrase meaning: “We keep going.” Through ups and downs, Dominicans always move forward.

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Whether you say “ta’ to’” or “diache,” your slang is part of your identity. At Yegodomi, we celebrate the way we talk, live, and love—Dominican style.