Panamanians speak fast, Caribbean-style Spanish. They often drop the “s” at the end of syllables, so vamos sounds like “vamo,” and they use plenty of local slang like ¿qué xopá? (what’s up?), chuleta (wow, darn), fren (friend) and pelao (kid, dude). Learn a handful of polite survival phrases first, because they get you much further than slang, and then add a few local words for fun.
Below are the phrases you’ll use every day, restaurant and taxi Spanish, words that mean something different in Panama, and the slang you’ll hear on the street.
What language is spoken in Panama?
Spanish is the official language. English is common in hotels, tour companies and many restaurants in Panama City, and in Bocas del Toro, where many people speak English or a local Caribbean creole. Away from tourist areas, you’ll need some Spanish.
Panama is also home to seven indigenous peoples, including the Guna, Ngäbe, Buglé and Emberá, and many of them speak their own languages. Panamanian Spanish has borrowed words from English (thanks to the Canal and West Indian immigration), from indigenous languages and even from French.
How Panamanian Spanish sounds
- C and Z sound like S, as in all of Latin America. Gracias is “GRA-see-as.”
- The final S often disappears. Vamos becomes “vamo,” and buenas tardes sounds like “buena tarde.”
- Syllables get swallowed. Para becomes “pa,” and cansado becomes “cansao.” That’s where pelao (from pelado) comes from.
- “Ch” can sound like “sh,” so muchacho may sound like “mushasho.”
- People talk fast. It’s perfectly fine to say más despacio, por favor (slower, please).
Survival phrases
| Spanish | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buenas / Hola | Hello | “Buenas” is the everyday greeting in Panama, any time of day |
| Buenos días / Buenas tardes / Buenas noches | Good morning / afternoon / evening | Say it when you walk into a shop or get in a taxi |
| Adiós / Chao | Goodbye | |
| Por favor | Please | |
| Gracias / Muchas gracias | Thank you / Thank you very much | |
| Con permiso | Excuse me (to pass) | |
| Disculpe / Lo siento | Excuse me / I’m sorry | |
| Mucho gusto | Nice to meet you | |
| ¿Habla inglés? | Do you speak English? | |
| No entiendo | I don’t understand | |
| Más despacio, por favor | Slower, please | |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much is it? | |
| ¿Dónde está el baño? | Where is the bathroom? | |
| Sí / No | Yes / No |
Numbers
| 1 uno | 2 dos | 3 tres | 4 cuatro | 5 cinco |
| 6 seis | 7 siete | 8 ocho | 9 nueve | 10 diez |
| 20 veinte | 50 cincuenta | 100 cien | 500 quinientos | 1,000 mil |
Prices are in dollars. You’ll hear un dólar or, in slang, un palo for one dollar, and una cuara for a quarter.
Restaurant and food phrases
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Una mesa para dos, por favor | A table for two, please |
| ¿Me trae el menú? | Can you bring me the menu? |
| ¿Qué me recomienda? | What do you recommend? |
| Quiero… / Me da… | I’d like… / Can I have… |
| Pollo con arroz, por favor | Chicken with rice, please |
| Sin hielo / sin picante | No ice / not spicy |
| La cuenta, por favor | The check, please |
| ¿Aceptan tarjeta? | Do you take cards? |
Useful food words: pollo (chicken), carne (beef), puerco (pork), pescado (fish), mariscos (seafood), arroz (rice), frijoles (beans), pan (bread), queso (cheese), leche (milk), agua (water), jugo (juice), cerveza (beer), vino blanco / vino tinto (white / red wine), plato (plate), vaso (glass), tienda (store) and supermercado (supermarket).
For dish names, see our guide to traditional Panamanian food.
Taxi and direction phrases
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Cuánto me cobra a…? | How much to go to…? (agree before you get in) |
| Lléveme a…, por favor | Take me to…, please |
| Derecho / Directo | Straight ahead |
| A la izquierda / A la derecha | To the left / To the right |
| Gire / Doble | Turn |
| Aquí está bien | Here is fine |
| Aquí / Allí | Here / There |
| Calle / Avenida / Esquina | Street / Avenue / Corner |
| Espere, por favor | Wait, please |
Panamanians often give directions by landmarks rather than street names (“past the gas station, across from the church”), so it helps to name a nearby hotel, mall or landmark.
Emergency phrases
- ¡Ayuda! – Help!
- Llame a la policía – Call the police
- Necesito una ambulancia – I need an ambulance
- Necesito un médico – I need a doctor
- Me robaron – I’ve been robbed
- Estoy perdido / perdida – I’m lost
The emergency number in Panama is 911. More tips in our guide to staying safe in Panama.
Panamanian slang you’ll hear
These words would sound strange in Spain or Mexico, but you’ll hear them all over Panama. Several come from English.
| Slang | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ¿Qué xopá? (say “keh-so-PAH”) | What’s up? It’s ¿qué pasó? with the syllables flipped |
| Chuleta | Wow! / Darn! A mild, all-purpose exclamation |
| Chévere | Cool, great |
| Ofi | OK, sure |
| Dale / Dale pues | Go for it, OK, let’s do it |
| Fren | Friend |
| Pelao / Pelaíto | Kid, young guy, dude |
| Buay | Guy, from the English “boy” |
| Vaina | Thing, stuff (pásame esa vaina: pass me that thing) |
| Chantin | Home, your place |
| Bucu | A lot, from the French beaucoup |
| Priti | Cool, nice, from “pretty” |
| ¡Ayala vida! | Oh my gosh! |
| Wapin | From “what’s happening” |
| Parkin / Parquear | A get-together with friends / to hang out |
| Arrancarse | To go out and party hard |
| Juma / Jumao | Drunk |
| Goma | Hangover |
| Pinta | A beer |
| Tranque | Traffic jam (you’ll hear this one a lot in Panama City) |
| Juega vivo | Someone who cuts corners or takes advantage, or the habit of doing it |
| Palo | A dollar (cinco palos = $5) |
| Diablo rojo | The old, brightly painted buses, now mostly replaced in the capital |
A few slang words for people, skin color or class can be offensive depending on who says them and how. Stick to the friendly ones above until you have a good feel for them.
Words that mean something different in Panama
| Word | Usual meaning | In Panama |
|---|---|---|
| Guineo | (varies) | Banana (a plátano is a plantain, for cooking) |
| Carrizo | Reed | Drinking straw |
| Cartucho | Cartridge | Plastic shopping bag |
| Joven | Young person | “Excuse me” to get a waiter’s or clerk’s attention, whatever their age |
| Ahorita | Right now | Soon… or later. Don’t count on it being immediate |
| Chiva | Goat | A small local minibus |
| Fonda | Inn | A simple, cheap local eatery |
How to learn enough Spanish before your trip
- Start 4–6 weeks before you go with 10–15 minutes a day in a free app.
- Learn the survival phrases above by heart, plus numbers to 100 for prices.
- Listen to Panamanian Spanish: local radio, YouTube or típico and reggae music get your ear used to the speed.
- Download Spanish for offline use in a translation app. You can point your camera at menus and signs.
- Try it. Panamanians appreciate any effort, and most will happily switch to slower Spanish or English.
FAQ
Do I need to speak Spanish to visit Panama?
No, not in Panama City’s tourist areas, Bocas del Toro or tour companies. You’ll need some basics for buses, small towns, markets and fondas.
Is Panamanian Spanish hard to understand?
It’s fast and drops letters, so it takes a few days to tune in. People are patient if you ask them to slow down.
What does “xopá” mean?
It’s Panama’s “what’s up?”, ¿qué pasó? with the syllables reversed. Answer with todo bien (all good).
Ready for your trip? See our things to know before you visit Panama and the Panama itinerary guide.