Spanish Idioms You Need to Know (And When to Use Them)

Spanish idioms. The ones you need to know. Have you ever felt like your Spanish sounds a little too textbook?

You know the grammar. You’ve got some vocabulary. But when native speakers talk, they use expressions that make you go: “Wait… what?”

Those are idioms. Colorful phrases that carry meanings beyond their literal words. And if you want to sound natural and fluent, you’ll need to understand (and use!) them.

This guide introduces brand-new Spanish idioms. It explains when and how to use them, and gives you cultural context so you’ll never be caught off guard in a conversation.

Let’s get idiomatic. ¡Vamos!

Table of Contents

What Are Idioms and Why Are They Important?

Idioms are expressions whose meanings aren’t obvious from the individual words. Every language has them, and they can confuse learners—but also bring your Spanish to life.

Let’s just compare:

“Estoy muy cansado”, which means I’m very tired. (Correct, but plain.) with the more vivid idiom:
“Estoy hecho polvo”, which means I’m exhausted (literally: “I’m made of dust”).

That my friend is why idioms are so important. Mastering idioms helps you:

Sound more fluent and native-like
Understand TV shows, songs, conversations
Connect culturally with real Spanish-speaking people

10 Useful Spanish Idioms

Let’s explore some powerful idioms you might not know yet.

Estar en la luna (Spanish from Latin America). Estar en la luna de Valencia (Spanish from Spain).
🟡 To be daydreaming / out of touch
Literal: To be on the moon. To be on the moon of Valencia
When to use: When someone isn’t paying attention or is out of the loop. Example: Juan no escuchó nada. Siempre está en la luna.
No saber ni papa
🟡 To know absolutely nothing
Literal: Not to know even a potato. Example: No sé ni papa de matemáticas.
Ser la leche (Spanish from Spain)
🟡 To be awesome (or sometimes annoying depending on tone).
Literal: To be the milk. Example: Ese coche es la leche. ¡Quiero uno!
Estar frito
🟡 To be in trouble Or to be very tired
Literal: To be fried. Example Si no estudio para el examen, estoy frito.
Irse por las ramas
🟡 To go off-topic / beat around the bush
Literal: To go off into the branches. Example: Por favor, ve al grano y no te vayas por las ramas.
A buenas horas, mangas verdes (Spanish from Spain)
🟡 Too little, too late
Literal: At good hours, green sleeves. Example: ¡Ahora traes la tarea! A buenas horas, mangas verdes.
No tener un pelo de tonto
🟡 To be nobody’s fool
Literal: Not to have a single hair of fool. Example: No te confíes con Laura. No tiene un pelo de tonta.
Quedarse de piedra
🟡 To be shocked / frozen in surprise
Literal: To be turned into stone. Example: Me quedé de piedra cuando vi el precio.
Estar loco como una cabra
🟡 To be a bit crazy (in a funny way)
Literal: To be like a goat. Example: Mi primo está loco como una cabra, pero nosotros lo queremos así.
Tener más cara que espalda (Spanish from Spain)
🟡 To be shameless
Literal: To have more face than back. Example: ¡Ese tipo tiene más cara que espalda!

How to Practice and Remember Idioms

Idioms can be tricky because they don’t follow logic. Here are some tips to help you remember them:

Use flashcards with pictures (make the image as silly or literal as possible)

Watch Spanish YouTube videos or movies and listen for idioms

Try them in your own sentences (even if you’re not sure, practice helps)

Group idioms by topic (e.g., idioms about emotions, food, or animals)

Spanish Idioms You need to know (Video)

Recommended Exercises to Reinforce Idioms

Ready to test your skills? Try these interactive games we’ve created:

🔗 Match Spanish Idioms to Their Meanings or Situations

🔗 Spanish Idioms Interactive Quiz

Each one helps you internalize idioms in a fun and visual way.

Spanish Idioms. Don’t Just Translate—Think Like a Native

Understanding idioms is the next step in sounding fluent. They’re not just funny expressions. They’re windows into how native speakers think, joke, and live.

Start by choosing 3–5 new idioms from this list and try using them in your day:

In writing (journal entries, social media captions)
In conversations (even with yourself!)
When watching Spanish shows, listen for them in context

Before you know it, you’ll go from textbook-Spanish to real-world Spanish.

Visit our YouTube Channel for videos explaining idioms, context, pronunciation tips, and more.

Let the expressions come alive with visuals, audio, and real conversation examples.