cha
“cha” means “man” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
man
Also: hey, whoa
📝 In Action
Cha, no sabía que tenías un carro nuevo.
A1Man, I didn't know you had a new car.
Cha, ¡qué calor hace hoy!
B1Whoa, it is so hot today!
Estaba caminando por ahí, cha, y de repente lo vi.
C1I was walking around, like, and suddenly I saw him.
yeah, right
Also: liar
📝 In Action
¡Cha! Tú no corriste cinco kilómetros.
B1Yeah, right! You didn't run five kilometers.
Dijo que es amigo de Messi. ¡Chá!
B2He said he's friends with Messi. Yeah, right!
¡Chá, no te creo nada!
C1Liar, I don't believe you at all!
girl
📝 In Action
Esa cha es muy inteligente.
B1That girl is very smart.
Mira a las chas allá.
B2Look at the girls over there.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cha
Question 1 of 3
If you are in Panama and hear someone start a sentence with 'Cha...', what are they likely doing?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Most likely a shortened version of 'muchacho' (boy/youth) used as a friendly address. In Chile, it is a shortened form of 'chanta', a slang word for a 'liar' or 'fraud'.
First recorded: 20th century (slang evolution)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'cha' mean 'tea' in Spanish?
No. While many languages use 'cha' for tea, Spanish uses 'té'. However, some Asian-influenced communities in Latin America might use it, but it's not standard Spanish.
Can I use 'cha' in Spain?
You can, but people will likely be confused. It is specifically a Latin American regionalism, primarily from Panama and Chile.
Is 'cha' masculine or feminine?
When used as a filler (interjection), it doesn't have a gender. When used as a noun to mean 'girl' in some slang, it is feminine ('la cha').