minas
/MEE-nahs/
girls
In informal contexts, 'minas' can refer to girls or young women.
minas(noun)
girls
?informal, referring to young women
,women
?informal, referring to females in general
chicks
?very informal, regional slang
📝 In Action
¿Viste a esas minas en el concierto? ¡Qué buena onda!
B1Did you see those girls at the concert? They were really cool!
Todas las minas de mi clase están estudiando mucho para el examen.
B2All the women in my class are studying hard for the exam.
💡 Grammar Points
Plural Noun
This is the plural form of the noun 'mina' (meaning 'girl' in this context). It's used just like 'chicas' or 'mujeres'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using Slang Universally
Mistake: "Using 'minas' in formal settings or outside of the Southern Cone/Andean regions."
Correction: Use 'chicas' or 'mujeres' when traveling outside of countries like Argentina or Chile, or in professional situations.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
This word is extremely informal and should only be used among friends or in casual settings in the regions where it is common.
'Minas' means explosives, such as landmines.
📝 In Action
Las minas de carbón son peligrosas para los trabajadores.
A2Coal mines are dangerous for the workers.
El ejército tuvo que desactivar varias minas terrestres.
B1The army had to deactivate several landmines.
💡 Grammar Points
Plural Form
This is the simple plural of the noun 'mina', meaning a hole dug in the ground to extract minerals, or an explosive device.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context Check
If you hear 'minas' in a serious or technical discussion, it almost certainly refers to mines (explosives or geological sites), not people.
As a verb form, 'minas' means 'you undermine' or 'you weaken.'
minas(verb)
you undermine
?Tú form, present tense, from the verb 'minar'
,you erode
?Tú form, present tense, from the verb 'minar'
you excavate
?Tú form, present tense, literal meaning
📝 In Action
Si no duermes bien, minas tu salud a largo plazo.
B2If you don't sleep well, you undermine your health in the long term.
Tú minas la confianza del equipo con tus constantes quejas.
C1You erode the team's trust with your constant complaints.
💡 Grammar Points
Verb Conjugation
In this context, 'minas' is the 'tú' form (you, informal singular) in the present tense, meaning 'you undermine' or 'you erode'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Abstract Use
The verb 'minar' is often used figuratively to talk about destroying something non-physical, like trust, health, or morale.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: minas
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'minas' in its literal, non-slang meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'minas' an offensive word for women?
In countries like Argentina and Chile, 'minas' is widely used and generally considered neutral slang, similar to 'girls' or 'chicks' in English, and is not usually offensive. However, like all slang, its appropriateness depends on the context and who is speaking.
How can I tell if 'minas' means 'mines' or 'girls'?
Check the surrounding words. If you see words related to geology, explosives, or military action, it means 'mines' (Definition 2). If you see words related to social activities, adjectives for people, or casual settings, it means 'girls' (Definition 1).