In Asturias, there is a special language of everyday life — a mix of Spanish and Asturian, with expressions that are hard to translate literally but easy to feel.
Here, it’s not just “like” — presta, not “rain” — but orbayu, and almost any emotion can end with a short but meaningful ho.
We have gathered the most popular Asturian expressions and words that you will definitely hear in the region.
❄️ Popular Expressions
🥶 Fai un cutu que escarabaya’l pelleyu
“It’s freezing cold” — that’s what they say when it’s really biting to the bone.
🍽 Al platu vendrás
“You’ll be back” — a gentle warning that you will come back to this.
🤷 Ye lo que hay
“What is, is” — an expression of acceptance of the situation.
😄 Calla, ho
A universal reaction: surprise, irony, disbelief.
ho — it’s like “you’ve got to be kidding” or “come on”.
🤔 ¿Cómo ye, ho?
“Are you serious?” / “What are you saying?”
🎉 Vamos a entamala
“Let’s go out / hang out” — time for folixa (a party).
🍻 Tomar un cacharro
To go for a drink. In Asturias, “cacharro” is not a “thing,” but a drink.
🌧 Estar pingando
To be soaked through — after rain or orbayu.
🍲 Tar fartucu como un gochu
“Stuffed to the brim” (literally — like a pig 🐷).
💬 Words That Can’t Be Translated with One Word
❤️ Prestar
It’s not “to lend.” It’s “to really like”.
👉 Préstame pola vida — “I really love this”
🌧 Orbayu
A fine, drizzling rain that subtly soaks everything.
🌄 Prao
A meadow. But it’s also a place where village celebrations take place.
🎉 Folixa
A real party — with music, cider, and fun.
🍏 Espicha
A typical Asturian gathering in a cider house or bar: food, cider, and standing conversation.
🍺 Chigre
A bar or cider house. A word you will hear constantly.
🧡 Endearing Words
In Asturias, they love diminutive forms:
- Guaje — child
- Mozo / moza — boy / girl
- Vida — a term of endearment like “dear” (even to strangers)
- Guapín / guapina — “handsome / beautiful”
Add -ín / -ina to a word — and it becomes friendly.
😏 A Bit About “Insults”
Here they sound almost homely:
- Babayu / fatu — fool
- Gallu — show-off
- Farrucu — self-satisfied
- Repunante — unpleasant person
👉 But the tone decides everything — sometimes it’s said with a smile.
🤯 Words That Confuse
- Picar — not “tease,” but “ring the doorbell”
- Cuello — not “neck,” but “to carry a child in one’s arms”
- Rodillo — not only a rolling pin, but also a rag
- Pota — pot, not what you thought
🧩 Only in Asturias
There are words that are hardly used outside the region:
- Esgaya — a lot, in abundance
- Fame — hunger
- Pigazu — short sleep (siesta)
- Pindiu — steep ascent
- Perres — money
🎯 Conclusion
Asturian words are not just a language, but a reflection of a lifestyle:
food, weather, mountains, cider, and people.
If you hear:
👉 “¿Vamos de folixa, ho?”
— don’t hesitate. Just agree.
¡Hasta lueguín! 😊
