If you only know fiesta /ˈfjesta/ — party — and cerveza /θeɾˈβeθa, seɾˈβesa/ — beer — you can survive a night out in Spanish. But if you want to understand your friends when they say things like salimos de juerga y acabamos a las tantas /saˈlimos ðe ˈxweɾɣa i akaˈβamos a las ˈtantas/ — we partied hard and ended up home crazy late — you need modismos de fiesta /moˈðizmos ðe ˈfjesta/.
In this guide you’ll get natural expressions for:
- Going out and getting ready
- Having an amazing night
- Drinking (a bit… or way too much)
- The sad, tragic morning after
By the end, you’ll be able to talk about nights out like a real Spanish-speaker, not like a lonely exchange student clutching a dictionary in the corner.
Quick Primer
Some core party words you’ll see over and over:
- fiesta /ˈfjesta/ — party
- salir de fiesta /saˈliɾ ðe ˈfjesta/ — to go out partying
- salir de marcha /saˈliɾ ðe ˈmaɾtʃa/ — to go out partying (very common in Spain) (Erre que ELE)
- irse de juerga /ˈiɾ.se ðe ˈxweɾɣa/ — to go partying / on a binge (Expressions)
- resaca /reˈsaka/ — hangover
And two key ideas:
- modismo /moˈðizmo/ — idiom (fixed expression whose meaning isn’t literal)
- jerga /ˈxeɾɣa/ — slang
Most expressions here are informal. They’re perfect with friends, in chats, and social situations. With your boss? Choose the softer ones and leave the borrachera talk for later.
Getting Ready & Going Out: Pre-Party Idioms
Before the party, there’s the pre-game: clothes, makeup, and that “we’re just going for one drink” lie.
Spanish | IPA | English
salir de fiesta | /saˈliɾ ðe ˈfjesta/ | to go out partying
salir de marcha | /saˈliɾ ðe ˈmaɾtʃa/ | to go out partying (Spain) (Erre que ELE)
irse de juerga | /ˈiɾ.se ðe ˈxweɾɣa/ | to go out partying hard
salir de copas | /saˈliɾ ðe ˈkopas/ | to go out for drinks
calentar motores | /kalenˈtaɾ moˈtoɾes/ | to warm up (start the night)
hacer botellón | /aˈseɾ boteˈʝon/ | to drink outside in a group before going out (Spain) (Profe de Español)
Examples:
Esta noche vamos a salir de fiesta por el centro.
/esˈta ˈnotʃe ˈβa.mos a saˈliɾ ðe ˈfjesta poɾ el ˈθentro, ˈsentɾo/
Tonight we’re going out partying in the city centre.
Quedamos en casa para calentar motores y luego salimos de copas.
/keˈða.mos en ˈkasa paɾa kalenˈtaɾ moˈtoɾes i ˈlweɣo saˈlimos ðe ˈkopas/
We’re meeting at home to warm up and then we’ll go out for drinks.
Usage notes:
- Salir de fiesta, salir de copas are neutral and safe everywhere.
- Salir de marcha, hacer botellón are especially common in Spain. Latin America will understand but may use other phrases or find them very “Spain-specific”.
At The Party: Having Fun & Being The Life Of It
Now you’re in the bar/club/house party. Time to describe how good the night is (or isn’t).
Spanish | IPA | English
pasarlo bien | /paˈsaɾlo ˈbjen/ | to have a good time
pasarlo bomba | /paˈsaɾlo ˈbomba/ | to have an amazing time (Medium)
pasarlo de maravilla | /paˈsaɾlo ðe maɾaˈβiʝa/ | to have a wonderful time
estar de buen rollo | /esˈtaɾ ðe ˈbwen ˈro.ʝo/ | to be in a good vibe/mood
ser el alma de la fiesta | /seɾ el ˈalma ðe la ˈfjesta/ | to be the life of the party
darlo todo | /ˈdar.lo ˈto.ðo/ | to give it your all (dance, sing, party hard)
estar a tope | /esˈtaɾ a ˈto.pe/ | to be at full energy / place is packed
Examples:
Ayer lo pasamos bomba en la fiesta de Ana.
/aˈʝeɾ lo paˈsa.mos ˈbomba en la ˈfjesta ðe ˈa.na/
Yesterday we had an amazing time at Ana’s party.
Siempre que salimos, Luis es el alma de la fiesta.
/ˈsjem.pɾe ke saˈli.mos lwis es el ˈalma ðe la ˈfjesta/
Whenever we go out, Luis is the life of the party.
Usage notes & common mistakes:
- Don’t say “pasar un buen tiempo” here (that’s a calque from English). Use pasarlo bien / pasarlo bomba / pasarlo de maravilla.
- Darlo todo often refers to dancing or singing like there’s no tomorrow.
Dancing, Music & Crowd Energy
The DJ is on fire, the crowd is screaming, someone is trying to salsa with a beer in each hand. Vocabulary time.
Spanish | IPA | English
temazo | /teˈmaθo, teˈmaso/ | great song, banger (handyspanish.com)
pinchar música | /pinˈtʃaɾ ˈmusika/ | to DJ / play music (handyspanish.com)
perrear | /peˈreaɾ/ | to grind / dance reggaeton close (Profe de Español)
bailar hasta abajo | /baiˈlaɾ asˈta aˈβaxo/ | to twerk / dance all the way down
estar a reventar | /esˈtaɾ a reβenˈtaɾ/ | to be packed (place)
petar la discoteca | /peˈtaɾ la diskoteˈka/ | to fill the club / make it crazy
Example:
El DJ está pinchando temazos, la discoteca está a reventar.
/el deˈxota, deˈxe ˈo.ta/ (optional) DJ /el deˈʝei esˈta pinˈtʃan.do teˈma.sos la diskoteˈka esˈta a reβenˈtaɾ/
The DJ is playing bangers, the club is packed.
Cuando ponen reguetón, todo el mundo se pone a perrear.
/ˈkwan.do ˈpo.nen reɣeˈton ˈto.ðo el ˈmun.do se ˈpo.ne a peˈreaɾ/
When they put on reggaeton, everyone starts grinding.
Usage notes:
- Perrear is strongly linked to reggaeton and sensual dancing; use it for that specific vibe.
- Temazo is perfect when your favourite song comes on and you scream a little inside.
Drinking & Overdoing It: Idioms For The Wild Side
You don’t have to drink to party… but your vocabulary should be ready for when people do.
Spanish | IPA | English
tomar unas copas | /toˈmaɾ ˈu.nas ˈkopas/ | to have a few drinks
irse de cañas | /ˈiɾ.se ðe ˈka.ɲas/ | to go out for beers (Spain) (Hispania, escuela de español)
echarse unos tragos | /eˈtʃaɾ.se ˈu.nos ˈtɾa.ɣos/ | to have a few drinks (LatAm-ish)
ponerse contento | /poˈneɾ.se konˈten.to/ | to get tipsy (euphemistic)
pillar una borrachera | /piˈʝaɾ ˈu.na βoraˈtʃeɾa/ | to get drunk
ponerse pedo | /poˈneɾ.se ˈpe.ðo/ | to get wasted (slang, stronger)
ponerse ciego | /poˈneɾ.se ˈθje.ɣo, ˈsje.ɣo/ | to get really drunk (Spain) (handyspanish.com)
Examples:
Solo iba a tomar unas copas y acabé poniéndome contento.
/ˈso.lo ˈi.βa a toˈmaɾ ˈu.nas ˈkopas i akaˈβe poˈnjen.do.me konˈten.to/
I was only going to have a few drinks and I ended up tipsy.
En la boda, muchos se pusieron pedos.
/en la ˈβo.ða ˈmu.tʃos se puˈsje.ron ˈpe.ðos/
At the wedding, lots of people got wasted.
Usage notes & caution:
- Ponerse pedo, ponerse ciego are very informal, slangy, and can sound rough. Fine with close friends; skip them with strangers or in polite company.
- For a softer version, coger una borrachera /koˈxeɾ ˈu.na βoraˈtʃeɾa/ can also be used.
The End Of The Night & The Day After
All good parties must end… usually at a time your future self will deeply regret.
Spanish | IPA | English
llegar a las tantas | /ʝeˈɣaɾ a las ˈtan.tas/ | to get home super late
alargar la noche | /alaɾˈɣaɾ la ˈnotʃe/ | to stretch the night / keep going
cerrar el bar | /θeˈraɾ, seˈraɾ el ˈbaɾ/ | to close the bar (stay until it closes)
quedarse hasta las mil | /keˈðaɾ.se ˈas.ta las ˈmil/ | to stay very late
tener resaca | /teˈneɾ reˈsa.ka/ | to have a hangover
estar hecho polvo | /esˈtaɾ ˈe.tʃo ˈpol.βo/ | to be exhausted / wrecked
no poder con la vida | /no poˈðeɾ kon la ˈβi.ða/ | to not be able to function
Examples:
Ayer llegué a casa a las tantas y hoy tengo una resaca horrible.
/aˈʝeɾ ʝeˈɣe a ˈkasa a las ˈtan.tas i oj ˈten.go ˈu.na reˈsa.ka oˈri.βle/
Yesterday I got home super late and today I have a horrible hangover.
Después de la fiesta estamos hechos polvo.
/desˈpwes ðe la ˈfjesta esˈta.mos ˈe.tʃos ˈpol.βo/
After the party we’re wrecked.
Usage notes:
- Llegar a las tantas, quedarse hasta las mil both mean “very late” without a specific time.
- Estar hecho polvo works for tired from work too, not just partying.
Region Notes
Party Spanish changes flavour from country to country, but the core vibe is universal.
Some regional highlights:
- Spain:
- salir de marcha, salir de juerga, salir de copas, hacer botellón are classic Spain-night-out expressions. (Erre que ELE)
- tardeo /taɾˈðeo/ has become popular: afternoon “partying” with drinks and tapas instead of staying out all night. (ElHuffPost)
- salir de marcha, salir de juerga, salir de copas, hacer botellón are classic Spain-night-out expressions. (Erre que ELE)
- Mexico:
- la peda /la ˈpe.ða/ — a heavy drinking session / wild party.
- ponerse pedo — to get wasted (very common and quite informal).
- la peda /la ˈpe.ða/ — a heavy drinking session / wild party.
- Argentina & friends:
- la joda /la ˈxo.ða/ — party, fun time.
- de joda — out partying.
- la joda /la ˈxo.ða/ — party, fun time.
- General Latin America:
- irse de rumba /ˈiɾ.se ðe ˈrum.ba/ and de farra /ðe ˈfar.a/ are common in several countries for “going partying”.
- irse de rumba /ˈiɾ.se ðe ˈrum.ba/ and de farra /ðe ˈfar.a/ are common in several countries for “going partying”.
If you’re not sure which region you’re talking to, stick to salir de fiesta, salir de copas, tomar unas copas, tener resaca, pasarlo bien — they travel well.
Mini Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Inviting Someone Out
¿Te apetece salir de fiesta el sábado?
/te apeˈte.se saˈliɾ ðe ˈfjesta el ˈsa.βa.ðo/
Do you feel like going out partying on Saturday?
Claro, hace mucho que no salgo de copas.
/ˈkla.ɾo ˈa.se ˈmu.tʃo ke no ˈsal.ɣo ðe ˈkopas/
Sure, it’s been a long time since I went out for drinks.
Perfecto, quedamos en mi casa para calentar motores.
/peɾˈfek.to keˈða.mos en mi ˈka.sa pa.ɾa kalenˈtaɾ moˈto.ɾes/
Perfect, we’ll meet at my place to warm up.
Dialogue 2: During The Party
Lo estoy pasando bomba, la música está a tope.
/lo esˈtoj paˈsan.do ˈbomba la ˈmu.si.ka esˈta a ˈto.pe/
I’m having an amazing time, the music is great.
Sí, el DJ está pinchando puros temazos.
/si el deˈʝei esˈta pinˈtʃan.do ˈpu.ɾos teˈma.sos/
Yeah, the DJ is playing nothing but bangers.
Vamos a darlo todo en esta canción.
/ˈba.mos a ˈdar.lo ˈto.ðo en ˈes.ta kanˈθjon, kanˈsjon/
Let’s give it everything on this song.
Dialogue 3: The Morning After
¿Qué tal la resaca?
/ke ˈtal la reˈsa.ka/
How’s the hangover?
Fatal, llegamos a casa a las tantas y hoy estoy hecho polvo.
/faˈtal ʝeˈɣa.mos a ˈka.sa a las ˈtan.tas i oj esˈtoj ˈe.tʃo ˈpol.βo/
Terrible, we got home super late and today I’m wrecked.
Yo también, pero lo pasamos de maravilla.
/ʝo tamˈbjen ˈpe.ɾo lo paˈsa.mos ðe maɾaˈβi.ʝa/
Me too, but we had a fantastic time.
Quick Reference
Spanish | IPA | English
fiesta | /ˈfjesta/ | party
salir de fiesta | /saˈliɾ ðe ˈfjesta/ | to go out partying
salir de copas | /saˈliɾ ðe ˈkopas/ | to go out for drinks
salir de marcha | /saˈliɾ ðe ˈmaɾtʃa/ | to go out partying (Spain)
irse de juerga | /ˈiɾ.se ðe ˈxweɾɣa/ | to go out partying hard
hacer botellón | /aˈseɾ boteˈʝon/ | drink outdoors before going out (Spain)
pasarlo bien | /paˈsaɾlo ˈbjen/ | to have a good time
pasarlo bomba | /paˈsaɾlo ˈbomba/ | to have an amazing time
ser el alma de la fiesta | /seɾ el ˈalma ðe la ˈfjesta/ | to be the life of the party
estar a tope | /esˈtaɾ a ˈto.pe/ | to be packed / at full energy
tomar unas copas | /toˈmaɾ ˈu.nas ˈkopas/ | to have a few drinks
irse de cañas | /ˈiɾ.se ðe ˈka.ɲas/ | to go out for beers (Spain)
ponerse pedo | /poˈneɾ.se ˈpe.ðo/ | to get wasted (slang)
tener resaca | /teˈneɾ reˈsa.ka/ | to have a hangover
estar hecho polvo | /esˈtaɾ ˈe.tʃo ˈpol.βo/ | to be exhausted / wrecked
llegar a las tantas | /ʝeˈɣaɾ a las ˈtan.tas/ | to get home very late
Five-Minute Practice Plan
- My perfect night out:
Write 4–5 sentences in Spanish describing your ideal party using at least three idioms: salir de fiesta, pasarlo bomba, llegar a las tantas, tener resaca, etc. - Idiom swap drill:
Take the sentence Lo pasé bien en la fiesta and rewrite it three times: lo pasé bomba, lo pasé de maravilla, la fiesta estuvo a tope. - Mini-dialogue remix:
Choose one of the Mini Dialogues and change two details (day, verb, idiom). Read it aloud twice. - Hangover truth:
Invent a “yesterday” story using: tomar unas copas, ponerse pedo (or softer ponerse contento), tener resaca, estar hecho polvo. - Listening challenge:
Next time you watch a Spanish series or video with a party scene, pause and write down any idiom you hear about going out, having fun, or drinking. Then try to explain it in simple English. - One real use:
In your next message to a Spanish-speaking friend or tutor, drop one expression naturally, for example: Esta semana no salgo de fiesta, todavía tengo resaca del sábado.
Yak-Style Closing Spark
Once you’ve got these modismos de fiesta in your pocket, every invitation, drunk story, and Monday-morning complaint becomes free Spanish practice. You’re not just saying me gusta la fiesta anymore — you’re describing the whole journey from calentar motores to estar hecho polvo, like someone who’s actually lived a few good nights in Spanish.