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no mames

phrase, interjectionVulgar

A Mexican Spanish slang term. Browse all Mexican slang.

What it means

  1. No way; you've got to be kidding. An exclamation of disbelief, which can be delighted, horrified or outraged depending entirely on tone.

  2. Stop it; give me a break. Addressed to someone who is going too far.

    Here the literal imperative force returns.

Literally: Don't suck.

Examples with translations

  • ¡No mames! ¿Te sacaste la lotería?

    No way! You won the lottery?

    Note: Delighted disbelief — the most common register.

  • No mames, ya llevo dos horas esperando.

    Oh come on, I've been waiting two hours already.

  • Ya no mames, en serio, déjalo en paz.

    Seriously, cut it out, leave him alone.

    Note: Genuinely annoyed. Tone does all the work.

Where it comes from

The literal sense is obscene, from mamar, 'to suck'. Like most high-frequency profanity it has bleached heavily with use, and among friends it now carries roughly the force of 'no way'. It has not bleached enough to be safe at work.

Other forms

Similar terms:
no manches, no inventes