Do You Understand these funny MEMES IN SPANISH? 😂
If you’re reading this article, you probably spend some time on the Internet and chances are you’ve run into at least a couple of Spanish memes online.
Ahh, memes! Those funny pictures or phrases that test your comprehension of certain cultures, current events, and humor… gotta love them!
Even more than in other cultures, in Latin American culture memes have become one of the most important ways for people to express themselves. And if you’re learning Spanish, los memes en español (memes in Spanish or Spanish memes)) can even become a learning tool if you’re open to them, both culturally and linguistically.
And if you don’t want to be a meme yourself (when your native Spanish-speaking friends talk about memes in Spanish and all you know how to say is “good morning”), then read this article because I’ve prepared a Top ocho memes populares en Latino América for you to learn about.
I. Spanish Memes Disclaimer
Spanish memes are graphic jokes that have gone viral for one reason or another. So, they cover all types of humor throughout the Spanish-speaking specter of funny things.
A little disclaimer here:
Some of the jokes we will talk about can seem a little offensive and if you do your own research about memes en español, you might run into some racist, sexist or very dark jokes. So, be prepared!
Another thing you have to keep in mind is that some memes in Spanish are spelled horribly on purpose to add some goofiness to the mix. So, don’t feel frustrated if you don’t directly understand io no soi 100tifiko (Yo no soy científico / I’m not a scientist) or stuff like that.
1. El León Gringo: the Spanish meme about learning Spanish
El león gringo is actually a great way to start this piece because it became popular as a joke about people that are learning Spanish and feel confident about it until they crash into the vastness and weirdness of Spanish and Latino Slang.
It makes no sense under any grammar rules. So, the face of that poor lion reflects exactly how I’d feel if someone told me stuff like “short corto” (short short) or “¿viste cómo se escucha esa canción?”(did you SEE how that song SOUNDS?) Just hilarious!
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2. El gato “me dijiste que”: the meme everyone knows
Another feline on our top 8 Spanish memes list, but this one really knows what it’s doing:
Not exclusive to Latin America, this meme depicts a situation where a lady is screaming with disappointment and rage at this cat, who looks chill while answering with a scam answer or a pun to her.
The great thing about it being in Spanish is that the puns you can use are unlimited… That’s why I crack up at sentences like these:
3. Pablo Escobar esperando: the Spanish meme that conquered the world
Also known as Sad Pablo Escobar, this one of the Spanish memes consists of a series of three images featuring the character Pablo Escobar from the Netflix series Narcos. He’s staring blankly in three different screen-captures from the series.
The meme expresses the sadness and boredom associated with anticipation. Here’s an example:
- Cuando es dos mil veintiuno, y no se acaba la cuarentena (When it’s 2021 already and the lockdown is not over)
¡Another one!
- Cuando estás aprendiendo español, y no entiendes los memes en español. (When you’re learning Spanish and you don’t understand the memes in Spanish)
4. El fenómeno de los Simpsons en Argentina: the meme exclusive to Argentina
We all know The Simpsons, right?… Well, Argentinians are crazy about them!
They know all the references, the famous phrases and will relate anything that’s currently happening to a specific episode. This has led to a massive and hilarious collection of The Simpsons memes related to Argentina…
Whether it is about:
National politics
Soccer
Culture
There’s always a Simpsons reference in Argentinian memes.
5. Pan Salao / Cheems: a meme transformed in Venezuela
Even if you don’t know the name, I’m sure you recognize this breed of dogs on the internet…
These dogs have been a great source for Spanish memes because of their goofy expressions and cartoon-like faces. Well, meet Cheems or how they call it in some Latin memes I’ve seen: Pan Salao or Pan Dulce.
Cheems is pretty famous for a meme where they ironically compare something in the past (as a very strong and swollen dog) with the present version, which is a rather dull and anxious dog sitting with a sad expression as a way to state that everything was better in the past.
Now, in Venezuela, they adopted Cheems as a recurrent personification of the common citizen and they named him Pan Salao (Salty bread) and Pan dulce (Sweet bread) and a lot of memes with these two went viral in 2020.
Most of them are related to the political and social current situation in Venezuela.
6. Baby Yoda merendando: a Spanish meme about eating
Another Venezuelan phenomenon…
Most people know how famous The Mandalorian Series has become through 2020, but the series became most popular since this little green fella made his appearance.
People on the Internet started calling him Baby Yoda and one thing led to another… so, the Spanish memes appeared again.
There’s a certain scene in the series where he appears with a cup slurping some soup and of course, the Internet Hispanic meme community didn’t waste a second to have Baby Yoda hold:
una arepita y un morral (a little arepa and a backpack)
una empanada y una malta
and any other kind of breakfast you had when leaving the classroom when you were in tercer grado, y sonaba el timbre del recreo (third grade and the recess bell rang). Cute and hilarious!
7. Bugs Bunny Comunista: the meme that has some history…
We all have that family member/friend/pet — or even government — that the moment you get something for yourself, they assume you’re sharing with them.
Well, de eso se trata este meme (that’s what this meme is all about):
Bugs Bunny Comunista is an image of an old cartoon with a red filter and the symbol of the communist Soviet Union. It’s supposed to depict those people that arbitrarily claim ownership of something that is yours.
Some of the Spanish memes I’ve seen are crazy funny, since the punchline is directly “WE have” instead of “you have”.
It gets me every time… really!
CHUNK ALERT!
De eso se trata (that’s what it’s about) is a good example of a chunk you can learn by heart instead of creating your own sentences. The literal translation would be something like “of that it treats itself”, but that makes no sense, of course.
You often can’t translate literally between English and Spanish… So, whenever you want to explain or ask the meaning of something, you should just use De eso se trata. Example?
- De eso se trata la película (That’s what the movie is about)
- De eso se trata esa canción (That’s what that song is about)
Get it? No more literal translations or complicated grammar rules!
…and our last stop on the meme tour…
8. Wey ya: when you hade enough of Spanish memes 🙂
You know when something gets so annoying that you’re not even mad, but just tired and about to cry? Well, this is the face of that agony: The Wey ya meme.
This meme comes from a scene of the series YOU by Netflix, and it shows a girl with a sad/tired look on her face.
Wey ya is an expression usually used in México that means something like “Dude, stop it”. I have no idea who had the marvelous idea of putting that text under that sad grin on that poor girl, but can’t deny how effective it is!
I mean, look at this…
…it’s just so funny and I can relate so much…
What about you?
Do you think I’m missing any important Spanish memes that you know about? Do you think they’re funny, or maybe not at all? Let me know in the comments! I’ll make sure to check them out!
Okay! So, that’s it for today, everyone! I hope I got a little laugh from you (with the help of Spanish memes). Next up to continue working on your knowledge of Latin culture: my article about the 6 things we natives never say, so you don’t embarrass yourself out there.
As an AI language model, I have a wide range of knowledge on various topics, including memes in Spanish. I can provide information and insights on the concepts mentioned in the article you shared. Let's dive into the different Spanish memes discussed in the article and explore their meanings and cultural significance.
El León Gringo: the Spanish meme about learning Spanish
El León Gringo is a meme that became popular as a joke about people learning Spanish and encountering the vastness and weirdness of Spanish and Latino slang. The meme features the face of a lion expressing confusion or frustration when confronted with phrases that don't make sense under traditional grammar rules. It humorously captures the challenges of learning a new language and the complexities of Spanish.
El gato "me dijiste que": the meme everyone knows
This meme features a cat and a lady in a situation where the lady is screaming with disappointment or rage at the cat, who looks chill while responding with a scam answer or a pun. The meme is not exclusive to Latin America and can be used in various contexts. The puns used in this meme are unlimited, making it a versatile and humorous meme in Spanish.
Pablo Escobar esperando: the Spanish meme that conquered the world
This meme consists of a series of three images featuring the character Pablo Escobar from the Netflix series Narcos. The images depict Escobar staring blankly, expressing sadness and boredom associated with anticipation. The meme is often used to convey the feeling of waiting for something that seems to take forever or the frustration of a situation that doesn't change. It has gained popularity worldwide and is not limited to Spanish-speaking countries.
El fenómeno de los Simpsons en Argentina: the meme exclusive to Argentina
The Simpsons have a massive following in Argentina, and Argentinians have created a collection of memes related to the show. These memes often relate current events, national politics, soccer, and culture to specific episodes of The Simpsons. The show's popularity and familiarity among Argentinians have made it a rich source of humor and references in meme culture.
Pan Salao / Cheems: a meme transformed in Venezuela
Pan Salao, also known as Cheems, is a meme that originated from a breed of dogs known for their goofy expressions and cartoon-like faces. The meme compares something in the past (represented by a strong and swollen dog) with the present version (a dull and anxious dog), implying that things were better in the past. In Venezuela, the meme has been adopted as a personification of the common citizen, and it is often used to comment on the political and social situation in the country.
Baby Yoda merendando: a Spanish meme about eating
Baby Yoda, a character from The Mandalorian series, became popular on the internet, and Spanish memes featuring Baby Yoda emerged. One particular scene in the series, where Baby Yoda is shown slurping soup from a cup, has been used in memes. The memes often show Baby Yoda holding different types of food, such as arepas, empanadas, or other breakfast items, creating a humorous connection between the character and food culture.
Bugs Bunny Comunista: the meme that has some history…
Bugs Bunny Comunista is an image of Bugs Bunny from an old cartoon with a red filter and the symbol of the communist Soviet Union. The meme depicts those people who arbitrarily claim ownership of something that is yours. Some Spanish memes based on this image play with the punchline, replacing "you have" with "we have," creating a humorous twist. The meme highlights the tendency of some individuals to assume entitlement to others' possessions.
Wey ya: when you've had enough of Spanish memes
The Wey ya meme originated from a scene in the Netflix series "YOU" and features a girl with a sad/tired look on her face. "Wey ya" is an expression commonly used in Mexico, meaning something like "Dude, stop it." The meme combines the image of the girl with the text "Wey ya," conveying a sense of exhaustion or annoyance. It is often used to express the feeling of being overwhelmed or fed up with a situation.
These Spanish memes provide a glimpse into the humor and cultural references that have become popular on the internet. They reflect the creativity and wit of Spanish-speaking internet users and serve as a means of self-expression and entertainment. By understanding these memes, learners of Spanish can gain insights into the language, culture, and current events in Spanish-speaking countries.
I hope this information helps you understand the concepts discussed in the article about Spanish memes. If you have any further questions or need more information, feel free to ask!
