Chulo
Cool or cute when describing things; cocky when describing people.
Related lesson: Tricky Spanish Words That Trip Up English Speakers.
Hear it in context
¡Qué chulas son tus zapatillas nuevas!
Your new trainers are so cool!
El bar tiene una terraza muy chula con vistas al río.
The bar has a really cool terrace overlooking the river.
No te pongas chulo conmigo, que te conozco.
Don't get cocky with me — I know you too well.
Ese tío va de chulo por la vida.
That guy swaggers through life like he owns the place.
What It Actually Means
Chulo is two words in one, and the split is clean: things that are chulas are cool, cute, or stylish (a jacket, a bar, a phone case), while people who are chulos are cocky, arrogant, or spoiling for an argument. Spaniards use the first sense constantly — “¡qué chulo!” is one of the most common compliments you’ll hear about any object.
Common Constructions
- ¡Qué chulo! — “How cool!”, the instant reaction to something you like.
- Ponerse chulo — to get cocky or confrontational: “El cliente se puso chulo con la camarera.”
- Ir de chulo — to act like a big shot.
- Chulo/a de piscina — a poser who’s all swagger, no substance.
Common Pitfall
The people/things split is the whole game. Tell a Spaniard “tu casa es muy chula” and they’ll beam; tell them “eres muy chulo” and you’ve just called them arrogant — unless your tone clearly signals affectionate teasing, which natives do pull off among friends. When in doubt, keep chulo for objects and use majo for people.
Regional Note
In Mexico and parts of Latin America, chulo/a means pretty or cute when applied to people, with no arrogance reading at all — one more reason this word trips up learners who mix regions.