There are two quick answers to “What is Jeta in Spanish?”
- It means someone’s face.
- It’s an insult of some kind. The insult depends on the country where you hear the word or related term.
The Spanish slang word jeta is commonly known and used throughout Latin America. But you need to pay attention where you use it because the jeta meaning changes among countries. In most countries it can be a derogatory or insulting word, or it’s an adjective with a negative meaning. Be careful!
Let’s say you forgot everything you learned about kindness in kindergarten, in English, you might threaten someone with: “I’ll smash your face in.”
In Spanish, if you hear, “Te romperé la jeta”! – It means the same thing and you should RUN before your day gets worse.
In English, you might scream: “Shut your face! In Spanish, you might hear: “Callate la jeta”!
Pro-tip: ‘jeta’ is often used to describe something rude like “resting-bitch-face” or “I’m going to mess your face up”. Didn’t respond to the creeper at the bar? You might hear someone mumble: ‘jeta grosera’, which means ‘rude bitch’ in Spanish.
Insults aside, this is where it might get a bit confusing, we just explained ‘jeta’ relates to the vibe of your face. But the word ‘jeta’ can also be used as ‘cheek’ (the UK slang version of sassy). Ser un jeta = to be a cheeky bugger.
The Spanish slang word jeta is commonly known throughout Latin America. But you need to pay attention where you use it because the meaning changes among countries. Most of the times it is a derogatory word or a negative adjective. Be careful!
The Spanish word jeta comes from the Arabic jaṭm, that means snout, beak or nose (hocico, pico, nariz).
But in Spanish slang, you have three additional meanings added to this word:
1. According to the Diccionario de Americanismos, the word jeta is a derogatory term for mouth in almost all Latin American countries.
2. In Mexico and Argentina it is a synonym for face. The illustration above is from the book Speaking Argento: A Guide to Spanish from Argentina and specifically shows this meaning.
3. The third meaning is also from Mexico and means a nap.
19 Spanish slang words and phrases derived from jeta
The question of what jeta means in Spanish is much more complex than you would expect since there are almost 20 different meanings across countries.
Here are examples of Spanish slang word expressions derived from jeta. Remember: most of the time it is a derogatory word or has a negative meaning. Be careful!
1. Callate la jeta: shut your mouth, shut your trap
2. Chupar la jeta: To kiss, suck face (Venezuela)
3. Eres un jeta: To have a lot of nerve (caradura)
4. Estirar la jeta: To die, similar to estirar la pata in other countries (Argentina). To get angry (Argentina).
5. jeta caída: Having a face that expresses anger or a bad mood (Nicaragua, Bolivia)
6. jetabierta: A person who speaks ill of others (Costa Rica). A stupefied person, slow or stupid (derogatory in Honduras, Nicaragua). An indiscreet and vulgar person (derogatory Honduras).
7. jetabulario: Combines the words jeta and vocabulario; the use of dirty words, swearing, vulgar language.
8. jetatore: A person who gives bad luck (Argentina).
9. jetazo: A passionate kiss (Guatemala, Argentina). A slap on the mouth (Venezuela). A slap on the face (Honduras).
10. jeteada: A nap (Mexico). A scolding with offensive words (Honduras).
11. jeteadera: Intense kissing (Guatemala).
12. jeteado or jeteada: A person insulted by another (Honduras).
13. jeteador or jetero: A person who takes advantage of others (Argentina).
14. jetear or jetearse: To take a nap (Mexico). To kiss (Guatemala, Peru and some areas in Argentina). To take advantage of others (Argentina).
15. jetón or jetona / jetudo or jetuda: Large mouth (derogatory in Nicaragua, Colombia, Bolivia, El Salvador, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Uruguay). Person with a big and rough face and a protruding jaw (Guatemala). Person who tells many lies and exaggerates things (derogatory in Costa Rica and Venezuela). A sleeping person (Mexico). An angry or grouchy person (derogatory in Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Bolivia).
16. jetonada: An exaggerated thing that is not credible (Costa Rica).
17. jetonazo or jetonaza: A person with a big face (derogatory in Peru).
18. Tienes mucha jeta: Impudence (desfachatez)
19. ¡Qué jeta!: What nerve! (caradura)
Do you know any more Spanish words or phrases with the word jeta?
Check out these other Spanish Slang Word articles.
