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Slang of the Day

May 21, 2026

Chela / cheve

Beer

ES
Example

¿Salimos por unas chelas después de la chamba?

When to use it

It's Friday after work and you invite coworkers to grab a drink nearby.

What it means

In practice both mean "beer" in casual Mexican Spanish, like saying "a brew" instead of "a beer."
They're super common when making plans ("unas chelas") or ordering informally.
"Cheve" is especially associated with Mexico and can sound more playful; "chela" is also widely used.
You'll often hear the plural to imply hanging out: "Vamos por chelas."

Don't confuse it with

"Chela / cheve" does not mean soft drink, coffee, soup. It specifically means "Beer".