Have you ever wondered what quiubo means in Spanish while watching our Colombian shows on Yabla or speaking with Colombian friends? This informal greeting, a perfect example of Colombian slang, appears frequently in Colombian content and is extremely common throughout the country.
Today, we'll explore the meaning of quiubo in English, its origins, and its various uses in Colombian Spanish. You'll discover that this expression is much more versatile than it might initially appear.
The word quiubo (sometimes written as quihubo) comes from the contraction of the greeting phrase ¿qué hubo?, which literally means "what was there?" or "what happened?" Over time, this question transformed into the casual greeting we know today. If you're wondering what quiubo means in English, it's most commonly translated as "what's up?" though its actual usage is often closer to "hello" or "hi," as we'll explore below.
Since it's used as an interjection for greeting, question marks aren't necessary when writing it. You could, however, use exclamation points to emphasize enthusiasm. If you're genuinely asking about someone's state (which is rare given its evolution into a greeting), then question marks would be appropriate.
Before we dive into its various uses, let's listen to how quiubo sounds in real conversation:
¿Quiubo, quiubo, linda? ¿Cómo vas?
What's up, what's up, beautiful? How are you?
Caption 3, Confidencial: El rey de la estafa Capítulo 4 - Part 8
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¡Don Juaco! Quiubo, muchachos, ¿cómo me les va?
Mister Juaco! What's up, guys? How's it going?
Captions 13-14, La Sucursal del Cielo Capítulo 2 - Part 13
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Notice how fluently the word rolls off the tongue - it's typically pronounced as a single, quick word: "kyoo-boh".
While quiubo is often translated literally as "what's up?" Due to its origins, the actual feeling and usage it conveys in Colombian Spanish is more closely aligned with a simple "hello" or "hi." Understanding what quiubo truly means in English requires recognizing that it doesn't necessarily expect a detailed response about how someone is doing - it's just a friendly acknowledgment. Let's explore its various functions:
Most commonly, quiubo works just like "hello" or "hi." It's an informal way to acknowledge someone you know:
¡Quiubo, vecino! ¡Hola, vecino! -¿Cómo le va? -¿En qué le puedo servir?
What's up, neighbor? Hello, neighbor! -How's it going? -How can I help you?
Captions 1-2, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 2 - Part 9
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This example perfectly illustrates how Colombians use this expression in everyday encounters - a warm, casual greeting with no expectation of a detailed response.
No te preocupes, ya vamos a llegar. -Quiubo, millonario, ¿cómo está?
Don't worry, we'll get there soon. -Hello, millionaire, how are you?
Caption 54, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 3 - Part 11
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Interestingly, quiubo can also be used to encourage someone to move faster or take action:
Acá no va a encontrar nada. ¡Quiubo, a ver!
You're not going to find anything here. Hey, let's see!
Caption 43, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 5 - Part 5
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Another example that clearly shows this urging meaning:
¡Quiubo, lo quiero ver, quiero ver!
Hurry up, I want to see you, I want to see!
Caption 19, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 4 - Part 8
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When repeated, quiubo can function as an attention-grabber, similar to saying "hey!" or "listen!" in English. It's often used to either encourage someone to start doing something or to stop what they're doing:
¡Quiubo! ¡Quiubo! ¡Apáguenme ese chucu-chucu, señores!
Hey! Hey! Turn that choo-choo down, gentlemen!
Caption 37, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 1 - Part 1
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Here's another example where it signals urgency:
¡Le dieron!... -Quiubo, quiubo... súbalo.
They hit him! -Hey, hey... Get him in.
Caption 18, Los Tiempos de Pablo Escobar Capítulo 1 - Part 14
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Now that you know what quiubo means in Spanish, you can see how this expression exemplifies language evolution. What started as a question (¿qué hubo?) has transformed into a versatile expression used primarily for greeting, but also for urging action and getting attention.
The meaning of quiubo in English varies depending on context, but it's most commonly equivalent to "hello," "hi," or sometimes "hurry up" or "hey!" when used as an attention-getter. By understanding these nuances, you'll better appreciate Colombian Spanish expressions.
Next time you're speaking with Colombian friends or watching Colombian media on Yabla, listen for this common expression - and maybe even try using it yourself! Just remember that it's fairly informal, so it's best used with friends and in casual situations.
Have you heard quiubo used in other contexts? Do you know of similar greeting expressions in other Spanish-speaking countries? Let us know, and don't forget to send us your questions and comments about what quiubo means!
When learning how to talk about the future in Spanish, you don’t always need the traditional future tense. Instead, Spanish speakers frequently use the "ir + a + Infinitive" construction, which is known as the near future tense or "futuro próximo". This structure is one of the easiest and most common ways to express future actions in everyday conversation. In this lesson, we’ll explain how it works and give you plenty of examples to start using it naturally.
In Spanish, the verb ir (to go) can be combined with the preposition a and the infinitive form of another verb to indicate future actions. Here’s the formula:
This structure is similar to saying "going to" in English. For example:
así que seguramente voy a aprender muchas cosas,
so I'm surely going to learn a lot of things,
Caption 14, Amaya Cata de vinos
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los alumnos van a visitar una exposición de f'... sobre feminismos
the students are going to visit an exhibit about f'... about feminism
Caption 104, Escuela BCNLIP Presentación de la directora - Part 2
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While Spanish has a dedicated future tense, the "ir + a + infinitive" construction is often used in everyday speech because it’s simpler and more conversational. In fact, it’s one of the most common ways to talk about the future.
Somos dos, nunca sola vas a ir Y ahora voy, sonriendo junto a ti Somos dos, juntos vamos a vivir
We are two, you will never go alone And now I go, smiling along with you We are two, together we will live
Captions 17-19, Liquits Desde Que
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Instead of using the future tense forms irás or viviremos, the Mexican band Liquits uses "ir + a + infinitive," which gives the song a more immediate, conversational tone.
Here are more examples to help you get comfortable with this construction:
¡Ay, buena idea! Yo voy a buscar a ver si tengo el teléfono en la base de datos.
Oh, good idea! I'm going to look and see if I have the phone number in the database.
Captions 70-71, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 4 - Part 8
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ella va a hacer la ensalada y yo voy a hacer la carne.
she is going to make the salad, and I am going to make the meat.
Caption 12, Misión Chef 2 - Pruebas - Part 7
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Vamos a ver algunas preguntas para que puedan ver las diferentes opciones que se pueden utilizar en diversos contextos.
We're going to look at some questions so that you can see the different options that can be used in various contexts.
Captions 12-14, Carlos explica 20 formas de decir sí sin decir sí
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El próximo año, ellos van a vivir en otro país.
Next year, they are going to live in another country.
Caption 42, Clase Aula Azul Planes para el futuro - Part 2
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To use this structure correctly, you need to know how to conjugate the verb ir for each person:
Yo voy a (I am going to)
Tú/Vos vas a (You are going to)
Él/Ella | Usted va a (He/She is going to | You [formal] are going to)
Nosotros/Nosotras vamos a (We are going to)
Vosotros/Vosotras vais a (You all are going to)
Ellos/Ellas | Ustedes van a (They | You all are going to)
While both forms are correct, "ir + a + infinitive" is more commonly used in spoken Spanish. It’s simpler and feels more natural in everyday conversation. So, next time you want to talk about your future plans, try using this structure!
That’s it for today. Ready to start using the "ir + a + infinitive" structure in your Spanish conversations? Leave us a comment with your own example sentences, and don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions.
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