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
Play Caption
¡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
Play Caption
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
Play Caption
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
Play Caption
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
Play Caption
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
Play Caption
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
Play Caption
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
Play Caption
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!
Are you familiar with the word entonces in Spanish? While the Spanish word entonces is commonly translated as "then" or "so" in English, its meanings are actually quite nuanced. Let's explore several of them.
Like the English word "then," in this usage, the Spanish word entonces could generally be replaced with the English phrase "at that moment" to refer to an occurrence at a specific point in time. Let's see some examples.
Y entonces se escaparon.
And then you guys escaped.
Caption 35, Guillermina y Candelario El mundo de los juguetes perdidos - Part 2
Play Caption
When talking about the past, it is common to use some of the following expressions, which are usually translated as "at that time" or "back then":
en aquel entonces
por aquel entonces
en ese entonces
por ese entonces
Let's listen to some of these in context:
Lo que vivió Colombia en aquel entonces era realmente aterrador.
What Colombia experienced at that time was really terrifying.
Caption 50, Los Tiempos de Pablo Escobar Capítulo 1 - Part 14
Play Caption
En aquel entonces los niños todavía podían salir solos
Back then children could still go out alone
Caption 2, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 1 - Part 9
Play Caption
En mi urbanización, junto a la piscina, vive una amiga que por aquel entonces tenía una gata totalmente blanca y con un pelo precioso.
In my housing complex, next to the pool, a female friend lives who back then, had a totally white cat with beautiful fur.
Captions 26-27, Fermín y los gatos Mi gata Poeska
Play Caption
entonces sabremos que hemos hecho un buen trabajo.
then we'll know that we've done a good job.
Caption 77, Ana Carolina La meditación
Play Caption
Notably, entonces may be used along with the preposition solo (only) to describe a moment in time as the equivalent of the English expression "only then":
Solo entonces se sabrá quiénes son los mejores.
Only then it will be known who are the best ones.
Caption 76, Región mundo Paso a paso - Part 5
Play Caption
In this second usage, entonces is placed right after some preposition to refer to a period of time in the past. Let's examine how entonces can be used with a couple of prepositions.
In the following example, we see the preposition de combined with entonces to mean "(from) back then":
Yo me imagino que los artistas de entonces
I imagine that the artists back then
Caption 40, Leonardo Rodriguez Sirtori Una vida como pintor - Part 5
Play Caption
The preposition desde can be combined with entonces to form the expression desde entonces, or "ever since" in English:
y esa es la razón por la cual resido aquí desde entonces.
and that's the reason I've been living here ever since.
Caption 19, Adriana Mi historia con el café
Play Caption
Let's explore how the Spanish word entonces can also be used similarly to the English words "then" and "so" with various, more specific meanings.
In this scenario, entonces is used to describe what might happen if something else takes place first.
Si vienes, entonces te invito a comer.
If you come, then I'll treat you to a meal.
Caption 22, Ana Carolina Condicionales
Play Caption
Eh... No tenía muchos órganos, no estaban desarrollados, porque había tenido poco espacio en el útero de la madre. Entonces, fue un bebé prematuro,
Um... He didn't have a lot of organs, they weren't developed because he had had little space in the mother's womb. So, he was a premature baby,
Captions 46-48, Amaya El burrito Luz - Part 2
Play Caption
Yo voy a decir unas frases, y... utilizando ustedes, y tú vas a decir la misma frase utilizando vosotros. ¿OK? Entonces comenzamos con la primera frase.
I'm going to say some sentences, and... using "ustedes," and you are going to say the same sentence using "vosotros." OK? So, let's start with the first sentence.
Captions 52-54, Carlos y Xavi Part 2 Ustedes y Vosotros
Play Caption
¿no es cierto? -No, tampoco es lugar para mí. Entonces ¿por qué vas? Porque estoy loco.
isn't that right? -No, it's not a place for me either. Then, why do you go? Because I'm crazy.
Captions 63-65, Muñeca Brava 47 Esperanzas - Part 1
Play Caption
In this usage, the word entonces often appears within the expression pues entonces (well then).
"¡Esto está superfrío y de todas formas no sé nadar". "Pues entonces no podemos ir allí, donde comienza el cielo",
"This is super cold, and anyway, I don't know how to swim." "Well then, we can't go there, where the sky begins,"
Captions 40-42, Pigueldito y Federico El cielo
Play Caption
With this use of the Spanish word entonces, we have reached the end of this lesson. We hope that you now feel more confident about using the word entonces in Spanish, and don't forget to send us your comments and suggestions. ¡Hasta la próxima!
French
German
Italian
Chinese
English
English 
Français
Deutsch
Español
Italiano
Português
