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varo means money — a common term in Mexican Slang. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: November 10, 2025

🌶️ Mexican Slang

varo

noun • /[BAH-ro]/

money

Example:

No tengo varo para el cine.

I don’t have money for the movies.

🧠 What does varo mean?

Varo is a masculine noun used in Mexican Spanish as an informal term for money. It is broadly understood as cash or funds in a general sense, and it is frequently encountered in casual conversation and everyday interactions. This word is characteristic of Mexican colloquial language and is generally reserved for informal contexts, making it unsuitable for formal writing or academic discourse.

📚 Extra examples

  • No tengo ni un varo para ir al cine hoy.
    I don't have a single peso to go to the movies today.
  • ¿Tienes varo que me prestes para el almuerzo?
    Do you have any money you can lend me for lunch?
  • Necesito juntar más varo para comprarme un coche nuevo.
    I need to save more money to buy a new car.
  • Con este varo no me alcanza para pagar la renta.
    This money is not enough for me to pay the rent.

💡 Did You Know?

The exact origin of the word 'varo' as slang for money in Mexico is not definitively known, but one popular theory suggests it might derive from the Romani word 'baro', meaning 'great' or 'big', which could have been adopted into street lexicon. Another possibility connects it to older regional terms for coins. Regardless of its etymology, it has become one of the most ingrained and frequently used informal terms for 'money' in Mexico, often interchangeable with 'lana'.

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "varo"

Synonyms: dinero, lana, plata, pasta, guita, efectivo
Opposites: pobreza, indigencia, escasez, miseria, ruina

🔍 See more mexican slang words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'money' in Spanish?
The most common and standard term for 'money' in Spanish is 'dinero'. In informal contexts, especially in Latin America, other common slang terms include 'lana' (very common in Mexico), 'plata' (widespread in many Latin American countries), and 'guita' (more common in Argentina).
How do you pronounce 'varo' in Spanish?
The pronunciation of 'varo' is vah-roh. The 'v' is pronounced like a soft 'b' sound, similar to the 'b' in the English word 'boat'. The 'a' is like the 'a' in 'father', and the 'o' is a pure vowel sound like the 'o' in 'go'.
How do you use 'varo' in a sentence?
'Varo' functions as a masculine noun in a sentence. For example, 'No tengo varo' means 'I don't have money'. It can be used with indefinite articles, such as 'un varo' (a peso/a small amount of money), or in its plural form 'varos' (money/pesos), as in 'Me faltan unos varos para completar'.
What is the English translation of 'varo'?
The English translation of 'varo' is 'money'. It is important to remember its informal and Mexican slang nature, meaning it is not equivalent to 'money' in all contexts but specifically in casual, colloquial Mexican Spanish.
Does 'varo' change for gender or number?
Yes, 'varo' changes for number but not for gender. It is a masculine noun, so it takes masculine articles (el varo, un varo). Its plural form is 'varos' (los varos, unos varos). The gender remains masculine regardless of number.
Is 'varo' common in everyday Spanish?
'Varo' is extremely common in everyday, informal Mexican Spanish. It is widely used by people of all ages in casual conversations and is a well-understood term within Mexico. However, its usage is geographically limited, making it less common or even unknown in other Spanish-speaking regions.
Does 'varo' have slang or double meanings?
In Mexican Spanish, the primary slang meaning of 'varo' is 'money'. It does not typically carry additional common slang or double meanings beyond this general informal sense of funds or cash. Its usage is quite direct as a substitute for 'dinero' in casual speech.
Is 'varo' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
'Varo' is almost exclusively used in Mexico. It is not commonly understood or used in Spain, where 'pasta' or 'lana' (less common for money, more for wool) would be more typical informal terms for money. In other parts of Latin America, terms like 'plata' or 'guita' (depending on the country) are generally preferred over 'varo'.

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