pandilla
everyday, Mexico
In Mexican Spanish a street gang is a pandilla. Many people also say banda, and a large drug trafficking group is a cártel.
Meaning: organized group of criminals or street members (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| pandilla | everyday, Mexico |
| Banda | colloquial |
| Cártel | organized crime |
Pandilla is the neutral word in news and daily talk. The members are pandilleros.
Which one should you use?
Banda is looser, because it can mean a band of musicians, a rubber band or a group of friends depending on context. A cártel is much bigger than a pandilla.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Calling friends mi banda is friendly slang and has nothing to do with crime, so check the context before taking the word as a threat.
Did you know?
- In Mexican slang mi banda can warmly mean my group of friends.
Examples in context
- La policía detuvo a una pandilla del barrio.The police arrested a neighborhood gang.
- Esa banda controla la zona.That gang controls the area.
- Salí con mi banda de la prepa.I went out with my high school group.
Example conversation
Two neighbors, Alma and Raúl, talk about a news report outside their building in Monterrey.
- Alma¿Viste las noticias? Detuvieron a una pandilla.Did you see the news? They arrested a gang.
- RaúlSí, eran de la colonia de al lado.Yes, they were from the next neighborhood.
- AlmaOjalá ya todo esté más tranquilo.I hope things are calmer now.
