¡Aguas!
Literal meaning: "Waters!"
What does it mean?
"¡Aguas!" is the Mexican warning shout — meaning "watch out!", "be careful!", or "heads up!". The folk etymology is that in colonial Mexico City, residents would shout "¡aguas!" before throwing dirty water from upper-story windows into the street. True or not, it stuck. Today every Mexican uses it to warn someone about anything — a car coming, a wet floor, a sketchy situation.
How to use it
Universally Mexican. Use freely with friends, strangers, anyone. It's a quick warning, not slang or rude. In formal writing, "cuidado" reads more polished, but "¡aguas!" is the natural spoken response to immediate danger.
Example sentences
Watch out, a car!
¡Aguas, un coche!
Be careful with the floor, it's wet.
Aguas con el piso, está mojado.
Heads up, the boss is coming.
¡Aguas, ahí viene el jefe!
Related phrases
More Mexican Slang phrases
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