What does ‘flipar’ mean in Spain?
In Spain, flipar is a colloquial verb meaning “to be amazed” or “to be blown away”, whether pleasantly or in disbelief: Flipé con el concierto means “The concert blew me away.” Me flipa means “I love it”, and ¡Tú flipas! means “You must be dreaming!”.
What flipar means
To be amazed, blown away Colloquial
Usually with con: Flipé con las vistas (“The views blew me away”). Vas a flipar means “You’re going to love it” or “You won’t believe it”.
To be shocked, unable to believe something Colloquial
Yo flipo con… expresses astonishment or indignation: Yo flipo con lo que cuestan los pisos (“I can’t believe what flats cost”).
Me flipa: I love it Colloquial
Built like gustar, with the thing you love as the subject: Me flipan las croquetas de mi abuela (“I absolutely love my grandmother’s croquettes”).
¡Tú flipas! — you must be dreaming Colloquial
Said to someone with an unrealistic idea or request. Flipar en colores is an emphatic version: to be completely amazed.
Where and when you will hear it
The Spanish academies’ dictionary marks flipar as colloquial Spain usage. It is very common among young people and widely used by adults in relaxed conversation, but it does not belong in formal writing. The adjective flipante means “amazing” or “unbelievable”.
Outside Spain the verb is much less common, so with Latin American friends a neutral word like increíble or me encanta is clearer.
Examples from everyday Spain Spanish
- Flipé con el concierto de anoche.Last night’s concert blew me away.
- Vas a flipar cuando veas la playa.You’re going to love it when you see the beach.
- Yo flipo con lo que cuestan los pisos en Madrid.I can’t believe how much flats cost in Madrid.
- ¿Que te deje el coche? ¡Tú flipas!Lend you my car? You must be dreaming!
- Me flipan las croquetas de mi abuela.I absolutely love my grandmother’s croquettes.
How to say it
flee-PAR, stress on the last syllable; flipo is FLEE-poh and flipé is flee-PEH. The i is short and clean, like the ee in “feet” but quicker.
Dictionary sources
- Real Academia Española & ASALE, Diccionario de la lengua española — flipar — Marks flipar as colloquial Spain usage for being amazed or astonished, and for liking something a lot.