What does “ando en torre” mean in Spanish?
Reto de 5 preguntas inteligentes por teléfono
A2 Spanish listening practice · Mexican Spanish · Picked for people who know a little
When the uncle picks up, he says “Ando en torre” — Mexican slang for “I’m busy right now” or “I’m tied up.” Literally it means “I’m in a tower,” but nobody pictures a tower; it just signals the person isn’t free to talk. He quickly adds there’s room anyway, so the call goes ahead. A casual phrase — friends and family only, not a formal setting.
Spoken in the clip: “Ando en torre.” → “I’m busy right now / I’m tied up.” It literally says “I’m in a tower,” but nobody pictures a tower — it just means the person isn’t free to talk at that moment. In the clip the uncle softens it right away with “Acá hay sitio” (“there’s room here”), so he keeps the call going. More ways you’ll hear it: - “¿Puedes hablar?” — “Ahorita ando en torre, te marco al rato.” (“Can you talk?” — “I’m busy right now, I’ll call you later.”) - “Ando en torre, luego te cuento.” (“I’m tied up, I’ll tell you later.”) Usage note: This is casual Mexican slang — friends and family only, not something you’d say in a formal call.
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Harder words in this video
These words are harder than A2. Here is what they mean.
Source: wordfreq 3.1.1 (general) · SUBTLEX-ESP 2011 (spoken). These numbers are close, not perfect.