Just kidding
Use this to say 'I am kidding'. It focuses on the action you are currently doing.
A direct way to say 'It's not serious'. Useful for clarifying that what you said was not meant to be taken literally.
Means 'I'm only kidding'. A simple and common alternative using the present tense.
A very common idiom that literally means 'I'm pulling your hair'. It's the equivalent of 'I'm pulling your leg'.
Your shirt is horrible... haha, just kidding! I like it a lot.
I'm going to quit my job to be a pirate. Don't worry, I'm kidding!
Did you see a ghost? Of course not! It's not serious, it's just the wind.
I won the lottery!... Oh, it's not true. I'm just pulling your leg.
'Es broma' and 'estoy bromeando' are universally understood and are the safest options to use anywhere.
In addition to the standard phrases, you might hear the informal 'es cotorreo', which means 'it's just banter' or 'we're just messing around'.
Spaniards often say 'Es una broma' (with the article 'una') or 'Estoy de broma'. The idiom 'Te estoy tomando el pelo' is also extremely common here.
The standard phrases are used, but very common slang is 'mamando gallo'. For example, 'No me crea, estoy mamando gallo' means 'Don't believe me, I'm just kidding around'.
Very informally, you will hear 'Es joda' or 'Te estoy jodiendo'. Be aware that 'joder' can be a strong word, so use it only in casual contexts with friends. 'Es un chiste' (It's a joke) is also common.
Informally, Chileans use the verb 'lesear'. You might hear 'Te estoy leseando' for 'I'm kidding you' or 'Es puro leseo' for 'It's just kidding around'.
Saying 'Yo soy bromeando'. — The correct verb is 'estar', not 'ser'. Use 'Estoy bromeando'. 'Estar' is used for actions in progress (like kidding), while 'ser' is for more permanent characteristics. You are *in the act of* kidding, you are not *fundamentally* a kidding.
Using 'chiste' instead of 'broma'. — A 'chiste' is a structured joke you tell ('A man walks into a bar...'). A 'broma' is a prank or the act of kidding someone. When you say something untrue and then reveal it, the correct word is 'broma', as in 'Es broma'.
Directly translating 'kidding' as 'niñeando'. — While 'kid' is 'niño', the verb 'niñear' means 'to act childishly' and isn't used for 'just kidding'. The correct verb is 'bromear' (to joke/kid).
Found this useful? Save it for later.