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Football Phrases in Spanish: What is Your Favorite?

The World Cup is about to end. This past month I had a great time watching many of the matches here in Miami and also in Spain, where we spent half of the World Cup. Listening to the commentators in Spanish was so much fun; the phrases they used, the energy they had, and how […]

MÁS PESADO QUE COLLAR DE SANDÍAS / MELONES: Spanish Saying

Here is an illustration of the Spanish saying más pesado que collar de sandías (or melones) from the book Speaking Chileno. This saying is also used in Argentina. Spanish Saying: MÁS PESADO QUE COLLAR DE SANDÍA • Literal translation: Heavier than a melon necklace • Variation: Más pesado que collar de melones • Meaning: annoying, […]

ESTAR DE PIRATA: Argentine Spanish Expression

This drawing illustrates the Argentine Spanish expression estar de pirata. It is featured in the book Speaking Argento: A Guide to Spanish from Argentina. ESTAR DE PIRATA: Argentine Spanish Expression • Literal translation: Being a pirate • Meaning: 1) to go out with male friends to pick up girls and cheat on your wife or […]

MÁS LENTO QUE UNA CARAVANA DE COJOS: Puerto Rican Spanish Saying

Here you have an illustration of the Puerto Rican Spanish saying más lento que una caravana de cojos. This illustration is included in the book Speaking Phrases Boricua. MÁS LENTO QUE UNA CARAVANA DE COJOS: Puerto Rican Spanish Saying • Literal translation: Slower than a caravan of cripples • Meaning: Extremely slow • Example: “Las […]

FRIENDO Y COMIENDO: Spanish Saying

Here is an illustration of the Spanish saying friendo y comiendo commonly used in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. This illustration is featured in the book Speaking Boricua. FRIENDO Y COMIENDO: Spanish Saying • Literal translation: frying and eating; frying while eating • Meaning: right away, in a jiffy. To do something right after […]

HACER LAS COSAS CON LOS PIES: Spanish Saying

Here is an illustration of the Spanish saying hacer las cosas con los pies or trabajar con los pies. This illustration is featured in the book Speaking Boricua because it is a common phrase used in Puerto Rico, but is also known in other Spanish-speaking countries. HACER LAS COSAS CON LOS PIES: Spanish Saying • […]

Spanish Saying: PREDICAR LA MORAL EN CALZONCILLOS

Here is an illustration of the Spanish sayings predicar la moral en calzoncillos. While this illustration is on the book Speaking Phrases Boricua, a book about sayings used in Puerto Rico, this saying is commonly used in other Spanish speaking countries as well. Spanish Saying: PREDICAR LA MORAL EN CALZONCILLOS • Literal translation: To preach […]

The Soccer Field in Spanish and English: INFOGRAPHIC

The FIFA World Cup 2014 just started. Today was the first match and we still have many more to come. But if you are a beginner football fan like my wife Diana and the soccer field terminology is totally new for you, this infographic might help you. It is divided in two parts, the first […]

World Cup 2014 Teams From Spanish Speaking Countries: INFOGRAPHIC

The FIFA World Cup 2014 starts today with the first match and the opening ceremony. This bilingual infographic features the FIFA World Cup 2014 teams from Spanish speaking countries: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Spain and Uruguay. It includes these facts and statistics about each team: • First World Cup appearance: Primera […]

MÁS PELADO QUE CULO DE MONO: Puerto Rican Spanish Expression

Here is an illustration of the Puerto Rican Spanish expression estar más pelado que culo de mono. This illustration is featured in the book Speaking Phrases Boricua. Puerto Rican Spanish Expression: Más pelado que culo de mono • Literal translation: To be balder than a monkey’s ass • Meaning: broke, penniless, with no money. The […]

Spanish Saying: PONER UN HUEVO CUADRADO

Here is an illustration of a popular Spanish saying: poner un huevo cuadrado. This illustration is featured in the book Speaking Boricua. Spanish Saying: Poner un huevo cuadrado • Literal translation: to lay a square egg. • Meaning: to make a big mistake • Examples: “Apple puso un huevo cuadrado con la nueva versión de […]

UN BOMBITO AL PITCHER: Puerto Rican Spanish Expression

Here is an illustration of the Puerto Rican Spanish expression un bombo al pitcher or un bombito al pitcher. It is featured in the book Speaking Boricua. Puerto Rican Spanish Expression: Un bombito al pitcher • Literal translation: An easy-to-catch ball for the pitcher • Meaning: something really easy to do, a “freebee.” The word […]

5 Ways to Say Sell Ice to an Eskimo in Spanish

Here is an illustration of the idiom “sell ice to an Eskimo” from the book Speaking Phrases Boricua. I have noticed that depending on the country there are a couple of variations in Spanish. Many variations will depend on the local word for refrigerator in Spanish. Sell Ice to an Eskimo Idiom in Spanish • […]

Chilean Spanish Expression: ANDAR CON LA PIERNA

Here is an illustration of a common Chilean Spanish saying: andar con la pierna. This illustration is featured in the book Speaking Chileno: A Guide to Spanish from Chile. Chilean Spanish Saying: Andar con la pierna • Literal translation: to be with the leg • Meaning: to be accompanied by your significant other. The Diccionario […]

QUE TU MANO IZQUIERDA NO SEPA LO QUE HACE LA DERECHA: Spanish Proverb

Here is an illustration of a common Spanish proverb: Que tu mano izquierda no sepa lo que hace la derecha. This illustration is featured in the book Speaking Phrases Boricua. Spanish Proverb: QUE TU MANO IZQUIERDA NO SEPA LO QUE HACE LA DERECHA • Literal Translation: The left hand doesn’t know what the right hand […]

Spanish Saying: ESTAR PARA CHUPARSE LOS DEDOS

Here is an illustration of a common Spanish saying estar para chuparse los dedos that I would like to share with you. Spanish Saying: ESTAR PARA CHUPARSE LOS DEDOS • Literal translation: Finger-licking • Meaning: something tasty (food). • Example: “La pizza que me hizo mi suegro estaba para chuparse los dedos.” La pizza que […]

NO CAMBIES ORO POR COBRE: Puerto Rican Spanish Saying

Here is an illustration of the Puerto Rican Spanish saying no cambies oro por cobre from the book Speaking Phrases Boricua. Puerto Rican Spanish Saying: No cambies oro por cobre • Literal translation: Do not change gold for copper • Meaning: Advice to avoid changing something of value for something else of less value. • […]

Puerto Rican Spanish Slang for Penis: A Bug or a Guy’s Dick?

Puerto Rican Spanish Slang for Penis: A Bug or a Guy’s Dick? What does bicho means in Puerto Rico? The example here is a COMMON mistake that Spanish speakers make in Puerto Rico. A recent restaurant visit in Peru reminded me of one of my first encounters with Puerto Rican Spanish. I had just moved […]

O TE PEINAS O TE HACES ROLOS: Puerto Rican Spanish Saying

Here is an illustration of a common Puerto Rican Spanish saying: o te peinas, o te haces rolos. This phrase also have the variation o te peinas o te haces papelillos. Puerto Rican Spanish Saying: O te peinas, o te haces rolos • Literal translation: Either you brush your hair or you curl it Or […]

DOS JUEYES MACHOS NO CABEN EN LA MISMA CUEVA: Puerto Rican Spanish Saying

Here is an illustration of a common Puerto Rican Spanish saying: dos jueyes machos no caben en la misma cueva. You might also hear the variation dos jueyes machos no caben en la misma jaula. Spanish Saying from Puerto Rico: Dos jueyes machos no caben en la misma cueva • Literal Translation: Two male crabs […]

Soccer Terms in Spanish and English: Are You Ready for the World Cup?

As the FIFA World Cup 2014 approaches, the excitement of soccer fans (and not so fans like me) is increasingly evident. And I say that I’m not a fanatic because, first, I’m a woman who does not follow any sports at all; and second, I come from a country (Puerto Rico) where there is no […]

Spanish Sayings: GALLINA VIEJA DA BUEN CALDO

Illustration, meaning and example of the Spanish saying “gallina vieja da buen caldo.” This drawing is featured in Speaking Phrase Boricua, a book that collects and translates popular sayings and phrases used in Puerto Rico (and other Spanish speaking countries).

ESTAR EN PELOTAS: Meaning and Illustration of This Colloquial Spanish Phrase

The Spanish phrases or sayings estar en pelotas or estar en bolas are two ways to colloquially express being naked. Although this illustration is included in the book Speaking Argento: A Guide to Spanish from Argentina, this expression is also used in other countries. Colloquial Spanish Phrase: ESTAR EN BOLAS or ESTAR EN PELOTAS • […]

Puerto Rican Spanish Phrase: CAER COMO BOMBA

Here is another Puerto Rican Spanish phrase commonly used on the island: caer como bomba. This illustration is featured in the book Speaking Boricua that you can preview here. Puerto Rican Spanish Phrase: CAERLE COMO BOMBA • Literal translation: like a bomb • Meaning: to not go over well, to not get along with; not […]

EMPATAR LA PELEA: Puerto Rican Spanish Expression

Have you ever heard the phrase empatar la pelea? This is a common Puerto Rican Spanish expression and I have an illustration of it in my book Speaking Boricua: Puerto Rican Spanish Expression: EMPATAR LA PELEA • Literal translation: to tie the fight • Meaning: to make ends meet • Example: “Gracias a Dios que […]

ANDAR CON EL CULO EN LAS MANOS: Chilean Spanish Expression

Here is another illustration from my book Speaking Chileno: A Guide to Spanish from Chile. This drawing illustrates the Chilean Spanish expression andar con el culo en las manos. Chilean Spanish Expression: (ANDAR) CON EL CULO EN LAS MANOS • Literal translation: to be with the ass in the hands (or similar “to be holding […]