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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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 • […]

Quick Guide to Peruvian Spanish: A Book for Learning Spanish Vocabulary from Peru

Spanish vocabulary changes significantly from one country to the next. Yet, few people learn about this until they are in a country, stumbling through the local Spanish. Are you learning Spanish? Preparing to visit Peru? Or even just wanting to be more familiar with its specific slang and local words? This book for learning Spanish […]

Diccionario de Americanismos Online: List of Common Abbreviations and Symbols

If you have used the online search tool of the Diccionario de Americanismos you might have noticed that the results include many abbreviations and symbols. The Diccionario de Americanismos online is an exact copy of what you will see in the actual printed dictionary and they use abbreviations to maximize space. Understating them will lead […]

9 Words in Spanish for Doobie Hair Wrap

Famous singer Rihanna surprised the public by appearing with a Doobie wrap at the 2013 American Music Awards. The Doobie wrap is a natural hair straightening technique that is also popular among Latin American women. It consists of wrapping the hair around the head securing it with metal hair clips. Generally women do it at […]

The Most Authentic Spanish Words from 11 Latin American Countries

Every country has a flag, food and symbols that identify them. But what about a single word? During the 6th International Congress of the Spanish Language (VI Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española) celebrated in Panama, the blog Papeles Perdidos, created by the newspaper El País, published an atlas of the representative words of Spanish-speaking […]

The Spanish Slang to English Dictionary List by Country

There are many Spanish slang dictionaries in Spanish, but when you are looking for a specific Spanish slang to English dictionary the options are more limited. This is a work-in-progress list of bilingual Spanish Slang to English dictionaries by country. My goal is to feature all the dictionaries available in print or eBook format as […]

CON OJOS DE VACA CAGONA: Idiomatic Spanish Slang Expression

Spanish Slang Expression: CON OJOS DE VACA CAGONA Literal English Translation: With eyes of a shitting cow Definition: Really, really scared. If you’ve never seen it, you can imagine how big the eyes of a cow get when it is straining to shit Equivalent in English: Scared shitless You can find this illustration and many others […]

A CALZÓN QUITADO: Idiomatic Spanish Slang Expression

The idiomatic expression a calzón quitado (sometimes pronounced a calzón quita’o) means no holds barred, holding nothing back, straight to the point. For example: Hablemos entonces a calzón quitado. Despite this illustration being included in my book Speaking Chileno, this is a common Spanish slang expression in Latin America. Do you know any other Spanish […]

How to Say AMERICAN With 9 Spanish and Spanish Slang Words: Infographic

If we want to make a list of demonyms in Spanish and cover all the Spanish-speaking countries we could list some examples such as: Puerto Ricans are called Puertorriqueños or Boricuas, Costa Ricans are know by Costa Ricans or Ticos and the Nicaraguans are Nicaraguences or Nicas. But when Latinos refer to Americans, the list […]

4 Multi-Country Spanish Slang Dictionaries to Improve Your Vocabulary

If you work or live in a multi-cultural environment you probably experience difficulty understanding what other people say. Do not worry, this happens even with native Spanish-speakers! There are dictionaries that collect colloquial vocabulary from several countries in one book. These are ideal to compare meanings of a word and know which countries share it. […]

The Spanish Slang Meanings of CHUPI: Thalía’s Spanish Children Book Character

Last week Mexican singer Thalía announced that she will publish her first children’s book this year. The book –available in November 2013- is called Chupi: El binky que regresó a su hogar (Chupi: The Binky That Returned Home). The story and the character Chupi were created to help parents take away the pacifier from their […]

How to Translate CHORETO: 2 Meanings for One Spanish Slang Word

If you are wondering how to translate choreto to English, the definition will depend on which country you are in. The Spanish slang word choreto is used in Venezuela and Puerto Rico as an adjective with two different meanings according to the books Quick Guide to Venezuelan Spanish and Speaking Boricua respectively. What is choreto […]

41 Examples of Spanish Slang Words for GIRL

How many words for girl in Spanish? Check the Spanish slang for girl list used in Latin America & Spain that will give you the examples you are looking for. Spanish slang for girl is the fifth suggestion that Google gives you when you type in the phrase “Spanish slang for” in the search box. In English and in Spanish making reference to “a girl” can range from a newborn baby up to a women in her twenties.

Spanish Slang Words for COOL: 85 Words and Phrases

Learn the Spanish slang for cool with a list of words and expressions divided by different Spanish-speaking countries. Spanish has equivalents for “cool” and they vary among countries. Here I have grouped a couple of examples from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain and Venezuela.

18 Shades of White: Spanish Slang Words for WHITE PERSON

Spanish slang for white person is the third suggestion that Google gives you when you type in the phrase “Spanish slang for” in the search box. That makes it one of the most popular Spanish slang requests and here are some examples and the countries that use them.

Spanish Slang Words for WEED: 26 Names for MARIJUANA

A list of 26 examples of Spanish slang for weed or marijuana, plus 16 additional terms in Spanish for joint. In this particular case weed can have an innocent Spanish translation or be the slang for marijuana. In this article I am going to give you the list of words for both meanings.

53 Spanish Slang Words for FRIEND

If you want to blend with locals, you should check this list of examples of Spanish slang for friend and the countries that use them. Here is a list of a good amount of Spanish words used in Latin America to refer to a close friend or dude. All in one place!

Quick Guide to Mexican Spanish: A Book for Learning Spanish from Mexico

A book for learning Spanish from Mexico with approximately 500 words translated to English. Learn Mexican Spanish with synonyms, examples & 51 illustrations. Spanish vocabulary changes significantly from one country to the next. Yet, few people learn about this until they are in a country, stumbling through the local Spanish slang.

What is JETA in Spanish? You might get punched or kissed – watch out!

There are two quick answers to “What is Jeta in Spanish?” It means someone’s face. It’s an insult of some kind. The insult depends on the country where you hear the word or related term. The Spanish slang word jeta is commonly known and used throughout Latin America. But you need to pay attention where […]

7 Terms to Define Spanish Slang And Their Meanings

I started collecting and translating Spanish slang in 2003. I had already lived in Mexico, Chile and Argentina as well as traveled to other Spanish-speaking countries. When I arrived in Puerto Rico it amazed me how different the language was from the other countries I knew, even with the country changes I had already experienced. […]

All about Latina Barbie dolls

Recently, Mattel honored the late and legendary Mexican actress María Félix with a special new Barbie. The Mária Félix barbie doll celebrates her legacy, contribution to Mexican cinema and cultural betterment, and her advocacy for women’s equality and indigenous groups. It seems that this time around, critics think Mattel finally landed on a more accepted […]