I spent a solid 10 years soaking up life in Puerto Rico, where I gathered a bunch of popular Spanish sayings and matched them with their English equivalents. While other resources online might start with the Spanish saying and give you the English version, that’s all well and good if you’re a native Spanish speaker or already know the Spanish saying you’re after. But if English is your mother tongue, what you really need is the reverse: the English saying paired up with its Spanish equivalent.
6 Spanish Slang Phrases Using the Word HORSE
In English, we say, “horsing around” to mean behaving foolishly. Then there’s the old stand-by “a horse of a different color,” which means “something entirely different.” Interestingly, Spanish has only a few similar sayings (called modismos) that refer directly to the horse, el caballo. Considering that the Spanish took over all of Mexico, Central and […]
Real World Spanish: Street Slang Examples Using the Word TACO
When you hear the Spanish word taco the first thing that comes through your mind is a delicious tortilla with a spicy beef or chicken filling. Mmm yummy! Try to Google images of taco and you will see that 99.9% of the results are this traditional Mexican dish. But this word has a humongous variety […]
Greetings in Spanish: 11 Ways to Say “How’s it going?” in Spanish INFOGRAPHIC
Here is a collection of 11 phrases used by locals in Latin America and Spain to say “How’s it going?” or ¿Cómo te va? in Spanish. Free printable!
Different Spanish Accents: Video 9 Types of Spanish Accents
Different Spanish Accents Video. A fun video that shows the different Spanish accents.
“Más… que…” Exaggerated Comparisons in Spanish: Sayings and Illustrations
A total of 22 illustrations of exaggerated comparisons in Spanish. Meaning and translations of all these funny Spanish sayings are included.
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, […]
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 […]
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 • […]
LOS PÁJAROS LE TIRAN A LAS ESCOPETAS: Spanish Saying Illustration, Meaning and Example
Spanish Saying: LOS PÁJAROS LE TIRAN A LAS ESCOPETAS • Literal Translation: Now the birds shoot at the shotguns • Meaning: 1. Now the roles are reversed. When a person rebels against his/her superior. 2. Used in situations to call attention to social changes over the generations, that things are the reverse that they used […]
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 […]
A List of Spanish Slang Expressions for ANGRY: 12 Ways to Sound Like a Local
If you want to express angry in Spanish, enter that term in the search box of this page, and you’ll find 43 separate Real World Spanish terms, each of which conveys the idea of anger, becoming angry, or are colorful modismos (sayings) expressing sentiments of anger. A few of them are raunchily funny, for example […]
6 Spanish Slang Expressions With The Word CAT
Cats are cute and mysterious, loyal and traitorous, independent and loving. If you are a cat lover, here are six Spanish slang expressions or modismos that use cats as their central figure. Idiomatic expressions are an important part of the Spanish learning process and perhaps one of the most difficult. In many cases, popular sayings […]