This year has been very controversial in Venezuelan politics with the elections after the death of President Hugo Chavez. When all this was happening, I was reviewing the books Quick Guide to Venezuelan Spanish and Quick Guide to More Venezuelan Spanish. Among the words that caught my attention were several colloquialisms related to politics, government or power.
Political issues are complicated, that’s the rule. Knowing the local words related to politics and government will help you understand how the incidents develop when they are reported in the press or discussed on the streets. Here are some examples:
16 Venezuela Spanish Slang Terms About Politics: Colloquialisms
1. adeco:
A follower of the Venezuelan political party Acción Democrática.
Example: Carlos es adeco hasta la muerte, siempre le ha sido fiel al partido.
2. boliburgués:
A beneficiary of president Chavez’s government.
Example: Ese general es un boliburgués, que antes vivía en un humilde apartamento y hoy es dueño de varias propiedades en Venezuela y en el extranjero.
3. boliburguesía:
The new Venezuelan wealthy class, created from beneficiaries of president Chávez’s government.
4. bozal de arepa:
Buying one’s consciousness by getting political or economic privileges.
Example: Los militares tienen bozal de arepa, por eso es que no hacen nada en contra del gobierno.
5. camastrón:
The plane of the president of Venezuela.
Example: Todos los ministros se fueron de viaje con el Presidente en el camastrón.
6. chavista:
A follower of president Hugo Chávez.
Example: Mi prima es chavista y no soporta que hablen mal de Chávez.
7. chivo:
A powerful person, a person with a high position, influence or authority.
Example: Alfredo es tremendo chivo en la empresa, él es de los que mandan ahí.
8. copeyano:
A follower of the political party COPEY
Example: Los adecos y los copeyanos han unido fuerzas para contrarrestar al gobierno.
9. coroto:
Political power.
Example: A los políticos lo que les interesa es quedarse con el coroto.
10. enchufarse:
To get benefits from political or economic power.
Example: Mario se enchufó porque es amigo del nuevo General.
11. gran cacao:
An important or powerful person.
Example: Eugenio Mendoza es un gran cacao por su riqueza y poder.
12. guarimba:
Public disturbance, lately (since the Chávez government began) it has been used to describe any protest from the opposition to bring the government down.
Example: Los opositores tienen una guarimba planificada.
13. matraquear:
To extort.
Example: El policía me matraqueó para no ponerme la multa.
14. ñángara:
Left leaning in politics.
Example: Guillermo es ñángara y gran admirador del Ché Guevara.
15. palanca:
Pull, influence or authority to make another person to get accepted as a member of an institution through irregular procedures.
Example: Ella consiguió ese trabajo por palanca, porque su tío es uno de los altos ejecutivos de la compañía.
16. vende patria:
Someone who doesn’t care about his country, or about any cause that they share with others.
Example: Te pasaste al otro equipo porque estábamos perdiendo ¡Si eres vende patria!
Do you think the Chavez related words will disappear or will his replacement simply inherit their usages? Can you tell me other political colloquialisms from Venezuela?
Check out these other articles on Venezuela Spanish Slang Expressions.
Featured photo credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Venezuela.jpg#file
