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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 […]

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. • […]

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 […]

VIDEO: Puerto Rican Spanish Slang and Colloquial Spanish Expressions

There is no better way to describe Puerto Ricans that by using our own words. Recently I ran across a copy of an old email chain (of the era when Facebook did not exist) with a lot of Puerto Rican Spanish slang and colloquial Spanish words that describe us. The text of the email was […]

Basic Family Vocabulary in Spanish Lesson Plans

Here is a simple lesson plan using a family tree diagram. This image features the basic family vocabulary: el abuelo, la abuela, el padre, la madre, el hermano, la hermana, el tío, la tía, el primo and la prima. I created this image for the activity booklet of the Christmas song in Spanish Cascabel (Jingle […]

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 […]

List of Puerto Rican Slang and Colloquial Spanish Words Used by Locals

Ten years ago, Jared started collecting Puerto Rican Spanish slang words. Later, that list of words became the core of the book Speaking Boricua, a dictionary that translates to English the everyday colloquial words used in Puerto Rico. While living in Puerto Rico as an already fluent Spanish speaker, Jared found out that there were […]

How Do You Say Corn In Spanish?

There are several ways of how to say corn in Spanish: maiz, mazorca, elote, choclo, jojoto and marlo. Due to the fact corn is used in many ways and has such a long history in Latin America – in summary, the Spanish word for corn can vary from one country to another.  Why Is There […]

How to Say SELFIE in Spanish

“Selfie” was selected as the Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2013. The word, that also has the alternate spelling “selfy,” was defined as “a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website.” How to say selfie in Spanish: AUTOFOTO This […]

The Best 15 Latino Children’s Books from 2013

Here is the list of best Latino children’s books published in 2013. It is based in the recent release of the lists created by Latinas for Latino Lit, School Library Journal and Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature. Whether you are looking for a gift for your child or (if you are a […]

Epiphany: Videos to Explain Three Kings Day

Here are some videos about Three Kings Day that you can use to complement your Spanish class. I selected these clips because they are concise, and they give a simple explanation of Three Kings Day religious meaning and background. If you have our class activity packet for the song La protesta de los Reyes by […]

5 Versions of Jingle Bells in Spanish

If you are looking for the Christmas song Jingle Bells in Spanish you have plenty of options. This song actually has two versions or lyrics: Cascabel, cascabel or Navidad, Navidad. Any of these versions have been adapted to different rhythms and here are some demo examples. Share with me which one is your favorite and […]

6 Traditional English Christmas Songs in Spanish

Now that we are getting closer to Christmas Day, the mood is turning more and more festive. If you are visiting a Spanish-speaking country during the Holidays you will hear in Spanish some of the traditional Christmas carols that you learned as a kid. These villancicos, the word for Christmas songs in Spanish, have the […]

MLB Team Names in Spanish: Infographic

There are a lot of Hispanics playing in the Major Leagues Baseball (MLB) teams. According to Fox News Latino “24.2 percent players on this year’s MLB rosters are foreign-born players from Latin American countries.” There is a good representation of players from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia and Panama. We previously […]