Translating a Spanish Phrase to English: SIN LA SOGA Y SIN LA CABRA Literal: To remain without the rope and without the goat Definition: A person that tries to take or grab too much, and ends up with nothing Similar Spanish Phrases: Quedarse sin el plato y la comida Equivalent in English: Bite off more […]
Learn Spanish in Puerto Rico: Immersion Program ISLA
A while ago Jared published Speaking Latino’s most controversial post ever –Should You Learn Spanish in Puerto Rico?– where he questions if Puerto Rico is a good destination to learn Spanish. Obviously that is his opinion and I (and many others readers) don’t agree with it. So, now is my time to share my point […]
11 Spanish Words for DRINKING STRAW: Infographic
If you are looking for how do you say drinking straw in Spanish the easiest word to start with is pajita, used in Spain and a few other countries. However, beware! pajita in other countries can be a vulgar term and does not mean straw. More on that below. How you say straw in Spanish is […]
Decoding a Cuban Menu: 14 Cuban Spanish Food Words And Dishes
Some time ago, Jared and I took a food tour in Little Havana, Miami. The experience was great because we were able to taste the wonderful Cuban food and learn about the history of Little Havana. Since I’m Puerto Rican I knew I was going to find many similar ingredients, such as the plantain, the […]
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 […]
ME CAGO EN NA: Puerto Rican Spanish Slang Expression
The Puerto Rican Spanish slang expression me cago en ná (pronounced me ca we ná) is one of the most common swear phrases you will hear from the mouths of locals. Me cago en ná is the colloquial pronunciation of me cago en nada and it’s a mild expression that means “dam!” or “shit!” Puerto […]
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. […]
16 Venezuela Spanish Slang Terms About Politics
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 […]
25 Goofy Spanish Similes with the Word NUN
One of the funniest types of Spanish language idioms are the ones that uses similes or comparisons. The Wikipedia definition of a simile is “a figure of speech that directly compares two things through some connective, usually like, as, than, or a verb such as resembles.” The use of a nun or monja as a […]
Puerto Rican Spanish: RIVERSA or REVERSA?
Take a look at the photo of this sign I took recently in Puerto Rico that reads NO ESTACIONE EN RIVERSA. Instead of riversa the correct Spanish word should be reversa. The use of the word riversa is a good example that shows two characteristics of the Puerto Rican Spanish: 1. The use of words […]
8 Mexican Spanish Slang Words for Places and People
Demonym or gentilic is the name given to people living in a village, town, city or country. Usually it is derived from the name of the same town. For example, the demonym of the people from Mexico is Mexican. While reading the books Quick Guide to Mexican Spanish and Quick Guide to More Mexican Spanish […]
Free Printable List of School Supplies in Spanish and English: 36 Basic Items
This printable list of school supplies in Spanish and English is as an example of the Spanish vocabulary diversity. Many items have different Spanish names.
LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER: English Phrase in Spanish
Have you ever felt out of place? If you want to express that feeling in Spanish you can use the phrase “fuera de lugar.” But that phrase sound a bit formal and serious. Here are two ways you can translate “like a fish out of water” maintaining the English phrase in Spanish. 1. Como sapo […]
Need a Mexican Spanish Slang to English Dictionary? Here Are 3 Bilingual Options
If you are traveling to Mexico to study or live you will need extra help with their local vocabulary even if you are already fluent in Spanish. Spanish vocabulary changes significantly from one country to the next and Mexico is not the exception. Yet, few people learn about this until they are in a country, […]
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 […]
Spanish Idiomatic Expression CUANDO LAS GALLINAS MEAN in English
Cuando las gallinas mean is a common Spanish idiomatic expression generally said to children when they speak when they are not supposed to. The full Spanish saying goes los niños hablan cuando las gallinas mean and literally translates to “children talk when hens piss.” For anyone that doesn’t know hens doen’t pee and this phrase […]
Celebrate El Día E and The Spanish Language Day
Spanish is the second language in the world in number of native speakers, the second language of international communication (more than 500 million people speak it), and the third most used language on the Internet. To celebrate this vast wealth of Spanish culture, the Instituto Cervantes organizes for the fifth time El Día E, a […]
Bilingual Story Books: 5 Children Books in Spanish and English
Hispanics are 16.7% of total population of the United Sates, making them the nation’s largest ethnic or race minority. If you are part of that statistic, you are one of the 52 million Latinos that make the United States the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world. Unfortunately, there is also the risk of future generations […]
Spanish Language Practice Tests: Learn Your Spanish Level
If you have been taking Spanish classes or lessons for a while and are wondering how are you doing, check this out. Our friends from don Quijote Spanish Courses have put together these online Spanish language practice tests for you to measure your improvement. The practice tests are quick and consist of a short paragraph […]
10 Easy English-Spanish Words You Can Add to Your Vocabulary Today
When I was reading the book Spanish Word Histories and Mysteries: English Words That Come From Spanish I learned the following fact about English-Spanish words: After French, Latin and Old English, “Spanish is one of the most important ingredients in English vocabulary.” I knew that there were Spanish words in the English language, but I […]
7 Spanish Comic Book Characters from Latin America
Comics were popularized in the United States in the 30’s. From political and social strips to the action comics featuring iconic super heroes, from the beginning there has been a broad variety titles for all ages. Latin America is also active in this so called “Ninth Art” and give us a lot of characters that […]
What Makes Great Spanish High School Lessons?
Most school districts offer Spanish in high schools only, so it is important that you know how to make fantastic Spanish high school lessons. Teenagers are hard to please, and yet teachers must be able to find a way to engage them immediately. This especially needs to happen in a language classroom because most teenagers […]
Bilingual Poetry: 4 English and Spanish Children Books
The school year is almost finished and you might be looking for activities to do with your small children. If you are raising a bilingual kid, here are some English – Spanish children books you can use during the summer. These suggestions are focused on simple bilingual poetry that reinforces the Hispanic heritage in elementary […]
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!
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 […]