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 […]
EMPATAR LA PELEA: Puerto Rican Spanish Expression
Have you ever heard the phrase empatar la pelea? This is a common Puerto Rican Spanish expression and I have an illustration of it in my book Speaking Boricua: Puerto Rican Spanish Expression: EMPATAR LA PELEA • Literal translation: to tie the fight • Meaning: to make ends meet • Example: “Gracias a Dios que […]
ANDAR CON EL CULO EN LAS MANOS: Chilean Spanish Expression
Here is another illustration from my book Speaking Chileno: A Guide to Spanish from Chile. This drawing illustrates the Chilean Spanish expression andar con el culo en las manos. Chilean Spanish Expression: (ANDAR) CON EL CULO EN LAS MANOS • Literal translation: to be with the ass in the hands (or similar “to be holding […]
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 […]
2 Chilean Spanish Slang Expressions for Hangover
Check out these two Chilean Spanish slang expressions for a hangover. These illustrations are from my book Speaking Chileno: A Guide to Spanish from Chile. Cheers! 1. ANDAR CON EL HACHAZO • Literal translation: to be with the axe • Meaning: to have a bad hangover. • Example 1: “Tomé tanto anoche que voy a […]
Learn Gaucho Spanish With These Resources
This is a list of the available resources to help you learn Gaucho Spanish, which is the Spanish from the southern Cone portion of South America.
FREE List of 75 Mexican Spanish Phrases and Expressions
Get a compilation of 75 common Mexican Spanish slang phrases and expressions. It provides definitions and explanations for each expression, offering insights into the colorful and dynamic language used in Mexico.
Canarian Spanish Words: 37 Key Words If You Want To Speak To People From The Canary Islands
by Elena Llorca from Spain2Speak If you have visited the Canary Islands, you will have checked that it is the Spanish region which looks the most like South America –especially like the Caribbean, for its climate and its accent. In fact, the Canary Islands dialect corresponds to the “Atlantic variety,” linked to Spanish-speaking America […]
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 […]
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 […]
VIDEO Diccionario de Americanismos Online Step by Step: Finding Spanish Slang Words and Phrases
Did you know that the Diccionario de Americanismos is available to search online? The Diccionario de Americanismos is the dictionary of words from Latin America and definitely an excellent reference source. I am so happy that the Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española (ASALE) made this incredible search tool available. Last year I bought […]
List of Dominican Spanish Slang and Colloquial Spanish Words Used by Locals
Watchiman, chichí, motoconcho and yipeta. Do you know these words used in the Dominican Republic? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! If you are curious about the local Spanish vocabulary of this Caribbean paradise, you should check out our list of Dominican Spanish words. This list is part of the Speaking Latino Spanish Slang Dictionary […]
List of Venezuelan Spanish Words and Phrases
More new things are happening at Speaking Latino. Recently we updated the Speaking Latino Spanish Slang Dictionary database to include approximately 1,000 Venezuelan Spanish words. This is the first time we feature words form Venezuela in our online dictionary. If you are curious about what the meanings of words such as cambur, violín, pasapalo and […]
List of Colombian Spanish Words and Phrases
Here is a list of Colombian Spanish words and phrases with English translations. The list includes more than 500 terms.
Listen to the Puerto Rican Spanish Accent in 96 Audio Clips
Puerto Rican Spanish Accent: Audios for the Puerto Rican Spanish Cheat Sheet I invite you to listen to all our Puerto Rican Spanish audio clips in the voice of my amazing Puerto Rican wife and accomplice, Diana. The examples are the companion to our Puerto Rican Spanish Cheat Sheet. If you don’t have this awesome […]
List of Cuban Spanish Words and Phrases
Check out the Speaking Latino’s this list of more than 500 Cuban Spanish words with English translations.
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 […]
List of Peruvian Spanish Slang and Colloquial Spanish Words Used by Locals
Traveling to Peru to live there or maybe study Spanish? Get ready because you will hear words like pulenta, choche, pituco and chancón and it might take some time to understand what they mean. If you want to learn more about the Peruvian Spanish vocabulary you can check out our list of Peruvian Spanish words. […]
List of Argentine Spanish Slang and Colloquial Spanish Words Used by Locals
This list of Argentine Spanish slang and colloquial Spanish words used by locals includes more than 1,500 terms with English definitions.
List of Mexican Spanish Words and Phrases
We are starting 2014 by completing work long overdue. Those pending projects included the update of the Speaking Latino Spanish slang words database. After two and half years, we ended up having more material that we wanted to share with you. Diana and I are pleased to announce that our list of Mexican Spanish words […]
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 […]
Learn Spanish Quiz: Why Is It So Difficult To Identify Spelling Errors?
The mistakes on the back of this key card from a hotel in Puerto Rico are two simple spelling errors that could be avoided if someone had proofread the material. Before writing this post I showed the card to three native speakers and only one of them identified the first error. Apparently it’s too minor […]