The phrase en pampa y la via is an Argentina Spanish slang expression that means poor and penniless. While in the book Speaking Argento: A Guide to Argentine Spanish I am more focused on translating and explaining these types of sayings into English, I was curious about the origin of this phrase. Sergio Vázquez in […]
COJONES: 33 Phrases With the Most Important Spanish Slang Word in Spain
According to the Royal Spanish Academy a cojón is a testicle and cojones is an interjection used to express diverse moods, especially surprise, something odd or anger. This a polite way of translating cojones. The Real World Spanish translation is a guy’s nuts or balls. The renowned Spanish author and journalist Arturo Pérez Reverte wrote […]
The Peruvian Bar: 7 Alcoholic Drinks from Peru You Must Try
Just like any other country, the drinks available in Peru reflect local customs, history and available ingredients. Experiencing the country through these drinks will not only be fun, but will also give you a better understanding of Peru and its people. The Peruvian Bar: 7 Alcoholic Drinks from Peru You Must Try 1. Pisco sour […]
Traveling to Peru? Examples of Peruvian Etiquette
Welcome to Perú. So you speak Spanish? Do you know how to thrive with it in Perú? Peruvians are a strong willed people, yet they also are extremely relaxed. Life in Perú is centered on the the family. These are some of the Peruvian characteristics. Greetings If you are a woman meeting a man for […]
Is There a Correct Spanish Language?
With so many different Spanish speaking countries, how can one determine what “correct” Spanish is? A while back, I wrote an article called The Dialect Divide: Argentina vs. Puerto Rico, which addresses some of the differences in the Spanish I speak and the Spanish my Puerto Rican boyfriend speaks. This is a deeper look at […]
5 Ways to Start an Argument with an Argentine
Every country has its soft spots, and Argentina is no exception. Here are a few ways to easily provoke an Argentine into a heated argument. 1. Say Pelé is better than Maradona Edson Arantes do Nascimiento a.k.a. Pelé and Diego Maradona are both world-renowned soccer legends. The difference is, Pelé is Brazilian and Maradona […]
4 Grammar Hints to Speak Spanish Like a Spaniard
Every Spanish-speaking country has its own unique way of speaking the Spanish language. Here are some tips on how to speak Spanish like a Spaniard. 1. Use the vosotros form If you studied Spanish in school, you have probably at least heard of the vosotros form. However, most teachers brush over it and never really […]
The Check List of 10 Mexican Foods You Must Try Before Leaving
If you think Mexican food has anything to do with the Tex-Mex and Mexican-American stuff you are used to- you are in for quite a delicious surprise. Mexico has some incredible, traditional dishes that have no relation to “Mexican” food in the US. Here are 10 foods you can’t leave Mexico without trying. 1. Tamales […]
PURA VIDA: The Most Important Costa Rica Spanish Expression
Although “pura” means “pure” and “vida” means “life,” the phrase “pura vida” can be translated in many ways such as “full of life,” “this is real living,” “this is the life,” “awesome” or even a greeting or goodbye. It’s a simple phrase that is used constantly in the country of Costa Rica. If you know […]
List of Spanish Slang Expressions from Peru: 13 Examples to Sound Like a Local
Learning a language is only the first step to sounding like a local. What does that mean for you? You thought that learning the textbook intonations, pronunciations and general directions were going to get you in the “local” club? Think again, the only way to mesh with the locals is to understand their dialects and […]
65 Spanish Slang Words for Vagina
Warning: This post includes an incredible volume of words that are not suitable for young eyes. Senator Mitt Romney once visited Miami as a quick stop on his presidential campaign. Part of the media tour included an interview for Radio Mabí with Carlos Santana. The nine-minute phone interview ended with giggles from Santana and the […]
Shame on Spain: A List of Spanish Slang Expressions Used to Insult Puerto Rico
One of our recommendations in the article 4 Strategies to Learn Spanish Slang Abroad when you want to know the language of a specific country is to read the local newspapers. The sports section is an excellent source of colloquial vocabulary you can find. A journalist that write sports news has more flexibility in the […]
4 Tips on How to Speak Spanish Fluently
I learned my Spanish in a university in St. Louis, Missouri. My professors were from Mexico, Spain, and Argentina – I had my choice of accents. For whatever reason, before I even had a class with the Argentine professor, I adopted el canto, or the sing-song rhythm that Italians and Argentinians often use while speaking. […]
10 Vulgar Spanish Slang Words and Phrases from Chile: Infographic
Here is the third post in our series Phrases That Aren’t Taught In School. The first two for Puerto Rico and Argentina have already caused a furor. If you are interested in contributing to other posts in the series, send me a note to [email protected]/. Feel free to share these images. You can save this one […]
Did You Know These 7 Spanish Language Words for SUITCASE?
Suitcase is definitely a word you’re going to need when traveling. Whether it be to purchase a new one, ask where to pick up your bags, or answer questions at the airport, you need to know how to say “suitcase.” Of course, there are Spanish differences and more than just one word for it. Here […]
MICHELADA: The Mexican Bloody Mary
If you’ve ever gone drinking with Mexicans, you’ve probably at least heard the term michelada. What exactly is it? A michelada is a traditional Mexican drink comparable to the Bloody Mary. The recipe changes a bit from region to region and due to person tastes, but the basic ingredients are: beer, tomato juice, lime and […]
ESPANGLISH: The English and Spanish Dictionary Definition of Spanglish by the RAE
Last week the Royal Academy of Spanish Language (RAE, in Spanish) announced the incorporation of the word espanglish (or Spanglish) in the next edition of their dictionary that will be published in 2014. The definition that will accompany this term reads as follow: “A form of speech used by some Hispanic groups in the United […]
Real World Spanish: Basic Language Differences From What You Learn And Use
A Spanish textbook will certainly get you to a good level of communication, but there are a lot of shortcomings. In the real world Spanish vocabulary often changes from what is taught in class. Sometimes, the words you learn in class have a synonym that is used much more often and varies depending on the […]
Learn Spanish: 4 Meanings of HOT in Spanish
The word caliente means “hot” while the word calor means “heat.” It seems like saying “estoy caliente” would be the proper way to express that you are hot, as in, the temperature is high. Unfortunately these Spanish differences for non-native speakers are a common and embarrassing mistake. The word hot also have other possible translations. […]
3 Ways Latinos Are Better Than Americans: The Spanish Language Culture
3 Ways Latinos Are Better Than Americans I have interacted with Latinos from a lot of different countries, both in their home countries and outside of them. Working as an interpreter and living in a city with a large Mexican population has allowed me to make some interesting observations about Latinos in America (living in […]
The Boricua Bar: 10 Alcoholic Drinks From Puerto Rico
This article about alcoholic drinks from Puerto Rico by Jared Romey was originally published in English on Matador Nights. An updated and translated version was also published in the Puerto Rico newspaper El Vocero de Puerto Rico. 10 Alcoholic Drinks From Puerto Rico Probably best known for giving the world the piña colada, Puerto Rico […]
Learning Spanish Lesson: The Difference Between GRATIS and LIBRE
Gratis and libre both translate to “free,” but they have specific meanings. Non-native speakers often mix them up and end up conveying the wrong message. 1. Free means gratis or no charge For example, when I was in university, the Dean of Students wanted to provide a free lunch on Cinco de Mayo for students. […]
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 […]
10 Vulgar Spanish Slang Words and Phrases from Argentina: Infographic
Here is the second post in our series Phrases That Aren’t Taught In School. The first list was from Puerto Rico and more countries are coming soon! Feel free to share this image! You can save it here and email it to your friends or pass it around any way you invent. You can also […]
4 Examples of Non-Verbal Slang: Spanish Language Without Words
You gotta be careful with slang. You have to be pretty darn confident with a language to correctly understand, let alone use, slang. Making errors using verbal slang is one thing. Often, what happens is that you are generally attempting to sound cool in that language, but with the slip of a vowel sound, you can […]
Fed Up with Formal Spanish? A List of Spanish Slang Expressions for FED UP
Sick and tired of using the formal and correct forms of “proper” Spanish? We have the cure to that ailment. Try this: Enter the English term “fed up” in the box under the Search Words & Phrases red tab. Click the Search button and see all the Latino variants for the English slang word “fed […]
8 Tools Spanish Speakers Can Use to Improve English Pronunciation
This is the last article of the series English Pronunciation Challenges: What a Latina Learned in an Accent Reduction Class where I share some of the resources I used during my class. These “tools” includes books, apps and web pages that will help you during this process. Posts in this series: English Pronunciation Challenges for […]
10 Most Shocking Things I Learned About English Pronunciation
This is the second article of the series English Pronunciation Challenges: What a Latina Learned in an Accent Reduction Class where I share some of the resources I used during my class. These “tools” includes books, apps and web pages that will help you during this process. Posts in this series: English Pronunciation Challenges for […]
Spanish to English Conversion: Pronunciation Challenges for Latinos
This is the last article of the series English Pronunciation Challenges: What a Latina Learned in an Accent Reduction Class where I share some of the resources I used during my class. These “tools” includes books, apps and web pages that will help you during this process. Posts in this series: English Pronunciation Challenges for […]