August 20, 2008 | a ciencia cierta
| | expression Meaning: definitely; exactly Example: No sabemos a ciencia cierta cuántos meseros vamos a emplear.
(We’re still not exactly sure how
many waiters we’re going to hire.) |
August 19, 2008 | como quieres
| | expression Meaning: whatever Example: [Marta] Si me ayudas a limpiar la cocina te presto mi suéter azul. (If you help me clean the kitchen I’ll let you borrow my blue sweater.) [Lorena] Como quieres. (WHATever!) |
August 18, 2008 | Cuando en duda, consúltalo con tu almohada.
| | proverb Meaning: When in doubt of what is right, consult your pillow overnight. |
August 17, 2008 | chingo
| | slang Meaning: a whole lot; a ton; a bunch Example: Mi novio tiene un chingo de problemas en el trabajo. (My boyfriend has a bunch of problems
at work.) |
August 16, 2008 | voítelas
| | slang Pronunciation: BOY-tay-las Meaning: I’m shocked! I’m stunned!
I can’t believe it! No way! Example: [Pepe] ¡No lo vas a creer! Juan se ha enganado a su esposa ... pero con otro hombre! (You’re not going to believe this! Juan cheated on his wife, ... but with another man!) [Javier] ¡Vóitelas!
(I can’t believe it!) |
August 15, 2008 | chorro
| | slang Meaning: a ton; a bunch; a whole lot Example: No puedo venir. Tengo un
chorro de trabajo. (I can’t come
over. I have a ton of work.) |
August 14, 2008 | tele
| | Anglicism Meaning: TV Example: Apaga el tele, Pepito, y ayúdame con tu bisabuela. (Turn off the TV, Pepito, and help me with your great-grandmother.) |
August 13, 2008 | cabeza de Teflón
| | expression Literal Meaning: Teflon-head Meaning: airhead, forgetful person Example: Juanita, ¡qué cabeza de Teflón eres! ¡Nada se te pega en la cabeza! (Juanita, you’re such an airhead! Nothing sticks in your head!) |
August 12, 2008 | Depende del sapo es la pedrada.
| | proverb Literal Meaning: The rock you fling depends on the size of the toad. Meaning: Each case is different. Example: Juan pays the local police a 20-peso fine for a minor traffic violation; the federales charge him 200! Gringos pay at least twice as much. |
August 11, 2008 | mordida
| | slang Literal Meaning: bite Meaning: bribe Example: ¡Pinche policia! Tuve que
pagar una mordida de 100 pesos para evitar problemas con mi licencia. (Frikkin’ police! I had to pay a 100-peso bribe to avoid problems with my license!) |
August 10, 2008 | No hay vida más cansada que el eterno
de no hacer nada.
| | proverb Literal Meaning: No life is as tiring
as the eternity of doing nothing. Meaning: There’s nothing so boring
as doing nothing. |
August 10, 2008 | No hay vida más cansada que el eterno
de no hacer nada.
| | proverb Literal Meaning: No life is as tiring as the eternity
of doing nothing. Meaning: There’s nothing so boring as doing nothing. |
August 9, 2008 | 8 días/15 días
| | expression Literal Meaning: 8 days/15 days Meaning: one week/two weeks Example: Cuídate mucho, mi amor.
Te veo dentro de ocho días. (Take care of yourself, my love. I’ll see you within a week.) |
August 8, 2008 | Se me borró el cassette.
| | expression Meaning: I forgot what I was going to say. |
August 7, 2008 | si mal no me acuerdo
| | expression Meaning: if I remember correctly Example: Si mal no me acuerdo, me
debes 100 pesos. (If I remember correctly, you owe me 100 pesos.) |
August 6, 2008 | suéter
| | Anglicism Meaning: sweater Example: Hace frío, corazón, tráete el suéter rojo. (It’s cold, dear, bring your red sweater.) |
August 5, 2008 | Se me fue el avión.
| | expression Literal Meaning: The plane left without me. Meaning: I lost my train of thought. I forgot what I was saying. |
August 4, 2008 | celoso de su deber
| | slang Meaning: zealous about his duty; dedicated Example: Anita trabaja día y noche.
Está muy celosa de su deber.
(Anita works day and night. She’s very dedicated to her job.) |
August 3, 2008 | llenita
| | slang Literal Meaning: full, filled up (diminutive) Meaning: chubby Example: Mi prima está llenita,
pero muy guapa. (My cousin is chubby, but very pretty.) |
August 2, 2008 | Más vale un minuto tarde que un minuto de silencio.
| | proverb Meaning: Better a minute late than a minute of silence (as in, at your funeral). Example: Caray, mi chula, ¡anda más despacio! Más vale un minuto tarde que un minuto de silencio. (Shoot, pretty baby, slow down! Better a minute late than a minute of silence.) |
August 1, 2008 | También de dolor se canta cuando llorar no se puede.
| | proverb Meaning: Sorrow also sings, when it
runs too deep to cry. |
July 31, 2008 | solterona
| | vocabulary Meaning: old maid Example: ¿Por qué no te casas con
Memo, mija? Te vas a quedar solterona. (Why don’t you marry Memo, daughter? You’re going to end up an old maid.) |
July 30, 2008 | solterón
| | vocabulary Meaning: confirmed bachelor Example: [Doña María] ¿Qué tal si le presento tu cuñado Juan a mi hija? (Maybe I should introduce your brother-in-law Juan to my daughter.) [Doña Juana] Hmmm, no creo que sea buena idea. El es solterón. (Hmmm, I don’t think that’s such a good idea. He’s a confirmed bachelor.) |
July 29, 2008 | a ojo de buen cubero
| | expression Meaning: In my expert opinion;
according to my best judgment
(A “cubero” sells beers at a
stadium or sporting event, so he is adept at sizing up potential customers. He has “a good eye.”) Example: A ojo de buen cubero, la señora debe tener unos 70 años. (In my opinion, the woman is about 70 years old.) |
July 28, 2008 | Dios les da dinero a los ricos porque si no lo tuvieran, se morirían de hambre.
| | proverb Meaning: God gives money to the rich because if they didn’t have it, they would die of hunger. |
July 27, 2008 | tocayo
| | vocabulary Meaning: namesake, person with your same name (We don’t use this word much in English, and when we do, it usually refers to someone who has been named after a relative or family friend.) Example: [Juanito] Hola, tocayo, ¿cómo estamos? (Hi, namesake, how’s it going?) [Juan] Voy bien, Juanito, ¿y tú? (I’m fine, Juanito, and you?) |
July 26, 2008 | trillado
| | slang Meaning: worn out, repetitious, trite Example: ¿Vas a poner esa corbata trillada? ¿Por qué no te compras una nueva? (Are you going to wear that old tie? Why don’t you buy a new one?) |
July 25, 2008 | tenis
| | Anglicism Pronunciation: TEH-nees Meaning: tennis shoes, sneakers,
sports shoes Example: Vamos a caminar. No se te olividen los tenis. (We’re going to walk. Don’t forget your sneakers.) |
July 24, 2008 | Se lo debo.
| | expression Literal Meaning: I owe it to you. Meaning: Sorry, I don’t have any. (Shopkeepers say this when you ask for something that’s out of stock or even that they don’t carry.) Example: [Juanita] Me da un cuaderno “Hello Kitty”, por favor. (Give me a “Hello Kitty” notebook, please.) [Dueña de la tienda/shop owner] Se lo debo. No quiere uno de Pirulín? (Sorry, we don’t have one. How about one with Tweety Bird?) |
July 23, 2008 | ñoño/ñoña
| | vocabulary Pronunciation: NYO-nyo Meaning: insipid, lame, unsophisticated, dorky Example: ¿Por qué escuchas esa musiquilla ñoña, compa? (Why do you listen to that lame music, buddy?) |
July 22, 2008 | No hagas hoy lo que puedas hacer mañana.
| | Saying Meaning: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow. |
July 21, 2008 | super
| | Anglicism Meaning: extremely, really, super Example: Hoy no puedo. Estoy super ocupada. (I can’t today. I’m super busy.) |
July 20, 2008 | Mal comienza la semana aquel que es ahorcado en lunes.
| | proverb Meaning: It’s a bad start on the week for the man who is hanged on a Monday. |
July 19, 2008 | el pilón
| | slang Meaning: In Ecuador they call it la yapa, that extra measure a vendor
gives you for buying in quantity.
In Mexico it’s el pilón. The closest thing in English is ‘a baker’s dozen.’ Example: Deme 4 kilos de naranjas. ¡No se le olvide el pilón! (Give me 4 kilos of oranges, and don’t forget my extra bit!) |
July 18, 2008 | No exageres.
| | expression Meaning: Don’t be dramatic. Don’t exaggerate. Example: [Sara] Si no gano el premio,
me mato. (If I don’t win the prize,
I’ll kill myself.) [Ana] ¡No exageres! (Don’t be dramatic!) |
July 17, 2008 | mijo
| | slang Pronunciation: MEE-ho Meaning: Actually ‘mijo’ is not so much slang as a contraction of the words ‘mi’ and ‘hijo’: my son. However it is often used not only with one’s own son but in a friendly way to any boy. Example: [muchacho] ¿Quiere que le ayude con sus compras, señora? (Would you like help with your purchases, ma’am?) [señora] Sí, mijo, gracias. (Yes, my son, thank you.) |
July 16, 2008 | ¡Maldita sea!
| | expression Meaning: Damn it! Example: [José] Martín invitó a tu novia a Acapulco, y parece que aceptó. (Martín invited your girlfriend to Acapulco, y apparently she said yes.) [Jorge]: Maldito sea! (Damn it!) |
July 15, 2008 | No hay que andarse por las ramas estando tan grueso el tronco
| | proverb Literal Meaning: There’s no reason to walk on the branches when the trunk is so thick. Analogous Saying: There’s no reason to go out on a limb. |
July 14, 2008 | Hola, crayola.
| | expression Meaning: Hi, crayon! It’s just a silly way of saying hello, usually to a child. It works in Spanish because it rhymes. Example: [Juan]: ¡Hola, crayola! [Juanito]: ¡Hola, papi! |
July 13, 2008 | chécalo
| | slang Meaning: check it out Example: Chécalo, güey, ahí anda tu papá. (Check it out, dude, there goes your dad.) |
July 12, 2008 | mija
| | slang Pronunciation: MEE-ha Meaning: Actually ‘mija’ is not so much slang as a contraction of the words ‘mi’ and ‘hija’: my daughter. However it is often used not only with one’s own daughter but in a friendly way to any girl child. |
July 11, 2008 | chichis
| | slang Meaning: boobs, tits Example: ¡Tápate, mija, se te ven los chichis! (Cover up, daughter, your boobs are showing!) |
July 10, 2008 | tiradero
| | slang Literal Meaning: place where things are thrown around Meaning: mess Example: Hijo, ¡tu habitación está hecho un tiradero! (Son, your room is a disaster!) |
July 9, 2008 | ¿Mande?
| | vocabulary Literal Meaning: Order me. Meaning: What? What did you say? Example: Juan [mumbling]: Le quiero, señora. (I love you, ma’am.)
Doña Ana [alarmed]: ¿Mande usted? (Sorry, what did you say?) |
July 8, 2008 | llover a cántaros
| | expression Meaning: Raining cats and dogs, raining buckets, raining in torrents Example: Ayer estuvo lloviendo a cántaros todo el día. (Yesterday it was raining cats and dogs all day.) |
July 7, 2008 | El delito acusa.
| | proverb Meaning: The crime itself accuses. |
July 6, 2008 | chato/chata
| | slang Meaning: a person with a small or snub nose, usually used as an affectionate nickname Example: Oye, chato, no seas así. (Hey, hon [with a small nose], don't be like that!) |
July 5, 2008 | ¡Chin!
| | slang Pronunciation: cheen Meaning: Bummer! That’s a drag. Example: Juan: Perdió tu equipo, La América. (Your team, La América, lost.) Lola: ¡Chin! (Bummer!) |
July 4, 2008 | quedarse con el ojo cuadrado
| | expression Literal Meaning: To end up with a square eye Meaning: To be surprised, to be astonished Example: Cuando vi a tu padre con su novia, ¡me quedé con el ojo cuadrado! (I was so surprised when I saw your father with his girlfriend.) |
July 3, 2008 | No hay cuidado.
| | expression Meaning: No worries; No problem; Don’t worry about it. Example: Pedro: Lo siento, no tengo cambio. (I'm sorry, I don't have change.) Lola: No hay cuidado, me pagas mañana. (No problem; pay me tomorrow.) |
July 2, 2008 | changuitos
| | slang Literal Meaning: little monkeys Meaning: Cross your fingers! Example: Pedro: ¿Vas a Ibiza este verano? (Are you going to Ibiza this summer?) Lola: ¡Changuitos! (With luck!) |
July 1, 2008 | animal
| | slang Meaning: dude Example: Tú, animal, ¡vamos! (Dude, let’s go!) |
June 30, 2008 | Guarda tu ayuda para quien te la pida.
| | proverb Meaning: Save your advice for those who ask for it. |
June 29, 2008 | jocho
| | slang Pronunciation: HO-cho Meaning: hot dog Example: [Juan]: Vamos por unos jochos. [Maria]: ¡Guácala! (Juan: Let's go for some hot dogs. Maria: Gross!) |
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