Quick Guide to Mexican Spanish

presents

Quick Guide to Mexican Spanish

Language Babel, Inc.

Copyright ©2013 by Language Babel, Inc. All rights reserved. Published by Language Babel, Inc., San Juan, Puerto Rico. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the author and the Publisher. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to Language Babel, Inc., 1357 Ashford Ave., PMB 384, San Juan, PR 00907 or by e-mail to [email protected]. Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the content. You should confer with a language professional when appropriate. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. For ordering information or special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Language Babel, Inc. 1357 Ashford Ave., PMB 384, San Juan, PR 00907 or by e-mail to [email protected]. Printed in the United States of America by Language Babel, Inc. ISBN-10: 1484955455 (paperback) ISBN-13: 978-1484955451 Printed in the United States of America by Language Babel, Inc. Version 1

SPEAKING LATINO KUDOS “My grandfather Juan Mauricio Lopez would be happy. The book is very good , It will help me understand and learn more words of the Mexican culture of my mother and grandfather. Thank you very much! There were some of the words I knew, thank again.” - E.M. Waters Amazon Review on Quick Guide to Mexican Spanish book

“Jared is the go-to guy for anyone learning or considering learning Spanish, and he’ll blow you away with how much he knows about the Latin American varieties of the language.” - Donovan Nagel, Mezzofanti Guild: An Online Community of Serious Language Learners

“Romey translates common colloquialisms into English so that Americans can actually understand what the heck locals are saying when they visit South American countries.” - Monica Garske, AOL News

“Acabo de descubrir Speakinglatino.com. Que sitio más padre, chido, chévere, tuanis, bacán...” - Jake Fisher comment on Facebook

“@JaredRomey ¡¡¡Me ca*** de risa!!! ¡Buenísimo! I had to pause several times to recover from laughing! You made my day!” - @MultiMae from Mae’s Language Lounge Blog via Twitter

3

THE STORY OF SPEAKING LATINO Suffering a typical 9-5 existence, Jared’s foray into lunch-hour Spanish shook up his mundane life. He quit his job, stopped by briefly to school, and then left the US…for 14 years. Early stumblings in real-world Spanish taught him that a cola isn’t just a soft drink, bicho doesn’t always mean a bug, and boludo may be heartfelt or middle-finger felt. Twelve countries, three startups, two bestsellers and a Puerto Rican wife later, he’s still confounded by how many Spanish words exist for “panties.” Their personal experiences highlight common confusions of every-day Spanish. With the views of a native Spanish speaker and a gringo who picked it up as an adult, they constantly find entertaining and controversial lessons on how to communicate in Spanish. The Speaking Latino books and website are a consequence of Jared’s bumblings in Spanish, crossed communications with Diana, repeated bouts with culture shock, and confusions over the correct words for popcorn, gasoline, pen, bus, underwear, traffic jam and drinking straw. One of the strangest things for him to accept while learning Spanish was why he spent years in classes, and yet a large portion of the Jared words he learned Diana didn’t do a bit of 4

good in the real world. It still amazes him that depending on where you are chiringa, barrilete, papalote, papagayo, pandorga, chichigua, cometa or volantín all mean the same thing: kite. Diana, a native Spanish speaker, and Jared, a fluent Spanish speaker who learned the language as an adult, share their research and personal experiences about local Spanish from across the Spanish-speaking world in Speaking Latino. Books and eBooks that collect and translate thousands of Spanish slang words and phrases, articles on Spanish used in specific countries, Spanish learning tips and a searchable Spanish slang dictionary with tons of local words all move you towards real world Spanish fluency. Follow their discoveries at www.speakinglatino.com. A FREE MEXICAN SPANISH BONUS FROM JARED & DIANA IS WAITING FOR YOU AT

Receive your bonus List of Common Mexican Spanish Phrases FREE. To receive it just follow the directions here: www.speakinglatino.com/mexican-spanish-bonus 5

ABOUT THE “QUICK GUIDE TO MEXICAN SPANISH” This quick guide of words and phrases from Mexico will help you better understand this North American country. The collection of over 500 terms and sayings will help you become familiar with the richness of Mexican Spanish. It includes colloquially used words and some dirty ones too! Each term has been defined in English and synonyms are included when available. There are also more than 400 example sentences. Each entry is presented as follows: aflojó: 1) to give in, say yes 2) finally agreed to sex, allowed intercourse SYN: 1) doblarse 0 1) ¿Habló o no habló? - Aflojó y cantó como pajarito 2) ¿Aflojó o no? No, se apretó. Abbreviations and Symbols: SYN: synonyms or similar words 0 example sentence

6

ACERCA DEL “QUICK GUIDE TO MEXICAN SPANISH” Esta guía rápida de palabras y frases de México te ayudará a entender mejor el habla de este país norteamericano. La recopilación de más de 500 términos y dichos te ayudará a familiarizarte con la riqueza del español mexicano e incluye coloquialismos sin dejar fuera algunos vulgarismos. Cada término ha sido definido en inglés y, en la mayoría de los casos, se han incluído sinónimos y más de 400 ejemplos de uso. Las entradas están presentadas de la siguiente manera: aflojó: 1) to give in, say yes 2) finally agreed to sex, allowed intercourse SYN: 1) doblarse 0 1) ¿Habló o no habló? -Aflojó y cantó como pajarito 2) ¿Aflojó o no? -No, se apretó. Abreviaturas y símbolos: SYN: sinónimos o palabras similares 0 Oración de ejemplo

7

Spanish Words & Phrases from Mexico

A a chuchita la bolsearon: a poor and unbelievable/ irrelevant excuse or pretext 0 Me vas a salir con que a chuchita la bolsearon y no voy a permitir excusas.

0 ¿Como te vas a ir a tu casa? A patín no hay de otra.

A PATÍN a su madre: very good

a huevo: by force, forced to do something SYN: a fuerza 0 No quiere comer. Ahora se lo come a huevo.

a vergazo : submission by physical beating SYN: a chingadazos 0 Y lo agarramos a vergazos y empezó a llorar como niña.

a la verde: the heck with it SYN: a la verga

abre sodas: bottle opener SYN: destapador 0 Necesito el abre sodas, por favor.

a lo bestia: used for huge quantities of something SYN: un montón 0 Si supieras que Miguel está ganando dinero a lo bestia. a patín: on foot SYN: a golpe de calcetín

abusado: from the word “aguzado,” be aware of something or someone, possible danger, alert, on guard 0 Ponte abusado en el centro, roban mucho. 11

acelerado: frantic, hyperactive, in a hurry SYN: con prisa 0 Andas todo acelerado, relájate un poco. achicalada: beating SYN: madriza 0 Le pusimos una achicalada que no se le va a olvidar en un mes. achicopalar: embarrass, humiliate SYN: aguitar 0 No se me achicopale, todo va a estar bien. achisparse: to get drunk

0 No te puedes acoplar esta vez porque van a revisar en la entrada a todos. acostón: sexual encounter between two individuals which results in a “walk of shame” for one of them and a “brag story” for the other 0 La noche terminó en un acostón. aflojó: 1) to give in, say yes 2) finally agreed to sex, allowed intercourse SYN: 1) doblarse 0 1) ¿Habló o no habló? - Aflojó y cantó como pajarito 2) ¿Aflojó o no? - No, se apretó. agachón: a pushover, a loser, a mama’s boy

ACHIPARSE acoplar: to crash a party SYN: colar 12

agandallar: take advantage of a situation, to steal something SYN: arrebatar

0 Hay que agandallar las bicicletas ahorita que no están viendo. / Tenemos que llegar temprano a agandallar asientos.

la pintura está fresca.

agarrar en curva: to surprise a person, similar to the expression “like a deer in headlights” SYN: por sorpresa 0 ¿Dónde están los reportes? Me agarró en curva jefe, permítame buscarlos.

AGUAS FRESCAS

agasajo: passionate encounter that does not end up in sex, making out SYN: faje 0 Jenny y David están en pleno agasajo. aguas: look out!, expression of warning SYN: cuidado 0 Aguas en ese lugar, es muy peligroso de noche. / Aguas con la pared,

aguas frescas: a light non-alcoholic beverages that combines fruits, cereals, flowers, or seeds with sugar and water, usually sold by street vendors agüite: sadness, shame, discomfort SYN: triste, decaído, deprimido 0 Usted no se agüite, después va la nuestra.

AGUJETAS agujetas: shoe laces 13

ah caray: hold on, wait a sec 0 ¿Ah caray? Creo que estas cuentas están mal hechas, tendré que volverlas a hacer. ah, chinga: what? really? 0 No pudimos evitarlo. - Ah chinga, explícamelo paso a paso. ah, muy chingón: question a person’s acts or statements, challenging a person’s ability SYN: en serio 0 Pero me dijo él que lo podía hacer. Ah, muy chingón, que lo haga entonces. ahí nos vidrios: farewell, see you later SYN: adiós 0 Ahí nos vidrios, ya estoy muy cansado, me voy a mi casa. ahorita: right now at this moment, or more 14

commonly, whenever one gets around to it after an indefinite period of time, but probably today SYN: inmediatamente, en este momento 0 Ahorita mismo te vas a la casa. ajá: another way to say “yes” SYN: si, esta bien, ok 0 ¿Entendiste todo lo que te dije? ¡Ajá! ajuchar: irritate another person make him angry or upset 0 Ya no andes ajuchando a Raúl, que es muy bravo. al ratón nos vemos: see you later al tiro con: be aware of something or someone, possible danger SYN: cuidado 0 Al tiro con esa colonia en la noche, asaltan mucho.

amolar: to spoil or break something SYN: descomponer, chingar, fregar 0 Ya te amolaste la computadora. ALBERCA alberca: a swimming pool alipuz: alcoholic beverage of any kind SYN: un trago 0 ¿Nos tomamos unos alipuces o qué?

ALIPUZ alzar: to clean up, to pick up SYN: guardar 0 Necesito alzar los platos. amarra navajas: a gossip

andar bien coco: to be high on cocaine andar pacheco: to be high antro: a nightclub SYN: discoteca 0 Esta noche voy al antro. apañar: 1) to make out 2) take an object or seat, without giving any kind of notice, usually refers to take advantage of being the first on something, or stealing SYN: 1) fajar 2) robar 0 1) Tiene mucho tiempo que no apaño con mi esposo, quizás me engaña. 2) Me apañé la tarea de Alicia, no se dio cuenta. / Apaña los asientos antes que 15

llegue más gente. apapacho: a caress or pampering SYN: consentir 0 Necesito un apapacho, me siento mal. apartado: the part in someone’s hair SYN: la raya 0 Me hice el apartado por en medio. aplatanado: without energy, slow SYN: apendejado 0 Me siento aplatanado, algo no me cayó bien en la cena. aplicó: a payback, getting back at someone 0 Esta vez no fue posible escaparnos de la clase, la maestra nos la aplicó y nos cerró la puerta. apretar: to deny sex, not to allow 16

intercourse 0 La verdad me gustaba la chica, pero se apretó. apuñalar la araña: to screw, have sex apurarse: hurry up, get moving SYN: ¡ándale! 0 Apúrate a cocinar que en un rato llega tu papá. araña: 1) an easy woman, generous in sexual favors but with little grace, education or looks 2) an ugly prostitute 3) pussy SYN: 2) puta 0 2) Entonces nos vamos a la zona roja y buscamos unas arañas. argüende: gossip, mess SYN: alaraca 0 ¿Por qué tanto argüende? arrastrar la cobija: to

be depressed, sad or sleepy SYN: deprimido 0 Ya supéralo y deja de andar arrastrando la cobija.

0 Ay, no mames, que eso te lo crea tu abuelita.

atorar: to harm or hide, to rob SYN: robar 0 ¿Qué te pasó? Me atoraron en la esquina. aventarse un palo: to get laid SYN: echarse un palo 0 Me aventé un palo antes de salir de viaje. avivarse: expression to say “Pay attention!” SYN: fíjate! 0 Si no nos avivamos al rato, nos ganan el lugar. ay nanita: expression of fear ay, no mames: don’t lie, I don’t believe you 17

Quick Guide to Mexican Spanish

Language Babel, Inc.

QUICK GUIDE TO MEXICAN SPANISH END OF PREVIEW CLICK HERE TO BUY THE FULL eBook OR PAPERBACK:

For more Spanish Slang books, visit http://www.speakinglatino.com/spanish-slang-books/

PHOTOS & ILLUSTRATIONS CREDITS Page 5 Presentation. 1) Giant Calavera de la Catrina in the Zocalo by -Chupacabras-, on Flickr. http://www.flickr. com/photos/25222005@ N08/2988545640/ 2) Chichen Itza’s Kukulcan Temple by kyle simourd, on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/ photos/89241789@N00/750441966/

com/en/summer-outdoor-palmstourism-69739/

Page 7 Presentación. 1) Jimador, Tequila Jalisco Mexico. by Celso Flores, on Flickr http://www. flickr.com/photos/celso/4513443271/ 2) El sabor de México // Bodegón de Chiles by ArmandoH2O, on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ armandoh2o/8132046655/

Page 19 Bocho. CC0 PD Dedication. http://openclipart.org/ detail/4454/beetle-%28car%29-bychrisdesign-4454

Page 11 A patín. Public domain image (CC0). http://pixabay.com/en/outlinedrawing-people-boy-man-33483/ Page 12 Achiparse. Public domain image (CC0). http://pixabay.com/en/ stick-symbol-people-man-guy-40577/ Page 13 Aguas frescas. By Biskuit from Atlanta, GA [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/bysa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File%3AAguasFrescas.jpg Page 13 Agujetas. By Marcos André (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ marcodede/103064681/) [CCBY-2.0 (http://creativecommons. org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. http://commons. wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACrosslaced_white_sneaker_shoelaces.jpg Page 15 Alberca. Public domain image (CC0). http://pixabay. 72

Page 15 Alipuz. By Andreamicci (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/bysa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Mitch_(cocktail).jpg

Page 19 Bote de basura. Public domain License (CC0). http://pixabay. com/en/black-outline-drawingsketch-33874/ Page 20 Brusqui. Public domain image License (CC0). http://pixabay. com/en/glass-cup-bottle-cartoonmug-29461/ Page 21 Cacle. By Mike Gonzalez (TheCoffee) (Own work) [CC-BYSA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http:// www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons. Page 23 Cantón. CC0 PD Dedication. http://openclipart.org/detail/28497/ house-icon-by-purzen Page 24 Chabacano. By Fir0002 (Own work) [GFDL 1.2 (http://www. gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl1.2.html)], via Wikimedia Commons. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File%3AApricot_and_cross_section. jpg Page 26 Chapulín. Public domain

IT’S EASY TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH

www.SpeakingLatino.com

www.YouTube.com/SpeakingLatino

www.Pinterest.com/SpeakingLatino

www.Facebook.com/SpeakingLatino

www.Twitter.com/SpeakingLatino

[email protected]

75

MORE RESOURCES Learn more Mexican Spanish vocabulary with the second book Quick Guide to More Mexican Spanish! Available in paperback, ebook and PDF.

MORE INFO CLICK HERE

Are you a Spanish teacher?

Receive exclusive teacher tools for your class! CLICK HERE

r tionary l the a l u g c al A Renish Di clude Spa SN’T in need! DOE ds you wor

Browse the Spanish Slang Dictionary Directory with more than 50 titles to choose from. CLICK HERE

76

Visit the MEXICAN SPANISH RESOURCE PAGE for more articles, books and websites: CLICK HERE The Speaking Latino’s collection of Spanish slang dictionaries and phrasebooks:

Available at www.speakinglatino.com 77

Quick Guide to Mexican Spanish This quick guide of words and phrases from Mexico will help you better understand this North American country. The collection of over 500 terms and sayings will help you become familiar with the richness of Mexican Spanish. It includes colloquially used words and some dirty ones too! Each term has been defined in English and synonyms are included when available. There are also more than 400 example sentences and 50 illustrations.