Glossary of
Spanish Terms
Acido - It's acid, but can also be used as acidic.
"Ah, Señor Zeta, y ¿que tal? ¿Qué vamos a tomar hoy?" - Oh, Mr. Zeta, and how are you doing? What are we going to drink today?
Amigo - Friend
Anda pingo - He is drunk.
Aquí está tu veinte - Here is your twenty.
Bandidos - BanditsBarrios - Neighborhoods
"Cabrones marranos" - Fuckin pigs
Caca - Poop
Camarada - Comrade/Friend
Campesinos - Field workers
Carga - Cargo
Carnal - "home boy"
Carnitas - Shredded pork
Católico - Catholic
Chavalas - Young females
Chiles curtidos - Sliced chile
Chingón - Slang for "bad ass".
Chola - Female gangster
Chota - The police
Cinco de mayo - The 5th of May.
Corridos - Spanish band music
Cubano - Cuban (male)
Cuebole, ese - What's up homeboy?
Cuñado - Brother-in-law
El Búfalo es como lapitos - The buffalo is like Lopitos.
Ese- "homeboy"
¡Estoy a sus órdenes! - I am at your orders.
Familia - Family
Feria - Money
Gabacho - White man
Gracias - Thank you
Gracias a dios - Thank god
Grito - To yell
Híjola - Oh damn!
Hombre - Man
Honcho - The leader
Jefe - Boss
Jefita - Slang for mom.
Jura- To swear under oath.
La cucaracha- The roach
La cucaracha, la cucaracha, - the roach, the roach
ya no puede caminar. - it can't walk anymore
Porque la falta, -because it needs
porque la falta, - because it needs
marijuana pa' fumar. - to smoke marijuanaLa República Mexicana - The Mexican Republic
La virgen de Guadalupe - The Virgin of Guadalupe.
La voz- The voice
Los federales te buscan - The federals are looking for you.
Los tontos - The idiots
Malcriado - Spoiled brat
Mándeme a matar - Send me to kill.
Mayate - A black person
Mentiras - Lies
Mentiroso - Liar
Menudo -Hominy with meat.
¡Mi General! - My general
Mocosa - Slang for a spoiled brat.
Mota - Marijuana
Movida - Movement
Muerte- Dead
No dice - It doesn't say.
No gracias...asi me gustan - No thank you... I like them like this.
Nopales - Cactuses
No soy político - I'm not a politic.
Pachuco - A male gangster in the 70's.
Permiso - Permit
"¡Pinches, cabrones, hijos de la chingada!" - Fuckin assholes sons of bitches.
Pinche puto(s)- Fuckin assholes
Placa - Plaque
Poncho - A traditional Mexican sweater.
"Pues, lo mismo, hombre. dame un Coco Loco" - Well, the same, man. Give me a Coco Loco (an alcohol beverage).
"¿pues, quien sabe?" - Well, who knows?
"¿Que mas vamos hacer?" - What else are we going to do?
¿Quieres bailar? - Do you want to dance?
Rata - A person who snitches.
Raza- Race
Ruka - Derogatory way to say old lady.
Señores y señoras - Men and women
Si Adelita se fuera con otro soldados de Aztlán- If only Adelita went to other Aztlán soldiers.
Tamarindo - A Mexican drink.
Tequila - An alcohol beverage.
Tío - Uncle
Topados - Idiots (meant in a playful way).
Vatos locos- Crazy men
Vendidos - People who are "sell outs".
Viejitos- Elderly men or women.
"¡Viva La Raza!" - Long live the race
* Illustration provided by Perry Vasquez.