Caray, Caray!

Here is a list of the vocabulary words that Juan Querendón recappers have been adding to the ends of their recaps. We all do it but I think Schoolmarm gets the award for most contributions. I hope you enjoy them and find them useful. (If anybody notices errors please comment so I can fix them.)

abastos = public markets

algodón de azúcar = cotton candy

acongojado/a = distressed

apachurrado/a = crushed

apodo = nickname

apoquinar = to fork out

balbucer = to babble

cabezazos = headbutts

cacatuá = old bag, an old, ugly woman (Lit. cockatoo)

camisa de fuerza = strait jacket

chalán/ana = assistant, bricklayer’s assistant, horse dealer

cargadores = dockworkers

chiflado/a = nutcase, crazy, barmy

chiquillo/a = a kid, a youngster, adj. = childish

chorros = loads

chupacabra = goat-sucker, creature that sucks the blood of goats

codo/a = stingy

compromiso = commitment (also engagement sometimes)

conchudo = jerk

contratiempo = setback

cotorres = parrots, gossips

cuate = guy ("cuate" is actually the nahuatl word for "twin." In Mexico, it's generally used to mean a really good friend.)

derrota = defeat

descortés = discourteous

desmoronando/a = crumbling, falling to pieces

desubicado/a = confused

derrumbe = collapse, fall, demolition

díscolo/a = disobedient, rebellious

encajoso/a = creep

entrenador = coach, trainer

espantoso/a = scary, appalling

estropajo = good-for-nothing, rag, dishcloth

farras = party-goers (which I loosely translated as party animals)

fichita, from ficha, = villain or rogue

garras = clutches, paw, bite

golfa barata = cut-rate slut, or street slut

gorrón/ona = sponger, scrounger

guateque = party, fiesta

güerita = used to refer to a person, a blonde in definition but in practice may be used to refer to any light skinned morena. Kind of like saying “Hey, blondie” but not disrespectfully

hervidero = hotbed (of gossip for example)

hiriente = offensive, wounding

holgazán = lazybones

Huesudo/a = Grim Reaper, bony

jarocho/a = from Veracruz

jolgorio = partying down, merrymakinglambiscón = fawning toady

libidinoso = lustful

madrugadora = up so early, early riser

mago = magician

matraca = pain, plague

molido/a = beat, tired, wiped out

moral distraída = slovenly, shabby or untidy morals

naco = trashy, stupid, nerdy

nalgas = buttocks

obnubilado - over the clouds

padrino = godfather, best man or man who gives the bride away, also patron

palancas = ins (Lit. handles) Kike never would have believed that Juan would have so many “ins” with the boss.

payaso= clown

pelagátos = lightweight

pelmazo = bore/pain in the ass

plato fuerte = main course (strong plate, my best guess since it came after the appetizer)

portrero = open field, grassland

primogénito/primogénita = firstborn

pescuezo pluma = featherweight boxer (feather neck, my best guess is featherweight)

premura = urgency

ratonera = mousetrap

regadas = blunders

rollitos = tall tales

rompecabezas = puzzle (Lit. headbreaker)

ruín = contemptible

sobrando = leftover

tartamudear = stutter

traznochar/traznochado = stay up all night, never sleeping, never resting

trompo = spinning top

velorio = funeral wake, funeral vigil

viejo/vieja = old guy, old gal, commonly what spouses call each other, too (regardless of age)

voluntad = wish, will

zangoloteaban = shook (zangolotear = to shake, also to wander around doing nothing)

zopilote ratonero = mousy buzzard, an oxymoron to describe Pastor

Labels: Juan, Vocabulary