Friday, November 09, 2007
11/08 - No Telenovelas so a vocabulary lesson instead
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
Susanlynn, I also can't wait for "Pasion" to start!!!!
Susanlynn, chill the champagne for the opening night!
Jeanne
Little by little, Spanish is sinking in, thanks to you and the telenovelas. I'm actually e-mailing in Spanish to a friend now...full of errors I'm sure...but it's beginning to "flow" even if it sometimes has the wrong conjugation or ending. Hooray! and thanks...
Judy B.
I also remember "cuate" as twin, but never hearing it used outside of south Texas, so yay--it actually exists and I did remember it correctly!
Jeanne
Padr�simo...that's in the next installment which includes interjections.
Susanlynn and Schooomarm, I've got the bubbly chilling for our first night on the high seas, wheeeee! But I might have to have a pre-celebration for all the dancing in store this Sunday night.
I am impassioned about Pasión starting. Perhaps hot rum toddys would be a good drink for those colder evenings coming on about the time Pasión starts. Not that I need the calories or fat content but hot buttered rum was a favorite of mine years ago. Aarrgghh! Hoist the sails, mateys!
Go Pirates...Arrrrrrrrrr!!
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