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Did you come hoping to find the naughiest of the naughty? Sorry to disappoint you! This section will have slang and plays on words, some fun expressions that you probably won’t learn in the classroom. Every now and then, something off-color might appear. But to not offend, none of the really dirty stuff, just enough for a chuckle. New listings at surprise intervals. Check back!
Did you come hoping to find how to say "naughty" in Spanish? naughty (as in naughty child): travieso naughty (as in naughty or dirty joke): in Spain "verde", I think in Latin America "picante"
WEATHER WORDS (and related expressions) Worldwide people like to talk about weather. Logically, if local weather is strange or very important for daily life, there are more weather words. And weather words can slip over into other kinds of expressions. Here are some examples from Spain: Lightning: relampago or rayo. Related expressions: saber a rayos = tastes like lightning. Que le parta un rayo = may he / she be hit by lightning ( meaning more or less "I don't care what happens to him/her, whatever happens is destiny and well-deserved" Heavy rain: llover a cántaros = to rain water jugs (instead of cats and dogs), chaparrón = heavy shower Light rain / drizzle: chirrimirri, empapabobos, calabobos. Regional expressions that most Spaniards will understand, even if not from their region. Last two mean more or less "soak the idiot", for the kind of rain that doesn't really seem like rain, so the unway won't use an umbrella and get totally soaked. Wind: viento or aire. Aire fresco= cool wind, fresh air. Tomar aire fresco = leave quickly without explanation; negative shade of meaning. Heavy summer humidity: bochorno. This is that summer afternoon just before a storm feeling, when everything is still, humid and heavy-feeling. Is there one word in English that says all that (I don't know a word and I'm from Iowa where that's normal)? Related expression: bochornoso, describing a non-weather situation that has the same heavy, unresolved, semi-depressing waiting situation. In Spain, used for political and social situations. Thunder: trueno, verb is tronar. Spanish saying: Solo se acuerda de Santa Bárbara cuando truena = he only remembers St. Barbara when it thunders. St. Barbara is patron saint of people who work with guns and loud noises in general, so saying means more or less "he goes his merry way until there's a problem then he remembers things that should have been done earlier". Click HERE to try our TRIVIA QUIZ Click HERE to go to CULTURAL TIPS SPAIN |
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