A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | |
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1 | Word/Phrase | Definition | Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | fíjate | notice, just look, think about it | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 | marañon | fruit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | pupusa | thick griddle cake or flatbread from El Salvador/Honduras, made with cornmeal or rice flour, similar to an arepa | can be stuffed with one or more ingredients | |||||||||||||||||||||||
5 | tía | aunt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
6 | don/doña | (honorific) respectfully refer to a mature man/woman | Usually utilizes first name. This title today is applied for different reasons: to show respect, either for an economic or social status, experience or personal achievements; to show good will to someone, especially if that person has a higher social status; someone with a higher education degree; to elderly people | |||||||||||||||||||||||
7 | "ito" | In Spanish, the suffix -ito or -ita is often used to create a diminutive form of a word | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
8 | murito | low wall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
9 | chan | traditional El Salvadorian drink made with lemonade, strawberry, and chan seeds | Can seeds come from the Hyptis suaveolens that is native to Central America; similar to chia seeds | |||||||||||||||||||||||
10 | coyotes | slang for a person who smuggles immigrants across the Mexico - United States border | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
11 | marero | member of the mara in US or Central America | mara - gang, evil, etc. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
12 | mierda | excrement (the slang word for feces) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
13 | "Suprema" or "El Muñeco" | beer, liquor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
14 | disculpe | excuse me, forgive me (formal) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
15 | cerote | another word for excrement; a turd, big zero | In the book, it is also used as a term of endearment (sort of) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
16 | también | also | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
17 | Semana Santa | Holy Week | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
18 | bruja | witch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
19 | mojado | "wetback" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
20 | cruzó | crossed, or [crossed onself, religiously] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
21 | "te quiero mucho" | I love you very much | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
22 | bonita/o | pretty, beautiful | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
23 | gringa/o | refers to a person from an English-speaking country | In the book, this term does not necessarily mean an Anglo person | |||||||||||||||||||||||
24 | "La Migra" | Immigration | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
25 | viejo | old | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
26 | rabo verde | older man who likes to flirt with younger women | literal meaning - green tail | |||||||||||||||||||||||
27 | picaro | rogue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
28 | mirá | look, notice | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
29 | bicho | Bicho or bicha are Spanish slang terms used to refer to a little boy or little girl in El Salvador. | also can mean young adult/teen; literal meaning [El Salvador] is bug | |||||||||||||||||||||||
30 | cerotito | Often used to address little children; little turd | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
31 | cerote | a piece of "XXXX" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
32 | vos | intimate form of 'you' | difference lies in the regions it is used | |||||||||||||||||||||||
33 | hijueputa | slang, son of a bad word | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
34 | “no te hagás el maje” | don't be such a pain; don't be stupid | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
35 | Cieba tree | Kapok tree, native to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
36 | abuelita | grandmother | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
37 | niña/o | child, girl/boy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
38 | pendejo | stupid | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
39 | requetependejo | [really/very/extremely] stupid | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
40 | tamalera | A person or factory that makes tamales. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
41 | "La Belleza" | [the] beauty | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
42 | pasmado | what you call someone who is stupid and has no sense | Commonly used word in El Salvador and other parts of central America | |||||||||||||||||||||||
43 | aviva | to stoke, to stoke up, bright up, arouse | aviva! | |||||||||||||||||||||||
44 | buzo | ready, alert, awake | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
45 | "ponte las pilas" | to apply yourself; work harder; referring to energy levels | literal meaning - put the batteries; | |||||||||||||||||||||||
46 | trucha | alert; quickwitted | can also mean trout; root for the verb entruchar "to understand" | |||||||||||||||||||||||
47 | escuela | school | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
48 | bien | good | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
49 | colón | basic monetary unit of Costa Rica and El Salvador, equal to 100 centimos in CR and 100 centavos in El Salvador | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
50 | noviecita | "little" girlfriend | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
51 | tontito | silly dummy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
52 | horchata | [in Spain/Latin American countries] a milky drink made from almonds, tiger nuts, or rice | In the US, this drink is typically made with rice, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and sugar poured over ice. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
53 | ensalada | salad | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
54 | pan francés | french bread | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
55 | -aje' | Suffix. forms masculine nouns expressing an action, quantity, location, period of time, etc. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
56 | salvaje | wild | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
57 | ropaje | clothes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
58 | abordaje | approach; boarding; collision | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
59 | masaje | massage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
60 | Jueves santo | Holy Thursday | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
61 | carnal | slang for friend | can also mean of the same blood, family, or relative | |||||||||||||||||||||||
62 | escuincle | kid, brats | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
63 | relampago | lightning; whirlwind event or action | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
64 | universidad | university, academy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
65 | maquinitas | arcade slots, little machines | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
66 | novelas | soap operas; short novel or long short story | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
67 | piropos | pick up lines; compliment; flattery; praise | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
68 | malacates | winches; slang - guys with malicious faces | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
69 | mañosos | tricky; slick; crafty; can also mean dirty minded | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
70 | mareros | like a cholo, vato, gang members (mara) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
71 | cuidate | take care of yourself | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
72 | confianza | trust | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
73 | tranquilo | quiet; tranquil; peaceful | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
74 | para servirle | to serve you | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
75 | solo/solito | only; alone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
76 | verdad | truth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
77 | buenas noches | goodnight | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
78 | indios | Indians [Mexican/mexica/indigenous tribes of Central America] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
79 | "Mexicanos, al grito de guerra" | Mexicans, at the cry of war | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
80 | myth of the cadejo | The cadejo (Spanish pronunciation: [kaˈðexo]) is a supernatural spirit that appears as a dog-shaped creature with blue eyes when it is calm and red eyes when it is attacking. It is said to be protector of those traveling long distances or those, especially children, who have had or are going through traumatic experiences | The legend of el Cadejo can be heard in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, parts of Mexico and even southern Argentina. https://www.espookytales.com/blog/The-Legend-of-El-Cadejo/ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
81 | matracas | mattresses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
82 | molestia | inconvenience; hassle; nuisance; trouble | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
83 | pepetos | Salvi fruit | The Pepeto fruit has similarities to the Paterna fruit; both grow during the winter in densely vegetated areas. However, Pepetos are smaller, and of course, the taste is different. The fruit is in the middle of green pods, and when ripe, they are yellow. They are seeds covered by a white pulp with a sweet taste, which is the edible part. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
84 | señor/señora | mister/mrs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
85 | órale | wow; ok; yes; hey;etc | but can mean various things in various ways | |||||||||||||||||||||||
86 | Viernes Santo | Good Friday | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
87 | cócteles de concha | a seafood delicacy typical of Salvadoran cuisine. It is a type of shellfish cocktail that usually combines black shell clams (conchas negras), diced onions and tomatoes, cilantro, and lemon or lime juice | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
88 | pupusería | restaurant or factory that makes pupusas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
89 | payaso | clown; buffoon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
90 | primo | cousin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
91 | "con la voluntad de Diosito en el cielo" | with the will of God in heaven | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
92 | "te queremos mucho muchisimo" | we love you very much | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
93 | Dos Mujeres un Camino | popular Mexican soap opera that ran in the early 1990s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
94 | loroco | edible flower that has unique pungent flavor used in pupusas and other dishes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
95 | queso duro | El Salvadorian [hard cheese] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
96 | te cuidás | take care of yourself; [you take care] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
97 | "que Dios te bendiga" | God bless you | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
98 | mata-niños | El Salvadorian sandwich made with long skinny rolls that are dressed with mayo, piled with cooked and cooled curtido (pickled cabbage) and filled with grilled slices of mortadella. | literal translation - 'child killer' | |||||||||||||||||||||||
99 | estero | estuary | tidal mouth of large river, where the tide meets the stream | |||||||||||||||||||||||
100 | puras babosadas | to talk nonsense |