Tattoos on the Heart (Glossary)
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Tattoos on the Heart |
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abrazos- hugs abrazote – big hug animo -enthusiasm antemano – before hand aquel tiempo – that time (long ago) apodo - nickname ayer - yesterday Ay, Dios mío - Oh my God B bendición - blessing bien hecho – good goin’, good job bien preguntón- very inquisitive, asks a lot of questions bola – gang bueno para nada – good for nothing C cabrón – dude, asshole, son of a b. (depends on context!) literally, male goat caldo de iguana –iguana broth or soup calientando – warming up cállete, cabrón - Shut up, dude camaradas - comrades campesino – peasant canción – song cantón – restaurant, bar cantón – house, slang like saying“the crib” cara de cachado –caught-in-the-act, guilty face cara santucha – face of a saint, pretending to look saintly cariño – affection carne asada – grilled meat carpas – tents chamuco - devil, mischievous person chaparrito, a – short or little guy, girl cheap codo- cheapskate (codo literally means “elbow”) chicle –gum chillones – cry-babies chingón - extremely awesome, great, a real badass chupetonazos - hickies cholo – homeboy, kid from the streets cinco sentidos – in right mind or lit. “five senses” colonos – inmates, lit. “settlers” Cómo que – how is it…or what do you mean… confreres – colleague, fellow member cumbias – type of dance, originated in Colombia cuete – gun cuñada – sister –in-law D delito - crime desafortunadamente - unfortunately desesperación - desperation desvelado - sleepless de uña y mugre –like the fingernail and the dirt under it De veras - Really? de volada – on the fly E échale - empty enemigos - enemies El padre ya viene – Father is coming el rostro de Dios – the face of God Es nuestro compromise – It’s what we’ve committed to do F felicidades – congratulations feria - money firme – could not be one bit better, fine, badass, cool, awesome, good Flaco – Skinny flicka - picture frajos - cigarettes G gabachos - White people. Similar to term Gringo gato - cat gritona – a woman who shouts a lot, talks loud Gracias por haber venido – Thanks for coming H huaraches- sandals Huele a patas - It smells like feet Huele a rosas – It smells like roses J jaina - girl jale- job jefito - dad (literally “boss”) jefita - mom (literally “boss”) L la neta – really seriously. truth. lo mataron – they killed him la misa - mass la muerte ya no tiene dominio – Death no longer has dominion limones - lemons M mal hablado – foul mouthed más o menos – more or less máscara – face , literally “mask” menos mal – It’s just as well mijo/mijito - my son (the “ito” or “ita” shows affection) mija/ mijita - my daughter mi vida – my life mi reina – my queen mi cielo- my heaven mi todo – my everything mojados - wetbacks morrito – little kid menso – dummy, someone who is stupid and/or annoying, a dumbass N No cabe – it doesn’t fit No, chale = A term to show disagreement or disapproval of something or some idea. Means the same thing as "hell no" or "hell na." or “yeah right” No me digas –no kidding O obra de arte – masterpiece oye – hey, listen oye,no cabe duda- hey, no doubt oye,que onda?- hey, what’s up? oye, que pasó,cabrón – hey dude, what happened? P Padrecito – Father, said with affection (priest) pandilla mugrosa = little gang of kids panickeada así – all panicky paro – favor paro cardiaco – heart attack (lit. cardiac arrest) pecadores - sinners pedo –trouble (lit. “fart”) peleonera – woman who gets in a lot of fights pelón – bald, hairless pero mijito- but my son Pero te digo una cosa, Dios no es así – But I’ll tell you one thing, God is not like that pidió palabra – asked for her turn to speak piedra – gravestone, lit. “ stone, or rock” pinta = prison placa – gang moniker planchado – ironed porque es lo que haría Jesús – because it is what Jesus would do primo,a - cousin premio – prize profundo - deep pulmones - lungs Q Qué estás haciendo aquí? – what are you doing here? Qué gacho – how mean quinceañera – celebration of 15 year old’s rite of passage into womanhood R ranfla - car ruca- woman, girlfriend, true love S Sabes qué,mijo – you know what, my son sala – living room serio - seriously ‘spensa, G – Sorry,G (comes from ‘dispensa’- to pardon or forgive) T tabique - brick Tatai – Father in quechua tecato – junkie Te digo una cosa – I am going to tell you something Tenemos una llamada de… - we have a call from… tía - aunt tío – lit. uncle, also means “guy” travieso - mischievous tienda - store tremendo,a – he/ she is something else Tú eres basura - You are garbage tú sabes – you know U-V unción de enfermos – anointing of the sick vato - dude ven,mija – come, my daughter venta de comida – bake sale or food sale vete a la casa – go home viejita- little old lady Y yardas – yards Y ese milagro- and this miracle y sabes que – and you know what y todo – and everything * * * * * Thanks to Iwona in Cleveland, Ohio. |
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