Learning the
Local Language
Your Guide to Real World Spanish
by Jared Romey
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©2012 Copyright Jared Romey
[1]
Places you may have
spotted Speaking
Latino
“Jared is the go-to guy for anyone learning or considering
learning Spanish, and he’ll blow you away with how much he
knows about the Latin American varieties of the language.”
-Donovan Nagel, Mezzofanti Guild: An Online Community
of Serious Language Learners
“Romey translates common colloquialisms into English so that
Americans can actually understand what the heck locals are
saying when they visit South American countries.” - Monica
Garske, AOL News
“Acabo de descubrir Speakinglatino.com. Que sitio mas padre,
chido, chévere, tuanis, bacán...” -Jake Fisher comment on
Facebook
“@JaredRomey ¡¡¡Me ca*** de risa!!! ¡Buenísimo! I had to pause
several times to recover from laughing! You made my day!”
-@MultiMae from Mae’s Language Lounge Blog via Twitter
“Es más, este gringo interesado en el vocablo chilensis creó un
verdadero ranking de frases típicas de nuestro país y las tradujo
a un vocabulario comprensivo para los turistas, todo a base de
experiencias propias que lo han llevado a entender frases como:
más inútil que cenicero de moto o andar más doblado que
conejo de mago.” -Diario La Nacion Domingo, Chile
[2]
The Mezzofanti
Guild Blog
Learning the
Local Language
how speaking latino will
save you hours and
hours learning Spanish
Learning a foreign language is tough. It takes hours and hours and
hours of study, sweat and practice just to achieve the level that a
5-year old native speaker already achieved. Anyone that denies this
is lying to you.
There is no reason to make it more complicated for yourself. Yet
many people, waste hours in the process without realizing it.
Whether today is your first day of learning Spanish, or you’ve put
in lots of hours (and probably some money too), maybe even you
are already an advanced Spanish learner, Speaking Latino and this
e-book will make life slightly easier for you.
No, you will not be fluent tomorrow. I don’t have a bottle of snake oil
to sell you that will give you native pronunciation. I will save you time
though. The premise of what I will share is simple and yet nobody
[3]
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
[3]
How Speaking Latino
Will Save You Hours
and Hours Learning
Spanish
[5]
Who am I?
[7]
On to Learning
the Local Real World
Spanish
[8]
4 Local Language
Dimensions
[ 10 ]
Why Would You Care to
Learn the Local Spanish
of a Particular Country?
[ 12 ]
8 Secrets to Speak
Like a Local
[ 17 ]
Online Spanish Slang
Dictionaries
[ 35 ]
Books
ever told me this in my early attempts to learn Spanish. Because of
my personal experience I want to share this short, powerful sentence
so you avoid wasting the time that I wasted.
Here goes: Not all Spanish is the same.
I know it’s simple, almost stupid even. But repeat it out loud: Not all
Spanish is the same. I’m serious, say it out loud.
Most people do not understand this simple concept when they begin
Spanish. And it is not their fault. Teachers never discuss this. Many
of them may not even know either. The truth is this simple statement
opens up a complex concept that many people want to avoid.
What do I mean by not all Spanish is the same? Think of English
as a comparison. In the United States, a soda may also be known
as pop. In England an elevator is a lift. The hood of a car, a bonnet.
Ever heard the term gobsmacked? Or skint? These are common
British English words that most Americans would not understand.
“England and
America are two
countries separated
by a common
language.”
-George Bernard Shaw
Well, the same thing exists in Spanish, only more extreme. A simple
example is a drinking straw. Depending on the Spanish-speaking
country, the correct word may be pajita, sorbete, sorbeto, pajilla,
calimete, bombilla, pitillo or popote. That’s EIGHT different options!
You never ran into that in English before did you?
This is where Speaking Latino comes in.This e-book shares tips with
you on how to improve your understanding of the local language.
This will save you time early on in the process, especially if you
have a specific region or country in mind. Even if you don’t, just
understanding that different versions of Spanish exist is a huge step
forward.
Learning languages opens an amazing opportunity for you to
understand the world in a new way. It’s tough, hard work and full of
frustration. Please always remember to enjoy the journey.
[4]
“Those who know
nothing of foreign
languages know
nothing of their
own.”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Who am I?
My name is Jared and I am a native of the United States of America
whose first serious attempt at learning languages began in my early
twenties. Until then I’d say I had a more or less typical background.
After age 5, I lived in one area of the country, never outside the US
and had little exposure to Spanish. Then, in my early twenties, a
series of fortuitous circumstances completely changed my life.
It began as I suffered through a typical 9-5 existence. My foray
into lunch-hour Spanish shook up my life. I quit my job, stopped
by briefly to school, and then left the country... for 14 years. Early
stumblings in real-world Spanish taught me that a cola isn’t just a
soft drink, bicho doesn’t always mean a bug, and boludo may be
heartfelt or middle-finger felt. Twelve Spanish-speaking countries,
four startups, two bestsellers and a Puerto Rican wife later, I am still
confounded by how many Spanish words exist for “panties.”
Jared Romey
I am not an educated linguist. I started as a language learner just like
you. I’ve spent thousands of hours studying and speaking Spanish.
I had a couple years in my life when English barely existed. And with
this, I know how difficult learning to communicate in Spanish may
be.
As such I will not get into arguing whether local language is a dialect,
regionalism or a separate language. Honestly, I don’t really care
which label is placed. What I care about is that if you understand
these local differences you WILL communicate better.
Since I have spent thousands of hours studying Spanish, researching
my books and blog posts, I am familiar with hundreds of language
learning resources. So, I encourage you to contact me with any
Spanish struggles you are currently suffering. I may be able to
help. It won’t hurt to ask. It’s FREE!
[5]
“Slang is a language
that rolls up its
sleeves, spits on its
hands and goes to
work.”
-Carl Sandburg
Finally, this is the most extensive list of Local Real World Spanish
resources I have seen. Yet I am sure there are more resources
undiscovered. Please share any with me that you believe are useful
for others. I will spread the word.
[6]
On to learning the local,
Real World Spanish...
Spanish is generally considered a simple language to learn in VIDEO
comparison with languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Arabic or
even German. In Spanish a word is pronounced just as you would
expect with most sounds having only one spelling. Gallagher, one
of my all-time favorite comedians, points out several pronunciation
and spelling headaches in English that make life hard for English
learners (I’ve added a couple extras too):
“Gallagher and the
Language”
Confusing English pronunciation examples
•
•
•
•
think, then
cook, cool or good food
bomb, tomb, comb
worse, horse
• laughter, daughter
• ache, steak, stake
• go, do
“Our language
is funny – a ‘fat
chance’ and a ‘slim
chance’ are the
same thing.”
-J. Gustav White
For a language learner the only way to differentiate among the
above sounds is through memorization. There are hundreds of
these differences in English. In Spanish far fewer exceptions to the
language exist than in other languages.
So to some degree Spanish is in fact easier than most languages.
Except for one major component that people do not discuss.
Spanish changes significantly from one country to the next. And
after 15 years of Spanish study, it still baffles me why NOBODY
TALKS ABOUT THIS. As a foreigner learning Spanish you are not
told that major differences in the language will hinder your ability
to understand and communicate in the language as you travel
from one country to the next. This does not just apply to foreigners
that are learning Spanish. Native speakers trying to communicate
[7]
VIDEO
“Qué difícil es hablar el
español, porque todo
lo que dices tiene otra
definición”
A song that exposes the
frustration of learning
Spanish.
with native speakers from different countries also suffer through this.
Here I must highlight that IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO LEARN
THE LOCAL LANGUAGE TO COMMUNICATE WITH A SPANISH
SPEAKER. However, YOU WILL COMMUNICATE BETTER if you
speak to someone in their local language.
It annoys me when I read someone arguing that Spanish is only one
language, that everyone speaking Spanish communicates easily
and the differences among countries are not important. THIS IS
COMPLETELY FALSE.
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his
head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.”
-Nelson Mandela
4 Local Language Dimensions
You will begin to improve your local Spanish within days, if not hours,
of stepping into a new country. As you experience your new local
language be aware that 4 basic categories exist where you should “A different language
focus your learning.
is a different vision of
life.”
Local Spanish differences fall into these 4
categories:
u
v
w
x
Vocabulary
Grammar
Pronunciation
Intonation
Vocabulary is perhaps the most time consuming. Each Spanish
country’s vocabulary will change considerably. A simple word in one
country may be an extremely crude term to avoid in another. Or a
basic everyday word such as KITE requires you to learn pandorga,
chichigua, chiringa, papalote, papelote, volantin, barrilete and
[8]
- Federico Fellini
cometa (as a quick tip, learn COMETA first, it’s the most universal).
Grammar variations exist across countries but are not difficult to
learn. In fact, after a few weeks of local exposure you will be copying
common local sentence structures, verb conjugations and similar
stuff. At first these differences will sound strange compared to the
book grammar you learn but you will quickly adjust to them. Please
don’t spend much time fretting over these local differences. Your
“Languages are the
only thing worth
knowing even
poorly.”
-Kato Lombi
time is better spent out in the street conversing.
With pronunciation, again there’s really not a lot to cover. Each
country’s accent will be different from the basic Spanish you study.
Use the 8 guidelines in the next section to focus on these local
differences. Again, do not put a ton of time in copying a certain
accent. You will automatically absorb it without much effort,
simply by talking to locals.
In my opinion, the hardest of the four areas is to consistently mimic
the intonation of a language. This requires lots and lots of practice
VIDEO
(at least for me). I would leave this for the last of the four categories “How songs can help you
learn foreign languages
to perfect. It is tied closely to the local pronunciation so will and the relationship
require you to first understand that before moving to intonation
differences.
The best advice I can share is to just jump in. The more you are
involved with people, culture and the language, the sooner you will
master the local language. Have fun!
[9]
between music and
language”
Why would you care to
learn the local Spanish of a
particular country or region?
The most important and perhaps obvious answer to the above VIDEO
“Gringo Hablando
question is to communicate better. You will quickly learn (as with Español Argentino”
other languages) the same word may take on vastly different
meanings with only a change in intonation.
In Argentina, when the word “boludo” is pronounced
as in “bolUUUUUUdo,” you can bet that there is some
anger or frustration in the speaker’s sentence. However,
a curt spitting out of “boludo” may just be a term of
endearment used between friends.
American Speaking
Argentine Spanish
People are also more comfortable speaking to someone in their own
language. I know this sounds so obvious to the point of stupidity.
Of course an Italian speaker will be more comfortable speaking to
you in Italian. Even so, people ignore this when it comes to Spanish. VIDEO
Speaking Spanish from Spain with someone from Chile will not
create the same level of comfort as speaking Chilean Spanish to
a Chilean.
There’s also the challenge involved in learning a culture enough to
mimic it, or at least to fit in. It feels quite good when your Spanish is
fluent enough that someone doesn’t recognize where you’re from,
or that you’re not a native speaker.
[ 10 ]
“Jared Romey Speaking
in Spanish”
Achieving Spanish fluency
as an adult is possible.
Another reason is that it is a good icebreaker when you want to
meet people or make someone laugh. It’s always entertaining to
hear a foreigner use typical slang phrases, words and pronunciation
in unexpected situations. Walk up to a Puerto Rican friend and say
“¿Qué’ e’ la que hay?” Your friend will fall over laughing.
The resources in this eBook will help you improve your Local
Spanish Vocabulary, the most important of the 4 categories
mentioned in the previous section. Some of the resources mentioned
here will cover portions of Grammar, Pronunciation and Intonation
but the main focus will be Vocabulary.
The next section, 8 Secrets to Speak Like a Local, covers practical
tips on how to pick up the local Spanish.
The following section shares online resources for Learning the Local
Spanish, broken into two parts, 1) resources that cover Spanish
from numerous countries and 2) country-specific resources.
The final section is a compilation of books available to help learn
local Spanish. I have not included every book available, only the
most complete and up-to-date books I found.
[ 11 ]
Remember, the
main reason
to learn Local
Spanish is TO
COMMUNICATE
BETTER.
8 secrets to speak like a local
1. Cross Generations
Does “Dude, how was your weekend?” sound normal? Now what if
it was your grandmother asking you the same phrase? What about
your brother mentioning that he was “necking” with his girlfriend?
Most likely both sound a little “off”.
These are examples of the generational differences that exist in
language. Words are continuously dropped, added or take on new
meanings. While you learn, spend time with people from different
generations. Kids are always non-judgmental and forgiving when
it comes to mistakes. Other than the occasional “You talk funny!”
comment, their pace and knowledge will match yours (I know it’s
a huge ego blow to have a 4-year old correct you, but hey, suck it
up!). At the same time, someone 20 years or more older than you will
also enrich your language experience. Spending time with people
of your generation is easy, but you will have a wider vocabulary
and much more fun if you vary this.
2. Know the language you are
learning
So you’re learning Spanish? Chinese? Portuguese? That really
doesn’t narrow it down much. You need to be aware of much more
than the language.
For example, your teacher, where is she from? Where did she
grow up? Which city? Is he a native speaker? From which socioeconomic level? Answers to these types of questions will help you
[ 12
] ]
[ 12
better master the language you learn. As a comparison, think of
how many different accents are heard in the United States. Texans,
Minnesotans and New Yorkers all have unique accents. The same is
true when comparing English accents around the world. Answering
the above questions will help you learn and understand the
vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and accents you hear. As you
become more comfortable with your language you should be able
to adjust your vocabulary and accent to your local surroundings,
making it easier to fit in.
3. Vary your instructors
This is perhaps the most important point in these 8 secrets. It is
easy to fall into the habit of using the same teacher, during the same
schedule, and always at the same place. The problem with this is
that you will only be exposed to one accent at a time, which severely
restricts your exposure to different versions of the language. The
best language learning programs offer a mix of teachers from
different regions and countries. This allows you to begin to mimic
the subtleties of the language and avoids you becoming accustomed
to how one person speaks.
Even if you do not have the option of varying teachers, the internet
now provides enough material for you to watch videos, listen to
podcasts, radio announcements and converse with native speakers
live. With a little effort you can begin to appreciate the variances in
peoples’ verbal communication.
As a plus, being exposed to a variety of pronunciations and
vocabulary will make your first foray into a foreign country less
shocking. I promise you that if your language exposure has been
with only one person, the first time you visit you will not have an easy
time understanding people.
[ 13 ]
4. Focus your vocabulary
development
Any time you begin to learn a language, you always start with the
more common words. You are more likely to learn words such as
car, telephone, run and ice cream, before you learn analysis, nuclear,
political or border crossing. The same will be true for slang.
Start with the more common words. What are the most common
words in any language? The naughty words! Not only is it a great
ice-breaker to meet people (Excuse me, my name’s Jared and I
just started learning Swahili. If I get really mad at a taxi cab driver,
what could I say to him?…and are there any gestures you could
teach me?), you will quickly learn the most common words that
most people use. To better grasp the scale of the word, I always
use the Grandma Test. Is this something you can say in front of your
grandmother? mother? girlfriend? only with the guys? Ladies, why
use this test? Because, believe it or not, there are some words that
us guys only use with other guys, so it’s best to clarify that at the
beginning.
Another good vocabulary segment to develop early is the fillers
that are used. In English, words like uh, like, um, well buy time while
you think about what to say next. Other languages have these fillers
as well. Once you learn them (shouldn’t take more than a day or
two with a little help from someone), and use the local fillers instead
of your own, your conversations will come across as more fluid and
fluent.
5. Gossip, gossip and gossip
When was the first time your English teacher went over the correct
usage of “ain’t” with you? Most likely never. At the start of learning
a language, most of what we are taught is the formal structure of a
language. This is the same with foreign languages. While the formal
learning is important, to fit in like a local, you must also learn the
street language.
[ 14 ]
vocabular
y
One of the best ways to do this is to keep abreast of the gossip in VIDEO
“SuperXclusivo con La
the society pages of the country whose language you are learning. Comay”
Most countries have news rags available that report on the newest
romantic gossip surrounding actors and actresses. Often, there are
also whole television programs dedicated to gossip of the rich and
famous. Most of them sprinkle in slang words, double meanings and
sexual innuendo. Besides helping you to fit in more like a local, this
has another added benefit. Learning about current news, gossip Gossip show from Puerto
Rico
and celebrities will allow you to participate more in conversations,
better understand local jokes, and enjoy everyday life in your adopted
country.
6. Ignore What People Say
They Say
You might want to read this title a couple times. It’s some weird
wording for a local language learning tool. And yet it is extremely
important. It means if you ask someone how to pronounce a
word their answer MAY NOT be how they truly pronounce
it. Again, what they actually pronounce is not how they will tell you
they pronounce a word. This seems to defy logic. How can it be?
The simple answer is that they are not aware their pronunciation in
the flow of a conversation is different from their pronunciation when
asked how to pronounce the word alone.
Examples of this in languages abound. An extremely common
example in Spanish is with words ending in –ado. Many countries
cut off this ending during normal conversation. Take the word
comprado. Asking someone how to pronounce this word will most
often generate a response of com-pra-do. But when you here
the same word in a conversation you may be more likely to hear
comprao where -prao rhymes closely with wow.
So while asking for help is useful, be sure to also listen to how
words are pronounced during natural conversation between
locals.
[ 15 ]
“You can never
understand one
language until you
understand at least
two.”
-Geoffrey Willans
and Ronald Searle
7. Listen to the rhythm
Languages have rhythm and if you pay attention you will easily
hear some of those rhythms. Yes, even languages you understand
nothing about. The different accents in Spanish each have their own
rhythm. Some accents are easier to pick out like Argentina, Chile,
Spain and Mexico in part because of their rhythm. Chilean Spanish
in particular is often described as having a sing-song quality to it.
Others are a bit more difficult to differentiate: Colombia vs. Venezuela,
Bolivia vs. Paraguay, the Central American countries. If you want to
learn a specific accent, begin to listen to the rhythms and intonations
natives use, even if you do not understand everything they are saying.
8. Learn the Local Gestures
Every place has unique gestures that people in the area understand,
but outsiders have no idea what they mean. Often, these gestures
are so ingrained in the native speakers’ communication that they
forget they even use the gestures. So, if you ask what local gestures
people use, they probably won’t be able to answer you.
To get around this, spend some time sitting in a park, restaurant
or café and watch the conversations around you. You will begin to
see gestures repeated after several sessions. Later, ask someone
what these gestures mean. As an added bonus, you will hone your
non-verbal skills while you observe, since at some point you will
VIDEO
understand at least parts of the conversations without hearing a “American Hand Gestures
in Different Cultures”
word of it.
“Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people
come from and where they are going. -Rita Mae Brown
7 Ways to Get Yourself in
Trouble Abroad
[ 16 ]
online spanish slang dictionaries
The following is the most extensive collection of online Spanish slang dictionaries available.
These sites will allow you to search Spanish slang words and phrases from different countries
in Latin America. I have not included every website out there since numerous sites exist
with small collections of slang terms, often with obvious errors. The sites here are the best I
have found and will help you improve your vocabulary and understanding of local Spanish.
RESOURCE PAGES
Visit the Speaking Latino Spanish Resource Pages where I have an
updated list of books, websites, videos, articles, flashcards and mobile
apps from these and other Spanish-speaking countries:
8 http://www.speakinglatino.com/basic-spanish-slang-resources/
Words from All Spanish-Speaking Countries
Speaking Latino
www.SpeakingLatino.com
Format: Word List / Search Engine
Language: Spanish & English
Words: 8,000+
Description: As the famous line goes “in
full disclosure” this is my own website.
I included it not because it is mine, but
because it is the most complete website for
Spanish slang with English translations I
have ever run across. If you find something
else, please let me know. There’s plenty of
room for more than one of us.
Click on a country to go directly the biggest
collections of words and phrases from:
Argentina
Perú
Chile
Puerto Rico
Colombia
Uruguay
México
[ 17 ]
online spanish slang dictionaries
Words from All Spanish-Speaking Countries
Tu Babel
www.TuBabel.com
Format: Word List / Search Engine
Language: Spanish only
Words: 49,000+
Description: Search for a specific term or
click “diccionario” at the menu on the top of
page to select a country from the map. This
will take you to the list of terms available
by country. This is a social website and the
content is provided by the users.
Words from All Spanish-Speaking Countries
Así Hablamos
www.AsiHablamos.com
Format: Word List / Search Engine
Language: Spanish only
Words: Unknown
Description: Search for a specific term
or by country. Terms include definition,
example, synonym and antonym, when
available. This is a social website and the
content is provided by the users.
[ 18 ]
online spanish slang dictionaries
Words from All Spanish-Speaking Countries
1000 Imágenes en la punta de
la lengua
www.ccdmd.qc.ca/ri/expressions/
Format: Word List / Search Engine
Language: Spanish / English / French
Words: 683
Description: Idiomatic expressions,
sayings or proverbs. Search or choose from
the list. Listen to audios, and look for the
equivalent in English or French. Some of the
idioms are available in animated cartoons.
Argentina
Glosario de la Biblioteca
Virtual Argentina
www.biblioteca.clarin.com/pbda/glosario.htm
Format: Word List
Language: Spanish only
Words: 1,484
Description: Browse the list of words in
alphabetical order to get the definition in
Spanish.
[ 19 ]
online spanish slang dictionaries
Argentina
Argentine Spanish Slang
Dictionary: The Private Parts
of Rioplatense Spanish
argentineslang.wordpress.com/
Format: Word List
Language: English only
Words: 235
Description: Use the menu to select a
letter and browse for words. Includes the
English definition and the part of speech.
Argentina
Términos Criollos en
Orden Alfabético from
FolkloredelNorte.com
www.folkloredelnorte.com.ar/terminos.htm
Format: Word List
Language: Spanish only
Words: 444
Description: Browse the list of words in
alphabetical order to get the definition in
Spanish.
[ 20 ]
online spanish slang dictionaries
Chile
Chilean Slang by
ContactChile.cl
www.contactchile.cl/en/chile-chilean-slang.php
Format: Words List
Language: English only
Words: Unknown
Description: Browse by letter. Only up to
letter T.
Chile
Diccionario Chileno by
PuroChile.com
www.purochile.com/ideas/dicc.php
Format: Word List / Search Engine
Language: Spanish only
Words: Unknown
Description: Search only by word, browse
by letter.
[ 21 ]
online spanish slang dictionaries
Chile
Diccionario de Modismos
Chilenos
www.mainframe.cl/diccionario/diccionario.php
Format: Word List / Search Engine
Language: Spanish only
Words: 1040
Description: Search by entering a word or
meaning. Browse by letter.
Chile
Glossary Chilenismos from
Cachando Chile: Reflections
on Chilean Culture
cachandochile.wordpress.com/glossary-glosariochilenismos/
Format: Words list
Language: English only
Words: 314
Description: Includes a list of hundreds of
Chilean words with English definitions and
pronunciation. Some of the terms have links
to full articles.
8 See also Chile Culinary Glossary
[ 22 ]
online spanish slang dictionaries
Chile
Diccionario de Chilenismos by
Apocatastasis.com
www.apocatastasis.com/chilenismos-diccionario.
php#axzz24oszkUaU
Format: Word List
Language: Spanish only
Words: 521
Description: An authorized adaptation of
the Diccionario del Coa o Arte del Chamullo
y la Movida by Ricardo Candia Cares from
1998.
Colombia
Colombianismos by
Wikcionario
es.wiktionary.org/wiki/Wikcionario:Colombianismos
Format: Words List
Language: Spanish only
Words: 415
Description: Browse the list of words
in alphabetical order. Most of the entries
include examples of usage. Scroll down to
the end of the page to see a compilation of
vulgar slang.
[ 23 ]
online spanish slang dictionaries
Colombia
Diccionario de Parlache
Edición Depurada y
Actualizada
www.tareanet.edu.co/wikitareanet/doku.php/
diccionario_de_parlache_edicion_depurada_y_
actualizada?do=backlink
Format: Word List / Search Engine
Language: Spanish only
Words: 610
Description: Search by word or browse the
complete list in alphabetical order. Does not
search by meaning.
Costa Rica
Costa Rican Spanish
www.ruralcostarica.com/costa-rican-spanish.asp
Format: Word List
Language: English only
Words: 469
Description: Use the alphabet menu at
the top to go to the list of words available
for each letter. Click a word to see the
definition in English and synonym in
Spanish when available.
[ 24 ]
online spanish slang dictionaries
Costa Rica
Diccionario de términos Ticos
from LaCarretica.com
lacarretica.com/index.php?option=com_glossword
&view=default&Itemid=81&lang=en
Format: Word List
Language: Spanish only
Words: 471
Description: Browse the list of words in
alphabetical order with the definition in
Spanish. The search feature doesn’t work.
Dominican Republic
Diccionario de
Dominicanismos
sites.google.com/site/josellibre2/
diccionariodominicanismos
Format: Words List
Language: Spanish only
Words: 4,892
Description: Use the side panel to search
by letter in one of the biggest collections of
Dominican slang available online. A lot of
the entries include examples.
[ 25 ]
online spanish slang dictionaries
Dominican Republic
Dominican Slang Online Flash
Cards by Quizlet
quizlet.com/1598373/dominican-slang-flash-cards/
Format: Flash Cards and Word List
Language: English only
Words: 103
Description: See the flash cards or browse
the list of words by alphabetical order.
Includes audio pronunciation, but not from
a native speaker.
Dominican Republic
Glosario de Términos
Dominicanos by Colonial Tour
& Travel
www.colonialtours.com.do/diccionario.htm
Format: Words List
Language: Spanish only
Words: 421
Description: Scroll down to browse the
complete list of words in alphabetical order.
Most of the entries include examples.
[ 26 ]
online spanish slang dictionaries
Dominican Republic
Dominicanismos en el
Diccionario de la Real
Academia Española by
Academia Dominicana de la
Lengua
www.academia.org.do/content/blogsection/26/86/
Format: Words List
Language: Spanish only
Words: 290
Description: This is the list of words from
the Dominican Republic that have been
included in the Dictionary of the Royal
Academy of Spanish Language.
Ecuador
Léxico popular ecuatoriano
montuvio y de la sierra
www.edym.com/books/esp/lexicos/lexicos1.htm
Format: Word List
Language: Spanish only
Words: 148
Description: Browse the list of words in
alphabetical order.
[ 27 ]
online spanish slang dictionaries
Ecuador
Spanish Slang Ecuador
www.latinamericalinks.com/spanish_slang_
ecuador.htm
Format: Word List
Language: English only
Words: 143
Description: A very simple list of words in
alphabetical order with English definitions.
El Salvador
Salvadoreñismos by
QueOndas.com
queondas.com/aqui_estamos/index.
php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13
6:salvadorenismos&catid=42:dichos-y-hablapopular&Itemid=30
Format: Words List
Language: Spanish only
Words: 299
Description: Browse the list of words in
alphabetical order.
[ 28 ]
online spanish slang dictionaries
El Salvador
Dichos Populares by
QueOndas.com
queondas.com/aqui_estamos/index.
php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13
4:dichos-populares&catid=42:dichos-y-hablapopular&Itemid=30
Format: Words List
Language: Spanish only
Words: 95
Description: A full list of sayings from El
Salvador. There are no explanations in
Spanish or English.
Honduras
Hondureñismos Honduras
Slang
www.honduras.com/espanol/hondure-ismoshonduras-slang/#.UEpj5FTS50i
Format: Word List
Language: Spanish only
Words: 300
Description: Browse the list of words in
alphabetical order with the definition in
Spanish.
[ 29 ]
online spanish slang dictionaries
México
Mexican Slang Words by
Mexico Guru
www.mexicoguru.com/mexican-slang.php
Format: Words List
Language: English only
Words: 400
Description: Browse the list of words
organized by alphabetical order. Click on
the word to find the meaning in English as
well as an example sentence in Spanish
and English.
México
Diccionario Breve De
Mexicanismos from Academia
Mexicana de la Lengua
www.academia.org.mx/dicmex.php
Format: Words List
Language: Spanish only
Words: 6,200
Description: Browse words organized by
alphabetical order. It is the most complete
and reliable source of Mexican slang, but
it’s only in Spanish.
[ 30 ]
online spanish slang dictionaries
México
Diccionario del español
usual en México from
CervantesVirtual.com
www.cervantesvirtual.com/obra-visor/diccionariodel-espanol-usual-en-mexico--0/html/
Format: Words List
Language: Spanish only
Words: Unknown
Description: This is more than a Mexican
slang dictionary. It includes the words that
are standard or regional, cult or popular,
crude or polite,l used in Mexico.
Panamá
Glossary of Panamanian
Spanish from Wiktionary
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Glossary_of_
Panamanian_Spanish
Format: Word List
Language: English only
Words: 275
Description: Browse the list of words in
alphabetical order.
[ 31 ]
online spanish slang dictionaries
Panamá
Panameñismos from
Canajagua.com
www.canajagua.com/search.cfm?diccionario=213
Format: Word List
Language: Spanish only
Words: 222
Description: Use the alphabet menu to go
to the list of words available for each letter.
Click a word to see the definition in Spanish
and synonym in Spanish when available.
At the beginning of each term you will see
in which part of the country that particular
word is used.
Perú
Jerga Peruana from El Busca
Personas
www.elbuscapersonas.com.pe/jergas/
jergasperuanas.htm
Format: Word List
Language: Spanish only
Words: 433
Description: Use the alphabet menu to
browse the list of words in alphabetical
order.
[ 32 ]
online spanish slang dictionaries
Venezuela
Diccionarios de Palabras,
Expresiones, Groserías y
demás Venezolanadas
www.lachuleta.net/dic/diccionarios/
Format: Word List / Search Engine
Language: Spanish only
Words: 2,534
Description: A total of 7 dictionaries are
available on this page. They are divided
by regions, phrases and general terms.
Includes the definition, part of speech,
example and synonyms in Spanish.
Venezuela
Léxico Venezolano from
LaTaguaraSuiza.net
www.lataguara.net/lexico.htm
Format: Word List
Language: Spanish only
Words: 333
Description: Browse the list of words in
alphabetical order. Get ready to zoom in
your screen because the font is tiny.
[ 33 ]
online spanish slang dictionaries
Venezuela
Vocablos de uso común
en Maracaibo y zonas
circunvecinas
http://www.corvetteven.com/diccionario.html
Format: Word List
Language: Spanish only
Words: 177
Description: Browse the list of words in
alphabetical order or use the alphabet
menu at the top of the page to jump
through the list.
Venezuela
Palabras de uso corriente en
el habla popular margariteña
http://bit.ly/Pth5LA
Format: Word List
Language: Spanish only
Words: Unknown
Description: Browse the list of words in
alphabetical order or use the alphabet
menu at the top of the page to jump
through the list. The definitions are
extensive in most cases.
[ 34 ]
books
I compiled this selection of books to help you learn the local Spanish languages. This list
comes from my personal journey learning Spanish so there are several countries where I
have yet to discover a book. Feel free to contact me at [email protected] to
suggest others.
I only included the most up-to-date books for each country.
Some of these books have affiliate links so if you click here and purchase the book I may
receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you for doing this. These
commissions help me develop more materials for you. If you are not comfortable with this,
just use a search website to find the book title. Either way you will enjoy all the books!
Argentina
Chile
Speaking Argento
by Jared Romey
Speaking Chileno
by Jared Romey
H Bestseller in Chile
Language:
Spanish / English
Language:
Spanish / English
Description: This is
one of my Speaking
Latino books based on
my time living in Argentina. It translates
over 1500 typical words and phrases in
Argentina and includes goofy illustrations
for several terms. It also includes 9 quick
vocabulary guide tables and sections
about grammar, pronunciation and
gestures.
Description: This is one
of my Speaking Latino
books. Largely based on
my three years living in Chile, it translates
over 2000 typical words and phrases and
includes humorous drawings for several
terms. It also includes 13 quick vocabulary
guide tables and sections about grammar,
pronunciation and gestures.
8 Paperback | Kindle | Nook | iBook | ePub
8 Paperback | Kindle | Nook | iBook | ePub
[ 35 ]
books
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Speaking Boricua
by Jared Romey
H Bestseller in
Puerto Rico
Speaking Phrases
Boricua
by Jared Romey.
Language:
Spanish / English
Language:
Spanish / English
Description: This is one
of my Speaking Latino books. It includes
over 1,500 local words and phrases
compiled from my 10 years living in Puerto
Rico.
Description: This is one
of my Speaking Latino
books. Hundreds of typical Puerto Rican
idioms and sayings are translated into
English and when available their equivalent
English phrases are given.
8 Paperback | Kindle | Nook | iBook | ePub
8 Paperback | Kindle | Nook | iBook | ePub
Chile
Chilenismos: Dictionary & Phrasebook by Daniel Joelson
Language:
Spanish / English | English / Spanish
Description: An extensive collection of 1,500 Chilean words and
phrases in a simple, almost pocket-sized book with close to two
hundred pages. The book presents the words in a list format
alphabetically, Chilean to English and then English to Chilean. Later
words are presented a second time by topic.
8 Paperback | Kindle
[ 36 ]
books
Dominican Republic
Colombia
Quick Guide to
Colombian Spanish
by Language Babel
Diccionario de
Dominicanismos by
Carlos Esteban Deive
Language:
Spanish / English
Language:
Spanish only
Description: More
than 450 words and
phrases explained in English. Most of the
terms include synonyms and antonyms in
Spanish plus an example. This is a book
that I compiled.
Description: More than
2,000 entries. It was first
published in 1971, this updated edition is
from 2002.
8 Paperback
8 Kindle
Mexico
Mexico
Diccionario breve de
mexicanismos
by Guido Gómez De
Silva
Así habla el mexicano
by Jorge Mejia Prieto
Language:
Spanish only
Description: A
basic book originally
published in 1984 and
currently on its 15th printing, with clear
and sometimes detailed explanations of
word meanings. Also includes a great
bibliography of Mexican Spanish books as
far back as the late 1800s.
8 Paperback
Language:
Spanish only
Description: A hardcover book in true
dictionary format with over 230 pages of
5,400 words and phrases. Many of the
entries are for generic words that are not
unique to Mexico.
8 Hardcover
[ 37 ]
books
Peru
Mexico
Léxico Peruano:
Español de Lima
by Luisa P. Portilla
Durand
El Chingonario
by Editorial Otras
Inquisiciones
Language:
Spanish only
Language:
Spanish only
Description: Extremely detailed
explanations (many are a full page) and
citations for each from the popular press,
including examples of usage.
Description: Although this book only
focuses on one word, chingar, there are
over 150 uses mentioned. This is a great
book to understand the most diverse
word in Mexican Spanish.
Available in Perú only
8 Paperback | Kindle | Nook | Mobile App
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico y el
lenguaje by Luz
Nereida Pérez
La Lengua Boricua
1 & 2 by Raymond
Giovanni Ramos
Rosario
Language:
Spanish
Language:
Spanish only
Description: 40 articles
that will give you the
origin and background
of words from Puerto Rico.
Description: One of the
most recent collections of Puerto Rican
words, phrases and idioms with more than
2,000 entries in two books. Short and to
the point meanings in Spanish.
8 Paperback
Book 1 8 Paperback |
Book 2 8 Paperback | Kindle | Nook |
[ 38 ]
books
Venezuela
The Criollo Way: A Brief Guide to the Slang and Idioms of
Venezuela by C. Bashleigh.
Language:
Spanish with English definitions
Description: Unfortunately this is the only book I have found for
Venezuelan Spanish, published in the late 1960’s so I am sure the
local slang has changed significantly. I learned about this book from a
friend who lived in Venezuela in the 1990’s so at least until then it was the newest book
available.
8 Used
General
Diccionario de Jergas
de Habla Hispana
by Roxana Fitch
El español de España
y el español de
América: Vocabulario
comparado
by Antonio Molero
Language:
Spanish only
Description: This book
is the largest collection
of Spanish slang currently available and is
published by the website with the same
name.
8 Paperback | Kindle
Language:
Spanish only
Description: This book is a table of
common Spanish words compared
among Spain, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela,
Mexico and Uruguay. The vocabulary
is grouped by topics such as food,
transportation, money, animals, etc.
8 Paperback
[ 39 ]
It’s easy to stay in touch with
Speaking Latino!
The best way to support Speaking Latino is to stay in touch and to spread the
word. If you’re feeling especially generous a positive Amazon review would be
fabulous for any one of the books. The Speaking Latino books are lots of fun.
I promise. -Jared
www.SpeakingLatino.com
Speaking Latino
Speaking Latino &
BabbleGlot
[email protected]
@jaredromey
Speaking Latino
Speaking Latino RSS
RESOURCE PAGES
Visit the Speaking Latino Spanish Resource Pages where I have an
updated list of books, websites, videos, articles, flashcards and mobile
apps from these and other Spanish-speaking countries:
8 http://www.speakinglatino.com/basic-spanish-slang-resources/
Illustrations from the section 8 Tricks to Speak Like a Local via flickr under the Creative Commons license Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC
BY-SA 2.0) 1. LuMaxArt FS Collection Orange0031 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lumaxart/2364659873/) 2. LuMaxArt FS Collection Orange0059
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/lumaxart/2364667079/) 3. LuMaxArt FS Collection Orange0025 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lumaxart/2364652529/) 4.
LuMaxArt FS Collection Orange0038 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lumaxart/2364661701/) 5. LuMaxArt FS Collection Orange0026 (http://www.flickr.
com/photos/lumaxart/2365483138/) 6. LuMaxArt FS Collection Orange0052 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lumaxart/2364666439/) 7. LuMaxArt FS
Collection Orange0115 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lumaxart/2365527788/) 8. LuMaxArt FS Collection Orange0016 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/
lumaxart/2365483758/)
[ 40 ]