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[Luna Chica]

Previously I lived in Japan for two years. While I was there certain Japaneses words crept into my everyday speech and have remained even though I haven't lived there for a couple of years. These words somehow seemed better than the English equivalent, or just stuck for some reason. Words such as "genki" which means more than jsut our "well" in english. it is more a holistic word meaning in good health, spirits, bubbly, full of energy etc.
So anyway I was wondering what Spanish/Portuguese words have you absorbed into your regular speech while living in Central South America?

Personally I find swearing in Spanish very very satisfying. My partner who is peruvian tend to speak in English and fight in SPanish.

What are your experiences?

[Guy Courchesne]

Some Spanish words seem to creep into my English because they are more direct or cover an idea better.

Volver - to turn, to turn around, to return, to become again, to go for a stroll and do random things (dar una vuelta - thanks Loz)...very versatile.

Pasar - to give, to go past, to spend (time), to happen, a greet someone, a couple of steps, to decline, among others...

Chingadera (offensive) is a great one - a noun meaning a real mess, or a simple exclamation of frustration. "How was your trip to Iraq?" "Fue una chingadera, guey!"

Chismoso(a) - gossipy, invasive, prudish (perhaps)

Pitar - colloquial for beeping one's car horn, but has many uses.

[hlamb]

There's a few....

Me gusta
Entonces
Para mi (actually any phrase where I can use para!)
Bueno (when answering the phone)
Sin embargo

For me it's any word or phrase that sounds really good. I don't find English to be very musical and that's one of the things I really like about Spanish.

and like others on this board I avoid words with the double r!

[thelmadatter]

Guy.. your post made me remember "desmadre" which my students calqued into "dismother"... I rather like it!

[Guy Courchesne]

[lozwich]

[Guy Courchesne]

Yeah...don't take this the wrong way but get off the forum and don't come back until you are properly sunburnt and full of margaritas holiday girl.

...and post pics! I now have one of you sans Zippy zoot suit. I won't put it up though for your privacy.

[Fatcat]

When I studied in Spain I picked up Vale as well, but they say it meaning 'okay.' Like, "Quieres ir al cine conmigo?" "Vale." It still comes out sometimes. And, I thought this was strange, I started saying "Ay!" if I hurt myself somehow instead of saying 'ouch' or 'ow'. I thought those kind of reactionary words or expressions were so ingrained (sp?) that they couldn't change.

[Guy Courchesne]

[fresas]

I've noticed I use "mande" a lot, too. That and "allah" (sp?) when I'm agreeing with what others are saying (do they do that all over Latin America or just Ecuador/Guayaquil?)
I also find myself doing that hand motion where you slap your pointer finger against your thumb and middle finger--although I can't say I do it nearly as fast or as loud as a latino!

[Luna Chica]

I have also confused some of my english speaking friends in emails or text messages, becuase I seem to have absorbed using je je instead of he he when simulating laughter. They have been reading my text messages and then thought what the hell is this je je (insert english pronunciation)?

I also like ven so much easier and to the point than come here

[Gregor]

Pues...

I still say that, YEARS after I left Mexico.

I got over using "mande' when I was laughed at in Spain, and someone explained to me that it is - literally speaking - a term of EXTREME subservience.
�PUES! �Como M�xico, no hay dos! �Chinga el rey! This (Mexico) is a country where the word "criada" is offensive for its subservience, and yet lots of people say "mande" mindlessly. I was shocked. And I never used it again.
I still use "vale," and "madre" in any number of slightly off color senses. And I only know the names of various chilis - serrano, jalepe�o, chipotle (which is a jalepe�o that has been roasted), habanero... - by their Spanish names. I believe that the English names are the same, but all of these things exist in China and go by different names (of course) but I can't help but remember the Spanish (and never remember the Chinese).

By the way, if you need to practice your RRs, try this:
R con R cigarro,
R con R barril,
Rapido ruedan las
Ruedas del ferrocarril.

[Guy Courchesne]

Some of those Chinese chilis are well known here too...well, not well known, but I read awhile back that over 50% of chilis consumed in Mexico are now imported from China. Have the Chinese no shame, no product left they will not sell more of?

Pues, asi es la vida.

In Acapulco, I started picking up 'si, pues' as an affirmative answer, and calling everybody tio or tia.

[eo-nomine]

I don't tend to say Spanish words when speaking English, but I do tend to make some literal translations, ie "in serious?" (�en serio?), "look at that" (mir� vos), "�all good?" (�todo bien?). The other day I told someone "you're a pumpkin", (sos un zapayo), and wondered for a second why I was being stared at blankly.

Sometimes I want to say stuff like he's a boludo, it's a bolud�s, but I don't, I stammer while trying to find an English equivalent, and finally say nothing. The thought of saying one day "it makes very cold outside" fills me with unspeakable dread.

[hlamb]

Sometimes my students accidentally throw a Spanish word into an English sentence and then correct themselves, and I am left wondering what was wrong with what they said. Some students have said, "for ejemplo" or "por example" and it sounds normal to me. I also find myself answering "si" or "muy bien" in class when students get the right answer....