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Key Spanish Terms
- University of Texas Press
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k e y s p a n i s h t e r m s abrazos: Hugs. abuelitos: Grandparents. actos: Skits. Adelitas, Juana Gallo, Valentinas: Name given to women fighting in the Mexican Revolution of 1910. alambres: Literally “wires,” breaking through the wire fence. amiga: Friend. argüende: Hoopla. batos: Dudes. bodega: Small grocery store. bola(s): Slang for “testicles.” bromas: Jokes. cariño: Affection. carnala(o): Sister, brother. carnalas: Sisters. carnales: Brothers. chavalas: Young girls. Chicano/a: Political term identifying people of Mexican descent living in the southwest United States. chichis: Slang for “breasts.” (see ‘bolas’ ‘huevos’ & ‘jainos’) 267 268 teatro chicana chingado: Fuck. chingazos: Clashes. chingonas: Bad-asses. chola: Street-wise girl. choques: Conflicts. chuntaros: Lowlife. cίrculo vicioso: Vicious cycle. comadre(s): Godmother of one’s child; dear friend. coyote: Smuggler of undocumented immigrants. güeras: Light-skinned women. híjole: Wow! huaraches: Mexican sandals. huevos: Slang for “testicles.” imagίnate: Imagine that. jainos: Slang for “boyfriend.” La Causa: Literally “the cause,” referring to the Chicano social movement. la peligrosa: The dangerous one. La Raza: Literally “the race.” Colloquialism for Chicano people. macha: Slang for an assertive woman. malcriadas: Ill-mannered. m’ija: Contraction for “my daughter.” m’ijo: Contraction for “my son.” mujeres: Women. negrita: Little dark girl. “No sabe nada” girl: Naïve girl. pajarito: Small bird. pendejadas: Foolishness. picaramente: Mischievously. platanos: Plantains. rebozo: Mexican shawl. revolucionaria: Revolutionary. rucas: Street-wise girls. sofrito: Fried tomato and onion sauce. tamalera: Woman who sells tamales. teatro: Theater. tía: Aunt. tío: Uncle. tristezas: Sadness. vagones: Wagons. vámonos: Let’s go. ...