Puerto Rico’s vernacular is different than the Spanish spoken in other parts of Latin America or Spain. Here are a few words and phrases that are uniquely Puerto Rican:
Jíbaro—a person from the mountains, representing the heart of Puerto Rican culture
Jurutungo—somewhere far away
Guares—twins. That explains the nickname “Guar” that my uncle (Auntie Helen’s twin) carried all his life.
Limber—a frozen treat, similar to an Italian ice
Enfogonarse—to get angry
Achaques—aches and pains experienced by older persons
Echa pa’cá—Come over here/bring that over here.
Empache—When you overeat or eat too much of something
Guagua—a bus, SUV, or pick up truck
Fajao—working hard or hustling
Por un tubo y siete llaves—an overabundance of something
Ay bandito—used to show sympathy
Zafacón—a garbage can
Some of our Puerto Rican vocabulary, such as hamaca, canoa, macana, maraca and güiro, came from the Taíno language. Other words were derived from the African languages brought to Puerto Rico by slaves: mondongo (tripe soup), gandules (pigeon peas) fufú (a spell), and malanga (a tuber) are some examples. Still other words were influenced by American English, like raitru, which comes from “right true,” meaning in agreement to what was just said, or gufear, to goof around. (more…)