ergi

just booked tickets to el salvador
there are children doing trigonometry and advanced math who were born the last time i went

Salvadoran Words & Slang

bat-wishes:

Ajolotado(a) - Said of persons displaying nervous, rushed, hyperactive behavior.

Achicar - To belittle or ridicule someone

Aguacatero - Said of a dog. A stray dog or one considered inferior or of mixed breed; a mutt.

Apiarse - A command to get down from a higher elevation, such as a tree.

Ahuevo - By force or doing something even if you don’t want to. Assertive response for “yes.”

Baboso(a) - An insult meaning a stupid, ignorant, slow person. Derived from the verb “to drool,” as in a drooling idiot or mentally ill person.

Babosada - Statements or opinions considered either foolish or worthless. Also, anything considered worthless or bothersome.

Bayunco - Immature, foolish.

Bicho(a) - literally, a creepy crawling thing like an insect. However in El Salvador it is used to describe a little kid, sometimes derogatory, like “brat” or “punk.”

Bolo(a) - Drunk, wasted, tipsy on drink. Can be used as a noun or an adjective.

Bute - A kind of fish. Also, a physically unattractive person.

Cabal - Exactly, true, certainly. Used exhaustingly in El Salvador to answer in the affirmative.

Campesino - A farmer or used to describe a rural peasant.

Cachimbazo - A strong impact, blow or hit.

Champa - A Ramshackle hut made of all kinds of odd materials; a shanty.

Chele - Usually used to described a blond or caucasion person. Derived from re-arranging the syllables from the word Leche, meaning milk.

Chiche - Easy, accomplished without a struggle. Also, slang for a woman’s breast.

Chivo - Something that is cool or awesome.

Chucho - A dog. Also used to refer to persons in a derogatory or jokingly manner.

Chupa - A social gathering for the sole purpose of drinking alcohol.

Corda - Spanglish for the quarter-dollar coin. El Salvador uses the U.S. dollar and coins.

Dundo - Stupid or dumb.

Duende - A dwarf or midget.

Enbolar - To get drunk.

Garrobo - Used interchangably among large lizards, especially Iguana.

Goma - A Hangover. Estoy de goma - I am hungover.

Gringo - Used to denote anybody from North America or Europe. Not necessarily in a derogative manner.

Guacal - A large Bowl, usually made of plastic for food, washing or transport.

Guaro - Slang for Aguardiente, a strong, and usually cheap, cane liquor.

Mara - A group of friends or an unspecified group of people. Also can mean a gang, as in La Mara Salvatrucha.

Marero - A gang member. Stay away from this person.

Metido(a) - given to prying into the affairs of others.

Monte - A wooded or non-developed area. Animal del monte - A wild animal. Also slang for marijuana.

Paja - A lie.

Perico - A little bird. More commonly slang for cocaine.

Pisto - Money.

Puchica - (Also used in Guatemala and Honduras) Oh my gosh! Damn! An expression of surprise or anger, often softer than the more vulgar, puta! (whore).

Pupusa - A Salvadoran dish made from cornmeal masa, or dough, stuffed with cheese, beans and pork and then fried.

Rai - Spanglish for “ride”. Usually as a hitch-hiking request, as in, “dame rai,” or give me a ride.

Rascuache - Ruined, of horrible quality, doesn’t work, or all torn up.

Riata - A strong beating.

Sepa or asaber - Who knows? Or “only god knows.” Used a lot when Gringos ask Salvadorans questions.

Tacuazin - Opossum.

Talega - In a drunken state.

Tecolote - An owl.

Trompear - To hit the mouth, From the word “trompa” meaning mouth.

Tunco - Pig; usually refers to part of a butchered pig.

Vá?! Interjection meaning, ’ do you agree’, or simply stressing the affirmative statement to which it seves as an ending.

Vaya pues - Usually means “ok then,” as in when you are taking leave of someone you have just greeted on the street. Sometimes shortened to, “vapues.”

Vergón - Positive exclamation, an equivalent to slang for ‘cool.’

Zopilote - A vulture or buzzard.

As in visiting any foreign culture, it is very important to remain respectful of local customs and norms. This dictionary is intended as a reference for the casual traveler and a means to navigate Salvadoran culture. Many of these words should not be used in mixed company or if the user does not feel confident of its meaning.

After all sometimes even a word used innocently can be interpreted as an insult.

Suerte ! (Good Luck!)