I've been attending Spanish school for four weeks now, and I'm getting pretty proficient. I know my ser from estar, preterit from imperfect, por from para and indicative from subjunctive. I can carry on awesome conversations about politics and culture. However, in the cantina, or on a camioneta with a campesino, I'm often lost. The Spanish here is filled with all sorts of proverbs, local phrases and strange slang.
The two most prevalent words are "fijate" and "vaya". These are actual Spanish commands. Fijate is used at the beginning of an explanation. It's kinda like saying, "Look here" or "Take note". Vaya is used at the end of a sentence at the end of a conversation. It's sort of like saying, "Go on, get out of here". I adore these sayings because literally translated, they're rather rude. Regardless, everyone uses them, in a friendly way, and they're an important part of conversations.
The Spanish here gets even stranger. So, for your enjoyment, and convenience, should you meet a drunken Chivo or Altiplano campesino, I've painstakingly compiled some of my favorite phrases:
Tener los pantalones bien puestos.
Literally: To have the pants well located.
Actually: To be in control.
Literally: To have the pants well located.
Actually: To be in control.
¡Que higados!
Literally: What a liver!
Actually: That’s very brave!
Ponerse las pilas.
Literally: To put in the batteries.
Actually: To get motivated.
Literally: To put in the batteries.
Actually: To get motivated.
Eres pura lata.
Literally: You’re pure tin.
Actually: You’re a pain in the ass.
Es solo hacerlo y escupir en la calle.
Literally: You just do it and spit in the street.
Actually: Once it’s done, it's done.
Literally: You just do it and spit in the street.
Actually: Once it’s done, it's done.
Literally: To make a cheese of one's self.
Actually: To dance wildly.
Pagar el pato.
Literally: To pay the duck.
Actually: To pay for someone else's mistake.
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