By definition, they would be better classified under the category of anglicisms. Anglicismos. In the world of Spanish journalism, probably the worst mistake any young pocho reporter could make. I should know. It was me who was constantly getting corrected for using anglicismos when I was writing in Spanish… all those years ago now. Yet, I had all but pretty much forgotten about all of those horribly bad memories – kidding – until one of my old friends, coincidentally one of my journalist buddies from those days, made the suggestion that I write about anglicisms too.
I’m not sure how often I’ll write about anglicismos. I guess that ultimately depends on how much you all might like the idea, or not. If you do, and you have words of your own that you’d like to add to this list, or see in another post, let me know, and we might play this game again. It could be a good compliment to our regular Mexi-Vocabulario?
These are the Top 10 Anglicisms that I use:
10. Troca – Truck. In reality one should say camioneta, but I grew up in Texas and a lot of people here, well, we just say troca.
9. Yarda – Yard. As in your lawn. The correct word in Spanish is patio. Although I’ve never been comfortable with saying voy a cortar el patio. It just sounds funny to me.
8. Parqueadero – Parking lot. At one point, I had actually made the transition from parqueadero to estacionamiento, but then I thought, why am I correcting my parents’ on their Spanish… and I stopped.
7. Estop sign – Stop sign. I don’t really use it all that often. Only when giving directions in Spanish. Though the correct word in Spanish is alto.
6. La movie – Movie. It should be pelicula or even cinta, but movie is just as acceptable these days también.
5. Mapear – To mop. This is another one of those words that we just grew up with. Even though I know it might be better to say limpiar I can’t really avoid saying mapear.
4. Textear – To text. How else would you say that? Seriously, I’m kind of stumped on this one. Other than to say te mando un texto.
3. Chance – Not as it is pronounced in English, although it means the same exact thing. This word I pronounce more like cha-n-se. I guess the right word instead would be oportunidad.
2. Sorri - An apology. I’m sorry. To apologize. This one I just like because Niurka made it popular with her I’m sorri for you. Instead, use disculpa.
1. Chequear - To check. I’m always telling someone to checar, chequealo, chequear something. Guilty as charged! The correct terminology might include verificalo or compruebalo instead.
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Yup. Heard all these, used all these, and got made fun of for using some of these with the wrong people. And they wonder why I stopped speaking Spanish?!
LOL! Don’t get discouraged Stephanie. You should keep talking Spanish if you want to. Personally, I like knowing the right words and choosing to use the words I want however I choose.
LOL! I am guilty of using more than a few of the words on this list. But that was all before I moved to Mexico and learned the proper words like camioneta, trapear, estacionar, and cerrar con llave (in place of lackear, as in “laqueaste la puerta?) My grandma’s favorite anglicism was espeletear, in place of deletrear.
I may just have to steal that “espeletear” away from your grandma, Leslie
That’s an awesome word, LOL!
‘wachale’?1 my family is from Piedras Negras, right across the border from Eagle Pass (pronounced ‘ eee-gleh pahss’ by all!)
Nadie dice cortar el patio…. Se dice cortar la hierba o cortar la césped…o eso creo
Cortar el pasto, podar el césped, podar el jardín… yo diría.
These words may look like of English origin, but most of they’re 100% rooted in Latin. Some of them have been accepted as by the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language (RAE).
“Troca” is related to the Spanish words “trueque” and “trocar,” which come from the same Latin root, “troccare.” It means “to exchange” (one of the meanings of “truck” in English).
“Yarda” comes from Latin, too -through French. Interestingly enough, the French translation of “yard” is “jardín” (same as in Spanish)… but it’s pronounced “yardá.”
“Parqueadero” also comes from Latin “parricus.” It’s related to the Spanish “parque” (“park”). The RAE accepts “aparcamiento.”
“Movie” is a Latin word too, related to the Spanish words “movimiento,” “mover.” The original term was “moving pictures” (“imágenes en movimiento”).
“Text” comes from Latin “textus.” In Spanish it’s “texto” (a noun), so turning it into a verb (“textear”) it’s not that far-fetched.
“Chance” is 100% accepted by the RAE as a legit Spanish word. It comes from French (therefore, from Latin), not from English.
Same as “chequear”: The RAE has accepted it as a correct Spanish term too. It’s not of English origin: it comes from Arabic, through French.
I love this Juan! Please keep sharing
I’m learning Spanish now (I’ve been learning all my life) from a tutor. Reading this post and the like help to know more or less how ‘locals’ speak.
Great piece! One thing I like to tell students (soy profesora de español), is that these words are all appropriate in the proper context. It’s register (which is a reading of context) that tells us when, and when not, some words are better choices than others.
Thanks Ubik for all the knowledge!! Linguists mostly agree that Spanglish is a legit dialect of Spanish. I’ve had students argue convincingly that rather than detract from Spanish, it adds to it and keeps people here in the US in touch with the language.
I always say, it depends on what you’re doing with the language and with whom that determines if it’s effective communication. To some extent “troca” or “lonche” or “estop sign” are only meaningful to speakers of Spanish who are fluent, or conversant, in English. That may be true in some Spanish-speaking countries more than in others.
Laprofe63, my Mom once said, “Qué bonito sunset” to a relative in Yucatán. Completely unaware that she had mashed the 2!
The beauty is truly in being able to communicate with whomever you’re speaking with at the moment.
The RAE accepts SOME words from that list as Spanish FROM THE UNITED STATES, and they are NOT used either in standard Spanish or outside the USA, AND despite their latin roots they are still product of the influence of English in our time. Personally, I don’t see why people not-from-the USA should say “forma” instead of “formulario”, “librería” instead of “biblioteca” (in Spanish librería means bookstore), “actual” instead of “real” (in Spanish actual means current), “embarazoso” instead of “vergonzoso”, even “too much” instead of “demasiado” (why say it in English when you are expected to speak SPANISH?) just for saying some examples. It seems our language is very unatractive, it is “not-cool”, “not-awesome” to speak Spanish correctly.
Vic, I disagree. There is no “Standard” Spanish. That’s a common myth among certain people. Besides, the words I mentioned are not only understood in the USA, but also in other Spanish-speaking countries (Mexico, Puerto Rico).
I don’t see why you’re bringing those examples (librería, embarazoso, actual), since they’re not mentioned here at all in the post.
As I said, the words mentioned here, are perfectly Latin-based words which can be used in proper Spanish.
Once it snowed in Arizona, so we went “sledding” using bits of old cardboard boxes. Since they didn’t slide too well on the snow, my cousin sat on a piece of box and yelled, “empushame!”
It’s funny to be reminded that the word we use when speking Spanish aren’t real Spanish words. I love it, give us more words…
Oh, thanks for pointing those out but my hubby says I use a lot more than ten!
I do the same
I heard a “new” word on the radio the other day that immediately brought to mind this post of yours. The word was “Postear”. As in, “Cuando vas a postear las fotos de nuestras vacaciones?” And, “Hace mucho que no posteo algo nuevo en mi blog!”
I hope you get as much a kick out of that new word as I did!
You’ve just inspired another post amiga!