Home   >   Columns   >   Spanish Corner   >   How to Break Out of Beginner’s Spanish

How to Break Out of Beginner’s Spanish

Learning a foreign language is definitely a challenge.  However, once you have mastered a few of the basics, it’s fun to practice some of the local words and phrases and see the reaction of your Nicaraguan friends.  Here are a few examples:

¡Que tuani!                        This means “that’s cool” although I’ve been told by the younger generation of                                              Nicaraguans that tuani is a little old fashioned (maybe it’s the equivalent of ‘ groovy”)

¡Deacachimba!                 This word can have either a positive or a negative meaning (we’ll stick to the                                                             positive here).  This also mean “cool”, and it’s a good word for those under 30 –  it might sound a little strange coming from those of us with grey hair.

Examples:            ¡Que deacachimba tu carro!         What a cool car!      ¡Tú televisor está deacacimba!    Your TV is really cool!

¡Solo verga!                       You must be joking!  (considered a vulgar term here)

¡Solo mate!                        This response can be used when someone is saying something that is hard to                                                       believe.  In English we might say “no way!” or “get out of town!”

Dale or dale pues              Usually means “okay”, “alright”, “do it” or “go ahead”.   You hear this a lot,                                                             especially in phone conversations.

En su charco                      Means literally “in your puddle”.  This is used to describe something you are                                                             really interested in or passionate about.

Example:             My sister loves cosmetics!  Whenever we talk about makeup she is “en su charco”

La policia acostado          Have you noticed all the speed bumps?  In Nicaragua we can them “policia                                                             acostado” meaning sleeping policeman.  A really big bump is called “un general acostado”

So, give these phrases a try and you are sure to get a smile from your Nicaraguan friends.

If you’re interested in learning Spanish or improving your level of fluency, check out our website at: www.vivaspanishschool.com.  We offer flexible classes for busy expats, Embassy employees and their families, NGOs and mission groups and tourists.  Can’t come to Managua for classes?  We also offer online Skype classes!

Margaret Griffin, Director

Viva Spanish School Managua

[email protected]

(505) 2270 2339  Office

1-770-853-3110   US Phone’