More stories

  • in , ,

    Híjole: the little Mexican exclamation that has many meanings

    Tequila Híjole bottle

    If you’ve listened to Mexican Spanish for a while, you’ve probably heard a short, breathy sound that comes out on surprise, irritation, admiration or mild defeat. That little word is híjole (sometimes written hijole, sometimes híjoles), and it’s one of those automatic expressions that people use without thinking. The Real Academia defines híjole as a […] More

  • in

    Names of Some Jobs — Remake 2.0

    Taquero by Alarmy. A man preparing an Al Pastor taco.

      This is an updated and expanded version of an older spanishNY.com post. If you’re learning Spanish, it helps to know both the formal profession names (doctor, abogado) and the local, informal words you’ll hear on the street, in markets, or at small businesses. Below is a large table with many job names, some of […] More

  • in , , ,

    10 Spanish-language Expressions That Are Not Easy to Figure Out. Tres Doritos Después.

    Tres Doritos Después

    Everyday phrases that don’t translate directly Spanish is full of expressions that confuse students because the literal meaning does not match the actual usage. Some of them are playful, others are pejorative (so they are better learned than repeated), and a few are just Mexican. Here is a batch of ten more examples. Spanish expression […] More