Thread: Spanish Words that mean different things in different Spanish countries.

Originally Posted by fernandar

Sure. I first heard this in Miami where there is a large community of Cubans, as you may know. For them, Cubans, una guagua is a bus and in Chile apparently it´s a baby.

In Ecuador guagua also means baby. I believe it comes from the Quechua language. In, I believe it was Puerto Rico, it means van.

Originally Posted by Velisa

Pendejo en México = Asshole; en Argentina = niño

Mi abuelo (Francisco J. Santamaría) escribió el Diccionario General de Americanismos, la obra está separada en 3 tomos; básicamente considera un americanismo aquélla voz traída del Castellano (de España) cuyo significado cambió en el continente Americano; el otro criterio es precisamente el cambio de significado de país a país en el continente. También provee los varios significados de esas voces en más de dos países.
Se imprimió por última vez en los 80' si mal no recuerdo y no se ha vuelto a tirar otra impresión pues ese tipo de diccionario no es el que la mayoría de la gente desee tener, de manera que se vuelve no redituable para la casa editorial.
También escribió el Diccionario de Mejicanismos -que edita Porrúa, en México-. Ahí también puedes encotrar otro buen tanto de términos cuyo significado varía.
Me atrevo a pensar que puedes encotrar algo en la red.
Velia

I think pendejo means asshole in most or at least many countries. I know for sure, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua and Mexico.

Hi there...
In Argentina they call a sweatshirt "buzo", in Costa Rica the same word means sweatpants, in Guatemala we use the word to define someone who is very good at doing something.

boyo= faggot in peru and bun in mexico.
thats the only i can think of right now.

In Colombia I have heard "palito" used to mean "a twelve pack of beer", but elsewhere it means ***** or ***.

In Colombia a "cuca" is a vagina, but it can also mean a type of cookie.

In Colombia and Panama, a "chiva" is a bus, either a very rustic one in the country or in the city one used (minus seats) for dancing and drinking as it drives around the city. In some countries a "chiva" is a goatee. In Costa Rica it is a kept man, someone supported by women (could be a gigolo or a pimp).

As far as Peru is concerned:

"Meterle un combo a alguien" is to punch someone, I don't know about other places.

"Pincho" means *****, and as far as I know in Venezuela means "hot dog".

I'll get back with newer words.

Cheers!

Pincho in Vz is a shish-ebab, brochette, or skewer.
Perro caliente is hot dog.