26 Spanish Words That Don’t Technically Exist But We Use Them Every Day
Being bilingual is a blessing – and confusing. What happens when you can’t exactly translate a word? You make up your own. Here are a few we’ve spanglishized and use all the time…
1. Chequear – to check something, like a reference.
If you chequé the dictionary you will not find chequear.
2. Taggear – to tag someone on social media.
Seriously? Taggear is becoming a word? What’s next, “posteando” statuses?
3. Yarda – a yard or lawn.
“Mami, Luis and his friends won’t let me play en la yarda.”
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4. Flirtear – to flirt.
It’s been so long since some flirted with me, but I’m pretty sure that isn’t the right word.
5. Estoquieando – stalking, you know, like most of us do.
We also use this to talk about estoqueando on Instagram.
6. Marqueta – the market.
This is lazy. Mercado is shorter and it’s umm the proper word.
7. Parquear – to park, usually like a boss.
I’m almost there. Estoy parqueando.
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8. Chance (chan sey) – chance
If you can’t make up a word just give the English word a Latino pronunciation. That usually does the trick.
9. Bloque – a neighborhood block.
If only we all lived en el mismo bloque as Mr. Roger, we’d all have proper vocabulary. I’m just saying…
10. Bildin – a building.
Or edificio. It isn’t that hard people.
11. Lonche – lunch.
Abuelita: ¿Qué comiste para la lonche hoy, mija?
Me: Nada. And when did you learn lonche?
12. Mopear – to mop.
I don’t even care that this word exists, tbh. Nothing can make this chore anymore fun. Call it what you want…like torture.
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13. Lockear – to lock.
Because atrancar is so 2014.
14. Carpeta – a carpet.
Wait? Haven’t we been making fun of people for making words Spanish by adding an ‘o’ to the end? When did we become just like them?
15. Vaquear – to vacuum.
This is like mopear. I don’t care unless the word gets rid of the damn task all together.
16. Janguear – To Hang Out
Wanna janguear tomorrow with me?
17. Tanquear – To Put Gasoline In the Car
Tanquear, from “Tank”. Because saying “ I’m going to put gasoline in my car” is just too long.
18. Chores – Shorts
For some reason it just sounds cooler!
19. Gugliar – To Google
Come on, there had to be a Spanish word to Google!
20. Watchear – To Watch.
You can watchear TV or watchear your kids. So handy.
21. Frizado – FrozenI guess you could say “congelado”, but frizado is a bit shorter.
22. El Shopin – The shopping MallLet’s go shopping to the shopin’ !
23. Nintendo – Basically any console.
Technically, Nintendo exists but it is used incorrectly 90% of the time. Nintendo = Nintendo. PS3 = Nintendo. Gameboy = Nintendo.
24. Mixtear – To Mix
The word in Spanish is Mezclar , but mixtear is the perfect “mixt”
25. Catsup – Ketchup
Can you please put some catsup in my jo do (hot dog)?
26. Draggear – To Drag
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Because “arrastrar” is so difficult to pronounce! Arrrrrastrar.
Be honest, how often do you use these words? Share this story with your friends so we can make this language mainstream, bro.
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