How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents | Glossary of Spanish Terms

agua florida: floral water, cologne
alta sociedad: high society; the elite
antojos: whims; cravings
ay: an exclamation of pain or dismay; also used to express enthusiasm or agreement
barrio: neighborhood
bienvenida: welcome
bobo: fool
bruja: witch
caballeros: gentlemen
café con leche: coffee with milk
camioneta: light truck; van
campesino: farmer; farm laborer; peasant
campo: farm; countryside; field
cantina: bar or tavern
casita: cottage
chapita: cop; police officer; nickname for Dominican dictator, Rafael Trujillo
cielito lindo: lovely sweetheart; term of endearment for a female
cuquita: term of affection for a girl or woman
damas: ladies
doña: title of respect used for a woman
don: title of respect used for a man
embajada: embassy
la familia: the family
fincas: farms
gringas: white women
guardia: guard or group of guards; used in book to mean Trujillo's secret police
hay visita: There are visitors.
jamona: spinster
loa: spirit in Haitian voodoo tradition
lotería: lottery
misterio: mystery
muchachas: girls
una mujer del campo: a woman from the countryside
mujeres: women
muy: very
novena: devotion consisting of nine separate days of prayers and services
novia: girlfriend
nuestro placer: our pleasure
el patrón: the boss
pobrecito: poor thing
¿Que hay?: What's happening? What's up?
Que viva la revolucíon: Long live the revolution.
santo: saint or spirit
SIM: acronym for Servicio de Inteligencia Militar or Military Intelligence Service; Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo's secret police
tía: aunt
tío: uncle
tórtola: turtledove