Dominican Words Flashcards
A lo calla’o
Something done secretly, or in silence.
Oí de la vecina que Raulo y Nuria se casaron a lo calla’o.
I heard from the neighbor that Raulo and Nuria eloped.
Este bonche no está de nada, vamono’ a lo calla’o.
This party kinda sucks, let’s just leave unannounced.
Todo el mundo sabe que los políticos son unos
ladrones a lo calla’o.
Everyone knows that politicians are just thieves, on the
down low.
A Nivel
Something well done, or in its rightful place. Figuratively
translates to “on solid footing” and may be used to positively
respond to a question.
¡Manuela está preparando un sancocho a nivel!
Manuela is making a damn good stew!
Cuando vuelva quiero ver todo organizado a nivel.
When I come back I want to see everything organized
perfectly.
A nivel manito.
Damn straight bro.
A’lante A’lante
Person of well-endowed economic standing, or who lives very
comfortably. “A’lante” is an alteration of the word “adelante”
(Ahead).
Wao Daniel, con esos zapatos te ves a’lante a’lante!
Damn, Daniel, with those shoes you look really stylish!
Abombarse
Rotten or spoiled food, fruit and water.
Las frutas comienzan a abombarse en la nevera.
The fruit started to rot in the fridge.
La carne está abombada.
The meat is getting rotten.
La basura va a comenzar a abombarse.
The trash is starting to rot.
Aficia’o / Aficia’a
A person that is deeply in love with
María está aficia’a de su marido.
Maria is deeply in love with her husband.
Él está demasiado aficia’o, no le pegara cuernos.
He is deeply in love, he won’t cheat on her.
Agayú / Agayúa
Used to refer to someone who doesn’t share
Carlos es un agayu, no te brinda ni agua en su casa.
Carlos is so stingy, he doesn’t offer water in his house.
No sea tan agayu, comparte eso.
Don’t be stingy, share that with me.
Agolpiá
(Noun - Feminine)
Dominican word that refers to a lot of physical punches or
blows.
Si le pones la mano te voy a dar una agolpiá.
If you touch that I’m going to beat you.
Le dieron una agolpiá que casi lo matan.
They gave him a beating that almost killed him.
Soñé que me dieron una agolpiá.
I had a dream that someone beat me up.
Agua’o / Agua’a
(Adjective)
It’s the Dominican way of saying “watery” but it’s used to refer
to someone boring or that cancels plans.
Ese pana es un agua’o!
That guy is boring!
Canceló de nuevo esa agua’a.
That flake cancelled again.
El jugo está agua’o.
The juice is too watery.
Ajuntar
(Verb)
Grouping things together, gather, conglomerate
¿Cuándo nos vamos a ajuntar ?
When are going to get together?
Ajunta la ropa que va a llover.
Gather the clothes, it’s going to rain.
Hay que ajuntar por colores.
We have to group by color.
Allantoso / Allantosa
Person who talks a lot and does little
Esos políticos son unos allantosos.
These politicians are all talk and no action.
Ese allantoso, me dijo que venía al trabajo y no vino.
He is so full of crap, he said he was coming to work and he never came
Amarga’o / Amarga’a
Person suffering a bad memory or the loss of a loved one.
Juan se amarga con esa bachata, le acuerda a su ex.
Juan gets melancholy when he hears that bachata song,
it reminds him of his ex.
No ‘toy amargao.
I am not depressed.
No te amargues todo saldrá bien.
Don’t get upset everything will turn out ok.
Anda el diablo
Translates literally to“the devil walks.” This phrase isused
commonly to show frustration, worry, or awe.
Anda el diablo, ahora no tenemos gasolina.
For the love of God, now we’re out of gas.
¿¡Anda el diablo, tu viste ese home run!?
Holy crap, did you see that home run!?
Añoñar; Añoña’o (M)/ Añoñá (F)
(Verb or Adjective)
Giving in to someone. Pleasing all your requests and wishes.
Ven a añoñarme que estoy enfermo.
Come and take care of me because I’m sick.
A ese carajito le tienen demasiado añoña’o.
They spoil that kid too much.
Apagón
(Noun - Masculine)
When you get your electricity cut off from lack of payment, or
when electricity goes out in the neighborhood
Coño, me cortan la luz otra vez pero eso no es na’ yo le
doy 1.000 peso’ a José pa’ que me la enganche otra vez.
Damn, they cut off the lights again but that is nothing;
I’ll give 1,000 pesos to Jose so he can hook me up
again.
Esos azarózo’ de la CDE, esta es a tercera vez en el día
de los apagones.
Those idiots from the light corporation (CDE), this is the
3rd blackout today.
Apearse
(Verb)
Getting down from somewhere.
Dile a ese carajito que se apeé de esa mata.
Tell that kid to get down from that tree.
¡Apéate de ahí ahora mismo!
Get down from there right now!
Me caí del carro cuando me apeé.
I felt from the car when I got out.
Apechurrao
(Adverb)
Group of people or things very tight that hardly fit in one
place.
Ahí van los ocho en ese carrito apachurrao como
sardinas.
Look those 8 people are packed in that little car like
sardines.
No me gusta andar apechurrao en guagua.
I don’t like to be stuffed on the public bus.
No me apechurre las frutas.
Don’t pack the fruit too tight.
Apero (M) / Apera (F)
(Adjective)
Expression that means that something looks good.
¡Loco que apero!
Dude that’s so cool
La película “El escuadrón suicida” fue demasiado apera.
The movie “Suicide Squad” was so cool.
Apota
(Expression)
A contraction for the phrase “on purpose”
Te juro que no lo hice apota.
I swear it was not on purpose.
A veces yo pienso que tú lo haces apota.
Sometimes I think you do it intentionally.
Quedó tan bien que pareció apota.
It ended up so well it seems intentional.
Arracar
(Verb)
To scratch
No alcanzo para arracarme la espalda.
I can’t reach to scratch my back!
No te puedes arracar aunque te pique.
You can’t scratch even if it itches.
Con este yeso no me puedo arracar.
I can’t scratch with this cast on.
Arregoso
(Adverb)
Refers to something risky, something that has a chance of
happening.
No camina sobre el piso mojado, arregoso te caes.
Don’t walk on the wet floor, you might fall.
Yo no salgo cuando llueve, arregoso me enfermo.
I don’t go out when it rains, I might get sick.
Arrima’o
(Noun - Masculine, Adjective)
The relative or acquaintance that puts any excuse to stay living
at your house, living off of you.
Luis vive arrima’o donde su primo.
Luis is living in his cousin’s house as a freeloader.
Tú eres un arrima’o, en esta casa no aportas nada.
You’re a freeloader; you don’t contribute anything to
this house.
Asopao
(Noun – Masculine)
Dish that once prepared, is essentially a thick rice soup,
generally prepared alongside some chicken or beef.
A mi no me gusta mucho el asopao, es muy grasoso.
I don’t really like asopado very much, it’s too greasy.
El asopao es una de las sopas dominicanas más
nutricionales.
Asopao is one of the most nutritious Dominican soups.
Ayantoso (M) / Ayantosa (F)
(Noun)
From the made up verb “ayantar” it’s person that lies to
impress, using not only words but also attitude and promises.
No me vengas con tu ayante, no te creo.
Stop the bluff I don’t believe you.
Ahí estás tu de ayantoso, tratando de impresionar.
There goes the bluffer, trying to impress.
Deja de ayantar y dame el dinero.
Stop bluffing and give me the money.
Baboso (M) / Babosa (F)
(Adjective)
Person talking a lot of nonsense and/or lies
Que baboso tú eres yo no dije eso.
You are such a liar, I did not say that.
Los más babosos siempre son los primeros en hablar.
The biggest liars are always the first to speak.
Bacano (M) / Bacana (F)
(Adjective)
Something very good, excellent, entertaining, cheerful, funny,
amazing, more than good.
Esa película es muy bacana.
That film is very cool.
Ese juego es bacano.
That game is cool.
El otro día escuché una canción bien bacana.
The other day I heard a good song.
Bacano (M) / Bacana (F)
(Noun)
Guy for whom everything works out.
Something interesting.
Que bacano es Juan.
John is so cool.
Loco, ¿viste la serie anoche? ¡Que bacana!
Dude, did you see the series last night? How cool!
Bájale algo
(Expression)
Expression used when something is considered to be excessive
or too much; literally translates to “lower it some”
¿Federico, y to’ ese jugo de chinola? ¡Bájale algo!
Federico, what’s with all that passionfruit juice? Put
some away!
Bájale algo a tu fogaraté que me tienes jarto.
Put a lid on your excitement, I’m getting fed up.
Baltrí
(Noun - Masculine, Adjective)
Being upset, resentment;
Same as always;
Bad experience, comes from the English expression”bad trip”
Es un baltrí tener que trabajar con este calor
It’s so bad to work with this heat.
Me hicieron pasar un baltri en el banco
They caused me a bad experience at the bank
Bembe
(Noun - Masculine)
Refers to a mouth with prominent lips
¿Te vas a pintar el bembe rojo?
Are you going to paint your lips red?
Me cai y me partí el bembe.
I fell and cut my lip.
La vas a reconocer por el bembe.
You’ll recognize her by the big mouth.
Boca de suape / Boca de trapo
(Adjective)
See: Baboso.
Literally, it means “mop mouth,” though it describes someone
with a big mouth, who gossips a lot.
¡Diantre! Manuel si es boca de suape, tanta baba que
habla.
Jesus! Manuel is such a big mouth, he can’t keep a
secret.
A ese carajito hay que apodarle boca de suape.
We gotta nickname that Little boy “Bigmouth”.
Boche
(Noun - Masculine)
To call attention to something.
Mi mama me hecho un boche.
My mom scolded me.
Estoy cansada de aguantar boche del jefe.
I’m tired of being called out by the boss.
Esa profesora vive echando boches.
That teacher is always calling people out
Bochinche
(Noun - Masculine)
An agitated situation, gossip, annoying murmur, instigating.
¡Me dejan el bochinche ahí!
Stop the murmur there!
Hay un bochinche en la esquina.
Something is happening in the corner.
Eso es un bonchinche, no es verdad.
That’s just gossip, it is not true.
Bola
(Noun - Feminine)
A ride or help to get somewhere.
¿Me puedes dar una bola ?
Could you give me a ride?
Luis me dio una bola.
Luis gave me a ride.
¿Te puedo pedir bola?
Can I ask for a ride?
Bonche
(Noun - Masculine)
Word used to refer to a very animated party, also used by
Dominican youth to talk specifically about an electronic music
party or “rave.”
El bonche de anoche si estaba bueno.
That party last night was awesome.
¿Vas para el bonche de este fin de semana?
Are you going to the rave this weekend?
Brechador (M) / Brechadora (F)
(Adjective)
A person that spies or is in other people’s business.
La vecina esta todos los días de brechadora desde su
balcón.
The neighbor is always spying from her balcony.
¡Juan es un brechdor!
John is on top of other peoples business.
Bufear
(Verb)
The action of making a joke or mocking someone.
Nicole esta bufeando al profesor.
Nicole is making fun of the teacher.
Me bufie a mi hermanita con el cuento del monstruo
bajo la cama.
I mocked my sister with the monster under the bed
story.
Con mi mama no se puede bufear.
You can´t joke with my mother.
Calentarse / Estar caliente
(Reflexive verb)
Translates to “getting hot or heating up” and it refers to
getting in trouble after making a mistake in the eyes of other
Te vas a calentar con tu mujer.
You’re going to get in trouble with your wife.
‘ta caliente tu después de la fiesta esa.
You’re in trouble since that party.
Se calentó con el jefe.
He’s in trouble with the boss.
Calié
(Noun - Unisex)
Term coming from the 30-year-long dictatorship of General
Rafael Trujillo, it refers to the people charged with infiltrating
an area to betray or snitch on the opposition
Callénse que por ahí viene un calié.
Shut up here comes the snitch.
Yo creo que la profesora tiene un calié en la clase.
I think the teacher has a snitch in the class.
Seguro se enteró por un calié.
He probably found out from a snitch
Can’taleta
(Noun - Feminine)
Scolding over an action taken
Me dio una can’taleta por una hora casi.
He scolded me for almost an hour.
Estoy cansada de la misma can’taleta todos los días.
I’m tired of the same scold every day.
Si no dejas la can’taleta me voy.
If you don’t stop scolding, I’ll leave.
Carabelita
(Adjective - Unisex)
Word that refers to things of poor quality or to an illegal
reproduction of an item.
Se notaba de lejos que el reloj era carabelita.
You could tell from afar that the watch was a knockoff.
Yo no compro cosas carabelita.
I don’t buy cheap stuff.
Ese vestido se ve carabelita.
That dress looks cheap.
Carajito (M) / Carajita (F)
(Noun)
Term derived from “carajo” which refers to kids with plentiful
energy or a notable lack of maturity even for their age.
¡Ese carajito embroma demasiado, por dios!
For God’s sake, that little kid fools around a bit too
much!
Yo no me junto con carajitos.
I don’t hang out with little boys.
Casimente
(Adverb)
Refers to something that’s close to happening.
Casimente tienen un accidente!
They almost got in an accident!
Casimente empieza el concierto.
The concert is almost starting.
Casimente termino.
I’m almost done.
Ché
(Expression)
Expression of disgust to a smell or something unpleasant.
¡Ché ! ¡Hay que sacar la basura!
Wow ! We need to take out the trash!
¡Ché! Cambiale el pañal.
Gross! Change his diaper!
¡Ché! ¡Se tiraron un peo !
Eww! Someone farted!
Chepa
(Noun - Feminine)
Used to indicate chance, luck, or something unusual.
Que chepa, pase el examen.
I’m lucky, I passed the test.
Luis tuvo una chepa con esa jeva.
Luis got lucky with that girl.
Conseguí trabajo, que chepa.
I got a job, what luck.
Chercha
(Noun - Feminine)
Dominican translation of the English “church.” Since Black
American churches during the American intervention were
used to singing and dancing, the Dominicans adopted it as
synonymous with celebration in a small group.
Vamo a hacer chercha este fin de semana.
Let’s hang out this weekend.
Carlos me invito a su casa que hay una charcha con los
muchachos.
Carlos invited me to his house his having a get together
with the guys.
Chicharrón
(Noun – Masculine)
Seazoned and fried, thick pig skin bits often eaten
accompanied by tostones and salad.
No comas el chicharrón de la señora del colmadon, te
va a enfermar.
Don’t eat the chicharrón from that lady by the corner
store, you’ll get sick
Solo alguien con buen gusto puede sazonar chicharrón
bien.
Only someone with good taste can season chicharron
correctly.
Chichí
(Noun - Masculine)
Newborn baby.
¡Mira que chichi ni más lindo!
Look, what a cute baby!
Stephanie acaba de tener un chichi.
Stephanie just had a baby.
Mi chichi ya tiene 3 meses.
My baby is already 3 months old!
Chichigua
(Noun - Feminine)
It is the Dominican word for “kite” and it’s also used to refer to
a person that is in a hurry.
La vi que salió por ahí como una chichigua.
I saw her leaving in a hurry.
La semana santa es la temporada de chichiguas.
Easter break is kite season.
¿Sabes hacer tu propia chichigua ?
Do you know how to make your own kite?
Chichón
(Noun - Masculino)
Inflamation of the head after a violent blow. It could be loosely
translated to “goose egg.”
Si te caes te vas a hacer un chichón.
If you fall you’re going to end up with a goose egg.
Ese es el chichón más grande que he visto.
That’s the biggest Goose egg I’ve seen.
Ese chichón se ve peligroso.
That goose egg looks dangerous.
Chiripa
Noun - Feminine)
Something insufficient or small. A short-term informal job.
Something extra.
Conseguí una chiripa para el fin de semana.
Got a gig for this weekend.
No seas tacaño, dame esa chiripita.
Don’t be cheap, give me that little extra.
Yo no quiero chiripas.
I don’t want so little.
Chivo
Noun - Masculine)
“Un chivo” is a fraud or cheating; “Being chivo” is to be
suspicious of something.
Imperfection: when something is unfinished.
Bueno… hay que andar chivo por esa calle, por que
atracan.
Well … you have to be aware when you walk through
that street, people rob there.
Ay dios mío La profesora le encontró un chivo a Juan.
Oh my god… The teacher found notes for the test on
John.
El Hueso
Damn!!
Chuliar
Kissing with passion (or using tongue).
Me voy a chuliar a Karla orita.
I’m going to kiss Karla later.
Pedro si sabe chuliar rico.
Pedro is a good kisser.
¿Te vas a chuliar con esa jeva, tu estas seguro?
Are you going to kiss that girl, are you sure?
Cicote
(Noun - Masculine)
Bad odor on the feet.
Saca esos zapatos de aquí, tienen cicote.
Get those shoes out of here, they smell.
Ponte los zapatos, tienes cicote.
Put your shoes back on, your feet smell.
Cocolo
Noun – Masculine)
Originally it was used to refer to a Dominican born British
population that was part of a community in the town of
Samaná. It is now used to refer to men that have adopted hip-
hop culture.
Ahí estás tu escuchando música de cocolo.
There you go listening to gang music.
Los pantalones por las nalgas son de cocolo.
Pants that hang from the butt are for gangsters.
A mi me gustan los cocolos.
I like thugs.
Cocotazo
(Noun - Masculine)
Dry blow given to the head.
Le dieron un cocotazo a ese carajito por necio.
He got a stroke on the head for being foolish.
La vecina vive dándole cocotazo al hijo.
The neighbor is always stroking her son’s head.
Colmadón
Noun - Masculine)
Mini market in which you can find first need articles and get
them retailed. It is at the same time an entertainment center in which you can purchase (or on the spot drinking) alcoholic
beverages.
Ve al colmadón y trae una libra de queso.
Go to the store and get me a pound of cheese.
Que bulla hay en el colmadón hoy.
There’s a lot of noise coming from the store today.
Nos vemos en el colmadón hoy para un par de
cervezas.
Meet you at the corner store today for a couple of
beers.
Concho
Noun - Masculine)
Urban transport vehicle usually in very bad condition.
Tú tienes que coger un concho derecho en la Av.
Churchill.
You have to take a public car that goes straight on
Churchill Ave.
¿Cuánto hay que pagar de pasaje para el carrito?
How much do you have to pay the public car for the
ride?
Yo cojo un carrito en la Bolívar para llegar al trabajo.
I take a public car in the Bolivar to go to work.
Cónchole / Cónchale
Expression)
Expression that can denote surprise passively.
Cónchale, no me digas que murió tu tío
Damn, don’t tell me your uncle died.
!Cónchole no me molestes!
Dammit, do not bother me!
Concón
Noun - Masculine)
Hard rice at the bottom of the pot when cooked. (The word is
the onomatpoeia of the sound an iron cooking spoon makes
while scraping the bottom of the pot).
Dame un chin de concón y habichuela.
Give me some Concón and beans.
Raspa el concón que tengo hambre.
Scrap the Concón, im hungry.
¿Me puede poner concon con la comida, por favor?
Can you get me some Concón on my food, please?
Coro
Close group of friends, group of friends having a good time
together, party amongst friends, intimate celebration.
¿Dónde es el coro hoy?
Where’s the gathering today?
Llama al coro a ver que hay de Nuevo.
Call the gang and see what’s new.
Vamos a hacer un coro para mi cumpleaños.
Let’s gather for my birthday.
Cotorra
Noun - Feminine)
Argument used to convince someone or to hit on a girl.
No me dé cotorra, yo sé que es tu culpa.
Don’t try to convince me, I know it’s your fault.
Mira a Pedro dándole cotorra a esa gringa.
Look at Pedro hitting on that white girl.
Ese tipo no sabe dar cotorra.
That guy doesn’t know how to convince/ doesn’t know
how to get a girl.
Cuarto
Noun - Masculine)
Word used to refer to money.
Room in the house destined to sleep.
Mejor será que me pagues mis cuartos.
You better pay me my money back.
Carlos está en el cuarto.
Carlos is in the room.
¿Cuánto cuarto te debe Pedro?
How much money does Pedro owe you?
Curtío (M) / Curtía (F)
(Adjective)
Used to describe something that has lost its color.
No te pongas esa camisa que esta curtía.
Don’t wear that t-shirt it’s discolored
Me tengo que comprar otra gorra esta curtía
I have to buy another hat this one is discolored.
Cute
Noun - Masculine)
Word to refer to nail polish.
¿Qué cuté quieres?
Which nail polish do you want?
¿De qué color compraste el cuté?
What color is the nail polish you bought?
Demagogia/ Dema
Noun-adjective - Feminine)
“Having dema “means being envious of someone.
“Demagogo” is the adjective.
El me tiene dema.
He is jealous of me.
Ese tipo es un demagogo.
That guy is an envious person
Dembow
Urban Dominican music genre, whose music focuses in loud
and distorted bass and drum rhythms, the instruments used
vary a lot as the tracks ar created via software.
Esta vaga nadamás se la quiere estar pasando en la
calle de noche bailando dembow.
This good-for-nothing girl only wants to spend her time
in the streets at night dancing dembow.
El dembow es lo único que se oye en la calle hoy en día.
Dembow is the only thing you hear on the streets
nowadays
Detutane
Looking unkempt and ungroomed.
¡Después de la fiesta tengo un detutane!
After the party I feel like crap!
¿Y ese detutane que tu trae ?
Why are you looking so disheveled?
No dormir me tiene con un detutane.
Not sleeping has me disheveled.
Dique
Expression)
Popular Dominican expression that is also pronounced
“dizque”, it is used to talk about something that is not
confirmed, like gossip.
Dique la vecina se va a mudar.
I heard the neighbor is moving.
Yo no sé pero dique vamos a salir esta noche.
I don’t know, but we’re supposedly going out tonight.
Embullar
Verb)
Enterntain or distract someone.
Esos juguetes lo van a embullar.
Those toys will distract him.
Sal de la casa para que te embulles.
Get out of the house to distract yourself.
Están agitados, ¿cómo los vas a embullar?
They’re agitated, how are you going to distract them?
Emburujar
(Verb)
Complicating something, fighting
Si siguen así se van a emburujar esos dos.
If those two keep at it they’re going to end up fighting.
Me voy a emburujar con la tarea ahora.
I’m going to battle my homework now.
Ya vienes tu a emburujar la ropa.
Here you come to mess with the clothes.
Emprestar
Verb)
Action of lending something.
Emprestame tu computadora hasta el viernes.
Lend me your computer until Friday
Carlos, emprestale tus colores a tu hermano.
Carlos, lend your brother the colors.
Encaramarse
Verb)
Action of getting on top of something.
Ella se me encaramó.
She got on top of me.
No te encarame en esa mata.
Don’t climb that tree.
Encarámate en el techo.
Get on the roof.
Encojonado (M) / Encojonada (F)
Adjective)
Being really angry or frustrated.
¡Estoy encojonada con mami!
I’m angry with mom!
Se fue encojonado de aquí.
He left furious.
El público estaba encojonado pro el atraso.
The crowd was angry because of the delay.
Enfríarse o Estar frío
Reflexive verb)
Translates to “Getting cold or cool” and it refers to being held
in high esteem whether for good performance, a favor or after fixing a mistake
Te enfríaste con ese regalo.
You’re forgiven after that gift.
Me tengo que enfríar con mi novio.
I have to make amends with my boyfriend.
Es mejor que te enfríes después de esa llamada.
You better fix things after that call.
Fiebrú
Noun - Masculine)
Person addicted to something.
Soy fiebrú con la pelota.
I’m so addicted to baseball.
Ese tipo e’ un fiebrú de la computadora.
That guy is addicted to the computer.
Ese tipo tiene una fiebre con el maldito Nintendo ese, ni se para a miar.
That guy is so addicted to Nintendo Video games, he
doesn’t even get up to pee.
Fogaraté
Noun - Masculine)
A wild plant that causes skin irritation. Used to describe
someone’s dynamism.
Esa niña tiene un fogaraté !
That girl has fire in her veins!
Cuidado que por ahí hay fogaraté.
Watch out for the wild plants.
Cuando hay fiesta se le mete un fogaraté.
When there’s a party he gets fire in his blood.
Freco (M) / Freca (F)
Adjective)
Fresh person that takes confidence too soon with a person.
Tu si ere freco quien te dijo que le ponga la mano.
You are so fresh, who told you to touch that.
Ese tipo si es freco.
That guy is so fresh
Fría
Noun - Feminine)
Is a way to call a very cold beer, generally the brand “Presidente”
Dame una fría.
Give me a cold beer.
Que ganas tengo de una fría.
I’m craving a cold Beer.
Tráeme una fría con la comida.
Bring me a cold beer with the food.
Fukú
Dominican word that refers to a sudden streak of bad luck, or
to an object that is said to bring bad luck.
Será un fukú que tiene el equipo.
I think the team is cursed.
Ese tipo es un fukú, cada vez que viene chocamos el
carro.
That guy is cursed; every time he comes we crash the car.
Si le contestas a tu madre te cae un fukú.
If you talk back to your mother, you will be cursed.
Fuñir
Equivalent to bother, fidgeting, excessively active.
Diablos ese carajito no para de fuñir.
Dam that kid doesn’t stop bothering.
Estoy cansada de fuñir contigo.
I’m so tired of bothering with you.
Furúfa
An ugly woman
No quiero saber de furúfas.
I don’t want anything to do with ugly women.
¿Qué se crée esa furúfa ?
Who does that hoe thinks she is?
Dile a la furúfa esa que no se meta conmigo.
Tell that witch not to mess with me.
Galillo
Noun - Masculine)
Larynx power to issue such a high voice, heard in the distance.
We could say that is the ability of a person to shout.
¡Deja ese galillo!
Stop screaming!
El galillo de mami se oye en el colmado.
When my mother shouts you can hear her in the
minimarket.
Gase / Gas
Noun - Masculine)
Ejection of gas through the mouth.
Tirarse gase es mala educación.
Burping is unpolite.
Sácale los gases al bebé.
Burp the baby.
Alguien comió longaniza y se tiró un gase.
Someone ate sausage and then burped.
Grajo
Noun - Masculine)
Bad smell of sweat expelling from the underarm. Underarm is
also known as “Sobaco”.
Ese tipo tiene un grajo
That guy has such a bad body odor
Que grajo tengo, me voy a bañar.
I smell so bad, I´m going to take a bath.
Guácala
Expression of disgust or dislike of something unpleasant or
disgusting.
Guacala! A ti te gusta el aguacate.
Yuck! You like avocado.
Guacala! Tengo que limpiar la pupú del perro
Gross! I have to pick up the dog’s poop.
Guachimán
Noun - Masculine)
Private Guardian. It comes from the English “Watchman”. To
abbreviate the word also call them “guachi
El guachimán del edificio tiene la llave.
The security guard of the building has the key.
Pregúntale al guachi si llego el vecino.
Ask the doorman if the neighbor is home.
Guille
Noun - Masculine)
Feeling attracted to someone. Hiding oneself or a reality.
Pretending.
María tiene un guille con Carlos.
María is attracted to Carlos
Se guilló de loco para no pagar.
He pretended he was crazy and didn’t pay.
Déjà el guille que sabemos la verdad.
Stop pretending, we know the truth.
Güira
Traditional Dominican instrument used to play merengue, it has a cylindrical shape and is covered in holes that ressemble those
of a cheese-grater.
No existe merengue tradicional sin güira.
There is no such thing as traditional merengue without a
güira.
Tocar la güira es mas difícil de lo que parece.
Playing the güira is a lot harder than it seems.
Hame’ coro
(Expression)
A way of saying “entertain me” or “pay some attention to me”
Diogenes, toi aburria a nivel, hame’ coro.
Diogenes, I’m truly bored, entertain me.
Manuel pero que’ lo que! Hame coro, que me sacate’ lo
pié ayer…
Manuel, what’s up man! Hit me up here, since you forgot
about me yesterday…
Hanguiá’
Noun - Masculine)
A way of saying “going out”, to share with another person.
Estoy aburrida quiero hanguiá’.
I’m bored I want to go out.
Mami, voy a hanguiá’ con Luis.
Mom, I’m going out with Luis.
Jablador (M) / Jabladora (F)
Adjective)
Someone who constantly says lies.
Tú si ere jablador.
You are such a liar
Ese hablador le dijo que yo lo hice
That liar told him I did it.
¡No soporto a ese jablador!
Can´t stand that liar!
Jabladuría
A lie.
Eso es una jabladuría.
Here he comes with his lies.
Ya has dicho demasiada jabladuría.
You’ve said too many lies.
Esa es una jabladuría demasiado grande.
That’s a major fallacy.
Jamona
Noun – Feminine)
A woman that has not married.
Jarina
(Noun - Feminine)
Light rain
Esta jarineando.
It’s raining slightly.
No voy a salir con esta Jarina.
I’m not going out with this light rain.
Jarto (M) / Jarta (F)
This Word is related to being really tired, or tired of something.
Having a full stomach.
Estoy jarto de ti, me tienes jarto.
You got me so fed up
Los apagones me tienen jarto.
The power outages have me so fed up.
Comí demasiado, estoy jarto.
I ate so much, I’m full.
Jartura
Eating too much, to a point that you have a stomachache or are well satisfied
Que jartura de mango.
I’m so full of eating Mango
Tengo una jartura que no puedo pararme.
I’m so full I can’t stand.
Loco ayer me di una jartura de Sancocho en casa de mi
abuela.
Dude yesterday I ate so much Sancocho at my
grandmother’s house.
Jevito (M) / Jevita (F)
Term used by the Dominican youth to mark young people
who are very fashionable and pretentious, comes from the
English “Heavy”.
Ese bar es de jevitos.
That bar is for snobby kids.
Los jevitos de hoy en día solo quieren andar en shorts.
The snobs only want to wear shorts nowadays.
Jipío
Gasping sound emitted while crying intensely.
Está llorando con jipío.
She’s crying without consolation.
Guardate tu jipío.
You can save the tears.
Escucho jipíos ahí al lado.
I hear crying next door.
Juchar
Provoque, instigate, incite a person to do something. It is also
applied to the action of motivating an animal to attack.
Te voy a juchar al perro para que te vayas
I’m going to let the dog loose on you to kick you out.
A mi no hay que jucharme mucho.
You don’t have to incite me too much.
Deja de jucharlos para que peleen.
Stop instigating a fight.
Jumo
How you get after drinking a lot of alcohol.
Me di un jumo anoche que no recuerdo nada.
I got so drunk last night I can’t remember anything.
El tiene un jumo.
He is drunk.
Juntadera
This term refers to a gathering to drink or eat.
La juntadera de esta noche es en casa de Juan
The get together is at John´s
¿Dónde es la juntadera?
Where is the get together?
¿Cuándo es la juntadera del trabajo?
When is the meeting with the people from work?
Kachú
Noun - Masculine)
Tomato paste/sauce (sándwich variety), ketchup.
Traeme Kachu con mis papas fritas.
Bring me Ketchup with my french fries.
Yo no como Pica Pollo sin Kachu.
I can’t eat Fry chicken without Ketchup.
La bandera
It’s the most popular dish in the Dominican Republic, due to
how much it leaves anyone satisfied, and its low preparation
cost.
It’s made up of rice, with red beans in their sauce, and chicken
or beef meats.
It can be accompanied by salad.
El dominicano que no haya probado la bandera se esta
perdiendo del significado de la vida.
The Dominican that hasn’t ever tried the flag, is missing
out on the true meaning of life.
Cuando yo vengo del trabajo y mi esposa me guarda la
bandera… ¡se me salen las lagrimas!
When I come back from work and my wife prepares the
flag for me… I can’t hold back the tears!
La macate’!
A way of telling someone that they’ve made a terrible mistake.
¡La macate’ si chocaste el carro de papi, Carlos!
You messed up real bad if you crashed dad’s car,
Carlos!
Me dijeron ayer que la macate’ con tu abuela por estar
de freco, ¿eh?
So…I was told yesterday that you got on your
grandma’s bad side for being so disrespectful huh?
Lambón (M) / Lambona (F)
Adjective or expression)
Person asking a lot of favors and going to places where they
have not been invited.
Flatterer.
Eres un lambón de los jefes.
You are a sucker to the bosses.
¡Que lambón es ese tipo!
He is such a flatterer!
Le pasó como a confú
Expression used to indicate that somebody got cofused.
Ah, compro el vestido equivocado, le paso como a
confú…
Oh, she bought the wrong dress… must’ve gotten
mixed up.
Le dije que trajera al perro pero le pasó como a confú y
vino con el gato.
I told her to bring the dog but she got mixed up and
came with the cat.
Llégale
An indirect order that can literally be interpreted as “go do it”,
but which can also be interpreted as an imperative “get it”
(such as when a joke is made)
¿Llegale pai, ahora el pasaje cuesta 5 pesos mas, pero
qué vaina eh?
Get this, now the transportation fees have gone up by 5
pesos, what a damn thing eh?
Llegale que después nos deja la guagua!
Get there or else the bus will leave us behind!
Locrio de pollo
Noun – Masculine)
Dish which consists in the preparation of rice with vegetables
and seasonings incorporated, to then add well seasoned and
cooked chicken bits or whole pieces of it (preferably smoked)
Hoy mami está cocinando locrio, ¡Alabado sea el señor!
Today mom is making locrio, praise the lord!
Tengo que aprender a cocinar locrio antes de ir a vivir
solo.
I have to learn to cook locrio before going to live on my
own.
Los tres golpes
Garnish which is generally served with mangu, made out of
fried salami, onion and fried eggs.
Mi comida favorita es mangú con sus 3 golpes.
My favourite food is mangu with fried salami, onion and
fried eggs.
¡Los tres golpes van bien con cualquier plato!
Fried salami, onion and fried eggs go well with any
dish!
Macarla
Literally translates to “biting” or “chewing” but refers to
making a big and almost irreversible mistake.
La acabo de macar en ese examen.
I just screwed up that test.
La macaste con tu novia.
You screwed up with your girl.
La masticaron con esos anuncios.
They messed up with those ads.
Pa que sepa
