Glossary
Abriendo Caminos (Opening Pathways)—title of the film about Antonia Patoja
abrazos—embraces
abuela—grandmother
abuelos—grandparents
ahora—now, or do it now!
Alemania—Germany
amigos—friends
¡ándale!—go quickly
antepasados—ancestors
aspira—to aspire
a sus órdenes—at your service
¡Ay, Dios mio!—Oh my God!
“Ay, mi hijita, nunca olvides quién eres y de dénde venistes”—Oh my dearest little daughter, never forget who you are and where you came from
Ay, no hay que llorar, porque la vida es un carnival—No need to cry, because life is a carnival
banda—band
barrio—neighborhood
bendición—blessing
bien educado—well-educated
bienvenido—welcome
bueno—good or OK
¡caramba!—wow!
cariño—affection
carisma—charisma
caudillo—boss
celito lindo—beautiful heaven
charlar—chat
Chicano—American of Mexican descent
chico—kid
!Claro que sí—Yes of course!
comadre—female friend of the family
compadre—male friend of the family
compartir—to participate
comunidad—community
con gotas se llena el valde—the barrel fills up drop by drop
con permiso—with permission
conciencia—conscience, self-awareness
confianza—confidence
conjunto—set
conquistadores—conquerors
consejo—counsel
consistencia—consistency
corazón—heart
cultura, la—the culture
de colores—of many colors
de—of or from
destino—destiny
días de fiestas—days of festivities
dicho—saying
dignidad—dignity
dinero—money
echando flores—giving flowers
el—the (masculine)
El Día de la Raza—the day of the race (new Latino people of the world)
El Golfo de México—the Gulf of Mexico
El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Angeles—the Village of Our Lady, the Queen of the Angels of the River Porziuncola
¿Entiende Ud. español?—Do you speak Spanish? (asked formally)
es tu primo—he’s your cousin
España—Spain
español—Spanish
esperanza—hope
es la hora—yes, it’s the hour or it’s time
está en las manos de Dios—it is in the hands of God
estoy—I am (temporary)
familia—family
fe y esperanza—faith and hope
fuerza—force
futuro—future
igualdad—equality, fairness, and justice
fiesta—party
finca—farm
flores—flowers
frijoles—beans
ganas—desire
gente—people
gozar la vida—to savor life
gracias—thank you
gusto—taste or liking
hacienda—estate
hágalo con orgullo—do it with pride
hermanos—brothers; hermanas—sisters
hombre de palabra—man of his word
historia—history
identidad—identity
inglés—English
in Lak’ech—You are in me and I am in you (Mayan)
jamón—ham
juntos—union, we are together
la—the (feminine singular)
La Raza Unida—organization whose name means “the united race”
Latinismo—Latinism
lengua—language
libro—book
isla—island los—the (masc. plural); las (fem. plural)
los que no trabajan no comen—those that don’t work don’t eat
madrina—godmother
maestro—master
maíz—corn
mande—tell me what you want me to do
más—more
mestizaje—experience of Mestizo mix
Mestizo—mixture of European (predominantly Spanish) and Indian
mi—my
mi casa es su casa—my house is your house
milagro—miracle
mucho—much
mundo—world
música—music
muy contento/a—very happy
niños—children
no importa—it’s not important
¡Órale!—Keep it up! Right on! or Way to go!
padres—parents
padrino—godfather
palabras—words
para servirle—to serve you
partera—midwife
pasión—passion
paso a paso—step by step
personalismo—persona
pico de gallo—a diced chunky salsa; literally, “beak of the rooster”
poder—power
por favor—please
primos—cousins
problema—problem
¡Que viva el español!—Long live Spanish!
¿Que es destino?—What is destiny?
¡Que simpatico!—How easygoing!
rancheros—ranchers and Mexican polka music
Raza, la—the race; best defined as “the new Latino people of the world”
Raza Cósmica, la—the cosmic race
respeto—respect
rico—rich
salsa—sauce
sentimentos—feelings
ser—to be (permanent)
ser honesto—to be honest
Si quieres hablar español, oprima el número—If you speak Spanish, press the number
sí se puede—yes, we can
simpático—easy to get along with
solitas—alone (plural)
soy—I am (permanent)
soy como soy—I am the way I am
Suave—smooth
La vida es un carnival—life is a carnival
te quita el corazón—it rips your heart out
tiempo—time
tilma—a traditional Indian poncho
tía abuela—grandmother aunt
tías—aunts
tíos—uncles
trabajar—to work
último, el—the best, the last
un—a
único—unique
unidos—united
unidad—unity
vámonos—let’s go
Valle del Sol—Hispanic organization, literally, “valley of the sun”
vaqueros—cowboys
verdad—true
vida—life
vida Latina, la—the Latin life
yo decido—I decide
yo siento, ergo soy—I feel, therefore I am