Words and phrases we've pinched from Spanish

Question

There are many words that we use everyday that we English-speakers have pilfered from across the globe. Spanish words are no exception. So here's the challenge:

Lets see how many words and phrases we can come up with that we have pinched from Spanish

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I'll start:

Mi casa es su casa

My house is your house

This phrase is widely used in Spanish and Mexican homes to make guests feel welcome but it has passed into American English through the Latin American and Spanish communities and now it has also reached British English. In Spanish it is quite a formal phrase but in English people tend to say it theatrically and less formally.

Example of use in English

"Hey friends come on in! There's no need to take your shoes off, Mi casa es su casa, let me get you drinks."

• ¨"Entonces dame las llaves" - JulianChivi Aug 3, 2010
• This is a great thread cardiff, wonderful! - Heidita Aug 4, 2010
• This could run and run - galsally Aug 4, 2010

Answer 1

And at our Fiesta there was a Piñata.

I don't think it even has an English name! Explanation, sure, but a one word name?

Hanging-basket-of-goodies-waiting-to-get-smashed-open-thingy.

• You can buy a pinata in England now. We definitely don't have our own word for them. - fontanero Aug 3, 2010
• Can't type n with tilda in comments ! - fontanero Aug 3, 2010
• Do they use ñ in the word or just n. We need to call a plumber, your Spanish is leaking! :) - LateToDinner Aug 3, 2010
• Just an "n" Late, we don't have accents. - fontanero Aug 3, 2010
• What? every Brit I've ever talked too had an accent! - LateToDinner Aug 3, 2010
View 15 more commments >>

Answer 2

How about "hasta la vista" baby!

• Sounds "Terminal". - fontanero Aug 3, 2010
• And what ever you do, don´t eat donuts! - JulianChivi Aug 3, 2010
• Even in good ol' blighty we know this one! - galsally Aug 4, 2010

Answer 3

I love the phrasing of your question, words we've pinched.

The first one that springs to mind is:-

Amigo, for friend. Though not amiga.

• Yes good one Fontenero :) very coomon these days - FELIZ77 Aug 3, 2010
• ... and not only that, but common,too! - LateToDinner Aug 20, 2010

Answer 4

Because the expressions are so similar, people often say:

"No problema." for "No problem."

• I've heard "no problemo", we don't do genders. - fontanero Aug 3, 2010
• It's incorrect tho, isn't it? should be no hay problema.? - galsally Aug 4, 2010

Answer 5

Yo quiero Taco Bell

I like 'pinched' but this was rammed down our throats ... pun intended!

• Subject pronoun!!!! Send that chihuahua to the dunce corner! - Yeser007 Aug 3, 2010
• Too late. It passed away last month. Made the news! Gidget. - LateToDinner Aug 3, 2010
• Awww! Bummer. - Yeser007 Aug 3, 2010
• She may have said: Here leezerd, leezerd, leezerd ... one time too many! - LateToDinner Aug 4, 2010
• Sounds like we missed something wonderful by living in England.. :P - galsally Aug 4, 2010
View 1 more commments >>

Answer 6

Are you loco?

Loco=Crazy

• Another one so ingrained that it would be easy to miss! - LateToDinner Aug 3, 2010

Answer 7

There are tons of words associated with the southwest and cowboying that are taken from Spanish:

buckaroo = vaquero

calaboose = calaboso

pinto = pinto

chaps = chaparreras

lasso = lazo

lariat = la reata

vamoose = vamos

bandana = bandana

latigo = látigo

The list goes on.

• Thanks for leaving out Rodeo! But I still would have used it! - LateToDinner Aug 3, 2010

Answer 8

Aficionado

ardent fan or devotee

In Spanish this term is most often used to describe a fan of Bull-fighting but in English it has come to mean a devoted fan of a sport or art .

Answer 9

qué será, será

... whatever will be, will be!

Answer 10

I often hear people say something like this when they are tired in the middle of the day:

"I could use a siesta."

"It's time for my siesta".

• Grownups can say that, babies take naps - the rest of us have siestas! good one! - LateToDinner Aug 3, 2010

Answer 11

One of my early exposures to Spanglish!

"Vaya con Dios my darling"

Answer 12

What about "el niño" and "la niña" for meteorological conditions?

• Good one , it is quite commonplace in OZ. - ray76 Aug 3, 2010

Answer 13

El Camino

• I've always wanted one of those. Don't think I've ever seen a real one. - fontanero Aug 4, 2010

Answer 14

We have many foods that keep their original spanish names, like salsa, pimientos, etc.

• LOl I thought Salsa was a type of dance ???l ol - FELIZ77 Aug 3, 2010
• Now Feliz needs to get pinched. - LateToDinner Aug 3, 2010

Answer 15

Think of all of the words with double L!

Armadillo , Llama, cigarillo, Camarillo, Amarillo ... just those could fill pages, no?

Pecadillo?

• Don't forget tortilla - amykay Aug 3, 2010