dominican bites

Un cuchillo

Literal translation: a knife Meaning: used to refer to medicine (from any source) that is very effective in treating or curing the symptoms of an illness. Significado: describe una medicina (natural o no) que es muy efectiva en tratar o curar los síntomas de una enfermedad. Use: colloquial, urban

“¡Cuidado! Hay perro bravo”. Caution! Aggressive dog! Signs with this caption are frequently found on the fences of Dominican houses to deter theft. In many cases, there is no such dog… but would a thief want to find out? Letreros con esta frase son comunes frente a las rejas de algunas casas dominicanas. En muchos casos no existe tal perro… pero ¿se atrevería a comprobarlo un ladrón?

¡Lo que pasa es que éste es un país de gente bruta!

Literal translation: the thing is, this is a country of stupid people This phrase became part of the Dominican argot, after Máximo Beras Goico, Dominican psychiatrist and brother of late television personality Freddy Beras Goico, used it in his TV segment “El Psiquiatra en su Hogar” (The Psychiatrist in your Home). During the show, viewers would call in with issues they needed advice on. Máximo often got visibly angry at callers’ “brutishness” and introduced his professional advice with the famed phrase. Do you have footage of Máximo Beras Goico saying this? Reply with a link. Use: when talking about a…

“Come yuca”

Literary translation: yucca root eater Meaning: insult, implies that the person is unrefined, or somehow undeserving. Usually directed toward someone who thinks the opposite of him/herself. “Come yuca” is perhaps one of the most ironic insults, given that yuca is indeed a staple of the Dominican diet and most people enjoy it. Significado: insulto, dícese de la persona poco refinada o de escazos recursos, que hace alarde de lo que no tiene o se cree muy culta. Use: colloquial - "Mira, come yuca!"

“Guallar la yuca”

Literal translation: to grate the yuca root. Yuca (cassava) was widely used by the Taino indians (native inhabitants of Hispaniola Island which they called Quisqueya). It continues to be a staple of the Dominican diet, eaten boiled, fried and in bread form. Meaning: to work hard Significado: trabajar duro, esforzarse Use: colloquial

“Amarrar la chiva”

Literal translation: “to tie up the goat” Meaning: to procrastinate, to make someone wait on purpose Significado: procrastinar, hacer a alguien esperar a drede Use: colloquial

“¿Tu no querías mambo? ¡Toma mambo!”

Literal translation: Didn’t you want mambo? There’s your mambo! Mambo is a popular Latin dance originating in Cuba. In the DR, the word indicates a playful, repetitive tempo within a merengue song used for spinning during dancing. Meaning: You got what you wanted. Now, stop complaining. Significado: Conseguiste lo que querías. Ahora no te quejes. Use: colloquial, urban

“Como la gatica de María Ramos: tira la piedra y esconde la mano”

Literal translation: like Maria Ramo’s little kitten: throws the stone and hides the hand Meaning: said of a person who acts hypocritically; one who pretends to be nice, but does or intends to do harm. Person who appears innocent or naive, but is not. Significado: dícese de la persona hipócrita, que oculta el daño que hace o intenta hacer a los demás. Persona que aparenta inocente y no lo es. Use: general