The World of Spanglish

Do you know Spanglish? Get acquainted with this growing language. Here are some words to help you get started.

Spanglish has really invaded the Spanish language in basically every Spanish speaking country. While some cross-over is only natural, sometimes the words that pop up in the Spanish vocabulary are just down-right comical. Here’s my personal collection of some of the worst Spanglish words in use.

Technology AND Spanglish Words

In the case of gaming and technical language, I can understand the crossover a little more, so let’s take a look at some of those first.

1. Linkear – To link (as in hyperlinks). Spanish alternative: hacer un enlace

2. Updatear or opdeitear – To update Spanish alternative: actualizar

3. Releasear -To release (used in techie language, as in, to release a new version of something) Spanish alternative: lanzar, publicar, divulgar

4. Levelear– To level up (gaming language) Spanish alternative: nivelar

5. Googlear or gugulear– to Google Spanish alternative: buscar en Google

6. Clickear – To click Spanish alternative: hacer clic, pinchar, apretar

7. El mouse – computer mouse Spanish alternative: el ratón

8. Taguear – to tag (as in coding or technical language, not as in playing tag) Spanish alternative: etiquetear

9. Mandar un mail – To send an email Spanish alternative: mandar un correo, mandar un correo electrónico

Other Spanglish Words

With some of these others though, I’m not sure there is a good excuse for such terrible Spanglish!

1. Machar or machear – to match Spanish alternative: combinar

2. Janguear – to hang out Spanish alternative: pasar el rato

3. El parking– parking lot Spanish alternative: el estacionamiento

4. Parquear – To park Spanish alternative: estacionar

5. ¿Estás ready?– Are you ready? Spanish alternative: ¿Estás listo?

6. Chequear – To check Spanish alternative: comprobar, revisar, verificar

7. Roofo or rufo – Roof Spanish alternative: techo, tejado

8. Creepear or cripi– To creep on someone (often used when talking about looking over someone’s Facebook page) Spanish alternative: horripilante

9. A full – to be done with great intensity, for example, trabajando a full means “working really hard” Spanish alternative: al máximo

10. El top – This is used to mean the best of something. Spanish alternative: lo mejor

11. Heavy – heavy, as in food or a situation. Spanish alternative: fuerte, pesado

12. El shopping – The mall Spanish alternative: el centro comercial, las tiendas

13. Frizz or frizar – Frizz or to get frizzy Spanish alternative: encrespar

14. Frizar – To freeze (in the freezer) Spanish alternative: congelar

15. El locker – locker Spanish alternative: el casillero

16. Ver un show – To see a show, such as a play or a concert Spanish alternative: ver un espectáculo, ver un concierto, ver una obra, ver un recital

17. El ticket – A ticket, though only some places will understand this, which makes it tricky when you need to travel in places that use the proper words, entrada (for a show/event) and boleto (for travel) Spanish alternative: el boleto, la entrada

18. Jamberger – Hamburger Spanish alternative: hamburguesa

19. Mandar un inbox – To send a Facebook message Spanish alternative: mandar un mensaje

Can you think of any more?

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