The Phrases and the Peruvian words Make up the extensive jargon of vocabulary used in this country.
Peru is a Latin American country with a multiethnic population that exceeds 30 million. It is because of its multiethnic character that this nation presents a great variety of idiomatic expressions that reflect the idiosyncrasy, as well as the culture of the country.
Many of the words of Peru belong to the jargon of this country, which is characterized by the change in the order of the syllables that make up a word. For example, Peruvians say"grone"to refer to people with black skin.
In the same way, the creativity that characterizes the languages has allowed the creation of new words or expressions. As well as in the adjudication of a new meaning to an already existing word through processes like metaphor. Below is a list of phrases and words typical of Peru.
1- Hallucinations
"Alucina"is a word that is used when you are going to tell an incredible story; It is natural to hear this phrase when a rumor is transmitted.
2- What a mess
This particular phrase is used when the speaker is happy or excited by the situation that is happening.
3- We put a bomb
This phrase refers to drinking alcohol in large quantities; There are certain variations like"We put a bomb".
4- Do not be a frog
For Peruvians a"toad"is a person who interferes in the affairs of another person.
In this sense,"do not be toad"is an invitation not to meddle in matters that are not your concern. The term"toad"can also be transformed into a verb: sapear.
5- It's a Coke
Peruvians use this phrase to refer to a person who is crazy. This phrase is a sample of the jargon of Peru, consisting in changing the order of the syllables of a word ("queue"instead of"crazy").
6- What avocado
If a shameful situation happens, Peruvians often say"what avocado"or"what paltaza", being"avocado"the term used in this country to refer to avocados.
7- It is a chicken
It is Peru, a chicken is a person who has little resistance to alcohol. In this respect, Peruvian Spanish differs from Spanish in other areas where being a chicken is being a cowardly person.
8- It's a squash
This phrase is based on a metaphor between Halloween pumpkins and a person's head: pumpkins resemble skulls and are hollow. In this sense, to be a squash is to be a person of little intelligence.
9- To throw a cane in the air
This expression is used when one member of one pair is cheating the other. That is to say it is usually used in situations of infidelity.
10- Like court
The courts are grains of roasted corn or popcorn, which are served in abundance. In this way, the expression"as court"is used to highlight abundance.
eleven- Give ball
This expression is used when the person you like shows signs of being interested in you.
12- To flower or to flower
This phrase has a negative connotation and means"to distort the truth to convince someone.
13- No michi
Usually, this is a phrase that is used when there is nothing to eat in the house. However, this expression can be used in other contexts that do not involve food and means"nothing"
14- There were only four cats
Like"ni michi","there were only four cats"is used to refer to quantities but, in this case, refers to people and it means that there was very little concurrence.
fifteen- What a pineapple
"What pineapple"means bad luck. This phrase has some variations, like"be good pineapple", which refers to a person who is having a streak of bad luck.
16- Nancy Berta
"Nancy Berta"means"nothing to see"and is a play on words that is based on how the two sentences sound. This expression can be shortened by saying only"Nancy".
17- The clown died
This phrase is used when a particularly long situation ends. "The clown is dead"can be used for any kind of circumstances: an assignment, a negotiation, a relationship, among others.
18- It's a carrot
It refers to a person who is timid, calm, naive and good. The phrase is a play on words between"sana"(in Peru, person that very calm) and"carrot".
19- How about leather
Good quality leather can be distinguished from lower quality just by looking at it. In this sense,"how about leather"or"how much"means that a person excels by its attractiveness.
twenty- Blondes
In Peru, blondes are beers. It is common to hear"bring me a couple of blondes"when you want to order beers in a bar.
twenty-one- Stretched out
This phrase is used in many areas of South America, including Peru, to say that a person has died. It is based on the death of the chickens, which literally stretch their legs at the moment of dying.
22- Throw pear
This phrase is mainly used to refer to students who are absent from school for unjustified reasons. It should be noted that it can also be used for a person who is absent from work, however, it is less common.
2. 3- He is a milkman
In Peru, the word"milk"is used to denote good luck. In this sense,"being a milkman"is being a person with very good luck.
24- What good yuccas
The term"cassava"is used as a metaphor to refer to the legs of a person. "What good yucas"is a compliment that means"what legs so strong and beautiful".
25- Your bitches are barking
This phrase means that a person's feet have an unpleasant smell and are causing an uncomfortable situation.
26- I'm on an impossible mission
This phrase means that you are in bankruptcy. It is used in economic matters or related to love.
27- To her mother
"To his mother"or"asu"is an expression used when he has been surprised by some news.
28- Right now
This phrase means"immediately". However, in Peru, it can immediately be"right now,""within a few hours,""tomorrow,"or"in a week."
29- Roast
"Roasting","being roasted"or"roasting"is"being annoying". This expression is based on the fact that anger is usually represented with the color red.
30- Broder
A"brooder"is a friend. It comes from English"brother", which means brother in Spanish. It is an expression widely used in South America in general.
31- Cause
"Cause"is a close or intimate friend. It is used in familiar or outgoing situations between friends and close acquaintances.
32- Make a fuse
In Peru, a"chancha"is a sow. However, the word is also used to refer to a collection of money between friends. This term is related to the piggy banks, which are usually designed in the form of pigs.
33- Rib
A"rib"is a bride. This term refers to the biblical account, according to which Eve was born from a rib of Adam.
3. 4- What lentil
"What lentil"is used to refer to people who are extremely. A more standard equivalent might be"how slow".
35- Skinny or skinny
These words mean boyfriend and girlfriend respectively. It does not mean hinting at the thinness of the other person itself.
36- Huachimán
In Peru, a huachimán is a private security guard. This word comes from the English"watchman".
37- My paw
"Pata"is a trusted friend or friend, someone you can count on at any time. It may be the result of a metaphor, since animals can lean on their paws, just as a person relies on his friends.
38- Luca
The word"luca"is used as a substitute for"sun", the name of Peru's currency and a symbol in the country.
39- Jamear
"Jamear"means"to eat." It comes from the noun"jama", food. It is used in any situation where you are going to eat or have a lot of appetite.
40- Pitri mitri
This rhyme is a way of saying that something is astonishing. It is an expression well known and used to show the astonishment for the unknown.
41- Pisco
Pisco is a Peruvian brandy based on grapes. It is a typical drink of the country and is usually served at cocktails and party.
42- Bitter pisco
The bitter pisco is the national drink of Peru and is made with egg whites, lemon and syrup.
43- Bacan
Bacan means"great","astonishing"or"good". In Peru, it is also said"what bacán"to say that is agreed with something.
44- Nickname
"Mote"means accent. For example, an English speaker learning Spanish may have a foreign mote or an English mote. In the same way, this term is used for the own accents of Peru, for example: provincial mote, northern mote or mountain mote.
Four. Five- Porfa
"Porfa"is a short form of"please". It is also common to hear"porfis". In records and serious situations it is better to use the first one.
46- Tombo
In Peru, the fall is the police. This is a word typical of the Andes and widely used in the country.
47- To the cloth
"To the cloth"means wearing your best clothes. For example, a job interview should go to the web.
48- There in the glasses
This phrase means"see you"is a play on words because through the glass can be seen.
49- Close Peak
"Closing the beak"means making silence. That is, do not speak because any words that are said at that moment can bother.
fifty- Stick face
To be a stick man is to be a scoundrel. It is more common to hear that the Peruvians say"carae palo".
References
- 14 Funniest Expressions in Peruvian Spanish . Retrieved on March 23, 2017, from matadornetwork.com.
- Moreno, Pedro. 27 Spanish Phrases That Are Unique to Peruvians. Retrieved on March 23, 2017, from xpantion.com.
- Peruvian Slang Words and Phrases (2017). Retrieved on March 23, 2017, from https://howtoperu.com.
- 20 Peruvian Slang Words That'll Have You Living the Good Life in Lima Retrieved on March 23, 2017, from fluentu.com.
- 20 Peruvian Slang Words for Partying, Chatting, Drinking and Even Working. Retrieved on March 23, 2017, from fluentu.com
- Peruanismos - Idioms & colloquialisms from Peru. Retrieved on March 23, 2017 from 121spanish.com.
- The Chicha Press. The worst newspapers in Peru , Retrieved on March 23, 2017, from howtoperu.com.