Languages can be very generous. They usually lend words to each other. For example, in Spanish, we use many English words such as email, link, ok, bye … We also transform them and play “soccer”, eat “hamburgers” and even “Google”.
But what happens the other way around? What Spanish words or expressions do American English speakers use?
And we don’t mean just “por favor”, “de nada”, “gracias” y “adiós”.
We speak of words that sneaked into English in the United States thanks to the fact that 41 million people speak Spanish in the country – according to the 2017 census estimates – and the enormous impact of Latin culture in that country.
In addition, since there is no equivalent to the Real Academia Española for the English language, the Merriam-Webster dictionary picks them up for use.
Here is a brief list of the words and expressions in Spanish used in United States English.
Some may surprise you …
1. Fiesta
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, fiesta in English is synonymous with festival and is a moment of celebration that marks a special occasion.
And to give an example, the San Diego Union Tribune newspaper published an article last October about the international balloon festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico: “The annual balloon fiesta draws pilots from around the world and from more than 40 U.S. states.” (La fiesta anual de globos atrae a pilotos de todo el mundo y de más de 40 estados de EE.UU.)
2. Siesta
Although English has the word nap to refer to siesta, this word is also used to talk about rest in the United States, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary.
An article in the Boston Globe newspaper last November: “Some companies promote siesta and have installed sleep pods – with special beds, music, lights, and vibrations designed to induce sleep”. (Algunas compañías promueven siestas y han instalado cápsulas para dormir, con camas especiales, música, luces y vibraciones diseñadas para inducir el sueño).
3. Barrio
The word barrio (neighborhood) is another example that the Spanish language has a marked influence on English spoken in the United States.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary not only defines barrio as “a district of a city or town in a Spanish-speaking country” but also specifies that it is a Spanish-speaking jurisdiction in a US city or town, especially in the southwest “of the country.
And an example of how barrio is used in English in the United States appears in the following excerpt from the article in the US publication Longreads last November: “The Catholic Church up the road gave Christmas gifts to the children in the barrio. They were donated by charities from overseas, but by the time the load reached the neighborhood, the rich had taken their pick from the lot.” (La Iglesia Católica -ubicada- al final de la calle. dio regalos de Navidad a los niños en el barrio. Fueron donados por organizaciones benéficas del extranjero, pero cuando la carga llegó al barrio, los ricos ya habían elegido lo mejor).
4. Patio
Because if there is a barrio, surely there must also be a patio in some houses.
For the Merriam-Webster dictionary, patio is the same as courtyard, which is the English translation.
And both words are used interchangeably in the North American country. This can be seen in this article in the American newspaper Washington Post of December this year about Valerie Plame, the most famous American spy: “On the patio at Harry’s, Plame was hard to miss with her blond hair, blue jeans and a pristine white short-sleeved shirt.” (En el patio de Harry, Plame era difícil de pasar por alto con su cabello rubio, jeans azules y una impecable camisa blanca de manga corta).
5. Cafeteria
Cafeteria in the United States English means “a restaurant where customers are served coffee at a counter and take food to the tables,” says the Merriam-Webster dictionary.
And you’ve probably seen them millions of times in American movies. Although the customs of consumption also undergo changes.
This is reflected in this December newspaper article by the Houston Chronicle of Texas on the American food chain Luby’s” “The iconic Texas cafeteria chain is increasingly focused on online ordering, third-party delivery and curbside pickup to boost its lagging sales.” (La icónica cadena de cafeterías de Texas se centra cada vez más en los pedidos por internet, en la entrega de órdenes por parte de terceros y entrega de pedidos en la acera para aumentar sus ventas rezagadas).
6. Gusto
Gusto not only resounds in the United States English with the same meaning as in Spanish, but the Merriam-Webster dictionary describes it with three definitions.
The first as a translation of gusto (taste in English), whose plural is gustoes.
The second as “the enjoyment or enthusiastic and vigorous appreciation.” “She described the adventure with great gusto” (Ella describió la aventura con gran gusto o entusiasmo).
And the third definition as “a vitality marked by an abundance of vigor and enthusiasm.” “He could not match the gusto of their competitors”. (No podía igualar el “gusto” de sus competidores).
7. Político
Politico, whose origin is from Latin politic and Greek politikós, is another example of the use of Spanish words in American English
But although the latter has the word politician to refer to the person who is dedicated to doing politics, American English speakers also adopt the Spanish version in their vocabulary, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.
An example of this use is a recent article in the Fortune magazine about Tom Steyer, a candidate for the Democratic Party’s primaries for the 2020 presidential elections in the United States.
“Steyer entered the race late and lacks the name recognition of politico bigwigs like Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) And Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), And former Vice President Joe Biden.” (Steyer ingresó a la carrera tarde y carece del reconocimiento de nombres de grandes personajes políticos como los senadores Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) Y Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), y el ex vicepresidente Joe Biden).
Another fact: one of the political media dedicated in the United States is called Politico.
8. Aficionado
An Aficionado (a fan) is someone who likes an activity, for example, and who is not a professional in it.
And the same word and definition fit for US English speakers, describes the Merriam-Webster dictionary.
An example? The next sentence of a journalistic note from the Houston Chronicle of Texas last November: “For many coffee aficionado, Starbucks ‘iconic red cups signal the start of the holiday season.” (Para muchos aficionados al café, las icónicas tazas rojas de Starbucks señalan el comienzo de la temporada navideña).
9. Macho
Macho is that person who exhibits machismo, a way of showing virility aggressively.
And both words mean the same thing in both Spanish and English, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary.
Although in United States English, macho is not only a qualifying adjective for a male person but also to describe a culture or movie.
An example of the use of macho in English can be seen in a recent National Review article about the movie Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood (“Había una vez en Hollywood”).
“Rick and Cliff stand for an old-school way of doing things – all macho movies and masculine camaraderie.” (Rick y Cliff representan una forma de hacer las cosas de la vieja escuela: todas las películas varoniles y la camaradería masculina).
10. Sierra
In the United States English the words hills or mountains are used to refer to the natural elevation of the terrain.
But sierra is also used, as defined by Merriam’s dictionary as “a mountain range especially with a jagged or irregular contour.”
Proof that this word is very present in English is the name of the mountain range in California, Sierra Nevada.
11. “Mi casa es su casa”
This is a courtesy expression that is used in Spanish to welcome another person and feel comfortable in the house.
According to legend, the phrase is about 500 years old and occurred in the territory of what is now Mexico when the Aztec king Moctezuma and the Spanish Hernán Cortés met on November 8, 1519.
Apparently, Moctezuma offered the Spaniards one of their houses to rest. It was there when he said, “esta es su casa” as Mexican historian Alejandro Rosas wrote.
But this phrase crossed borders and reached the English speakers of the United States.
In addition to sneaking into American English, the phrase “Mi casa es su casa” also appears in cinema in a renowned scene in the movie Pulp Fiction (“Tiempos violentos”), with John Travolta and Uma Thurman, directed by Quentin Tarantino.
12. “Chili con carne”
Language loans between two languages also happen in the gastronomic area.
So, the Merriam-Webster dictionary has an entry for chili con carne. And it defines it as “a spicy stew of ground beef and chopped chili peppers or chili powder (which is accompanied) often with beans.”
Without a doubt, it is a Mexican collaboration.
Here, an example embodied in a newspaper article from the Cleveland.com site: “For novices, don’t expect Texas-style chili con carne in a bowl; the Cincinnati version is more akin to a thick sauce to top spaghetti or slather on a hot dog.” (Para los principiantes, no esperen chili con carne al estilo de Texas en un tazón; la versión de Cincinnati es más parecida a una salsa espesa para un espagueti o para embadurnar un perro caliente).
13. “Hasta la vista baby”
And as we could not finish otherwise, we share a phrase that became world-famous when Austrian-American actor Arnold Schwarzenegger pronounced it in the movie Terminator 2.
Here we leave a BBC interview with Schwarzenegger in which he talks about the origin and repercussion of this phrase.
And “Hasta la vista baby.”
Adapted and translated from the BBC article ¿Hablas español? | 14 palabras y expresiones del español que se usan en el inglés de Estados Unidos
