"Essential" Colombian expressions to help you through the day

@wwaycorrigan

[Listen to an audio version of this blog entry here. Also see the accompanying video, available below, after the text.]

After almost ten years based in Bogotá, one might have thought that I'd be fluent in Spanish by now.

The fact is, I speak the dominant language here mostly in social settings, where conversations seldom turn into deep intellectual affairs. When I've had to use Spanish professionally, it's mostly been in a reading and writing capacity, thus I feel more comfortable using the language in those domains.

'Pa' las que sea', minus the more vulgar part you'll often hear Colombians say.

Nonetheless, and with that social, working-class element very much in mind, I've adopted a few Colombian expressions to help one through the day. Although some of them may get one into a spot of bother if used incorrectly or in the wrong context.

They are sayings that are quite removed from the polite Bogotá world of 'su merced' ('your mercy') when addressing people. Also, the likes of 'dar papaya', literally 'to give papaya fruit' and used when one exposes or has exposed oneself to a robbery or such like, I've explained umpteen times before.

Do note, years ago I published a piece on useful-to-know Colombian gestures, which you can check out here: https://wwcorrigan.blogspot.com/2013/04/more-than-words-colombias-useful-to.html. It's a handy accompaniment to this, the gestures doubling up as words as well, of course!

Ahí vamos

Perhaps my favourite of them all for the very simple fact that it has an Irish feel to it and sums up my life — and that of most people, I wager — adequately. Basically, it's similar to our use of 'grand' i.e. things aren't fantastic, but neither are they too terrible. The exact translation is 'there we go'.

'¿Cómo ha ido, Corrigan?'
'Ahí vamos.'
'No further questions, your honour.' (Except, in these parts, you generally get asked a salutatory question in a different form a multitude of times before the conversation moves on — if it moves on at all, that is.)

In the early days, I used to think it was 'hay vamos', with the Spanish pronunciation of 'hay' somewhat similar to 'ahí', especially when said rapidly. That makes no real sense, though, with 'hay' meaning 'there is/are' and 'vamos' as 'we go' or 'let's go'. It wasn't all down to my mishearing, however. Some locals do actually believe the expression is 'hay vamos'.

Marica

OK, this is far from exclusively Colombian and I did cover it in the gestures' article referenced above. It means gay/homosexual and can be used either jovially or, should the mood dictate, aggressively. Similar, it could be said, to how some British and Irish people use, to say it Cockney-accented so as to appear less offensive to some here, 'kaaaaant'.

The reason I've included it is because, in my beloved Barrio Santandercito, some people have a tendency to say 'gringo marica' when I tell a joke or make a snide remark.

This annoys me somewhat. As some of you will already know, I dislike being referred to as a gringo. Irlandés marica is fine. Gringo marica, no.

'Colombians appear to love gonorrhoea — not the actual sexually transmitted infection, blasting out the word that is.'

(Me) chupalante

This rather generic saying makes the list for the simple fact that it generated a great laugh when I was encouraged to say it in my local tienda.

'I suck' is the literal translation, as simple as that. Now is that a case of one sucking at something figuratively or actually sucking something? I guess it depends.

Pa' las que sea, gonorrea

How I understand this retort is, more or less, 'whatever (it is), gonorrhoea.' Colombians appear to love gonorrhoea — not the actual sexually transmitted infection, blasting out the word that is.

This particular saying is used in verbal defiance of somebody or something, as in, 'Bring it on, I'm more than ready.'

Péguelo, ñero

'Hit/stick it, knacker.' In my part of Ireland, knacker is probably the closest word to ñero, or ñera when referring to a female. "Officially", skanger is more accurate while in the UK it would be chav.

The expression is employed similarly to previously mentioned pa' las que sea, they seem to balance each other out.

Pirobo

When I asked my Colombian friends who use this what it means exactly, they couldn't really tell me, only to explain how it's used.

A Google search informs me that in Colombia it's another term for marica, but generally used pejoratively. From my observations, though, it's uttered similarly as well, i.e. mostly in a non-offensive manner.

Worthy mentions

Caremondá, careverga and hijueputa — the one-word version of hijo de puta, son of a bitch — are also common but certainly not unique to the Colombian capital.

Some Bogotanos, perhaps in a bid to get in touch with their costeño (people from the coast) side, use caremondá and careverga — both of which are similar to dickhead — almost in a mischievous manner. They're not "their" words, they're more the preserve of those less-refined coastal folk, so they feel like they're crossing a boundary saying them. Something like that.

Péguelo, ñero, indeed.
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More than words: Colombia's useful-to-know gestures

It’s not just Spanish you need to have a decent grasp of to be in a position to truly get by in Colombia. OK, there are lots of things outside of the language that are necessary to understand before you can attempt to get it here. 

Some of those, such as relationships, we’ve discussed on many occasions and we’ll probably never figure out. But on a quirkier note we’re going to take a look at what you might call Colombia’s ‘speechless language’ (use of gestures, hand signals and facial expressions that all have special meanings) that we’ve seen used daily here. 

This list isn’t exhaustive but it details the ones we like the best:

Tight-arse.

Tacaño(a) – Mr Scrooge

This signal is done by raising one of your elbows and slapping it with your other hand. It basically describes a person who is tight-fisted with money. Of course, our mantra has always been there is a big difference between being mean and wise with your cash – we like to think we fall into the latter category. Nonetheless, some Colombians don’t agree it would appear.

Not good.

Paila – something’s wrong

The open hand or one finger cutting to the neck gesture signifies that something is wrong or not going to happen. Well, in fact, we’ve seen it used in many circumstances, but it’s always in a negative sense, such as some place is closed so you can’t go. If it’s used for your ‘delectation’, then you need to revise your plans.

Italianate but Colombian.

Llena/tetiado – ‘No space in here tonight, buddy’

For those who follow Italian hand signals, this means something completely different – that is something is really good we believe. Here in Colombia though it means a place is packed full of people.

Watch your stuff.

Ladron/ratero – ‘Beware, there’s a thief about’

Don’t misread/ignore this one, it could save you a peso or two. When you’re on the Transmilenio* and you see a guy staring at you lightly scratching his cheek, it isn’t just that he has an itch. It’s more than likely a warning that there’s a thief about, so hold on tightly to your stuff. This is not the time – as if there ever is one – to ‘dar papaya’ (see http://bit.ly/XLDyLg for more on that).

Over there.

Lip-synced

Why point directions when you can use your lips? It works for many Colombians anyway. They’re not being rude, they’re telling you the way to go (we’ll let the fact slip that the directions they give tend to be wrong – it’s the thought that counts, right?).

'He was this high.'

‘My child is not a dog’

We never gave much thought about demonstrating the height of somebody until we got to Colombia. Etiquette exists though and if you get it wrong you might upset somebody. To show the height of a person, you put your hand out vertically; for an animal, horizontally. It’s best not to confuse the two. Regardless of the behaviour of someone’s child, you don’t want to give the impression that you think they’re not human – well then again...

You're stupid, boy.

Tonto/idiota/gueva/marica – ‘You amadán’ (Irish language one, that) or fool

Two can work for this. The first is a dumb facial expression with hands out like you’re holding a ball under your chin, slightly shaking them. The second is just one of your hands, palm side up, again waving it a little directly under your chin.

Uhh-eeee.

Que cagada – ‘What a b****cks!’

When you notice somebody not being very sincere with another person – being two-faced for one – you can express your displeasure (or approval as the case may be) by loosely shaking your floppily held hand at the side of your head.

'Back-off lad.'

Montada – scissor fingers

If somebody’s in your face a bit too much or giving you hassle, use your index and middle fingers as scissors ‘cutting’ the wrist of your other hand to let them know you want them to back off and cut you some slack. If that doesn’t work, make a fist shape out of your strongest hand and aim it with force at the person’s face.

Ushhhh!!!

‘Feckin’ hell’

A floppy shake of the hand in front of your body is used when something happens that surprises or shocks you. We’ve got to the stage in this country where we hardly ever feel the need to use this – unless of course somebody turned up on time for an event. So no, we haven’t used it.

'He's a bit camp.'

Marica – queer/gay

Covering your nose with your hand and gently rubbing it with your thumb and index finger signifies that you think somebody is gay or ‘marica’ as they say in Colombia. Do note that the word marica is used in an affectionate way too; you’ll hear people addressing good friends with it. It’s also used in contexts that may surprise you or for something daft as listed above. 

Basically it’s used for practically all situations from what we can gather (sure we’re all gay at heart) – so if you really want to point out somebody is gay, use the gesture.

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*If you need reminding what the Transmilenio is, see: http://bit.ly/N68gKL

 A big thanks to Pedro for demonstrating these gestures - Colombia's next top model perhaps?