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Lonely Planet Publications

280

Language
i
o
u

CONTENTS

LANGUAGE

Pronunciation
Gender & Plurals
Accommodations
Conversation & Essentials
Directions
Health
Emergencies
Language Difficulties
Numbers
Paperwork
Shopping & Services
Time & Dates
Transportation
Travel With Children

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The predominant language of Baja California is Spanish. Mexican Spanish is unlike


Castilian Spanish (the language of much of
Spain) in two main respects: in Mexico you
wont hear the Castilian lisp, but you will
hear many words of indigenous origin.
Travelers in cities, resort areas like Los
Cabos and larger villages can almost always
find someone who speaks at least some English. All the same, it is advantageous and
courteous to know at least a few words and
phrases in Spanish. Mexicans will generally
respond much more positively if you attempt
to speak to them in their own language.
For dining vocabulary, see p63. For a
more comprehensive guide to the Spanish
of Mexico, get a copy of Lonely Planets
Mexican Spanish Phrasebook.

PRONUNCIATION

Spanish spelling is phonetically consistent,


meaning that theres a clear and consistent
relationship between what you see in writing and how its pronounced. In addition,
most Spanish sounds have English equivalents, so English speakers shouldnt have
too much trouble being understood.

Consonants

As a rule, Spanish consonants resemble


their English counterparts. The exceptions
are listed below.
While the consonants ch, ll and are generally considered distinct letters, ch and ll
are now often listed alphabetically under c
and l respectively. The letter is still treated
as a separate letter and comes after n in
dictionaries.
b
c
ch
g

j
ll

r
rr
v
x

Vowels
a
e

as in father
as in met

as in marine
as in or (without the r sound)
as in rule; the u is not pronounced
after q and in the letter combinations
gue and gui, unless its marked with
a diaeresis (eg argir), in which case
its pronounced as English w
at the end of a word or when it stands
alone, its pronounced as the Spanish
i (eg ley); between vowels within a
word its as the y in yonder

similar to English b, but softer;


referred to as b larga
as in celery before e and i; otherwise
as English k
as in church
as the ch in the Scottish loch before
e and i (kh in our guides to
pronunciation); elsewhere, as in
go
invariably silent. If your name begins
with this letter, listen carefully if
youre waiting for public officials to
call you.
as the ch in the Scottish loch (written
as kh in our guides to pronunciation)
as the y in yellow
as the ni in onion
a short r except at the beginning of a
word, and after l, n or s, when its
often rolled
very strongly rolled
similar to English b, but softer;
referred to as b corta
usually pronounced as j above; in
some indigenous place names its
pronounced as an s; as in taxi in
other instances
as the s in sun

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L A N G UA G E G e n d e r & P l u r a l s 281

Word Stress

In general, words ending in vowels or the


letters n or s have stress on the next-to-last
syllable, while those with other endings
have stress on the last syllable. Thus vaca
(cow) and caballos (horses) both carry
stress on the next-to-last syllable, while
ciudad (city) and infeliz (unhappy) are
both stressed on the last syllable.
Written accents will almost always appear in words that dont follow the rules
above, eg stano (basement), Amrica and
porcin (portion).

GENDER & PLURALS

In Spanish, nouns are either masculine or


feminine, and there are rules to help determine gender (there are of course some exceptions). Feminine nouns generally end
with -a or with the groups -cin, -sin or
-dad. Other endings typically signify a masculine noun. Endings for adjectives also
change to agree with the gender of the noun
they modify (masculine/feminine -o/-a).
Where both masculine and feminine forms
are included in this language guide, they are
separated by a slash, with the masculine
form first, eg perdido/a.
If a noun or adjective ends in a vowel, the
plural is formed by adding s to the end. If
it ends in a consonant, the plural is formed
by adding es to the end.

ACCOMMODATIONS

juvenil

khooveneel

(for phone or written requests)


To ...
From ...
Date
Id like to book ...

Hay habitaciones
libres?

ay abeetasyones
leebres

Id like a ...
Quisiera una
room.
habitacin ...
double (two beds) doble
double (two
matrimonial

keesyera oona
abeetasyon ...
doble
matreemonyal

people, one bed)

single
twin

individual
con dos camas

eendeeveedwal
kon dos kamas

Quisiera reservar ... (see


the list under Accommodations for bed and
room options)

in the name of ...


for the nights of ...
credit card ...
number
expiry date

en nombre de ...
para las noches del ...
tarjeta de crdito ...
nmero
fecha de vencimiento

Please confirm ...


availability
price

Puede confirmar ...


la disponibilidad
el precio

How much is it
per ...?
night
person
week

Cunto cuesta
por ...?
noche
persona
semana

full board

pensin
completa
private/shared bao privado/
bathroom
compartido
cheaper
ms econmico
discount
descuento

kwanto kwesta
por ...
noche
persona
semana
pensyon
kompleta
banyo preevado/
komparteedo
mas ekonomeeko
deskwento

Does it include breakfast?


Incluye el desayuno?

eenklooye el desayoono

May I see the room?


Puedo ver la
habitacin?

pwedo ver la
abeetasyon

Its fine. Ill take it.


Est bien. La tomo.

esta byen la tomo

I dont like it.


No me gusta.

Are there any rooms available?

A ...
De ...
Fecha

no me goosta

CONVERSATION & ESSENTIALS

When approaching a stranger for information you should always extend a greeting,
and use only the polite form of address,
especially with the police and public officials. Young people may be less likely to
expect this, but its best to stick to the polite
form unless youre quite sure you wont offend by using the informal mode. The polite
form is used in all cases in this guide; where

LANGUAGE

Im looking for ... Estoy buscando ... estoy booskando ...


Where is ...?
Dnde hay ...? donde ai ...
a camping
un rea para
oon area para
ground
acampar
akampar
a guesthouse una pensin
oona pensyon
a hotel
un hotel
oon otel
a youth hostel un albergue
oon alberge

MAKING A RESERVATION

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282 L A N G UA G E D i re c t i o n s

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options are given, the form is indicated by


the abbreviations pol and inf.
Saying por favor (please) and gracias
(thank you) are second nature to most
Mexicans and a recommended tool in your
travel kit.
Hi.
Hello.
Good morning.
Good afternoon.
Good evening/
night.
Goodbye.
Bye/See you soon.
Yes.
No.
Please.
Thank you.
Many thanks.
Youre welcome.
Apologies.
May I?

Hola.
Buen da.
Buenos das.
Buenas tardes.
Buenas noches.

ola (inf)
bwen deea
bwenos deeas
bwenas tardes
bwenas noches

Entrada
Salida
Informacin
Abierto
Cerrado
Prohibido
Servicios/Baos
Hombres/Varones
Mujeres/Damas

Entrance
Exit
Information
Open
Closed
Prohibited
Toilets
Men
Women

Adis.
adyos
Hasta luego.
asta lwego
S.
see
No.
no
Por favor.
por favor
Gracias.
grasyas
Muchas gracias. moochas grasyas
De nada.
de nada
Perdn.
perdon
Permiso.
permeeso
(when asking permission)
Excuse me.
Disculpe.
deeskoolpe
(used before a request or when apologizing)

Can you show me (on the map)?

How are things?

HEALTH

Qu tal?

ke tal

Whats your name?


My name is ...
Me llamo ...

me yamo ...

Its a pleasure to meet you.


Mucho gusto.

moocho goosto

The pleasure is mine.


El gusto es mo.
el goosto es meeo
Where are you from?
De dnde es/eres?

de donde es/eres (pol/inf)

Im from ...
Soy de ...

soy de ...

May I take a photo?


Puedo sacar una foto? pwedo sakar oona foto

DIRECTIONS

How do I get to ...?


Cmo llego a ...?

komo yego a ...

Is it far?
Est lejos?

Me lo podra sealar
(en el mapa)?

north
south
east
west
here
there
avenue
block
street

esta lekhos

me lo podreea senyalar
(en el mapa)

norte
sur soor
este
oeste
aqu
ah
avenida
cuadra
calle/paseo

norte
este
oeste
akee
aee
aveneeda
kwadra
kalye/paseo

Im sick.

Estoy enfermo/a.

Cmo se llama usted? komo se yama oosted (pol)


Cmo te llamas?
komo te yamas (inf)

LANGUAGE

SIGNS

estoy enfermo/a

I need a doctor.
Necesito un doctor.

neseseeto oon doktor

Wheres the hospital?


Dnde est el hospital? donde esta el ospeetal

Im pregnant.
Estoy embarazada.

Im allergic
to ...
antibiotics
nuts
peanuts
penicillin

estoy embarasada
Soy alrgico/a
soy alerkheeko/a
a ...
a ...
los antibiticos los anteebyo
teekos
las nueces
las nweses
los cacahuates los kakakhwates
la penicilina
la peneeseeleena

Im ...
asthmatic
diabetic
epileptic

Soy ...
asmtico/a
diabtico/a
epilptico/a

soy ...
asmateeko/a
dyabeteeko/a
epeelepteeko/a

I have ...
diarrhea
nausea
a headache

Tengo ...
diarrea
nusea
un dolor de
cabeza

tengo ...
dyarea
nowsea
oon dolor de
kabesa

Go straight ahead.
Siga/Vaya derecho.

seega/vaya derecho

Turn left.
Volte a la izquierda.

voltee a la eeskyerda

Turn right.
Volte a la derecha.

voltee a la derecha

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L A N G UA G E E m e r g e n c i e s 283

EMERGENCIES
Help!
Fire!
Ive been
robbed.

Socorro!
sokoro
Fuego!
fwego
Me han robado. me an
robado

Go away!
Get lost!

Djeme!
Vyase!

dekheme
vayase

Call ...!
Llame a ...!
yame a
the police
la polica
la poleeseea
a doctor
un mdico
oon medeeko
an ambulance una ambulancia oona amboo
lansya

Its an emergency.
Es una emergencia.

es oona emerkhensya

Could you help me, please?


Me puede ayudar,
por favor?

me pwede ayoodar
por favor

Im lost.
Estoy perdido/a.

estoy perdeedo/a

Where are the toilets?


Dnde estn los baos? donde estan los banyos

LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES
Do you speak (English)?

Habla/Hablas (ingls)? abla/ablas (eengles) (pol/inf)

Does anyone here speak English?


Hay alguien que hable ai algyen ke able
ingls?
eengles

I (dont) understand.
(No) Entiendo.

(no) entyendo

How do you say ...?


Cmo se dice ...?

komo se deese ...

Qu significa ...?

ke seegneefeeka ...

Could you
Puede ..., por
please ...?
favor?
repeat that
repetirlo
speak more
hablar ms
slowly
despacio
write it down escribirlo

NUMBERS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

pwede ... por


favor
repeteerlo
ablar mas
despasyo
eskreebeerlo

nueve
diez
once
doce
trece
catorce
quince
diecisis
diecisiete
dieciocho
diecinueve
veinte
veintiuno
treinta
treinta y uno
cuarenta
cincuenta
sesenta
setenta
ochenta
noventa
cien
ciento uno
doscientos
mil
cinco mil

PAPERWORK

birth certificate
border (frontier)
car-owners title
car registration
customs
drivers license
identification
immigration
insurance
passport
temporary vehicle
import permit
tourist card
visa

nweve
dyes
onse
dose
trese
katorse
keense
dyeseesays
dyeseesyete
dyeseeocho
dyeseenweve
vaynte
vaynteeoono
traynta
traynta ee oono
kwarenta
seenkwenta
sesenta
setenta
ochenta
noventa
syen
syento oono
dosyentos
meel
seenko meel

certificado de nacimiento
la frontera
ttulo de propiedad
registracin
aduana
licencia de manejar
identificacin
migracin
seguro
pasaporte
permiso de importacin
temporal de vehculo
tarjeta de turista
visado

SHOPPING & SERVICES


Id like to buy ...

Quisiera comprar ...

keesyera komprar ...

Im just looking.
uno
dos
tres
cuatro
cinco
seis
siete
ocho

oono
dos
tres
kwatro
seenko
says
syete
ocho

Slo estoy mirando.

solo estoy meerando

May I look at it?


Puedo verlo/la?

pwedo verlo/la

How much is it?


Cunto cuesta?

kwanto kwesta

Thats too expensive for me.


Es demasiado caro
para m.

es demasyado karo
para mee

LANGUAGE

What does ...mean?

9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
30
31
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
101
200
1000
5000

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284 L A N G UA G E Ti m e & D a t e s

Could you lower the price?


Podra bajar un poco
el precio?

podreea bakhar oon poko


el presyo

I dont like it.


No me gusta.

no me goosta

Do you
accept ...?
American
dollars
credit cards
travelers
checks
less
more
large
small

lo yevo
Aceptan ...?
dlares
americanos
tarjetas de
crdito
cheques de
viajero
menos
ms
grande
pequeo/a

Im looking
for (the) ...
ATM

LANGUAGE

Estoy buscando
...
el cajero
automtico
bank
el banco
bookstore
la librera
exchange house la casa de
cambio
general store la tienda
laundry
la lavandera
market
el mercado
pharmacy/
la farmacia

chemist
post office
supermarket
tourist office

aseptan ...
dolares
amereekanos
tarkhetas de
kredeeto
chekes de
vyakhero
menos
mas
grande
pekenyo/a
estoy booskando
el kakhero
owtomateeko
el banko
la leebrereea
la kasa de
kambyo
la tyenda
la lavandereea
el merkado
la farmasya

la officina
la ofeeseena
de correos
de koreos
el supermercado el sooper
merkado
la oficina de
la ofeeseena de
turismo
tooreesmo

What time does it open/close?


A qu hora abre/cierra?
a ke ora abre/syera

I want to change some money/travelers checks.


Quisiera cambiar dinero/cheques de viajero.
keesyera kambyar deenero/chekes de vyakhero

What is the exchange rate?


Cul es el tipo de cambio?
kwal es el teepo de kambyo

airmail
letter
registered (mail)
stamps

correo areo
carta
certificado
timbres

koreo aereo
karta
serteefeekado
teembres

What time is it?


Its one oclock.
Its seven oclock.
Half past two.
midnight
noon

Qu hora es?
Es la una.
Son las siete.
Dos y media.
medianoche
medioda

ke ora es
es la oona
son las syete
dos ee medya
medyanoche
medyodeea

now
today
tonight
tomorrow
yesterday

ahora
hoy
esta noche
maana
ayer ayer

aora
oy
esta noche
manyana

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

lunes
martes
mircoles
jueves
viernes
sbado
domingo

loones
martes
myerkoles
khweves
vyernes
sabado
domeengo

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

enero
febrero
marzo
abril
mayo
junio
julio
agosto
septiembre
octubre
noviembre
diciembre

enero
febrero
marso
abreel
mayo
khoonyo
khoolyo
agosto
septyembre
oktoobre
novyembre
deesyembre

TIME & DATES

Ill take it.


Lo llevo.

lonelyplanet.com

TRANSPORTATION

Public Transportation

What time does


A qu hora ... a ke ora ...
... leave/arrive?
sale/llega?
sale/yega
the boat
el barco
el barko
the bus (city)
el camin
el kamyon
the bus (intercity) el autobus
el owtoboos
the plane
el avin
el avyon
the bus station
the bus stop

I want to call ...


Quisiera llamar a ...
keesyera lyamar a ...

a luggage locker
the ticket office

la estacin de
autobuses
la parada de
autobuses
un casillero
la taquilla

la estasyon de
owtobooses
la parada de
owtobooses
oon kaseeyero
la takeeya

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L A N G UA G E T r a n s p o r t a t i o n 285

A ticket to ..., please.


Un boleto a ..., por favor. oon boleto a ... por favor

Whats the fare to ...?


Cunto cuesta hasta ...? kwanto kwesta asta ...

students
1st class
2nd class
single/one-way
return/round
trip
taxi

de estudiante
primera clase
segunda clase
viaje sencillo
redondo

de estoodyante
preemera klase
segoonda klase
veeakhe senseeyo
redondo

taxi

taksee

Private Transportation
Id like to
hire a/an ...
4WD

car
motorbike

Quisiera
rentar ...
un cuator por
cuatro
un coche
una moto

keesyera
rentar ...
oon kwatro por
kwatro
oon koche
oona moto

bicycle
hitchhike
pickup (ute)
truck

bicicleta
pedir aventn
pickup
camin/eta

beeseekleta
pedeer aventon
peekop
kamyon/eta

Wheres a gas/petrol station?


Dnde hay una
gasolinera?

donde ai oona
gasoleenera

How much is a liter of gasoline?


Cunto cuesta el litro
de gasolina?

kwanto kwesta el leetro


de gasoleena

Please fill it up.


Lleno, por favor.

yeno por favor

Id like (20) pesos worth.


Quiero (veinte) litros.

kyero (vaynte) pesos

gas (petrol)
unleaded
oil
tire
puncture

plomo
gasolina
gasolina sin
plomo
aceite
llanta
agujero

deesel
gasoleena kon
plomo
gasoleena
gasoleena seen
plomo
asayte
yanta
agookhero

Is this the road to (...)?


Por acqu se va a (...)?
por akee se va a (...)

(How long) Can I park here?


(Por cunto tiempo) Puedo estacionarme aqu?
(por kwanto tyempo) pwedo esstasyonarme akee

Though Mexico mostly uses the familiar international road signs, you should be prepared
to encounter these other signs as well:

Acceso
Aparcamiento
Camino en Reparacin
Ceda el Paso
Conserve Su Derecha
Cuida Su Vida,
Maneje Con
Precaucin
Curva Peligrosa
Despacio
Desviacin
Direccin nica
Escuela (Zona Escolar)
Hombres Trabajando
Mantenga Su Derecha
No Adelantar
No Hay Paso
No Rebase
No Rebase con
Raya Continua
Pare/Stop
Peaje
Peligro
Por Su Seguridad
Disminuye La
Velocidad
Precaucin Zona
de Ganado
Prepare Su Cuota
Prohibido Aparcar/
No Estacionar
Prohibido el Paso
Puente Angosto
Salida de Autopista
Si Toma No Maneje
Utilice Cinturn
de Seguridad
Topes/Vibradores
Tramo en Reparacin
Va Corta

Entrance
Parking
Road Repairs

Give way
Keep to the Right
Protect Your Life,
Drive with
Caution

Dangerous Curve
Slow
Detour
One-way
School (Zone)
Men at Work
Keep to the Right
No Passing
Road Closed
No Overtaking
Dont Drive with
Your Lights On

Stop
Toll
Danger
Decrease Speed
for Your Safety
Careful: Cattle Zone

Have Toll Ready


No Parking
No Entry
Narrow Bridge
Exit Freeway
Dont Drink and Drive
Use Your Seatbelt

Speed Bumps
Road Under Repair
Short Route
(often a toll road)

Va Cuota

Toll Highway

I need a mechanic/tow truck.


Necesito un mecnico/remolque.
neseseeto oon mekaneeko/remolke

Where do I pay?

Is there a garage near here?

Dnde se paga?
donde se paga

Hay un garaje cerca de aqu?


ai oon garakhe serka de akee

LANGUAGE

diesel
diesel
leaded (regular) gasolina con

ROAD SIGNS

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286 L A N G UA G E T r a v e l w i t h C h i l d re n

The car has broken down (in ...).


El coche se se descompuso (en ...)
el koche se deskompooso (en ...)

I have a flat tire.

lonelyplanet.com

a childrens menu
un men infantil
oon menoo eenfanteel

(disposable) diapers/nappies

Tengo una llanta ponchada.


tengo oona yanta ponchada

I ran out of gas/petrol.


Me qued sin gasolina.
me kede seen gasoleena

I had an accident.
Tuve un accidente.
toove oon akseedente

TRAVEL WITH CHILDREN


I need ...

Necesito ...
neseseeto ...

paales (de usar y tirar)


panyales de oosar ee teerar

an (English-speaking) babysitter
una niera (que habla inglesa)
oona neenyera (ke abla eenglesa)

formula (milk)
leche en polvo
leche en polvo

a highchair
una silla para beb
oona seeya para bebe

a potty
una bacinica
oona baseeneeka

Do you have ...?


Hay ...?
ai ...

a stroller

a car baby seat


un asiento de seguridad para bebs
oon asyento de segooreeda para bebes

una carreola
oona kareola

Are children allowed?

oon club para nios


oon kloob para neenyos

Se admiten nios?
se admeeten neenyos

LANGUAGE

a babysitting service

Also available from Lonely Planet:


Mexican Spanish Phrasebook

Lonely Planet Publications

287

Glossary
For general information on the Spanish
language, see the Language chapter (p280).
For a list of food and drink terms, see the
Food & Drink chapter (p64).
acequia irrigation canal, often stone-lined, in Baja
California missions

adobe sun-dried mud brick used for building


agave century plant
albergue de juventud youth hostel
alto stop; also high
Apdo (Apartado) post office box
arroyo brook, stream; often a dry riverbed
asentamientos irregulares shantytowns of Tijuana,
Mexicali and other border towns
avenida avenue

baha bay
bajacaliforniano resident of Baja California
ballena whale; also a colloquial term for 1L bottle of
Pacfico beer
banda style of music dominated by brass instruments,
often without drums
barrio neighborhood of a town or city, often a poor
neighborhood
bisbol baseball
billete banknote
biznaga barrel cactus
boleto ticket
borrego bighorn sheep, a rarely seen species in the
sierras of Baja California that is frequently represented in
the pre-Columbian rock art of the peninsula
burro donkey

caballero gentleman
cabaa cabin
cabina phone booth
caguama any species of sea turtle, but most commonly

loquial usages in Mexican Spanish equivalent to those in


English
cholismo rebellious youth movement, akin to punk,
that has had some influence on the visual arts in
Baja California
chubasco a violent storm approaching hurricane force,
associated with summer low-pressure areas in the tropical
Pacific
cirio boojum tree, a slow-growing species resembling
an inverted carrot
colonia neighborhood in Tijuana or other large city
comida corrida set lunch
conquistador early Spanish explorer-conqueror
cordillera mountain range
correos post office
corrida de toros bullfight
corrido folk ballad of the USMexico border region;
corridos often have strong but subtle political content
Cotuco Comit de Turismo y Convenciones (Committee
on Tourism & Conventions)
coyote smuggler who charges up to US$2000 to spirit
illegal immigrants across the USMexican border
Cruz Roja Red Cross
cuota toll
curandero folk healer

damas ladies; seen on toilet doors


datilillo yucca
desierto desert
ejidatario member of an ejido
ejido cooperative enterprise, usually of peasant
agriculturalists, created under the land reform program of
President Lzaro Crdenas (193440)
encomienda system of forced labor and tribute, which
the Spanish crown instituted in mainland New Spain and
other densely populated parts of its empire

fianza bond posted against the return of a motor


vehicle to the USA

GLOSSARY

the Pacific green turtle; also a colloquial term for 1L bottle


of Tecate beer
cajero automtico automatic teller machine (ATM)
calle street
callejn alley
calzada grand boulevard or avenue
cama matrimonial double or queen bed
cambio casa de cambio
camino road, path, way
campanario bell tower
cardn either of two species of Pachycereus cactus, a
common genus in Baja

carretera highway
casa de cambio currency exchange house
casa de huspedes guesthouse
cascabel rattlesnake
casita cottage
central camionera bus terminal
cerro hill
charreada rodeo
charro cowboy or horseman
chingar literally to fuck; it has a wide range of col-

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GLOSSARY

fideicomiso 30-year bank trust that has fostered the


construction and acquisition of real estate by non-Mexicans
in Baja California
Fonatur Mexican federal government tourist agency
fraccionamiento colonia
frontera border
fronterizo inhabitant of the USMexico border region
frontn venue for jai alai

glorieta city traffic circle; most numerous in Mexicali


and Tijuana
gringo term describing any light-skinned person, but
most often a resident of the USA; often but not always
pejorative
gero blond, a term often used to describe any fairskinned person in Mexico

hacienda local treasury department


hielo ice
hipdromo horseracing track
hombres men; seen on toilet doors
huarache woven leather sandal, often with tire tread
as the sole

iglesia church
INAH Instituto Nacional de Antropologa y Historia
(National Institute of Anthropology & History); administers
museums and archeological monuments
indgena indigenous person
IVA Impuesto de Valor Agregado (value-added tax)

jai alai game of Basque origin resembling squash


Judiciales Mexican state and federal police

GLOSSARY

La Frontera the area where Dominican priests built


their missions in colonial times; it extends from immediately south of present-day San Diego (mainland California)
as far as El Rosario, at about the 30th parallel; also refers to
the USMexico border
Ladatel Larga Distancia Automtica (automatic longdistance phones)
larga distancia long-distance; usually refers to
telephones
librera bookstore
linea line; La linea is the colloquial term for the
MexicoUS border
llantera tire-repair shop, common even in Bajas most
out-of-the-way places
lleno full, as with a cars fuel tank
lonchera casual eatery, often a counter in markets,
serving breakfast and lunch only

machismo an exaggerated masculinity intended to


impress other men more than women; usually innocuous
if unpleasant

Magnistas followers of the exiled Mexican intellectual Ricardo Flores Magn, who attempted to establish
a regional power base in the towns of northern Baja
California during the Mexican Revolution
maguey any of several species of a common Mexico
fiber plant (Agave spp), also used for producing alcoholic
drinks such as tequila, mescal and pulque
malecn waterfront promenade
maquiladora industrial plant in Tijuana, Mexicali
or another border town that takes advantage of cheap
Mexican labor to assemble US components for
reexportation to the north
mariachi small ensemble of street musicians playing
traditional ballads on guitars and trumpets
matador bullfighter
mercado market; often a building near the center of
a town, with shops and open-air stalls in the surrounding
streets
mestizo person of mixed Indian and European
heritage
moneda nacional national money, meaning the
Mexican peso as distinguished from the US dollar (both
use the symbol $); often abbreviated as m/n
mono human figure, as represented in the preColumbian rock art of the Desierto Central
mordida bribe; literally, the bite
mujeres women; seen on toilet doors
municipio administrative subdivision of Mexican states,
roughly akin to a US county; Baja California (Norte) consists
of five municipios, Baja California Sur of four
NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) a pact
between the USA, Canada and Mexico that reduces or
eliminates customs duties and other trade barriers
nao in colonial times, a Spanish galleon on the
AcapulcoManila trade route; such galleons frequently
took shelter in Baja ports on their return voyages
neophyte a new convert (in this case, of the Indians by
the missionaries)
nopal any cactus of the genus Opuntia that produces
edible fruit (tuna), which was common in the diet of
pre-Columbian Baja and is still widely consumed today
norte north; El Norte is the colloquial term for the USA
ofrenda offering to a saint in exchange for a wish or
wishes granted
ola wave
otro lado literally other side; el otro lado refers
colloquially to the USA

paceos residents of La Paz


palapa palm-leaf shelter
PAN (Partido de Accin Nacional) a free-market
oriented populist party that is strong in Baja California
(Norte)

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panga fiberglass skiff used for fishing or whalewatching


panguero one who owns or pilots a skiff
parque nacional national park
pastillas para purificar agua water purification
tablets
peatonal pedestrian walk
peligro danger
Pemex (Petrleos Mexicanos) the Mexican government
oil monopoly
pitahaya dulce organ pipe cactus, a key element of
the traditional diet of Bajas native peoples
plaza de toros bullring
pollero synonymous with coyote; a smuggler of
undocumented immigrants (pollos) into the USA
posada at Christmas, a parade of costumed children
reenacting the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem
presidio a military outpost during colonial times
PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional) the official
party of government in Mexico from 1929 until 2000
propina tip
pueblo town
ranchera subsistence unit of hunter-gatherers in the
contact period with Europeans, or, later, units associated
with missions; implies a group of people rather than a place
rancho tiny rural settlement, ranging from about 20
to 50 people
Secture Secretara de Turismo del Estado (State
Tourism Office)
Semarnap (Secretara de Medio Ambiente, Recursos
Naturales y Pesca) the Mexican governments primary
conservation agency

Servicio Postal Mexicano the Mexican national


postal service

Servicios Migratorios immigration office


SIDA AIDS
sin nmero (s/n) street address without a specific
number

todo terreno mountain bike


tombolo sandspit beach
tope speed bump
torote elephant tree
tortillera tortilla factory or shop
tortuga carey hawksbill turtle
tortuga lad leatherback turtle
tranquilo tranquil, mellow
trapiche sugar mill
turista tourist; also a colloquial name for diarrhea
contracted by tourists

ultramarino small grocery store


Unesco UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization

vado ford, as of a river; can also refer to a dip in


a road

vaquero cowboy
va cuota toll road
zcalo central plaza; more common in mainland
Mexico than in Baja California
zona de tolerancia in border cities such as Tijuana
and Mexicali, an area in which prostitution and related
activities are concentrated
zona hotelera hotel zone

GLOSSARY

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