Unos Dichos
One of the many reminders around the city to smile; by artist @marion.ve on instagram
Costeñol is the dialect of Spanish spoken along the Caribbean Coast of Colombia. The costeñol spoken in Cartagena specifically can be hard to follow at times due to the accent, the speed at which people speak and because of the heavy use of local slang, HOWEVER it is possible to learn just like any other dialect with practice. Today I've brought a couple of expressions to share with you so you can start speaking like a cartagenero in no time!
Arroz con mango - literally means rice with mango, and describes two things that just do not go together, something that makes no sense, a complete disaster.
Puya el burro - translates to poke the donkey. This is what someone might tell you if they want you to hurry up, to make haste.
Ponte pilas - this translates to put in batteries, but it is referring to energy level or focus. It means pay attention or look alive.
Cógela suave - this is how you tell someone to take it easy, to relax.
Me vas a sacar el blo (o el peñón o la piedra) - translates to you’re going to make me take out the rock, and it means you’re about to make me mad, it's a warning!
Lo que no mata engorda y en la barriga no estorba - literally means that what doesn’t kill you fattens you and won’t disturb your stomach, it's basically the costeño 5 second rule haha.
Hay que coger el torro de los cachos - this expression says that you have to grab a bull by its horns, meaning that you must face difficulties head on, and with determination, as a bullfighter wranggles a bull!
Congratulations on getting through lesson 1 of costeñol. More to come!
Thank you to my friends, roommates, students, and co-workers for having enthusiastically and patiently taught and explained to me these sayings, and many other costeñol words and expressions. I would have been lost without your help!
DISCLAIMER: This site (octaviachristopher.com) is not an official Fulbright Program site. The views expressed on this site are entirely those of its author and do not represent the views of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Department of State or any of its partner organizations.