1. chirimoya (cheer-ee-moi-a): super fun to say. is a Andean fruit that isn't actually available this time of year. makes an excellent "trago" (cocktail) that tastes like a piña colada.
2. cosista (co-see-sta): packrat. aka me. our guide at Pablo Neruda's house describe his as one. as opposed to a 'coleccionista.' PS: his house, La Chascona, is awesome.
3. gringo/gringa (green-go): NOT offensive. describes North Americans. Mi mamá chilena refers to her past exchange students as "las otras gringas" (otro/a = other).
4. guagua (wah-wah): also fun to say. refers to a baby. specifically an infant (I'm pretty sure ...)
5. paracaidista (pah-ra-cai-dee-sta): maybe my fav. literally means parachutist. actually used to mean party-crasher. like someone who drops in uninvited - get it?
When you tell us una chirimoya makes an excellent trago, are we to assume that's not just hearsay? Or the reason it tops your list of favorite Chilean words?
ReplyDeleteWas Pablo Neruda's famous funeral included in the POV DVD "The Judge and the General?"
As for guagua: clearly Chilean babies make the same sounds as gringo infants.
We're ready for another post from Santiago now . .