The Dominican Talk

A Dominican doesn’t give you a dirty look. S/he “corta los ojos” (cuts the eyes).

A Dominican doesn’t leave something. S/he “sueltan la banda” (releases the band).

A Dominican does not get better, or well (when s/he is ill). S/he “se alienta” (gets encouraged).

A Dominican doesn’t insult you. S/he gives you a “pele’e lengua” (whipping of the tongue). “Pela” is the Dominican word for beating, whipping, or spanking.

A Dominican doesn’t drink from the bottle. S/he “se embica” –from the verb “embocar” (to put in the mouth, or to gulp down)

A Dominican doesn’t fight you. S/he “te come vivo” (eat you alive).

A Dominican doesn’t call you (on the phone). S/he gives you a “toque” (knock, touch).

A Dominican doesn’t ignore (another person). S/he “se hace el/la loco/a” (make the crazy) Meaning: plays dumb.

A Dominican doesn’t climb (or gets on top of something). S/he “se encarama” (raise, elevate, lift up)

A Dominican doesn’t ask for a little (or a small piece or portion of something). S/he asks for a “chin” (as in a bit, tad, pinch, dash).

A Dominican doesn’t eat something light or have a light snack or a light meal. S/he “pica” (as in bite, nibble).

A Dominican doesn’t try (to do something). S/he “brega” (struggles)

A Dominican is not prepared. S/he is “setia” (from English “to be set”)

A Dominican doesn’t go directly or straight (to a place) without stopping on the way. S/he goes “en bola’ehumo” (in ball of smoke).

A Dominican does not wait. S/he “hace hora” (makes hour).

A Dominican doesn’t have phlegm in the lungs. S/he has a “pollo” (chicken) or a “con-con” in the lungs. “Con-con” is also the term used to refer to the rice that sticks to the bottom of a saucepan.

A Dominican doesn’t calm down. S/he “lo coje con suavena” (takes it with suavena). “Suavena”: either from the word “suave” (soft), or possibly from Suavena, an oatmeal brand.

A Dominican doesn’t repeat something slower. S/he “lo baraja mas alpaso” (shuffles it “alpaso”) “Al paso” is the Spanish word for the slowest gait of a horse.

A Dominican doesn’t work hard. S/he “la busca como un toro” (looks for it as a bull).

A Dominican doesn’t deceive you. S/he “te lo mete frio” (inserts it or puts it into you cold)

A Dominican is not unfaithful or doesn’t cheat on you. S/he “te pega los cuernos” (puts or sticks the horns on you).

A Dominican is not a liar. S/he is a jablador. (from the Spanish word “hablador” (talker)

A Dominican is not an expert. S/he is a “verdugo” (executioner).

A Dominican doesn’t know everything. S/he is a “tiguere” (streetwise person)

A Dominican doesn’t get drunk. S/he “se da un jumo” (gives her/himself a “jumo”) Jumo: possibly from the Spanish word “humo” (smoke).

A Dominican does not slip. S/he “patina” (skates).

A Dominican doesn’t have economic problems. S/he is “en mala” (in bad).

A Dominican doesn’t go bankrupt or broke. S/he “eta en olla” (is in the pan).

A Dominican doesn’t spy. S/he “brecha” (cracks or gaps)

A Dominican doesn’t convince. S/he “da muela” (gives molar tooth).

A Dominican doesn’t caress. S/he “soba” (knead, handle, paw)

A Dominican doesn’t jump, throw him/herself (doesn’t go for it!). S/he “se jondea”

A Dominican doesn’t bother, disturb, or pester. S/he “fuñe” or “jode”

A Dominican doesn’t take a bath or showers. S/he “se echa agua” (throws water onto him/herself).

A Dominican doesn’t fill his/her stomach. S/he “se jarta” (from Spanish “hartar”) stuff.

A Dominican doesn’t get annoyed. S/he “se quilla”

A Dominican doesn’t hit you. S/he “te eplota” –from the Spanish verb “explotar” (explodes) you.

A Dominican doesn’t give a punch or a blow. S/he gives a “totazo”

A Dominican doesn’t squat or bend down. S/he “se aplata” –from the Spanish word “aplastar” (squash, mash)

A Dominican doesn’t get off or get down. S/he “se apea” (take themselves down)

A Dominican doesn’t organize (things). S/he “acoteja” (arrange, put things in order)

A Dominican doesn’t go fast. S/he goes like a “chele” (Dominican word for a one-cent coin, a penny) or like “elajon derdiablo” (“elajon” of the devil).

A Dominican doesn’t abandon you. S/he “te saca los pies” (removes the feet or takes out the feet)

A Dominican doesn’t take a siesta, a nap. S/he “echa una pavita” (throws a “pavita”)

A Dominican doesn’t leave or takes off running. S/he “se embala” (pack her/himself)

Dominicans don’t see each other later. They “se chequean” later (check each other) later.

A Dominican doesn’t choke or gets something stuck in their throat. S/he “se añuga”

A Dominican doesn’t look for a fight. S/he “arma una piña” (put together, assembles or mount a pineapple)

A Dominican doesn’t give you a slap on the face. S/he gives you a “galleta” (wafer)

A Dominican doesn’t drink too much (alcoholic beverages). S/he “se prende, se enciende o se pone en su punto” (ignites him/herself, catches fire, or sh/e puts his/herself on his/her peak)

A Dominican doesn’t speak incoherently or doesn’t speak nonsense. S/he is a “baboso/a” (dribbler, slobber, drooler)

A Dominican doesn’t doubt. S/he “se pone chivo” (put her/himself goat)

Dominicans don’t doubt. They “se ponen chivo” (put themselves goat)

And at the end, Dominicans don’t die. They “guindan los tenis” (hang the sneakers or tennis shoes)