08 October 2010

Dictionary of Peruvian Food Slang

Anyone currently taking Spanish classes (Tommy? Anyone else?): Use these phrases appropriately in your next paper or skit assignment for guaranteed extra credit! If your teacher is Peruvian, anyway :)

Camarones: Party crashers (literally: shrimp).

Chupe: Brown noser (literally: shrimp and lobster soup)

Cocinar un pacto: To make a deal (“cook” a deal)

¿Cuál es tu caucau?: What’s you’re problem? (caucau is cow stomach, I hear it’s nasty)

Donde come uno, comen dos: Where one eats, two eat. Peru is big on sharing food.

El que come y no convida tiene un sapo en la barriga: He who eats and doesn’t share has a frog in his gut.

Estar hasta el queque: To be sick or nervous (doesn’t translate literally, but queques are muffins)

Estas frito pescadito: You’re screwed (literally: You’re fried fish)

Fresca como una lechuga: “Fresh as lettuce,” someone who is bold/disrespectful and may abuse a friendship

Ganarse los frijoles: To bring home the bacon! (Except in Peru, they win the beans)

Me importar un pepino: I don’t give a… cucumber.

No es amor al chancho, sino a las chicharrones: It’s not love for the pig (person), only love for the bacon (money). Gold digger!

No se haga paltas/ Me paltié: Don’t get confused/ I’m confused (Don’t have an avocado/ I’m avocado-ed… doesn’t really translate)

Picarón: A flirt (also a dessert)

Plato fuerte: Important or main idea or topic (the “strong plate”)

¡Qué buenas yucas!: Nice legs! (Ow ow!)

¡Qué buena vaina!: What a mooch! (literally: What a great pea pod!)

Tema picante: Hot or controversial topic (literally: spicy plate)

Te estoy agarrando camote: You are/are becoming my best friend (sort of like, “We’re two peas in a pod,” except camotes are sweet potatoes)

Torreja: Something common or of low quality (literally: another word for egg and veggie tortilla)

Zanahoria: Someone who is naive (literally: a carrot)

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