Colombia (Lonely Planet, 5th Edition) - Jens Porup [279]
May I look at it?
¿Puedo mirarlo? pwe·do mee·rar·lo
How much is it?
¿Cuánto cuesta? kwan·to kwes·ta
That’s too expensive for me.
Es demasiado caro es de·ma·sya·do ka·ro
para mí. pa·ra mee
Could you lower the price?
¿Puede ofrecerme pwe·de o·fre·ser·me
un discuento? oon dis·kwen·to
I don’t like it.
No me gusta. no me goos·ta
I’ll take it.
Lo llevo. lo ye·vo
What time does it open/close?
¿A qué hora abre/cierra? a ke o·ra a·bre/sye·ra
I want to change some money/traveler’s cheques.
Quiero cambiar dinero/ kye·ro kam·byar dee·ne·ro/
cheques de viajero. che·kes de vya·khe·ro
What’s the exchange rate?
¿Cuál es la taza de kwal es la ta·za de
cambio? kam·byo
I want to call…
Quiero llamar a… kye·ro ya·mar a…
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TIME & DATES
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TRANSPORT
Public Transport
* * *
ROAD SIGNS
Acceso Entrance
Ceda el Paso Give Way
Despacio Slow
Dirección Única One Way
Mantenga Su Derecha Keep to the Right
No Adelantar/ No Passing
No Rebase
Peligro Danger
Prohibido Aparcar/ No Parking
No Estacionar
Prohibido el Paso No Entry
Pare Stop
* * *
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Private Transport
(How long) Can I park here?
¿(Por cuánto tiempo) Puedo aparcar aquí?
(por kwan·to tyem·po) pwe·do a·par·kar a·kee
Where do I pay?
¿Dónde se paga?
don·de se pa·ga
I need a mechanic.
Necesito un mecánico.
ne·se·see·to oon me·ka·nee·ko
The car has broken down in…
El carro se ha averiado en…
el ka·ro se a a·ve·rya·do en…
The motorbike won’t start.
No arranca la moto.
no a·ran·ka la mo·to
I’ve run out of gas/petrol.
Me quedé sin gasolina.
me ke·de seen ga·so·lee·na
I‘ve had an accident.
Tuve un accidente.
too·ve oon ak·see·den·te
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TRAVEL WITH CHILDREN
a car baby seat
un asiento de seguridad para bebés
oon a·syen·to de se·goo·ree·da pa·ra be·bes
a child-minding service
un servicio de cuidado de niños
oon ser·vee·syo de kwee·da·do de nee·nyos
(disposable) diapers/nappies
pañales (de usar y tirar)
pa·nya·les (de oo·sar ee tee·rar)
an (English-speaking) babysitter
una niñera (que habla inglés)
oo·na nee·nye·ra (ke a·bla een·gles)
infant formula (milk)
leche en polvo para bebés
le·che en pol·vo pa·ra be·bes
a highchair
una trona
oo·na tro·na
a potty
una pelela
oo·na pe·le·la
a stroller
un cochecito
oon ko·che·see·to
Also available from Lonely Planet:
Latin American Spanish Phrasebook
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Glossary
Click here for useful words and phrases dealing with food and dining. See the Language chapter Click here for other useful words and phrases. Spanish speakers wanting a complete reference to Colombian slang should pick up a copy of the Diccionario de Colombiano Actual (2005) by Francisco Celis Albán.
aguardiente – anise-flavored liquor
asadero – place serving roasted or grilled meats
atarraya – circular fishing net widely used on the coast and rivers
AUC – Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia; a loose alliance of paramilitary squads known as autodefensas
auto-da-fé – public execution of heretics, which took place during the Inquisition until Colombia’s independence in 1821
autodefensas – right-wing squads created to defend large landowners against guerrillas, also called paramilitares or just paras
ayudante – driver’s assistant on buses
balneario – a swimming hole, often servers liquor and food
bambuco – musical genre of the Andean region
banda ancha – broadband internet
baquiano – person who hires out horses or mules for horseback-riding excursions, and usually accompanies the group as a guide
bomba – gas station; a bomb
burundanga – drug extracted from a plant, used by thieves to render their victim unconscious
buseta – small bus/van that is a popular means of city transport
cabaña – cabin, usually found on beaches or up in the mountains
cable vuelo – the activity of canopying or zip lining
cacique – indigenous tribal head; today the term is applied to provincial leaders from the two traditional political parties,