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agua Florida (ah-goo-ah flo-ree-dah): Flower scented water from Florida

aguinaldos (ah-ghee-nal-doss): Traditional Christmas songs

alcapurrias (al-kah-poo-rhee-ass): Ground plantain and green bananas stuffed with meat then fried

alcoholado (al-coh-lah-doh): Eucalyptus alcohol

Aleluya (ah-leh-loo-yah): Hallelujah

Americanitos (ah-mer-ee-can-ee-tohs): Little Americans

Americanos (ah-mer-ee-can-ohs): Americans

arroz con dulce (ah-rrohz cohn dool-seh): Sweetened rice spiced with ginger, coconut milk, and cinnamon

artesanías (art-eh-san-ee-ass): Crafts

asopao (ah-soh-pah-oh): Meat or fish soup thickened with rice and potatoes

Ay bendito (I behn-dee-toh): Exclamation that literally means “Blessed be”

Ay Dios mío (I dee-oss mee-oh): Oh, my God

Ay Santo Dios, bendícemela (I sahn-toh Dee-óhs, ben-dee-seh-mehlah) : Oh, dear God, bless her for me

batatas (bah-tah-tahss): Sweet potatoes

bodega (boh-deh-gah): Neighborhood grocery store

bohio (boh-ee-oh): Typical dwelling of Puerto Rican jíbaros

bolero (boh-leh-ro): Ballad

Borinquen (Boh-reen-ken): Pre-Columbian name for Puerto Rico

botánica (boh-tah-nee-cah): Shop that specializes in herbs, icons, and materials used in African-Caribbean religions

bueno (boo-eh-noh): Well or good

cafetín (kah-feh-teen): Open air coffee shop

caldero (kahl-deh-roh): A special heavy pot for cooking rice

carajo (kah-rah-ho): Swear word

charamanbiche (chah-rah-man-bee-cheh): Son of a bitch

chiforobe (chee-foh-roh-beh): Chest of drawers

cocotazos (koh-koh-tah-ssos): Hits on the head with knuckles

colibrí (koh-lee-brée): Hummingbird

coquí (koh-kee): Tiny tree frog, native to Puerto Rico, named after its distinctive song

cuatro (koo-ah-troh): A typical Puerto Rican stringed instrument, smaller than a guitar

curandera (coo-rahn-deh-rah): A woman healer

dignidad (deeg-nee-dad): Dignity

el bosso (ehl boss-oh): The boss

El Cura (el koo-rah): The priest

escupidera (ess-coo-pee-deh-rah): Literally, cuspidor. Chamber pot.

fiambreras (fee-am-breh-rahs): Portable covered dishes used to carry meals to and from work

finca (feen-kah): Farm

fogón (foh-góhn): Cooking fire

gallería (gah-yeh-ree-ah): Place where cocks fight

gente mala (hen-teh mah-lah): Bad people

guanimes (goo-ah-nee-mess): Cornmeal dumplings wrapped in plantain or banana leaves then boiled. Often stuffed.

guarachas (goo-ah-rah-chahs): A type of dance music popular in the Caribbean

guayabera (goo-ah-yah-berr-ah): Embroidered light cotton shirt

güiro (goo-ee-roh): Musical instrument made out of dried gourd across which metal tines are rubbed to produce a scratchy sound

hijas de la gran puta (ee-hass deh lah grahn poo-tah): Daughters of a great whore

huevos (oo-eh-voss): Eggs. Also, men’s testicles

jamona (hah-móh-nah): Woman who has never married

jíbaro (hee-bah-roh): Rural Puerto Rican with distinctive dialect and customs

Jurutungo (Hoo-roo-toon-goh): Somewhere that’s nowhere

La Colorá (Lah Koh-loh-rah): The red girl

los nervios (loss ner-vee-oss): Nervous attack

Macún (Mah-coon): Place where Esmeralda grew up

mal educada (mahl eh-doo-cah-dah): Poorly educated, rude

mancha de plátano (man-cha deh pláh-tah-noh): Plantain stain

marido (mah-ree-do): Husband or live-in-lover

maví (mah-vee): Bark beer

mercado (mer-kah-doh): Market

m’hija (mee-hah): Short for mi hija, my daughter

montes (mohn-tess): Woodsy hills

morcillas (mohr-cee-yass): Blood sausages

moriviví (mohr-ee-vee-vee): (L) Mimosa pudica, sensitive plant

muchachas (moo-cha-chas): Young women

muchacho (moo-cha-cho): Young man

muñequita (moo-nyeh-kee-tah): Little doll

nada (nah-dah): Nothing

negrita (o) (neh-gree-tah): Endearment, little black one

nena (neh-nah): Girl

novena (no-veh-nah): Prayer repeated for nine nights

pan de agua (pahn deh agoo-ah): French style bread

pan de manteca (pahn deh man-teh-cah): Lard bread

Papa Dios (pah-pah deeoss): Father God

parcela (par-seh-lah): Small farm

parrandas (pah-ran-dahs): Christmas tradition in which