Here's your chance to keep learning more Cuban phrases and popular sayings.
"Dime con quien anda y te dire quien eres."
Lit: Tell me who you hang out with, and I'll tell you who you are.
Meaning: You are influenced by the people you spend time with.
"Lo cogieron fuera de base."
Lit: He got caught off base (baseball reference).
Meaning: He was surprised or caught doing something wrong.
"Querer bailar en casa del trompo."
Lit: Wanting to dance in the whipping top's house.
Meaning: Don't try that one on me. Been there, done that,
"No hay peor ciego que el que no quiera ver."
Lit: There's no one more blind than he who doesn't want to see.
Meaning: Said about someone who doesn't want to accep the facts.
"Me tocó bailar con la más fea."
Lit: I had to dance with the ugliest girl.
Meaning: I had to come to terms with an ugly situation.
"Cada loco con su tema."
Lit: Every crazy person to his or her own problem.
Meaning: To each his own.
"Me dieron gato por liebre."
Lit: They gave me a cat instead of a rabbit.
Meaning: They sold me something fake.
Want to read more Cubanisms? Check out:
Cubanisms #4
Cubanisms #3
Cubanisms #2
Cubanisms #1
Showing posts with label cubanisms. Show all posts
Cubanisms #5
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cubanisms,
funny cubanisms
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Free Cubanisms eBook!
I just created a free eBook filled with your favorite Cubanisms from the blog, plus a few more new entries! I'm sure this is the first of many to come, and it is completely free! Just download the PDF and that's it. You got Cubanisms on the go now!
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israel sanchez,
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Cubanisms # 3
Hi there friends, your favorite Spanish lessons are back! In no time, you'll be speaking Cuban!
Lit* means literals
Trans* means transalation
"Aquí hay gato encerrado"
Lit: There's a cat locked in here
Trans: There's something mysterious going on here
"Tu eres más rollo que película"
Lit: You are more reel than film
Trans: Said to a person who talks a lot, but doesn't act on things
"Le patina el coco"
Lit: His coconut skates
Trans: He's crazy
"Voló como Matías Perez"
Lit: He flew like Matias Perez
Trans: That person disappeared. Haven't seen him in a long time.
"Ese tipo es un filtro"
Lit: That guy is a filter
Trans: He's really smart
Lit: There's a cat locked in here
Trans: There's something mysterious going on here
"Tu eres más rollo que película"
Lit: You are more reel than film
Trans: Said to a person who talks a lot, but doesn't act on things
"Le patina el coco"
Lit: His coconut skates
Trans: He's crazy
"Voló como Matías Perez"
Lit: He flew like Matias Perez
Trans: That person disappeared. Haven't seen him in a long time.
"Ese tipo es un filtro"
Lit: That guy is a filter
Trans: He's really smart
"Pasar el Niágara en bicicleta"
Lit: To travel the Niagara falls on a bicycle"
Trans: Said when doing something difficult, or during tough times
Cubanisms #2
Friends, once again I'm here to update you on the wonderful world of Cubanisms. If you take notes and pay attention, your next trip to Miami will be very succesful. Dale!*
*Lit: means literal
*Trans: means translation
"Pa' su escopeta!"
Lit: To his rifle!
Trans: Wow!
"Mete tremenda muela"
Lit: He puts a lot of molars
Trans: He speaks a lot
"Es un bárbaro!"
Lit: He's a barbarian!
Trans: He's an expert!
"Voy a jugar bombero"
Lit: I'm going to play firefighter
Trans: I'm going to take a shower
"Te la comiste"
Lit: You ate it
Trans: You did something amazing
"Me la pusiste en China"
Lit: You put it in China
Trans: You have made things hard for me
*Dale is not someone's name, but it's a Cuban expression that means something like "Let's go!"
Cubanisms #1
As part of my Topeka experience, I want to introduce you to all things Cuban. Like any culture, Cubans have a lot of sayings that when literally translated into English make no sense at all, but do not dismay. I will give you the literal translation, only for the fun value, and I will explain the meaning, too.
*Lit: means literal
*Trans: translation
"Por si las moscas"
Lit: In case of the flies
Trans: Just in case
"Me importa tres pepinos"
Lit: I care three cucumbers
Trans: I don't care at all
"Le pusiste la tapa al pomo"
Lit: You put the lid on the jar
Trans: You really messed up this time!
"Tu no pintas nada"
Lit: You don't paint anything
Trans: This doesn't concern you
"Es un arroz con mango"
Lit: It's rice with mango
Trans: It's complicated
"Tener un chino atras"
Lit: A chinese man behind you
Trans: You have bad luck
"Comiendose un cable"
Lit: Eating a cable
Trans: Going through difficult times
Well, that's it for today's Cubanisms class, but I plan to make it a weekly thing until I run out of sayings, so keep checking often!
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israel sanchez,
not in cuba anymore
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