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Spanish is the most commonly spoken language in Central America. While English is
the official language of Belize, both Spanish
and a local Creole are also widely spoken.
British and US influences have left other
English-speaking pockets in the region,
most notably among the descendants of
West Indian settlers on the Caribbean coast,
but also in Panama, particularly in the Canal
Zone. Maya is the most common of a
number of indigenous languages and dialects spoken throughout the region.
Every visitor to Central America will
benefit from learning some Spanish, and
its easy to pick up the basics. A language
course taken before departure can lead to a
far more relaxed and rewarding travel experience. You can also enrich your stay by
enrolling in a language course in Central
America. Dont hesitate to practice your
new skills in general, Latin Americans
meet attempts to communicate in their language, however halting, with enthusiasm
and appreciation. Even if classes are impractical, learning a few basic phrases and
pleasantries is a must.
PRONUNCIATION
Spanish spelling is phonetically consistent,
meaning that theres a clear and consistent
relationship between what you see in writing and how its pronounced.
Vowels
Word Stress
a
e
i
o
u
as in father
as in met
as in marine
as in or (without the r sound)
as in rule; the u is not pronounced
after q and in the letter combinations
gue and gui, unless its marked with
a diaeresis (eg argir), in which case
its pronounced as English w
at the end of a word or when it stands
alone, its pronounced as the Spanish
i (eg ley); between vowels within a
word its as the y in yonder
Consonants
As a rule, Spanish consonants resemble
their English counterparts. The exceptions
are listed below. Note that while the consonants ch, ll and are generally considered
distinct letters, ch and ll are now often listed
alphabetically under c and l respectively.
The letter is still treated as a separate letter and comes after n in dictionaries.
b
c
ch
d
g
j
ll
r
rr
v
x
z
ACCOMMODATIONS
Im looking for ...
Estoy buscando ...
Where is ...?
Dnde hay ...?
donde ai ...
a campground
un terreno de cmping
a guesthouse
una pensin/
casa de huspedes/
hospedaje
oona pensyon/
kasa de wespedes/
ospedakhe
a hotel
un hotel
oon otel
a youth hostel
un albergue juvenil
double
doble
doble
single
individual
eendeeveedwal
twin
con dos camas
LANGUAGE
LANGUAGE
L A N G UA G E G e n d e r & P l u r a l s 753
754 L A N G UA G E C o n v e r s a t i o n & E s s e n t i a l s
To ...
From ...
Date
I'd like to book ...
MAKING A RESERVATION
A ...
De ...
Fecha
Quisiera reservar ... (see
under Accommodations
for bed and room options)
en nombre de ...
para las noches del ...
tarjeta de crdito ...
nmero
fecha de vencimiento
Puede confirmar ...
la disponibilidad
el precio
eenklooye el desayoono
pwedo ver la
abeetasyon
no me goosta
okay la alkeelo
Im leaving now.
Me voy ahora.
private/shared
bathroom
too expensive
cheaper
discount
me voy aora
bao privado/
compartido
demasiado caro
ms econmico
descuento
banyo preevado/
komparteedo
demasyado karo
mas ekonomeeko
deskwento
Goodbye.
See you soon.
Yes.
No.
Please.
Thank you.
Many thanks.
Youre welcome.
Pardon me.
Excuse me.
Adis.
Hasta luego.
S.
No.
Por favor.
Gracias.
Muchas gracias.
De nada.
Perdn.
Permiso.
(used when asking permission)
Forgive me.
Disculpe.
(used when apologizing)
ola
bwenos deeas
adyos
asta lwego
see
no
por favor
grasyas
moochas grasyas
de nada
perdon
permeeso
deeskoolpe
ke tal
My name is ...
Me llamo ...
me yamo ...
me lo podreea eendeekar
(en el mapa)
norte
sur
este/oriente
oeste/occidente
aqu
all
avenida
cuadra
calle/paseo
norte
soor
este/oryente
oeste/okseedente
akee
ayee
aveneeda
kwadra
kalye/paseo
HEALTH
Im pregnant.
DIRECTIONS
Estoy enfermo/a.
Necesito un mdico.
Estoy embarazada.
estoy embarasada
estoy vakoonado/a
Is it far?
esta lekhos
voltee a la eeskyerda
Turn right.
voltee a la derecha
Im lost.
estoy perdeedo/a
me robaron
Call ...!
Llame a ...!
yame a
an ambulance
una ambulancia
oona amboolansya
a doctor
un mdico
oon medeeko
the police
la polica
I have ...
diarrhea
nausea
a headache
la poleeseea
Tengo ...
diarrea
nusea
un dolor de
cabeza
tengo ...
dyarea
nowsea
oon dolor de
kabesa
LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES
Habla/Hablas (ingls)? abla/ablas (eengles) (pol/inf)
Hay alguien que hable ai algyen ke able
ingls?
eengles
I (dont) understand.
yo (no) entyendo
a la penicilina
la peneeseeleena
peauts
Im ...
asthmatic
diabetic
epileptic
Soy ...
asmtico/a
diabtico/a
epilptico/a
repeat that
al manee
seega/vaya derecho
Turn left.
me pwede ayoodar
por favor
penicillin
al man
Go straight ahead.
es oona emerkhensya
Me puede ayudar,
por favor?
Yo (no) entiendo.
Im allergic to ...
a los antibiticos
Es una emergencia.
sokoro
eensendyo
dekheme
vayase
Estoy vacunado/a.
Socorro!
Incendio!
Djeme!
Vyase!
Its an emergency.
estoy enfermo/a
antibiotics
Volte a la derecha.
Me lo podra indicar
(en el mapa)?
soy de ...
Siga/Vaya derecho.
estoy perdeedo/a
Est lejos?
Estoy perdido/a.
north
south
east
west
here
there
avenue
block
street
Help!
Fire!
Go away!
Get lost!
Estoy perdido/a.
Entrance
Exit
Information
Open
Closed
Prohibited
Police Station
Toilets
Men
Women
Im lost.
I need a doctor.
EMERGENCIES
Entrada
Salida
Informacin
Abierto
Cerrado
Prohibido
Comisaria
Servicios/Baos
Hombres/Varones
Seoras/Damas
el goosto es meeo
Im from ...
Soy de ...
SIGNS
Im sick.
L A N G UA G E H e a l t h 755
moocho goosto
Volte a la izquierda.
Hello.
Hola.
Good morning. Buenos das.
bwenas tardes
bwenas noches
lonelyplanet.com
soy ...
asmateeko/a
dyabeteeko/a
epeelepteeko/a
repeteerlo
write it down
escribirlo
eskreebeerlo
LANGUAGE
LANGUAGE
lonelyplanet.com
756 L A N G UA G E N u m b e r s
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oono
dos
tres
kwatro
seenko
says
syete
ocho
nweve
dyes
onse
dose
trese
katorse
keense
dyeseesays
dyeseesyete
dyeseeocho
dyeseenweve
vaynte
vaynteeoono
traynta
traynta ee oono
kwarenta
seenkwenta
sesenta
setenta
ochenta
noventa
syen
syento oono
dosyentos
meel
seenko meel
dyes meel
seenkwenta meel
syen meel
keesyera komprar
Im just looking.
Slo estoy mirando.
pwedo meerarlo/la
kwanto kwesta
es demasyado karo
para mee
No me gusta.
letter
carta
registered mail certificado
stamps
estampillas
no me goosta
lo yevo
aseptan
American dollars
dlares americanos
dolares amereekanos
credit cards
tarjetas de crdito
tarkhetas de kredeeto
travelers checks
cheques de viajero
chekes de vyakhero
less
more
large
small
menos
ms
grande
pequeo/a
Im looking
for the ...
ATM
el cajero
automtico
bank
el banco
bookstore
la librera
embassy
la embajada
exchange house la casa de
cambio
general store la tienda
laundry
la lavandera
market
el mercado
pharmacy/
la farmacia/
chemist
la botica
post office
el correo
supermarket
el supermercado
tourist office
la oficina de
turismo
menos
mas
grande
pekenyo/a
el kakhero
owtomateeko
el banko
la leebrereea
la embakhada
la kasa de
kambyo
la tyenda
la lavandereea
el merkado
la farmasya/
la boteeka
el koreo
el sooper
merkado
la ofeeseena de
tooreesmo
Qu hora es?
Es la una.
Son las siete.
ke ora es
es la oona
son las syete
medianoche
medioda
dos y media
ahora
hoy
esta noche
maana
ayer
medyanoche
medyodeea
dos ee medya
aora
oy
esta noche
manyana
ayer
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
lunes
martes
mircoles
jueves
viernes
sbado
domingo
loones
martes
myerkoles
khweves
vyernes
sabado
domeengo
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
enero
febrero
marzo
abril
mayo
junio
julio
agosto
septiembre
octubre
noviembre
diciembre
enero
febrero
marso
abreel
mayo
khoonyo
khoolyo
agosto
septyembre
oktoobre
novyembre
deesyembre
TRANSPORTATION
Public Transportation
What time does A qu hora
a ke ora
... leave/arrive? sale/llega ...?
sale/yega ...
the bus
el autobus
el owtoboos
the plane
el avin
el avyon
the ship
el barco/buque el barko/booke
the train
el tren
el tren
airport
train station
bus station
airmail
black market
karta
serteefeekado
estampeelyas
L A N G UA G E Ti m e & D a t e s 757
correo areo
koreo aereo
mercado (negro/ merkado negro/
paralelo)
paralelo
bus stop
el aeropuerto
la estacin de
ferrocarril
la estacin de
autobuses
la parada de
autobuses
el aeropwerto
la estasyon de
ferokareel
la estasyon de
owtobooses
la parada de
owtobooses
luggage check
room
ticket office
guardera/
equipaje
la boletera
gwardereea/
ekeepakhe
la boletereea
1st class
2nd class
single/one-way
return/roundtrip
taxi
primera clase
segunda clase
ida
ida y vuelta
preemera klase
segoonda klase
eeda
eeda ee vwelta
taxi
taksee
Private Transportation
Id like to
hire a ...
bicycle
car
4WD
motorcycle
pickup (truck)
truck
hitchhike
Quisiera
alquilar ...
una bicicleta
keesyera
alkeelar ...
oona beesee
kleta
un auto
oon owto
un todo terreno oon todo tereno
una moto
oona moto
camioneta
camin
hacer dedo/
pedir un ride
kamyoneta
kamyon
aser dedo/
pedeer oon ride
ROAD SIGNS
Acceso
Entrance
Aparcamiento
Parking
Ceda el Paso
Give Way
Despacio
Slow
Direccin nica
One-way
Mantenga Su Derecha Keep to the Right
No Adelantar/
No Passing
No Rebase
Peaje
Toll
Peligro
Danger
Prohibido Aparcar/ No Parking
No Estacionar
Prohibido el Paso
No Entry
Pare/Stop
Stop
Salida de Autopista Freeway Exit
Is this the road to (...)?
Se va a (...) por
esta carretera?
se va a (...) por
esta karetera
donde ai oona
gasoleenera/oon greefo
LANGUAGE
LANGUAGE
NUMBERS
lonelyplanet.com
758 L A N G UA G E T r a v e l w i t h C h i l d re n
birth certificate
border (frontier)
car registration
car-owners title
customs
drivers license
identification
immigration
insurance
passport
temporary vehicle
import permit
tourist card
visa
lonelyplanet.com
Tengo un pinchazo.
certificado de nacimiento
la frontera
registracin
ttulo de propiedad
aduana
licencia de manejar
identificacin
inmigracin
seguro
pasaporte
permiso de importacin
temporal de vehculo
tarjeta de turista
visado
I need ...
Necesito ...
Hay ...?
petrol (gas)
unleaded
plomo
gasolina
gasolina sin
plomo
deesel
gasoleena kon
plomo
gasoleena
gasoleena seen
plomo
ai ...
a child-minding service
oon serveesyo de kweedado
de neenyos
a childrens menu
oona karta eenfanteel
a creche
una guardera
diesel
diesel
leaded (regular) gasolina con
neseseeto ...
un servicio de cuidado
de nios
oona gwardereea
(disposable) diapers/nappies
paales (de usar y
tirar)
an (English-speaking) babysitter
una niera
(de habla inglesa)
oona neenyera
(de abla eenglesa)
formula (milk)
(How long) Can I park here?
(Por cunto tiempo)
Puedo aparcar aqu?
Where do I pay?
Dnde se paga?
donde se paga
LANGUAGE
una trona
oona trona
una pelela
oona pelela
a pusher/stroller
neseseeto oon
mekaneeko
leche en polvo
a potty
I need a mechanic.
Necesito un
mecnico.
leche en polvo
a highchair
no aranka la moto
un cochecito
oon kocheseeto
le molesta ke de
de pecho akee
se admeeten neenyos
759
Glossary
See the Language chapter, p752, for other
useful words and phrases.
aguardiente clear, potent liquor made from
sugarcane; also referred to as caa
baha bay
bajareque traditional wall construction, where a core
of stones is held in place by poles of bamboo or other wood
then covered with stucco or mud
balboa national currency of Panama
balneario public beach or swimming area
barrio district; neighborhood
bistec grilled or fried beef steak
Black Caribs see Garfuna
bocas appetizers, often served with drinks in a bar
cerro hill
cerveza beer
ceviche seafood marinated in lemon or lime juice, garlic
and seasonings
Chac Maya rain god; his likeness appears on many ruins
chacmool Maya sacrificial stone sculpture
chamarra thick, heavy woolen blanket (Guatemala)
chapn citizen of Guatemala; Guatemalan
chicha fruit juice mixed with sugar and water (Panama)
chicken bus former US school bus used for public
transportation
cine movie theater
ciudad city
cocina literally kitchen; small, basic restaurant, or
cookshop, usually found in or near municipal markets
cofrada religious brotherhood, particularly in highland
Guatemala
colectivo shared taxi or minibus that picks up and
drops off passengers along its route
coln national currency of Costa Rica
comedor basic and cheap eatery, usually with a limited
menu
comida a la vista meal served buffet- or cafeteria-style
comida corrida meal of the day; set meal of several
courses, usually offered at lunchtime
comida corriente mixed plate of different foods
typical of the local region
conquistador any of the Spanish explorer-conquerors
of Latin America
Contras counterrevolutionary military groups fighting
against the Sandinista government in Nicaragua
throughout the 1980s
cordillera mountain range
crdoba national currency of Nicaragua
correo areo airmail
corte piece of material 7m to 10m long that is used as
a wraparound skirt
costa coast
GLOSSARY
760
criollo Creole; born in Latin America of Spanish parentage; on the Caribbean coast it refers to someone of mixed
African and European descent; see also mestizo and ladino
cuadra city block
cueva cave
damas ladies; the usual sign on bathroom doors
edificio building
empanada Chilean-style turnover stuffed with meat or
cheese and raisins
entrada entrance
expreso express bus
hospedaje guesthouse
huipil long, woven, white sleeveless tunic with
intricate, colorful embroidery (Maya regions)
iglesia church
indgena indigenous
Interamericana see Carretera Interamericana
internacionalistas volunteers from all over the
world who contributed to rebuilding Nicaragua when the
Sandinistas assumed power
invierno winter; Central Americas wet season, which
extends roughly from April through mid-December
isla island
IVA impuesto al valor agregado; value-added tax
Navidad Christmas
(Costa Rica)
ro river
Maya cities
salida exit
sancocho spicy meat-and-vegetable stew, the national
dish of Panama
santo saint
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GLOSSARY
GLOSSARY
GLOSSARY