Street Spanish Slang Dictionary & Thesaurus

by David Burke

?Tus antepasados eran nobles? !Me estas tomando el pelo! (trans.): Your ancestors were royalty? You're pulling my leg! (lit.): Your ancestors are royalty? You're taking my hair! !La comida en este restauraniete esta para chuparse los dedos! (trans.): The fod in this restaurant id delicious! (lit.): The food in this restaurant is to suck one's fingers! While asking for directions, if a native speaker of Spanish were to tell you not to "eat your coconut" (comerse el coco) just because some "large onion" (cebollon) told you that your destination was "in the fifth pine tree" (en el quinto pino), you may not know whether to continue on your way or just give up and turn back -- that is, unless you've read David Burke's latest book in his Street Spanish series. The Street Spanish Slang Dictionary & Thesaurus offers English equivalents and usage tips for over one thousand Spanish terms, including slang words, idioms proverbs, colloquialisms, and vulgarities. It also offers an extensive thesaurus of naughty Spanish slang synonyms for common English words and phrases -- all destined to make you feel like an insider in no time.

Genres: Language, Reference

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 1999

About the author

Librarian Note: There are multiple authors by this name in the GR database.

See also: Fantasy author David Burke

David Burke is a documentary filmmaker and former 60 MINUTES writer/producer who came to Paris in 1986 for what he thought would be a year, but turned into more than twenty. Besides Writers in Paris, he has written two editions of HarperCollinss Access Paris, a travel guide to Mediterranean France, and numerous articles for magazines and web sites. He and his wife, producer/director Joanne Burke, have also made seven documentaries over these years and are working on a eighth.
He now divides his time between Paris and New York.

Reviews

[Kelsey Angelette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great dictionary for once you get the basis of Spanish down and want to learn how to communicate and understand on the streets and in everyday life. It has a lot of vulgarity, but I suppose we need to know of these words and phrases too.

Would be a great companion for those working with Spanish Speakers as well.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had allowed me to pick up on some of the most vulgar, most obscure, most deeply offensive words and phrases ever conceived of in the Spanish language. It is among my most treasured possessions.

[Jason White · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can speak gutter spanish comfortably. This takes it to a whole new level...

[Elaine D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb resource for someone who LOVES the language and craves knowledge about cultural idioms! I've learned so many incredible linguistic gems from this book! Great buy.