Glossary of Spanish Words
adelante, forward! come in!
adios, adieu.
afrancesado, a Spaniard who had accepted the French domination.
agua, water.
alcalde, mayor, chief magistrate.
alguazil, constable, guard.
amigo, friend.
arriero, muleteer, carrier.
ay de mí, alas! woe is me!
azucarillo, a confection of paste, sugar, and rose-water.
bergantin, brig.
bien, well.
bueno, good: buenos dias, good-morning; buenas noches,
good-night; buenas tardes, good-afternoon.
caballero, rider, gentleman, cavalier.
calle, street.
caramba, an exclamation.
casa, house.
cebolla, onion.
cerro, hill.
choriso, spiced sausage.
cigarillo, a small cigar, whiff.
con, with.
contessa, countess.
contrabandista, smuggler.
copa, cup, goblet.
coso, wide thoroughfare.
cuchillo, knife.
cura, parish priest, parson.
dia, day: buenos dias, good-morning.
Dios, God: Vaya usted con Dios (lit. go with God), good-bye.
don, a title, equivalent to esquire.
doña, a title, equivalent to madam.
el, la*, the.
España, Spain.
fonda, inn.
garbanzo, a species of bean.
gaspacho, a compound of vegetables and condiments.
gitano, gipsy.
gracias, thanks.
guerrillero, an irregular warrior, member of a guerrilla band.
hidalgo, nobleman.
hombre, man, a common mode of address to inferiors.
javaneja, an old-fashioned dance.
junta, council.
manaña, to-morrow.
Maragato, one of a race of mingled Gothic and Moorish
blood, inhabiting a district in N. W. Spain.
*maravedi, the smallest Spanish coin.
marchesa, marchioness.
mareamiento, sea-sickness.
mi, mio, mia, my.
muchas, many.
noche, night: buenas noches, good-night.
nuestra, our.
padre, father.
pan, bread.
patio, courtyard, characteristic of the better Spanish houses.
patron, landlord.
peseta, silver coin worth about tenpence.
plaza, square, open space: Plaza Mayor, great square.
par, by.
porta, gate.
posada, tavern, inn.
puchero, a sort of hot-pot.
qué hay de nuevo? what news?
querida, darling.
quien, who: quien vive? who goes there?
regidor, alderman.
sala, hall, drawing-room.
san, santo, santa, saint.
señor, sir, a title used in addressing equals or superiors.
señora, madam, lady.
señorita, miss, young lady.
sí, yes.
silencio, hush! silence!
tarde, afternoon.
tia, aunt.
tio, uncle.
tirador, sharpshooter.
usted, you.
valiente, brave, valiant.
vamos, come along!
vaya, go: vaya usted con Dios (lit. go with God), good-bye.
venta, small wayside inn.
verdaderamente, verily, indeed.
viva, hurrah! long live!
vive: quien vive? who goes there?