Ten brilliant Spanish reinventions of everyday English words
The English language is sweeping across Spain, but not always in the way you might expect. The Local looks at how Spaniards are taking English words, changing their meanings and using them in a way that would have Shakespeare turning in his grave.
Footing
Photo: Martin Alvarez Espinar/Flickr
The noun for 'jogging'. Hacer footing means to go jogging.
Parking
Photo: Jim Pennucci/Flickr
Widely used to refer to a car park or parking lot. E.g "I can’t find a parking anywhere!"
Hacer zapping
Photo: MjZ Photography/Flickr
Used to refer to channel-hopping or channel-surfing.
Crack
Photo: Pierre-Phippe Marcou/AFP
Nothing to do with the drug or a hole of any kind, crack is used in Spanish to describe someone who is great at what they do. So don’t feel offended if a Spaniard calls you a crack, it’s actually quite a compliment!
Gin-tonic
Photo: Robert S. Donovan/Flickr
Instead of calling it ginebra y tónica, the Spanish have adopted the English name for the refreshing alcoholic beverage and just dropped the ‘and’ in the middle.
Esmoquin
Photo: Flashback Tunisie/Flickr
Derived from the English 'smoking jacket', there is no other word in Spanish to refer to a dinner jacket or tuxedo. The French have a very similar version to it but without the 'e' that Spaniards often put in front of English words starting with 's'.
Lifting
Archive photo: Shutterstock
No, this has nothing do with going to the gym, or even putting your back into it. Lifting (as in hacer un lifting) is what Spanish call a face lift.
El Face
Photo: pshab/Flickr
The world's biggest social media site has become so mainstream in Spain that young people often shorten its name to 'El Face'.
El office
Photo: Robert Benner/Flickr
Somewhat confusing that the Spanish use the noun for a workplace to describe a pantry, breakfast room or utility room.
Quiqui
Archive photo: Shutterstock
If your Spanish partner asks whether you want to "echar un quiqui" (pronounced kiki), he or she wants to get down and dirty. This cheeky and light-hearted expression means to have sex and probably comes from the English word "quickie".
See Also
Footing
Photo: Martin Alvarez Espinar/Flickr
The noun for 'jogging'. Hacer footing means to go jogging.
Parking
Photo: Jim Pennucci/Flickr
Widely used to refer to a car park or parking lot. E.g "I can’t find a parking anywhere!"
Hacer zapping
Photo: MjZ Photography/Flickr
Used to refer to channel-hopping or channel-surfing.
Crack
Photo: Pierre-Phippe Marcou/AFP
Nothing to do with the drug or a hole of any kind, crack is used in Spanish to describe someone who is great at what they do. So don’t feel offended if a Spaniard calls you a crack, it’s actually quite a compliment!
Gin-tonic
Photo: Robert S. Donovan/Flickr
Instead of calling it ginebra y tónica, the Spanish have adopted the English name for the refreshing alcoholic beverage and just dropped the ‘and’ in the middle.
Esmoquin
Photo: Flashback Tunisie/Flickr
Derived from the English 'smoking jacket', there is no other word in Spanish to refer to a dinner jacket or tuxedo. The French have a very similar version to it but without the 'e' that Spaniards often put in front of English words starting with 's'.
Archive photo: Shutterstock
Photo: pshab/Flickr
Photo: Robert Benner/Flickr
Archive photo: Shutterstock
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