Glossary

a la plancha: grilled
ablandar: soften
abofetear: slap
abrumador: overwhelming
acacia: a type of flower
acecinado: salted; cured
acolchado: padding
acribillado: filled with holes; riddled
adoquín: cobble stone
afilar: sharpen
afligir: afflict
afligirse: mourn; grieve
agorera: sorceress
agridulce: sweet and sour
alabeado: warped
alboroto: disturbance; noise
aletear: flap
aliento: breath
alzar: lift
amasar: knead
amenazar: threaten
amilanar: unnerve
anidar: nest
antorcha: torch
arbusto: bush
arrancar: pull out; start
arrojar: toss
asado: roasted
asaltar: assault
asirse: hold on
asomar: peep out
atea: atheist
atemorizar: terrify
atreverse: dare
ave: bird
azabache: black amber
azafata: escort
azufre: sulphur
azulejo: tile
bando: tribe; side in a conflict
barajeo: shuffling
barbilla: chin
barbudo: someone with a beard
barra: bar
bendecir: bless
bendita: blessed
billar: billiards
blando: soft
blanquecino: whitish
bocanada: mouthful
boina: beret
bola: ball
bordado: embroidered
bragas: panties
brillo: shine
cabelleras: hair
cacique: leader; chief
callar: be quiet
cante jondo: "deep song" from Spanish flamenco; a type of flamenco that is hauntingly sad
cartulina: cardboard
catacumba: catacomb
cauteloso: cautious
caza (a la caza): hunt (on the hunt for)
ceja: eyebrow
cencerro: cow bell
cerdoso: bristly
cerilla: match
chancleta: flip flop
charolado: patent leather
chatarrero: junkman
chillar: scream; screech
cicatriz: scar
cincel: chisel
cincelar: chisel
cintura: waist
circunvalada: bypass
clara de huevo: egg white
clavel: carnation
clavo: nail
cobrar (vida: regain life
coco: coconut
colgante: hanging
colgar: hang
colilla: butt
colocar: place; put
columpio: swing
congelador: freezer
copa: wine glass
corretear: scamper
corrugado: corrugated
corte: cut
corteza: bark (of tree)
costado: side
crisantemos: chrysanthemum
crucifijo: crucifix
crujido: crunch
cuadriga: coach pulled by 4 horses
cuarto creciente: waxing quarter moon
cubo: bucket
cucurucho: cone
cuello: neck
culpa: blame
cuna: cradle
cura: priest
delantal: apron
demacrado: haggard
dentadura: set of teeth
desabrochar: unfasten
desbordar: flood; overflow
descalzo: barefoot
descomunal: uncommon
desconfianza: distrust
descorazonado: dejected
desgaire (al desgaire): carelessly
deshilachada: frayed
desolada: bleak
desperdigado: scattered
desplegar: unfold
desplomar: collapse
desportilado: chipped
destreza: skill; ability
disparo: shot (from a gun, etc.)
docena: dozen
duende: in this context, duende in flamenco is the deep inspiration and feeling of the performers
eclipsado: eclipsed
empapelado: (wall)papered
emplomado: containing lead
encendido: turned on; on fire
encierro: confinement
endurecido: hardened
enlazar: link; connect
enmudecido: speechless
enredadera: climbing plant; tangled or twisted up
entablillado: splint
entrecruzar: crosslink; cross
entretejer: interweave
erizarse: stand or sit upright
escalera: stair; ladder
escama: scale (as on fish)
escarabajo: beetle
escarabar: scratch
escote: neckline
esmero: care; meticulousness
espolvorear: sprinkle
estallar: explode; blow up
estarcido: stenciled
estornudo: sneeze
fijado: fixed (in one place)
flechazo: arrow shot
flequillo: fringe
fondo: bottom; background; deep inside
franela: flannel
fregadero: sink for washing/scrubbing something
frenar: brake; slow down
fronda: bunch of leaves
fular: scarf
gafas: eye glasses
garabato: scribble
gemir: moan
goma: rubber
gotear: drip
grabado: engraving
grasiento: greasy
guaracha: style of Cuban music
guayabera: style of Cuban shirt for men
hedor: stench
helecho: fern
hilo: thread
hojalata: tin
hoyuelo: dimple
hueco: hollow spot; hole
incubir: incubate
ingenuo: naive
inundar: flood
jaula: cage
jirafa: giraffe
lacrada: enameled
languirucha: spindly
latifundio: a large rural landholding
lazo: link; bond
lentejuelas: sequins
llama: flame
loma: hill; small rising of land
lona: canvas
lubina: bass (fish)
magulladura: bruise
maicena: cornstarch
maleficios: hexes
malla: net; web
mantilla: veil
manzana: city block
marfil: ivory
Marruecos: country of Morroco
martillo: hammer
masajear: massage
matiz: shade (of color)
mimbre: wicker
miraguano: type of palm tree
mojado: wet
mordisquear: nibble
mugriento: dirty
naipes: playing cards
neblina: mist; fog
nogal: walnut (tree)
nudillo: knuckle
osar: dare
oscilar: oscillate
oxidado: rusted
padrenuestro: Lord's Prayer; Our Father
pantalla: screen
papada: jowl
parches: patch
parpadear: blink
pasar por alto: ignore; not notice
payaso: clown
pecoso: freckled
pegar: pegar fuego = set on fire
pelado: peeled
percatarse: notice
perfil: profile
perfilar: profile
permanecer: remain
pestillo: latch
pinzas: tweezers
plateado: covered in silver
pleno: full; complete
polvoriento: dusty
postigo: shutter
prender: turn on; light
prieto: tight
pulgar: thumb
punta: tip
quejumbroso: whining
rabia: rage
rabillo (de los ojos): corner
rama: branch
rancio: rancid
rasgada: torn
raspar: scrape
rastro: trail
rayado: striped
rechoncho: chubby; stocky
recorrido: trip; ride
regalar: give as gift
registrar: record
rejas: iron bars
rejuvenecer: rejuvenate
rellar: grate
rendir cuentas: account for; calculate
repartidor: delivery boy
repleto: filled
res: steer (as in cow)
respingona: upturned
restallar: crack
retorcido: twisted
rotundo: round
sangrante: bloody
secuestrar: kidnap
serpentear: snake around; twist
sinuoso: twisty turny
soltar: let go of; release
sostener: support
suplicantes: petitioners
surco: furrow
susurrar: whisper
taburete: stool
tacones: (high) heels
tamarindo: tree with pods that are used to make a drink
tambor: drum
tantear: probe; feel around
tartamudear: stutter
tecla: key (of piano, keyboard, etc.)
temporada: season; time period
tenaza: pincers
tendero: shopkeeper
tocado: touch
tocador: vanity; dressing table
torcer (tuercen): twist
trapo: rag
traquetear: rattle
trasero: back end; butt
traspasar: transfer; turn over
triturar: crush
trofeo: trophy
tropezar: trip
trozo: piece; fragment
tupida: thick
vaca: cow
vajilla: set of dishes
velones: large candles
veraniego: adjective to describe things taking place in the summer
votivos: votive, as in votive candles = candles that are lit when a prayer request is made
vuelo: flight
yema: yolk
yerno: son-in-law
zapatear: make noise with feet; shoes
zarcillo: earring
zumo: juice