by Ixchel del Castillo (from Being Latino's Blog)

I don’t know about you, but many times, Spanish phrases just come to my head and want to come out in the middle of a conversation in English. And it’s not only because Spanish is my first language, but also because I feel they way we use words and phrases to communicate in Spanish has a totally different flavor.Let’s think of sayings and colloquialisms that we’ve heard many times. “Que se te haga la boca chicarrón,” my neighbor back in Mexico would say when someone said that something bad could happen.  What about “Me tenías con el Jesús en la boca”? Many of us probably got the “Que fiesta ni que ocho cuartos,” a somewhat polite phrase our parents used to let us know there was no way we were going to that cool party for which we finally got an invitation.

I know that there are similar sayings and idioms in English, but they just don’t sound the same to me. There’s playfulness in Spanish that I have not yet found in English. And if you add all the regionalisms and phrases used in different countries, the power of the Spanish language grows! I still remember a camping trip with a Colombian and a Spaniard friend. We were having a conversation and several times we had that deer-in-headlights look. We all knew we were speaking Spanish, but at times had no idea what they others were saying. Saying “no manches” (the Mexican version of “you gotta be kidding me!” or “no way”) was common for me, but for my friends all it means is that they were staining something.

So, just for fun, here are a few of my favorite Spanish phrases that I just wished I could use in English. If I could, my conversations would be freer and I think I would sound more like me. Of course, I translate them, they never work, but at least we get a good laugh at the made-up nonsense.

Si no cabes, no repartas – If you don’t fit, don’t share out

Used to tell someone who did something wrong that is not fair to blame others.

Me lleva la que me trajo – The one that brought me takes me

A phrase to say “darn it!”

No me des el avión – Don’t give me the plane

Used when someone is ignoring you or being condescending so you leave them alone.

Me pusieron como lazo de cochino – They put me like a pig’s rope

Meaning that one was seriously reprimanded

Está bien el encaje, pero no tan ancho – The lace is ok, but not as wide

Used to say you’re ok with helping someone, but they are now asking for way too much.

Lo agarraron de su puerquito – They held him/her as their little piggy

Used to say people have chosen to pick on someone

Le cayó el veinte – The twenty fell on him

Meaning someone understood something

Now it’s your turn! Share your favorite phrases that you use in Spanish because in English they just don’t sound the same?

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Gracias Ysis...!

Muy buena la reflexión de ésta chica, y tiene razón... traducir no sabe igual!

Mi favorito personal, "No vaiga siendo"... que se traduce "Will not be"... cómo que no dá el sabor de "you wish" que es el sentido de la frase---pero que le vamos a hacer...! Híjole... pós ni modo--- ay ya me llené de frases... mejor ahí la dejo..! UPS!

jajajaj si que me he reido con este tema! jejeje gracias por ponerlo! Gracias por ponerlo! Es bien chistoso en realidad como hay veces uno trata de encontrar la frase perfecta que explique en Ingles lo que tan facilmente puedes decir en Español!

Thanks for sharing it! Really funny especially when you think about how we are always trying to find the right way of saying something in English that we normally say in Spanish!

My favorite is: Mi favorita es:

No viene al caso... It doesn't come to the point?? LOL!

Gracias Ysis ... cuanta razon tiene esta chica ... pero no olvidemos que tambien al reves es verdad ... los modismos son generalmente intraducibles.

Lo mas chistoso es cuando estas hablando en español con alguien de otro pais y se te salen los modismos propios de tu tierra; el otro se queda confundido como si le estubieras mentando la madre. jejeje yo tengo una lista larga de palabras de mi pais jejeje.

Unas de mis Favoritas

Ese huevo quiere sal :cuando alguien se te hacerca cariñoso/a o para molestarte por que este/esta quiere algo.

Translation ="that egg wants salt": it's said when someone cozies up to you for attention or to butter you up because they want something.

JEJEJEJE

Gracias Ysis!!!

Y pues no dejamos atras el... Achis, Achis!!

Que es algo como...

Really?

o, tambien... Is that true?

Muchas gracias Ysis para compartir esta nota.   Es muy interesante.

Abrazos, Jody :D

El temita me gusta ...

Jopetas de Ysis, de TODAS Las Que ha dicho, Por Aquí en España no se sí EE.UU. Ninguna. 

Si Acaso la de "Me Lleva La Que me trajo - El Que Me trajo Me Lleva", párr Decir maldito!.

Aquí diríamos, si Acaso, Que No Estoy Muy Segura de Que signifique Lo Mismo:

¡La Madre Que Te Pario!o! me cagüen la Madre Que Te Pario!

Igual O, Simplemente es pensándolo bien ", ¡Hijo de puta!

Bueno no se ..., ESO de ! Maldito ¡se me queda muy corto ...