a la plancha fried

abuelo grandfather

abuela grandmother

A.C. antes de Cristo (before Christ); equivalent to B.C.

adobe sun-dried mud brick used for building

aduana customs

aeropuerto airport

agave family of plants, including the maguey, used to make tequila

agua fresca fruit-flavored water

agua minerale bottled carbonated water

agua purificada purified water

agua sin gas bottled uncarbonated water

al carbón barbecued

Alameda name of the formal parks in Mexican cities

alberca swimming pool

alfarerÍa potter's workshop

alfénique baroque architectural decoration resembling sugarpaste candy

almuerzo lunchalt Íza Moorish rectangular frame around a curved arch on Mexican buildings

Altiplano Central plateau stretching across north central Mexico

amate paper made from tree bark

Angeles Verdes Green Angels, bilingual government-funded mechanics who patrol Mexico's major highways

antojitos Mexican appetizers or substantial snacks, like tacos or tamales

arroyo dried-up stream or riverbed

asado roasted

artesanÍas folk arts or handicrafts

atrium enclosed yard of a large church or cathedral

audiencia an executive panel set up by the Spanish king to rule Mexico in the sixteenth century

autopista expressway

avenida avenue

azúcar sugar

azulejo decorated ceramic tile

bahÍa bay

balneario natural hot-spring bathing resort

baluarte defensive wall or bastion

barbacoa barbecued meat

barrio poor neighborhood of a town or city

basura rubbish or trash

boca the break in a barrier island where the ocean meets a lagoon

boleto ticket

boleto boarding pass

bosque grove of trees or forest

botana light snack

burro donkey

caballero horseman, but can also be used on men's room doors

cabaña cabin or simple beach shelter

cacique Aztec chief

café con crema coffee with cream

café de olla coffee with cinnamon and sugar

café con leche coffee with steamed milk

café negro black coffee

calandrÍa nineteenth-century horse-drawn carriage

caldo de pollo chicken broth

calle street

callejón alley

callejonada alley walk, usually behind a small band, with alcoholic refreshments en-route

calzada grand boulevard or avenue

camarÍn a chapel beside the main altar in a church, containing ceremonial clothing for statues of saints

camarones shrimp

camionera bus terminal

campesino farm worker

cantina a small Mexican bar where women are traditionally not allowed

capilla chapel

capilla abierta an open chapel used in early Mexican churches for saying Mass to crowds of unbaptized Indians

carne meat

casa de cambio place where currency is exchanged

caseta de larga distancia public telephone (also caseta de teléfono or caseta telefónica)

cazuela clay cooking pot

cena late-night snack or dinner

cenote a limestone sinkhole filled with rainwater and used for ceremonial purposes in the Yucatán

cerro hill

cerveza beer

ceviche fresh raw fish marinated in fresh lime juice, garnished with chopped tomatoes, chiles, and onions

chac-mool pre-Columbian stone sculpture of a belly-up figure used in sacrificial ceremonies

chac Mayan rain god

charreada Mexican rodeo

charro Mexican cowboy

Chilango citizen of Mexico City

chinampas Aztec gardens built from lake mud and vegetation

chultún man-made cistern used to collect rainwater and found in the Puuc hills of the Yucatán

churrigueresque: heavily ornamented Spanish-baroque architectural style found on many Mexican churches

cigarro cigarette

clavadistas cliff divers

colectivo van that picks up and drops off passengers along a predetermined route

colegio junior college or preparatory school

colonia neighborhood of a city

combi a Volkswagen van

comedor a sit-down stall in a market or a small restaurant

comida dinner (eaten at midday)

comida corrida fixed-price midday meal

conde the title of count

conquistador early Spanish explorer-conqueror

convento Mexican convent or monastery

cordillera mountain range

correos post office

crema cream

criollo person of Spanish descent born in New Spain

cuchara spoon

cuchillo knife

cuota toll

curandero an Indian shaman healer who used herbs and magic to cure diseases

D.F. Distrito Federal (Federal District)

damas ladies

D.C. después de Cristo (after Christ); equivalent to A.D.

de lujo deluxe

delegación a large urban governmental subdivision in Mexico City comprising many colonias

desayuno breakfast

descompuesto broken, out of order

dulcerÍa candy shop

efectivo cash payment

ejido a government-sponsored community with shared land ownership

embarcadero quay, jetty, or boat launch

enramada thatch-covered open-air restaurant

entrada entrance

entremeses hors d'oeuvres or also theatrical sketches performed during the Cervantino festival in Guanajuato

equipales barrel-shaped rustic chairs and tables made from wood and leather

equipaje luggage

escuela school

estación de ferrocarril train station

evangelistas people who type for others who cannot read

ex-convento former convent or monastery

familia family

farmacia drugstore

feria fair

ferrocarril railroad

fonda a small restaurant or food stall in a market

FONATUR Fondo Nacional de Formento del Turismo (National Foundation for Tourism Development)

fraccionamiento a subdivision or housing development that's like a colonia

fuente fountain

fuerte fort

gachupines a derogatory term for the Spaniards sent from Spain to rule Nueva España

garnachas small fried tortilla topped with chicken or pork, onions, avocado, and chopped tomatoes

guÍa guide

glorieta traffic circle

gorditas thick fried-corn tortilla, slit/stuffed with a variety of meats, cheeses, tomato, lettuce, and onion

gringo Mexican slang for white North American

grito the shout (the Grito de Dolores or call to independence by Father Hidalgo)

gruta cave or grotto

guarache woven leather sandal (also huarache)

guarderÍa de equipaje luggage storage room

guayabera man's shirt with pockets and appliquéd designs on the front (also guayabarra)

Guera de la Casta War of the Castes, a bloody nineteenth-century Mayan uprising in the Yucatán peninsula

hacendado hacienda owner

hacienda large estate

helado ice cream

henequén fibers from the maguey plant used to make rope

hielo ice

hombres men

horchata refreshing drink made of ground rice, ground almonds, and sugar

hoven waiter

huarache see guarache

huevos eggs

huipil Indian woman's short-sleeved embroidered tunic of various lengths

Huizilopochtli Aztec god

iglesia church

llegada airport gateway

INAH Instituto Nacional de AntropologÍa e Historia, the Mexican government agency in charge of archaeological sites and museums

indÍgenas inhabitants of all-native descent who speak their native tongue

infante baby

ISH — impuesto sobre hospedaje, the lodging tax on the price of hotel rooms

isla island

IVA impuesto de valor agregado, a 15-percent sales tax added to the price of many items, including hotel rooms

ixtle maguey fiber

jaguar panther and symbol of the Olmecs

jai alai the Basque game pelota, brought to Mexico by the Spanish

jaiba crab

Jarabe TapatÍo a courtship dance in which a girl and boy dance around the boy's hat (Mexican hat dance)

jardÍn the main square in central Mexican towns (literally “garden”)

Jarocho resident of Veracruz

jefe boss or political leader

jipijapa local name for a Panama hat in the Yucatán

jorongo small poncho worn by some indigenous men

jugo juice

Kukulcán Mayan name for the plumed serpent god Quetzalcoátl

la cuenta the restaurant check

la ermita a hermitage, usually a church

Lada abbreviation for larga distancia

Ladatel the long-distance telephone system operated by Telmex

ladino the same as mestizo

laguna lagoon or lake

lancha fast, open, outboard boat

larga distancia long-distance phone

leche milk

libramiento free or regular highway

licenciado university graduate, abbreviated as “Lic.” and used before a person's name

licuado drink made from fruit juice, water or milk, and sugar

limón Mexican lemon (small green half-lemon, half-lime)

llave key

loncherÍa a lunch counter or food stand

machismo an exaggerated sense of maleness

madre mother

maguey a type of agave with thick pointed leaves growing straight out of the ground

malecón waterfront promenade

mantequilla butter

mañana tomorrow or some time in the future

maquiladora assembly plant in a Mexican border town

mariachi small ensemble of musicians playing traditional ballads on guitars and trumpets for weddings and other celebrations

marimba wooden xylophone-type instrument that's popular in Veracruz and the Yucatán

mariscos seafood

marisquerÍas open-air seafood restaurants

matachine ceremonial dance procession

mercado market

mescal an alcoholic drink distilled from the fermented hearts of the maguey plant (also mezcal)

Mesoamerica ancient Mexican cultures

mestizaje Mexico's mixed-blood heritage

mestizo person of mixed Indian and Spanish ancestry

metate shallow stone bowl with legs used for grinding corn

migración immigration

mirador a lookout point

molletes a bolillo (a crusty hard roll with a soft center) cut in half and topped with refried beans and cheese then broiled.

Mudéjar a Moorish architectural style brought to Mexico by the Spanish

muelle pier

mujeres women

municipio a small Mexican local-government area

museo museum

Nahuatl the language of the Aztecs

nao Spanish galleon

niño child

nopal prickly pear cactus, cut in strips and served as a vegetable (nopalitos)

norteamericanos people from the United States

Nte abbreviation for norte (north), used in street names

Nueva España New Spain

ostiones oysters

Ote abbreviation for oriente (east), used in street names

palacio municipal town or city hall

palacio de gobierno state capitol or state house

palapa thatched-roof beach shelter

pan bread

pan dulce sweetened bread, pastry

PAN Partido Acción Nacional (National Action Party)

panaderÍa bakery or pastry shop

panga small fishing boat

parada bus stop

parque park

parque nacional national park, a protected area banning development and exploitation

parroquia parish church

paseo boulevard or pedestrian street

pastel cake or pie

Pemex Petroleos Mexicanos (Mexican Governmentowned petroleum corporation)

peninsulares those born in Spain and sent by the Spanish government to rule the colony in Mexico

periférico bypass or ring road

pescado fish

pesero small vans in Mexico City

petate a palm or reed mat

peyote a hallucinogenic cactus

pimienta pepper

pinacoteca art gallery

pintos traditionally painted dancers

piñata decorated clay pot or papier-mâché mold filled with sweets and gifts and smashed open at fiestas

plancha plate

plata silver (sometimes used to mean silver plate)

playa beach

plaza town square

plaza de toros bullring

plazuela small square or plaza

Poblano person or thing from Puebla (literally, in the style of Puebla)

pollo chicken

Porfiriato Porfirio DÍaz's reign as president-dictator of Mexico for over 30 years

portales arcades

postre dessert

presidio military fort or garrison

PRI Partido Revolutionario Institucional (Institutional Revolutionary Party)

primera classe first class

propina tip

Pte abbreviation for poniente (west), used in street names

pueblo town

puerto port

pulque a thick milky drink made from fermented maguey juice

punta point of land

quechquémal Indian woman's diamond-shaped embroidered shoulder cape with a head opening

quesadilla flour tortilla stuffed with melted white cheese and warmed (Mexican toasted cheese)

queso cheese

quetzal crested bird with brilliant green, red, and white plumage highly prized by pre-Columbian cultures

Quetzalcóatl plumed serpent god of pre-Columbian Mexico

quinta a country house

rebozo long woolen or linen shawl covering the head or shoulders

Recibo de Equipaje baggage claim

refresco soft drink

Regiomontãño person from Monterrey

reja wrought-iron window grille

reserva de la biosfera biosphere reserve

restaurante restaurant

retablo an altarpiece or a small painting on wood or tin, placed in a church to give thanks for miracles

retorno cul-de-sac

rÍo rive

s/n sin número (without number), used in street addresses

sacbe ceremonial avenue between great Mayan cities

sal salt

sala waiting or exhibition hall

salida exit

salsa verde sauce made with green tomatillo and pureed with hot peppers, cilantro, garlic, and onions

salsa Mexicana chopped tomatoes, onions, and cilantro with a small amount of oil, put on restaurant tables

sanatorio hospital

sanitario restroom

serape blanket with an opening for the head which is worn as a cloak

segunda classe second class

Semana Santa Holy Week or the week before Easter

servicios toilets

servilleta napkin

sierra mountain range

sin carne without meat (vegetarian)

sin numero s/n (without number) used in addresses without street numbers

sitio taxi stand

Solomonic spiral Spanish baroque columns

sopa soup

sopa clara consomme

sope a small tortilla spread with refried beans and topped with crumbled cheese and chopped onions

stelae Mayan standing carved-stone monuments that tell a story about an era (fifty-two years)

supermercado supermarket

Sur south

taco filled tortilla

talabarterÍa shop where they make and sell saddles

taller shop or workshop

taller mecánico a car mechanic's shop

talud-tablero stepped building style with alternating vertical (tablero) with sloping (talud) sections

tamal meat rolled with masa, then wrapped in a corn husk and steamed (plural is tamales).

TapatÍo, TapatÍa resident of Guadalajara; anything having to do with Guadalajara

taquerÍa place where you buy tacos

taquilla ticket window

taza cup

té tea

té negro black tea

telar de cintura backstrap loom used by Indian women

teleférico cable car

templo church (which took the place of pre-Columbian temples, a place of worship)

tenedor fork

teocalli Aztec sacred precinct

tequila a liquor produced from blue agave plant

Tezcatlipoca pre-Columbian god, the lord of life and death

tezontle a pink, porous volcanic rock that the Aztecs and Spaniards used for building

tianguis weekly open-air Indian market

tienda store

tÍpico characteristic of a region

Tláloc the pre-Columbian rain god

topes speed bumps

torta sandwich

tostadas crispy fried tortillas topped with meat, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, avocados, and cheese

transbordador ferry (also barca de transporte)

turista Moctezuma's revenge

UNAM Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (National Autonomous University of Mexico)

universidad university

vaso glass

vÍa cuota toll road

viaje trip

viajero traveler

vino wine

vino blanco white wine

vino tinto red wine

virreinal viceregal period from 1521–1821 when a Spanish viceroy ruled Nueva España

voladores the Totonac Indian ritual in which men, suspended by their ankles, whirl around a tall pole

zócalo main plaza or square of a Mexican town

Zona Rosa a tourist area of hotels, restaurants, and shops in Mexico City