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When you learn a new language, you learn the culture and traditions of that country. So, let’s learn Peruvian Spanish, words and expressions as well as some traditions from my country.

Let’s start with this journey

Common Slangs in Peru

PERUVIAN SLANGSMEANING
Está en algodónUsed to express that something is so-so
Voy a jatearExpresses that someone is going to sleep
Estoy piñaIt is said when someone has bad luck
Pan con mangoIt means that something is incorrect or difficult to understand
NolaMeans “No”
PapayitaSomething that is easy, a piece of cake.
MostroWhen something is excellent.
ChambaJob or occupation
CicatrizMeans “Yes”
Tengo jeringaUsed to express that someone speaks slangs
Como huevo en cevicheUsed to express that someone is extremely lost at a specific situation
Broder, causa, yuntaA best friend
Chévere, pajaSomething good
Con pie derechoUsed to say that someone has to be very fast when entering a bus.
Johnny pachecoMe
ChanchitaWhen a group of people, especially students, collect money in order to buy something to drink or to eat.
GilBoyfriend
TomboPolice officer
YapaUsed to express that something has been added to something
Tono, juergaParty
PichangaA soccer match
GuachimánA police officer who works around my block
FerchoA driver
ConchudoA person who has no shame when he or she knows that something is not correct
HuascaA drunk person
MonseBoring
No seas lentejaUsed to say not to be slow
chupetaAn informal meeting especially to drink beer or any alcoholic drink
HamearThe action of eating
Meter la pataTo make a mistake
Ni chicha ni limonadaWhen it's neither one nor the other
Que paltaTo be embarrased
Asu mareWow
Eres un polloSomeome who is a beginner in the field of drinking alcoholic drinks.
Tirarse la peraThe action of not being present at school because you want to do something else with your Friends
LecheroA lucky person
Estoy agujaA person that does not have enough money
AlalawA common word that expresses
Care paloSomeone who has no shame of anything
Alucina¡Look at this!
ZanahoriaA person who is very innocent
ChelaBeer
Ni michiAbsolutely nothing
CachacoA soldier
AguafiestasA boring person, especially during parties
CuerazoA very beautiful woman
ChurroA very handsome man
Germa, costillaAn unusual way to call a girlfriend
BituteReferring to food
YucaSomething that is very difficult and hard to understand
Solo hay cuatro gatosMeans there are not many people
AchachauTo express something is painful
Cerrar el picoShut up!
PuchaAn expresión when something is not running good
Zafa nomasSomebody says “Zafa nomas” when he or she wants another person to go out of a place
LompaPants
Ir a canaGoing to jail
ChiboloA little child
Ahí los vidriosGood bye
TufoA bad smell coming from mouth, especially after drinking beer
LornaA numb person
LatearWalk
Hacer la tabaGo with someone to a place
El pointA place for parties or meetings
Darse en la mitraBe surprised that something did not work as it was expected or as I wanted.
Hacer horaWaste time on something that is not necessary.

Peruvian Expressions

PERUVIAN EXPRESSIONMEANING
¡De tal palo tal astilla!When people are identical in terms of personality, appearance, preferences, etc. This expresión is commonly used to express similarities among some members of the family.
¡Dime con quién andas, ¡y te diré quién eres!It is said that through the influences and preferences that a person has, it is possible to know how the person really is.
¡Quien no llora, no mama!A common expresión to say that someone has to do something in order to achieve his or her goals.
¡Quién no tiene de Inga tiene de Mandinga!Referred to the mixture of races among our country. Races such as indigenous, Chinese people, afroamericans, white people and all the racial diversity
¡A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando!It is a saying that remarks the importance of working and making an effort to achieve what is desired, while at the same time it is important to be grateful to God.
¡Entre Pisco y Nazca!It is an expression used to indicate that someone is drunk
¡El que se fue a Barranco perdió su banco!It is a common saying used among children to appropriate a seat and not give it up as soon as someone stops using it.
Vive la vida y no dejes que la vida te vivaIt means that you have to enjoy your life, do what you like, be happy and take advantage of life at every moment. Don't let life overwhelm you with everyday problems.
La misma chola con diferente calzónIt is an expresión that shows if you change your outfit, you will be the same person as you were before. Not only is it used to refer to people, but also to refer to objects or animals that change outside but their content inside is the same.
Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se quedaThe condition of each individual or the natural defects cannot be covered up or changed with external improvements.
Querer es poderIf you want something, you can do it and overcome all the problems
La suerte de la fea, la bonita la deseaIt is used when fortune smiles at an unattractive person.
Todo pasa por algoWe use this when we talk about something that happens because it is gonna be connected with something that will happen later.
No se gana, pero se gozaIndicates that a job is not so well- paid but you are still there because you love it.
Más vale prevenir que lamentarWarns that it is always better to take the necessary precautions to avoid an unpleasant or undesirable situation
Más vale viejo conocido que nuevo por conocerIt is not convenient to risk what you have or what is known for something that is supposed to be better.
Al que madruga Dios lo ayudaExpresses the importance of being responsible with the tasks and that we must fulfill, being especially diligent in our day to day.
Barriga llena, corazón contentoIt means that once we have satisfied our appetite, we feel happy and excited.
La mentira tiene patas cortasIt means that lies can not be sustained for a long time, the truth always comes out.
Cuando el río suena es porque piedras traeIt is trying to say that if there are rumors or people talk about something, that must have a little of truth
Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojosThis saying refers to the ingratitude of some people that we looked after or helped a time ago.
Camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corrienteThis saying means that if a person is not alert to something important and takes it calmly, he or she will be carried away.
A caballo regalado no se le mira el dienteIt has to be with gifts. It means that you should accept gifts willingly and without a question
No vale llorar sobre la leche derramadaGive the idea of stop complaining about something that has already happened because it won’t be solved if you complain.
Hombre precavido vale por dosA common saying that indicates to be cautious for not to be cheated, don’t be naive.
La ociosidad es madre de todos los viciosThis saying talks about people without any occupation tend to be lazy for a considerable amount of time.
Es mejor pedir perdón a pedir permisoThe saying sanctions situations where asking for permission, it recommends acting immediately and without barriers: you will have time to apologize if you go too far.
El que ríe al último, ríe mejorIt is used to imply that one should not sing victory before time, because life takes many turns
No dejes para mañana lo que puedes hacer hoyIt is better not to be lazy and confront the problems, difficulties or responsibilities instead of putting them off.

Let’s talk about Peruvian Food

This country has the most delicious food in the world! It will be difficult to list all the dishes from this country, so I only choose six dishes that you have to try when you come to this country. It’s mandatory!

1. Ceviche Peruano

The most popular traditional dish, considered an aphrodisiac: it is shellfish or fish marinated in lemon juice, salt, red onions, chili peppers and rocoto peppers. The local tradition recommends it as breakfast for night owls and as an aphrodisiac. There is a variety called “Leche de pantera” because of the dark color of the juice produced from the black shell, which can be found on the coast of Piura (where there is a variant of the black shell called “white shell”) and the department of Tumbes, to the Central American Pacific.

2. Cuy Chactado

Also known as Guinea pig, cuy is a controversial Peruvian dish that some find a bit scary. Few tourists request this specialty, but the truth is that this dish is very delicious and healthy, too.  The term chactado refers to the way of cooking a food pressed under the weight of a stone. The term could come from the Aymara verb chchaktaña, “disappear”, which would refer to the fact that the meat is hidden under the stone while it cooks.

It is a guinea pig fried in a lot of oil, until it reaches a crispy point, under a stone that serves as a lid. It usually goes with boiled potatoes, corn and chili sauces, such as huacatay cream. It is a strongly seasoned dish and one of its distinctive characteristics is the fact that the whole animal is presented on the plate. It is a highly appreciated dish in the highlands of Peru.

3. Lomo Saltado

Lomo saltado is an extremely popular dish of so-called fusion cuisine that combines the Chinese gastronomy tradition of sauteing food with Peruvian ingredients such as ají amarillo, cilantro and tomatoes. It always goes with rice and French fries.

It is prepared with beef, red onion, ají amarillo, red or white vinegar, tomato and condiments. Sometimes soya is used and a splash of pisco. Originally the potatoes that go with this dish were boiled and not fried.

4. Pollo a la Brasa

It is considered a typical dish of Peruvian gastronomy and one of the most consumed, even above ceviche, chifa and fast food specialties.

The dish consists of chicken meat, marinated and cooked over the coals. The marinated meat is baked over the heat of the coals in a special oven called “rotombo”, which rotates the animal on its own, uniformly receiving the heat from the embers. The oven can work with coal, wood or gas, the most traditional being wood, which often comes from the carob tree. The dressing of the meat includes different ingredients, such as black beer, rosemary, huacatay, salt and pepper, soya sauce, cumin, and ají panca, in different proportions.

It is accompanied by a variety of sauces and creams, among these sauces we can mention mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup, but the chili sauce usually prepared with local ingredients stands out among them.

5. Chicharrones de Cerdo

This popular dish consists of pieces of pork that are cooked in the same fat and water seasoned only with salt. It is served with fried sweet potatoes or boiled potatoes and corn plus a creole salad which has onions, lemon juice and pieces of mint. In the Highlands, chicharron is served with potatoes, sweet potatoes and mote (native corn). Pork is also used to prepare sandwiches, known as “pan con chicharrón”.

6. Pachamanca

The term “pachamanca” comes from the Quechua words pacha, “earth” and manka, “pot”; so its meaning would be “earth’s pot”.

It is a typical dish of Peruvian cuisine, made by cooking, in the heat of preheated stones. With beef, pork, chicken and guinea pig previously seasoned with ingredients such as chincho, huacatay, chili and other spices, along with native products, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn and, eventually, yucca. Beyond a meal, it is a community ritual in the Andes or Highlands.

About the Author:

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