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Today Spanish speakers are used to borrowing new words from English: tuitear, bloguero, hater, and many more linked to technology. But this is nothing new. Spanish has taken words from English before, some in very curious ways. Here are five examples.
For many years, “chachi” was a synonym for “guay” (cool), giving conversations a young, alternative feel. One popular theory places its origin in Cádiz after the Spanish Civil War. The best products came into Spain through Gibraltar, controlled by the British, at a time when Winston Churchill governed the UK. So the best products were “Churchill’s”, or “chachi” in the local pronunciation. Other theories exist too: we cover them in our article on Spanish words from Catalan, Basque and Portuguese.
You have probably heard “gringo” used for people from the United States. In some Latin American countries it can also mean a European, depending on their looks. Its origin is unclear, but one theory links it to the English “it’s Greek to me” (the Spanish equivalent is “me suena a chino”), which to Spanish ears became “gringo”.
This word is used in many languages, and its origin is noble and a little addicted to gambling. Lord Sandwich, an English nobleman, loved cards so much he barely had time to eat. His servants came up with a way for him to eat without going hungry or getting the cards dirty, and so the little brother of the “bocadillo” was born.
A juicier dish, also with an English name. “Beef steak” is much harder for Spanish speakers to write and pronounce than “bistec”, so that’s how it ended up.
Football is the most English of sports and Spanish speakers are mad about it. The rules and the name itself came from English, and since the late 19th century they have been adapted into Spanish, sometimes in expressions that have since disappeared. Some older people still say “orsay” (from “offside”) instead of “fuera de juego”, and for them a “friqui” isn’t a weirdo but a direct free kick.
Football has given Spanish many more expressions: discover them in our guide to Spanish football expressions. And for the same story in reverse, read about Spanish words used in other languages.
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Intensive or part-time? Compare hours, pace and results to choose the Spanish course in Madrid that fits your goals and your timetable.
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